Internet Friends // Matthew Espinosa

Chapter 7

I get dropped off and I run up to my room.

7:30. What can I do?

I call Alina.

"Hey, Nicole." A boy's voice.

"WTF who is this?" I kind of try not to laugh.

"It's Jack."

"Oh, bad time?"

"No, um, Alina and I are just hanging out in Times Square."

"Oh, um, never mind then." I sigh. "I was gonna ask if she wanted to hang out but, never mind it's ok."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Bye."

"Bye." I hang up.

I hear a knock at the door.

"Who dis be?" I yell.

"It's Riley!"

I open.

"Hey." I close the door behind her.

"How were your first 2 days in New York?"

"Great. Yours?"

"Pretty good, I mean I saw the Statue if Liberty."

"You wanna go get Starbucks downstairs?" I ask her.

"I'll put my stuff down and well go in a like 5 minutes."

"K." I go back on instagram and take a selfie.

Squinted eyes. Kissy face. Half face. White border.

'crazy 2 days but, i can finally say i've taken a bite of the Big Apple.'

"Ready, Nic?" She comes out in a sweatshirt and shorts.

"Yup." I get up and grab my room key.

We get in the elevator.

"Nicole?" Riley says quietly.

"Yes?"

"You went to Six Flags?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember what happened last time we went there?" Her eyes well up with tears so do mine.

"Yes."

Quiet.

Last time, Riley, me and Mom went to Six Flags, I was 3, Riley was 6 and it was raining on the way back. My mom, she lost control of the wheel and crashed into a car because we were on the wrong side of the road.

My mom was sitting in the driver's seat, with me and Riley behind her.

My mom died in her sleep and her last words were a prayer, "If I die tonight, my girls can't die, Lord. They were put here for a much better reason."

"Hey, it was 14 years ago, Ri. We have to realize that, though she's gone, she has, will, and still does love us." I wipe her tears and mine. "Okay?"

"Okay."

"Take a breath, Ri. And we can go."

We both take two deep breaths.

I order a venti Mocha Cookie Crumble and half Iced Hazelnut Macchiato and half Iced White Chocolate Mocha. (idk how that tastes so don't try it LOL)

"Names?"

"Put it under Riley." Riley butts in. "HA!"

We sit down at a table in the corner.