The Hierarchy

Chapter 2: Homecoming

"Mom says to hurry up or you're going to miss the class," Lorenzo tells me.

"tell her to suck it," I mutter but I know he heard me.

"Is that really what you want me to tell her?" he asks me for confirmation.

I look back at him and smile. "tell her I'll leave in a minute."

He nods and leaves the room. I sigh and look back in the mirror. I really despise if my mother at times. There are times she disagrees with my dad and she turns into a total badass and it's amazing. but this is not one of those times. My mom has to go to some stupid board meeting at the Empire State Building and my dad has to watch the kids since he gave the nanny, Alice, the day off.

I tie my tennis shoes and brace myself to face hell.

***

I finally get out of the class at around 10:30 which is later than what my dad promised. I have a hair appointment in the city at 11 so I better get there on time. As I'm walking to my car I hear someone call my name. I turn around and all of my hair flies over my shoulder. I see his eyes from across the parking lot and smile at the ease they give me.

"Hudson? What are you doing here? how did you know I was here?" I ask him as he nears closer to me.

"I went to your house and your dad said you'd be here. I wanted to see you." He tells me and his smile melts my heart.

For a minute I almost forget that he ignored me and was rude to me.

Almost.

My smile drops and I step back a bit. "That's sweet and all but I have an appointment at 11 and still have to pick up Valerie."

"Are you okay?" he asks me.

I look at him for a moment. "I'm fine. I'll see you tonight."

"Reece, wait." he insists reaching for my hand but I pull it back.

"I really have to go babe." I kiss his cheek to ensure I'm okay and force a smile. " I love you."

He forces one too. " I do too."

With that, I get in the car a speed over to Valerie's.

I have to admit that I know there is something up with Hudson. I don't know what it was. Like I said before he's been off lately.

***
"I think you're just paranoid C," Valerie says to me as she searches through my lipsticks looking for the one she wants.

"I'm not paranoid Val. I'm looking beyond his behavior. You know who else has been acting weird?" I ask her. even if she doesn't want to know she knows I'll tell her anyway.

"Paranoid." Valerie sing songs and puts the lipstick back.

I sigh. "Mackenzie. Ever since her dumb break up with her shitty boyfriend, she's been a wreck."

"Well won't you be too if your boyfriend of three years dumps you?" Valerie questions and shakes her head at me.

"I'm not going crazy, Valerie. I swear something is up." I purse my lips and tap my freshly manicured nails against the bathroom counter.

"let's just go to homecoming and get rid of these worries for a while. Okay?" she asks and I can hear the pleading in her voice. The girl really thinks I'm crazy.

I smile faintly and nod assuring her. "Okay."

She grins. "Good."

"What's up bitches!" I hear Mackenzie shout as she enters my room with our other friends Maria and Sydney trailing behind her in their heels and short dresses.