Muse

Chapter 3: Started From the Bottom Now We're Here

Lauren pulls into my bumpy maroon driveway and puts the car into park. We both sit there for a moment, car still running, A.C still blasting, and just take in the magnitude of what we have just accomplished.

"We did it," Lauren says in a shocked tone, not bothering to look my way.

"Yeah we did," I say, a smile spreading across my face. Wait for it. 3, 2, 1....

"Whoooooooaaaaah!" Lauren screams and throws her arms in the air. I break out into a full on grin.

"First day of senior yeaaaaaaaar!" I add and scramble to press play on the waiting victory song on my phone: Started from the bottom by drake. Before the beat can even drop she spams the volume button, putting the car in reverse. I do my part by rolling the windows down and whipping out snapchat.

This has been a tradition of ours since 10th grade when she drove us to school for the first time since she got her license and we thought we needed to make an entrance. I scrolled through my playlist for like 30 minutes before I gave the great privilege of showing us off to Drake. Can I just say, that was THE BEST FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL EVER! We drove onto campus just as the beat dropped and made sure to drive slow so that every single Eastwood high student could witness our spectacular show. Heads turned, jaws dropped, and each and every one of the dancers we texted beforehand was standing ready for our unofficial "Welcome back to Eastwood Performance". We pulled up to the fire lane at the front entrance, hopped out of the car, were lifted onto the car, and danced the hell out of Drake. Of course, we got the first Saturday detention of the year, but it was worth it. Not that its important, but Lauren and I had no trouble finding dates to the Welcome Back dance that Friday. Or any Dances since.

Anyway, back to the here and now. Ever since that day, since we were specifically prohibited from doing that again, it's been tradition for Lauren and me to drive around my neighborhood and blast the song, rapping the whole way.

"And my uncle calling me like "Where ya at?

I gave you the keys told ya bring it right back"

-----, I just think it's funny how it goes

Now I'm on the road, half a million for a show

And we...

Started from the bottom now we're here

Started from the bottom now my whole team ---- here"

Out of breath, I nod to the remaining of the beat, appreciating how just like we started, we pull into my bumpy maroon driveway just as it ends.

We pause a moment, like always, before grabbing our bags and getting out of the car as if nothing ever happened. I fumble with my keys before unlocking the door, and letting Lauren in before me. She hardly waits for me to get out of the way before charging up the stairs to belly flop onto my bed without a second thought. I chuckle to myself just as the expected cry of pain echoes down the empty hallways. She never learns, does she? Pfft, dork.

I make my way upstairs at a normal pace. What? At least one of us has to act her age. Plus, I'm exhausted from practice. I reach my bedroom door and lean against the frame.

There she is, my best friend, arms and legs splayed out on the floor as she pouts at the ceiling. I don't know how, but every time Lauren's at my house, she finds some strange way to hurt herself within the first 60 seconds.

I raise an eyebrow quizzically, and she sighs, pointing at my queen bed and all the hangers from this morning sprawled across it. Ah, I see.

I nod and reach out a hand to help her up. She reluctantly takes it but not without another huff of childish disappointment.