Forever Baby

Chapter 2-1

2

I study my reflection in the mirror after finishing my makeup. I pulled off a decent appearance, considering the little sleep I’d gotten last night. We hung out at Abe’s, laughing until very late—or very early, depending on how you see it. It was a great conclusion to my junior year.

I hear Nolan’s voice in the next room. Crap. It must be time to go already. I come out of the bathroom a little frantic, checking my list to make sure I packed everything.

“Livi, you know they do have stores in Spain,” Cara says.

I look up from my list to see Nolan and Cara examining me from the kitchen, their lips slanted upward with sly expressions plastered on their faces. I know they’re inwardly laughing about my obsession with lists and my subsequent anxiety about forgetting items on said lists. Nolan and I are heading to Seville, Spain, for the summer as part of a foreign exchange student program. We’ll be studying Spanish at a local university there.

I ignore their snickering. “I know, but there is nothing wrong with making sure I have everything.”

With a mock heartbroken expression and pouty lips, Cara pleads, “Well, you know you could always cancel and stay here with me.” This line has become her mantra over the past few months.

I frown as I walk over to Cara and give her a big hug.

She squeezes me tight. “I’m going to miss you. What am I supposed to do all summer without you?”

“Cara, it’s only a few months, and you’ll be busy with work and creating your signature tan. Plus, you do have other friends, and you are coming to visit at some point. The summer will go by quickly, I promise!” I exclaim reassuringly.

A knock at the back door sounds, followed by a singsongy, “Hello,” coming from my mother.

“Mama!” I say as I lean in, comforted by my mom’s firm hug.

I’m happy to see her, if only for a few minutes. It wouldn’t feel right to head to another continent without a farewell from my parents.

Releasing my grip from my mom, I twist and fall into a hug with my dad.

After kissing my head, he says, “Ready, sweetheart?”

“What? Max didn’t want to be here for your send-off?” questions Cara.

My older brother, Max, and Cara have a love-hate relationship. Max loves Cara—at least, he lusts for her—and she pretends to hate him. I’m pretty sure she relishes the attention that comes with his crude advances.

“He is in L.A., but I’m sure he would be more than happy to visit this summer to keep you company,” I say, winking.

“Ugh. No, thank you. The only good thing about you leaving is not having visits from him,” Cara states with an inflated note of disgust in her voice.

I chuckle and face Nolan. “You ready?”

After one final hug with Cara, Nolan grabs my bags, and we head out the back door, followed by my parents.

Cara yells after us, “You better text me constantly, Livi! I want all the juicy details!”

I laugh and agree. Knowing that I will be in another continent later today is both thrilling and terrifying. I’m not much of a traveler. I can count on one hand the amount of states I’ve seen. Thinking about what it will feel like to be in a whole other country is mind-blowing.

Touching my mom’s arm, I say, “No worries, Mom. Seriously, the details won’t be that juicy.”