When Good Girls Drink

Chapter 14|I Really Need A Break

•Here’s a tip, baby sister. Never sign up for extracurricular activities. It's a pain in your back side. God, I'm exhausted. Coach had us running for hours•

Maxwell Hart

The weekend came quicker than I expected.

I spent my time after school at home because Lizzie couldn't come to the store after cheerleading practice.

She was also spending more and more time with Brandon and if I that friend, I would have gotten jealous by now but I used the extra time to catch up on my school work and my novels too instead of getting mad at her.

You know that friend right?

The one who gets jealous over the littlest things and causes the friendship to be more like an off and on switch than a tight bound made up of love, understanding and common interest.

Sydney was scarce too.

After lawn tennis practice at school, she'd go home to watch her sister, whose name I learned was Hailey.

In Sydney's family there was her older sister, Bethany, herself and Hailey.

Their parents were with their sister so it was just Hailey and her at home.

Speaking of home, for the past two days, I've been the one making dinner for Dad and I.

I'll admit, I'm no chef because I'm absolutely terrible in the kitchen like I've mentioned before but with help from YouTube videos, I was able to make pasta on Thursday and beef sandwiches on Friday without needing to call the fire department or pull out first aid kit.

Luckily, mom is back home now so the responsibility of meal preparation lies on her shoulders.

At exactly 2:00pm today, I was sitting with Mom and Sky in the living room helping myself to a big bowl of chocolate icecream while listening to my mom as she told me about her trip.

“The conference was only held on Monday and Tuesday,”she said,“so I spent the rest of the week at the hotel's spa getting massages. I also did a lot of shopping. It was very relaxing.”

“So am I or am I not telling dad how you spent the 401(k),”I teased and my mom nudged me gently with her shoulder.

“What's the price for your silence?”my mom played along as she hand scratched behind Sky's ears.

She had him in her lap.

“How about we make the next trip a mother-daughter event,” I suggested with a mouthful and my mom nodded.

“Yes!” she said, energetic. “There's this book store I saw at the mall there that I'm sure you'll totally love. I even got you some books. Wait here, I'll go get them.”

As my mom got up with Sky in her arms, we both heard the doorbell.

“I'll get it,” mom said as she changed course.

She opened the door with one hand to find Lizzie standing there looking very beautiful with her sleek ponytail, jeans, corset top and designer leather jacket.

“Hi, Doctor Hart,” Lizzie chirped as she gave my mom the usual one side hug. “Glad to see you're back already. You look different. Wait, did you do something with your hair? It's shinnier.”

“You noticed?” my mom smiled as she patted her hair on instinct,“Sisi didn't even point it out. She didn't notice.”

Liz walked in and my mom closed the door behind her.

My bestfriend plopped down next to me.

“She doesn't have an eye for stuff like that,” Lizzie said to my mom who was leaving the room to give us privacy before she turned to me.

“Good,” she said as she turned to me completely,“you're dressed already.”

“Dressed for what?”I asked as I set my spoon down and examined my blue hoodie with matching blue pants which were identical to the the pink ones Lizzie wore the other day.

I had styled my hair into two buns, each at either side of my head.

“Movie; Brandon, Jason, you and I, ” she said,“so we can spend some time together. I haven't seen you all week, Si.”

“Liz, I'm exhausted,”I complained, “I just want to eat icecream and read the new books my mom got me.”

“But isn't that boring?”

“Being in someone else's totally amazing life?”I clarified, “nope. It's not.”

“Your life can be amazing too, you know” Liz said,“then you wouldn't have to read so much.”

“But I like reading,”I said.

“And that's all you ever do,” Lizzie said as she got up, spreading out her arms dramatically to prove her point. “You read and read and read. One would think you wanna will a Nobel Peace prize or something.”

She walked to the kitchen, pulled the refrigerator door open and scanned the fridge.

“Call it old normal, ”I said,“but I like staying indoors and reading.”

“Could you get any simpler?” Lizzie sighed as she pulled out a bottle of apple juice, unscrewed the cap, closed the fridge and took a drink. “Look, I get that it's who you are and I love that you're up front about it but please, Si, live a little.”

“Really?”I asked pointedly,“all that little speech just to get me to come see a movie?”

“Tell me about it, I hate that we have to have this conversation before I convince you to go anywhere too.”

“And how am I sure that this isn't part of your ‘get-Sienna-to-fall-in-love-with-Jason’ plan?”

“If it was,”Lizzie said as she settled down beside me once more, “I wouldn't even tell you where we were going or if he was coming.”

