Kiss Me Goodbye

You Again? (Day 2)

 Monday, June 26

“Wake up, sleepyhead!” Renee sings loudly. I groan and put my pillows over my ears.

“It's too early!” I say, flipping onto my stomach.

“Honey, it's past noon.” And sure enough, my grumbling stomach gives testament to her statement, as well as the sunlight that is streaming through the window. “Get up,” she says. “I'm taking you to the mall because you need new clothes.” She throws a bundle of clothing at me and I sigh, getting out of the comfortable bed.

Minutes later, I emerge wearing a flowy purple tank top and jean shorts that I keep trying to pull down. They feel so short on me, but I know I'll need them because it will be very hot today. I walk downstairs and greet my aunt and uncle. “Sleep well?” my aunt says. I blush and nod, taking the bread she offers me.

Within minutes, I'm being dragged upstairs by a whiny Renee. “Don't eat! We're going out to lunch soon!” I am about to protest that I'm hungry but give up when she comes up to me with a straightener. I quickly wave it away and she sighs. “Are you always such a killjoy?” she asks, while pinning a purple flower into my naturally curly brown locks. I nod happily and she rolls her eyes. “Fine, but I get to do your hair tomorrow.”

“What's tomorrow?” I ask.

Her eyes sparkle as she says, “You'll see.”

We hop into her convertible and cruise along the highway listening to rap music. I see people giving us weird looks. It must seem weird to them that two preppy looking girls like us are listening to such hardcore stuff. I smirk and turn the volume up. I start singing along to a melodic bridge and Renee smiles. “You're such a good singer,” she says.

My smile slips from my face and I fall silent. “I wasn't joking, keep singing.” she says seriously.

I shrug. “I just don't feel in the mood.”

She frowns at me suspiciously before turning her eyes back to the road. Shortly, we pull into a large parking structure. We walk into the mall and I gasp at the marble flooring and decorated banisters in front of me. She smirks at the look on my face and says, “They just remodeled the entire building.” This mall is so different from the one we have at home. Ours is a modest little brick thing, one story tall with only the necessary department stores. If we want to get anything fancy, we go to the boutiques that line the main street. However, here, the mall is two stories tall, complete with a fountain in the center. Small stores I have never even heard of are all over the place and department stores are at all four corners of the square mall. Renee tugs my hand and we walk to the Cheesecake Factory, where her face lights up at the sight of her friends. Normally, I'd be nervous about meeting new people, but I'm still in shock at the high-end décor of this mall. I know that the residents around here are rich, but everything is so lavish it doesn't seem possible compared to the modest life I had back in Michigan.

I vaguely note that I'm being introduced to her friends, but I barely notice because I'm now studying the intricately painted mural on one of the walls. It isn't until I hear a soft male voice say “Wait, Allison Lorenzo?” that I look up in surprise.

I see Renee's friends staring at me and I blush, waving my hand randomly. “Sorry,” I mumble, “I just got caught up... beautiful place...” I trail off when I make eye contact with a guy staring at me curiously. He has dirty blonde hair, sideswept in a surfer style, and blue eyes. He is skinny, but I can tell that from under his tight white shirt, he is very well built. I know I recognize him from somewhere. “Luke Cooper?” I ask tentatively, frowning at him.

His eyes seem to sparkle in excitement. “I thought it was you, Alli! Wow, who knew I would see you here?”

Renee and her friends look around in confusion. “Wait, you know Luke?” she asks.