Paradise

Chapter 2 - Unraveling

I know when I read stories, I need visuals. So, when I pictured Avery I pictured her as the girl on the left looks. For Jennifer, I pictured her exactly like the girl on the top right. And as for Bethany, I couldn't help but picture her as Bethany Mota from YouTube (bottom left).

Thanks and enjoy!!

"So, how do you think you did on that Spanish exam, Avery?" My friend, Jennifer asked as we took our lunches to our usual hang out place out by the quad.

"Think I aced it."

"There you go, Lancaster. I envy your intelligence and confidence, kiddo." Bethany chimed in.

Truth be told, I actually envied Bethany. She is a person that acts on impulse, if she likes something, she will be passionate about it and if she does not like something, she does not associate herself with it. She is the kind of person I wish I was; being able to say "no" and doing whatever I want, not live day by day according to a schedule that was made for me. I've always loved that about Bethany: her freedom.

"Why didn't you apply for a tougher schedule Bethany?" Jennifer said, concerned.

That was Jennifer for you. In many ways, I and she are very similar, it's striking. Jennifer also has a niche to be on top, a thirst for success that simply will not calm down, much like myself, yet her determination comes from within her and mine comes from my parents.

"Because I see you two psychos struggling with tons of subjects so I figured why put myself through that? Besides, we still have our senior year. Who knows? Maybe I will come out of my shell and become nerds like my two best friends." Bethany mocked as she placed her slice of pizza, Cheetos, and Dr. Pepper on our lunch table.

"Well, okay. But there goes a year you could have used to beef up your college applications." Jennifer said as she sounded like a mother.

"Okay, mom. Can I enjoy my lunch without a lecture, please?"

All three of us are different from one another in extreme ways and I think that's why we get along so well. We all have characteristics the other wants, even if we don't admit it out loud. Bethany has long, brown hair that falls into the perfect loose curls you have ever seen and has big brown eyes to match her heart shaped face and defined cheek bones. When she smiles you can truly see how genuinely happy she is and her charisma shines through with every little thing she does. Jennifer possesses a light, caramel complexion, tight, curly hair, and the world's most beautiful hazel eyes that match her personality since she is as sweet and kind as anyone could be. Being around them (and my perfect sister) makes me feel like I fall short, seeing myself as the ugly duckling, less than amazing. My dark brown, long hair, lightly flushed cheeks and deep grey eyes don't make me feel special the way I make out my friends to be.
Jennifer let out a loud sigh making it clear she did not want to keep fighting and fiddled with her chicken avocado salad, "You know what sounds good right now, guys?"

"What?" I said.

"Some ranch for my pizza?" Bethany let out as she scanned the quad area for a snack bar that had ranch.

"No. That pizza place we tried this summer, Mountain Mike's Pizza, you know the one on Clairemont Drive? I suddenly began craving a slice of their combination pizza. Let's go tomorrow after practice! Just like old times again, what do you say, girls?"

"Sure. That sounds perfect right now but I probably won't get off practice until about five or five thirty. Is that fine?" I remembered.

"No, no don't worry about it. I don't get out of Lacrosse until 5:00 anyways. Let's meet there at, oh say, six o'clock? Does that work out for you guys?" Jennifer said as she looked from me to Bethany.