It Started With Hello

Chapter 17- Mall Morning

Arabella-

"Lincoln, if you're coming come on!" I call into his room at 1130.

"I'm coming!" He calls back. Suddenly the door opens and he's coming out putting on a jacket.

"Ready?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go then."

He follows me downstairs. "I haven't seen Lilah in ages. Her and Justin started dating a few months ago."

"Are you sure I'm not going to get in the way?" I ask as I follow her out to the waiting limo.

"Justin's going to want a friend while Lilah and I are shopping, we can go a little crazy."

"So I'm just going to keep Justin company?"

"You can keep me company too." I smile as I climb in and give River the address of the apartment building to pick up Justin and Lilah.

"Why come all the way out here? Switzerland is a long way away."

"I don't really have anywhere else to go." I answer with a shrug, "Jake's always traveling during breaks and Lucky's parents don't like me. At all."

"Why? What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know. That's the problem. Lucky thinks that her parents just don't like that my job requires being around musicians all the time. I think they think it'll put dreams in her head. Unfulfillable fantasies." I tell him, "She's passionate about singing. They think she wants to turn it into a career. Since I work with musicians all the time. They think she thinks it'll give her a boost. She doesn't want to do anything other than sing at the cafe near the school on weekends."

"The guys and I didn't think we'd get a record deal when we started as a band. " Lincoln says as we pull into the apartment parking lot. I look out the window and Lilah and Justin are waiting.

"Wait here. And you might want to cover your ears." I tell him as I sprint out of the car. Imagine the cliche where the two girls see each other and start screaming jumping up and down together in excitement. Justin had covered his ears and eyes. A bit dramatic, but this is a dramatic trio. That's basically what happens whenever I get to see Lilah after a few months. I met her at the office she's one of the band managers. Even if she's only 18. Justin turned 19 a few months ago. I sent him a birthday letter.

"It's been forever since I've seen you." She says as we both climb into the car. I sit next to Lincoln and Justin slides in next to Lilah. "We've got a lot of catching up to do. I've seen lots of pictures you're going to have to explain."

"Uh oh." I groan, "What kind of pictures?" I ask.

"We'll discuss this over shopping, but for now, are you excited about Matthew being home for Christmas?"

"How did you-" I begin.

"He asked if he could use Justin and I for school shots over break something about capturing love on camera?" She answers, that sounds like Matty, "I told him, after a long conversation with Justin that it'd be okay."

"He'll be thrilled." I tell her. Justin looks anything but amused. "You'd be surprised how good a photographer he is Justin."

"It doesn't matter how good a photographer he is, I'm just not photogenic."

"Not with that attitude." I retort.

"Here we are Miss Kennedy." River tells me.

"Thanks Riv." I tell him, "I'll call you when we're ready?" He nods and I open the door. "Grab a pair of sunglasses, the pap are out."