California

Chapter Sixteen

When the bell rang Amanda and I walked over to the bus stop right in front of Clareview's gates alongside our crew. Eric was talking about the new geek movies coming out this summer. He was so enthusiastic about it that we couldn't help but feel excited as well. When we reached the bus stop I noticed Hailey's black mini over at the parking lot. She stood waiting beside the car and waved at me as soon as she saw me. She looked stunning, even from afar. I was biased when it came to admiring my sister's looks, but Amanda's reaction proved my point.

"Wait, that's your sister?" She asked, squinting her eyes. "Liv, she is gorgeous."

"Yeah, she's come to visit for the week." I replied. "We have plans tonight."

"Well, I hope you're not going to some club or party because I'd feel very bitter for not having been invited." Said Amanda, and I smiled.

"It's not like that. We're just gonna catch a movie, like the old times."

"And you're gonna tell her all about Cali over popcorn, huh?" Whispered Amanda, making me blush. 

"Amanda!" I poked her on the shoulder. She laughed discretely at my despair.

I didn't want the guys to know we talked about him, or that Cali and I had chatted the other day. It was something I'd only told Amanda, but I enjoyed the way she made fun of everything and managed to turn every topic into lighthearted conversation.

I noticed all of my friends were still staring at Hailey from a distance as if she was some famous painting surrounded by admirers in a museum. I told them she was giving me a ride, though I initially thought I'd be riding the bus home. 

"I'll text you later?" I said to Amanda as I walked away.

"You better!" She said as the bus approached.

I ran over to the car and Hailey opened the passenger door as soon as I arrived.

"How was school?" She asked while I buckled up.

"Same as usual, I guess." I said. She looked excited like she'd been in the morning. "Classes are fine and I'm thinking about starting college counselling."

"It's never too early." She said as she pulled out of the parking lot. "But remember to keep your mind open. College is about doing what you love, not being forced into something you're not sure about."

"I know." I said, thinking about how she felt about not going to Juilliard and how that might be the reason she was so upset. "I'll consider all of my options. Don't worry."

I typed the movie theater's address in the GPS app but she told me we had to stop by the house first.

"What time does the movie start?" She asked.

"At seven." I replied, unsure about what she had in mind.

"We have some time then." She smiled. Them, she popped in one of our favorite songs from when we were kids and we drove home while the sun shone high in the California sky.

...

Hailey made me dress up. She said we rarely ever had a chance to have a fun sisters night and we weren't going to waste it by not using it as an excuse to dress up. She did my makeup and it turned out she was a lot better at it than me: I looked stunning. I put on a summer dress I had in the back of the closet which I hadn't worn for a long time. The weather at Seattle barely allowed skirts, let alone a summer dress. It kind of reminded me of Amanda and how she loved that type of dress. I took a picture in front of the mirror and sent her so she'd know I'd made me think of her.