Bye, I Guess... (Sequel and Third Book Included!)

Fourteen

Allie's POV

Today's the day.

Dad's officially out of jail.

Mom (Katie) wanted me to go see him, but I refused. Then she threatened my Netflix privileges. . . .

I crossed my arms, ready for him to come out.

"Allie! I've missed you so much!" He hugged me.

"Mm hmm," I tried to wiggle my way out.

"So, I heard you made the high school cheer team. That's great honey!" He smiled.

"Yeah, it's pretty fun," I shrugged.

"How's Yannet?" He asked.

"Uh, she's fine."

Truth is, I haven't talked to my biological mom since that one time two months ago.

"That's great," He said.

•••

"Hey Allie," Raina walked over to my locker.

"Hi," I replied.

This time, she was wearing a cute pair of black and white adidas, leggings, and a light blue sweatshirt from Pink. She looked as if she walked right off an Instagram page. I can picture her looking up with a smile in front of a beach, holding a Starbucks pink drink.

"So, how's life?" She asked, watching Snapchat stories on her iPhone XX.

"It's pretty good. Cheer's good, family's good," I told her.

"Hey, so do you want to go to the mall after school?" She asked.

How could I say no to the most popular girl in school?

"Sure!" I closed my locker.

"Can you meet me there at 7:30? We can get dinner too," she asked.

"I think so." It was Friday, so I could stay out pretty late.

We exchanged phone numbers since we hadn't before, then went to our classes.

•••

"Stay safe please," Mom told me.

"I will," I told her.

She dropped me off in front of the food court entrance. Rai and I were going to meet by Panera Bread. I walked to Panera and waited by the door for her. A few minutes later, she came around the corner with a Starbucks cup in her hand. I noticed she now had on a cropped sweatshirt instead of the one she had on at school.

"Hey!" She said as I walked towards her.

"Hey. Where do you want to go first?" I asked.

"Maybe American Eagle?" She suggested.

"Sure."

We took the escalator upstairs. We talked while going to AEO. We didn't see anything cute there, so we went to Hollister, Urban Outfitters, and Abercrombie. Nothing cute.

"Do you want to eat now?" She asked.

"Yeah. How about the sushi conveyor-belt place?" I suggested.

"Okay."

We got a booth at that restaurant. I got some crab tempura and fruit and Raina got some California rolls. We shared a plate of edamame. After the sushi place, we got Cinnabons.

"See you on Monday. My brother's here," Raina told me.

"My mom said she's a few minutes away. Bye!" I said.

Mom called me saying she was here. I walked outside and got in the front seat of her car.

"So, you've never really mentioned this Raina girl. Is she a new friend?" She asked.

"She's actually the most popular girl in school."

"Really? Wow," she nodded her head.

"Yeah. On Tuesday she came up to me for the first time at lunch. I sat at her table and talked to her and some other popular girls. She's tried to be best friends with me since then," I said.

Mom said, "Really, she just started hanging out with you and she's acting as if you've known each other since kindergarten? I think she's onto something."