The One

Chapter 30: Mulling it over.

Alyssa's POV:

Our vacation ended a bit earlier than I expected.

I mean, it's no surprise though, considering the little stunt I pulled. After that night we spent the following morning packing and getting gifts for our friends in anticipation of our departure from Pasadena. I got Rowan a Polaroid camera and Shannon a pair of stiletto heels and some products from Glossier. I also remembered Mikaela and got her lots of Nutella and a pair of matching Converses for both her and Rowan. They better love and serve me eternally for this... joking.

A bit.

My flight back was completely boring as there was literally no form of entertainment, unless Ivan practicing pick up lines on me can be considered as entertaining. It wasn't.

Since our departure was somewhat impromptu, I didn't have enough time to inform my best friends and boyfriend; that still gets to me; about it. Hopefully they're having the time of their lives.

In retrospect, I really should have calmed down and listened to mom. We're in the car now, driving home and she hasn't said a word to me. Ivan chose to sit upfront to avoid the awkward atmosphere, and quite frankly this is the most sensible thing he's done in a while.

Eventually the painfully silent car ride ends and I hurriedly lug my belongings up into my room before mom can hold me back, or something. As soon as I step into my room, I collapse on my bed, inhaling the warm, familiar scent. I've actually missed this place.

I turn on my phone for it to be bombarded with notifications. Opening one, the screen pops into my instagram page where there are millions of posts and pictures from yesterday.

Yesterday...

That was Faye's party!

Well, crap.

Not gonna lie as I pointed out before, I'm really relieved that I didn't have to go.

Although scrolling through my feed now, part of me wishes I did. The pictures look amazing and I seems like everyone had a genuinely good time, which is borderline strange. Not one single juicy detail or scandalous gist, nothing. Just a bunch of happy, definitely high or drunk looking teenagers. I scroll a little more, like a few, before going through my messages.

There's one from Shannon asking me to meet up with her immediately I arrive; emphasis on immediately. There are also these cute messages Cameron sends me daily.

It hit me then that I had not informed anyone of my arrival yet. Of course, it's so like me to leave and arrive without the knowledge of any of my friends.

I sigh and decide to tell Shannon first, since it seemed like she had some urgent news for me.

It better be, I thought to myself as the phone rang on the other side. After some seconds, she picked.

"Hi, Shannon," I chirped.

"Alyssa? Are you back?"

"Yeah-". She interrupted before I could even begin to explain.

"That was fast. Unto more important things we have to meet tomorrow, I'll come over".

"Uh, okay? What's with-"?

She interjected once more. "Did you tell Rowan yet?"

I frowned in confusion. "Tell her what?"

"That you were back, what else?"

"No, not yet,"

She let out a sigh of relief. "Good, that's good".

"Okay now I'm completely confused," I paused. "How is that good? Ro would kill me if I didn't tell her I was back yet!" I explained.