you're just as far in as you'll ever be out

are we in the clear yet?

Sorry for the long wait! This is probably the longest chapter I've ever written so I hope that semi makes up for it! 

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Danielle did her best to balance her overstuffed duffel bag in one hand and the two bags from In N Out in the other. It was up to her to convince Alana to go to Palm Springs for the weekend and figured she needed bribery in order to be successful. Este had given her a twenty-minute window and so far, it was looking bleak.

She dropped her bag on the floor before gently placing the food bags on the kitchen table. She could hear a faint sound coming from her sister's room. Danielle tip toed down the carpeted hallway and peered through Alana's half-open door, surprised to see the younger girl was playing the small keyboard she had gotten for her birthday years and years ago.

Danielle couldn't help but smile and knocked on the door. "Alana?"

Alana shot up and quickly pushed the keyboard under the bed. "Yeah?"

"Can I come in?"

More shuffling. Alana opened the door and smiled at Danielle when she opened the door. "Hey."

"I brought you In N Out," Danielle began, returning the smile. Her sister had been pretty happy these past few weeks. "It's in the kitchen."

Alana squealed and practically sprinted to the kitchen. Her eyes widened in delight when Danielle had gotten her animal style fries and her favorite burger. "Thanks," she mumbled with a mouth full of food.

Danielle just nodded in amusement and popped a fry in her mouth. "So," she started, peering all around the spotless kitchen. "What are you up to this weekend?"

"Nothing."

"Me, Lucy, and Este are going to Palm Springs for the weekend. Lucy's boss gave us his house and it's really big and has like six bedrooms but if you're not doing anything this weekend, you should come," Danielle got out in one jumbled sentence, taking a big bite of her cheeseburger so no more word vomit could come out.

Alana just stared at her sister oddly and then shrugged. "Okay."

"R-really?" Danielle was beginning to think there was a catch. "You want to come?"

"Is that okay?" Alana asked meekly, shrinking in her seat when Danielle did not say anything. "Is this a pity invite? I don't want a pity invite!"

"No! It's not a pity invite," Danielle said quickly. "Of course we want you to come. I just...I just thought I'd have to do a little more convincing."

"Is that why you bought me In N Out?"

"Maybe..."

Alana smiled. "It helped a bit."

"Este's coming in fifteen minutes so you should probably pack."

"Can't keep the Queen waiting," Alana mumbled playfully, polishing off her burger and scampering back to her room.

Danielle smiled; pretty proud of herself it took Alana minimal convincing to come to Palm Springs. She had been keeping a watchful eye on her sister and though she still rarely left the house, Alana was a lot more engaging and less anxious. There were more good days and bad days.

If it kept up, Danielle and Este were going to broach the subject of album two. The only time Alana really shut down was when they talked about the band. It was still a sore subject. Alana still had no plans to re-join the band. She was content hiding out in the house and staying under the radar.

Danielle supervised Alana throwing a bunch of random clothes into a small suitcase. It mostly consisted of bikinis and shorts.

"We're not doing anything fancy, right?"