Learning to Live

Chapter 1: "Of course. Mall cops."

          "SARAH! Are you even hearing this?! DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW AMAZING THIS IS FOR ME!"

          "Jess," I groaned, "You do know that only dogs can understand you with how high your voice is right now, right?"

            "You're just pissy that I interrupted your ninety millionth time reading those books. Honestly Sarah, we're young, it's summer. Why on earth are you stuck in here reading about wizards?!"

           "For your information, these series are a classic. I know people who would shoot you for having such disrespect for the Boy Who Lived."

          "What?"

          "...never mind." The faster she finishes her story, the faster I can get back to Hogwarts, I remind myself. I love my roommate, I really do; but sometimes I feel like I should just stick her in a hamster tank and have her run around the exercise wheel a few times before I actually associate with her just so she brings the energy level down a notch or two. "What were you talking about again?"

          "I ran into Vic at the park this morning and he ASKED ME OUT! You know how much of a crush I had on him during second semester!" Jess squealed. "I can't believe it! We're going to dinner tomorrow night and you HAVE to come shopping with me; I need to find the perfect dress!"

          "Jess," I pointed out,"You have so many dresses I'm pretty sure they're planning on annexing my closet. Why would I even need to come anyway? You're the fashion plate out of the two of us." As I gestured to my oh-so-sophisticated outfit of a T-shirt and shorts, I tried to make my point.

          "But we haven't done ANYTHING together Sars!" Jess pouts, "I mean, we've been off for almost a week and what do you do? You stay in here and read books. We're in freaking CALIFORNIA. It's SUMMER. Only you would stay inside. There are parties to go to, hearts to break, love to find, people to meet. Please, please, pleeease come with me to the mall! We need to hang out, just us, before the road trip!"

          "Thank you for that inspirational speech, Ms. President." I did feel a little guilty about not spending time with her though. Jess may be a handful, although she doesn't look it--her five-two frame, red hair and green eyes don't really give the common bystander insight into her crazy, energetic, and overall loveable personality. In spite of us being polar opposites, she became one of my best friends this year in college. "If I come with you to the mall, will my bad-friend sins be forgiven?"

          "YES! We need to shop for the trip back to your town anyway..I still can't believe you got to grow up around LA, Hollywood, and the beach. You are so lucky! I would have traded growing up in stupid New Mexico for LA anyday."

          "You do realize that Shell Cove isn't exactly a Hollywood hotspot, right? I've never even met a movie star, and I didn't go to LA all that often either. The only thing you're right about is the beach," I informed her, "We do need to go shopping though--northern California might as well be Siberia compared to the weather down there."

          "This is going to be so fun! We have to get to the mall like now though..I don't want all the best stuff to be gone!" Jess exclaimed while forcibly dragging me out the door. Again, you'd think the five-eight, reasonably fit--ok, maybe not so fit, nineteen-year-old would be able to resist the girl who probably can't go on all the rides at Disneyland. You thought wrong--that girl was pretty freaking strong.

          "Come on! It's only like a five-minute walk Sarah, let's goooo!"

          Why am I doing this again?

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