“True,”I nodded in agreement,“your only purpose is to manipulate.”

“Very funny,” Lizzie said dryly and rolled her eyes,“are you coming or not?”

“Fine, I'll come, let me just find some footwear and change,”I said as I got up with my empty ice cream bowl.

“No,” Lizzie stopped me, “your fuzzy slides are cool. You’re like a blue fairy. You look really adorable.”

“Flattering doesn't work on me, Elizabeth,” I said, moving into the kitchen to rinse out my bowl.

“Mom!”I called, “I'm heading out with Lizzie!”

“This is going to be so fun,” Lizzie squealed,“like a double date.”

“Lizzie,”I said, my tone warning,“don't even start.”

My mom appeared with Sky in a collar and leash.

“What time will you girls be back?” she asked.

“No later than 10pm,”Lizzie answered for me as she got off the couch and grabbed my hand leave her bottle on the table, “we'll see you later, Doctor Hart!”

✿

I got out of Lizzie's convertible starting think this was a bad idea.

My gut want at ease and I hoped I wouldn't barf up my icecream.

“I know that face,” Lizzie frowned. “Come on, Si. This will be super fun. I promise.”

“I feel weird,”I told her as we stepped inside the theatre.

“That's just your introvert side talking,” Lizzie said, waving my nervousness off, “If you go through with this, I'll buy you an extra large bag of caramel popcorn.”

“Bribery,” I shook my head. “You were truly made for the business world.”

“You can blame that on my dad,” she said as she led the way inside.

“The guys should be here by now.”

I spotted Jason and Brandon standing near the snack area.

Lizzie spotted them a second after I did.

I dug my hands into the pockets of my hoodie.

For some weird reason, I compared it to Lizzie's designer brown leather jacket, milk coloured corset top, dark blue jeans and white vans.

I suddenly felt undressed in my all blue outfit.

Maybe I am obsessed with blue afteral.

I stood aside awkwardly as Brandon and Lizzie gave themselves a long hug.

When Lizzie pulled back, Brandon kept her by his side by wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

“You look beautiful,” he complimented and blood filled Lizzie's cheeks turning them a deep shade of pink.

“You too,” my bestfriend said without thinking,“not that you look beautiful. I meant you look handsome like prince charming but to compare you to a Disney character or anything like that because you're so much more–”

“Hey, Brandon,” I greeted, interrupting my bestfriend’s pointless chatter. “You look good.” I turned to Jason. “So do you.”

“Thanks,” Jason and Brandon said at the same time.

“You look good too, Sienna,” Brandon said and Jason nodded in agreement.

“I like the outfit,”Jason added and I caught him staring at my neck.

I was wearing the butterfly necklace.

I wondered what he thought.

“Let’s get snacks for the movie,” Lizzie suggested,“ Si and Jason can pick the movie.”

“Yeah, sure,”Jason said as he pulled out his phone to check what movies they were showing today.

Brandon and Lizzie headed off to buy snacks.

“What about–”

“Jason!” a feminine voice yelled across the room.

I turned to see Alisha and Belvia waving as they walked towards us.

Alisha threw her arms around Jason in an embrace and Belvia gave me a smile.

“Are you two here together?” Alisha asked looking from me to Jason.

“No,” Jason shook his head and pointed at Lizzie and Brandon who had their arms full at the counter.

They were talking.

Probably arguing about who was going to pay.

“They invited us.”

“Oh, good,” Alisha smiled, relieved but Jason couldn't see why.

She told Belvia go get them something too

“I really need a break,” Alisha let out a sigh. “Hey, Sienna, are you signed up for any after school activity?”

I shook my head and Alisha went on, “Good. Don't even think about it. It's so exhausting. Can you believe I haven't had time to just kick back and relax all week?”

“Well, I guess you really need this then,” Jason said, “I'm sure you're welcome to join us without notice or anything.”

I looked at Jason.

His face was blank.

You couldn't tell if he was happy or upset about Alisha and Belvia being here.

“So you're not happy to see me?” Alisha asked, her perfect eyebrows raised. I could tell she was a bit hurt from the way her voice sounded.

“No,” Jason shook his head, a chuckle resting on his lips,“I'm always happy to see you, you know that. I just think you should have called or at least texted. It was supposed to be only Brandon and Lizzie here but they both decided to invite their bestfriends and–”

“So you guys are on a date?” Alisha asked, her lips apart in a silent gasp.

“No, no, not like that,” Jason answered,“ we’re just two friends tagging along our friends’ date. If that makes any sense.”

Alisha nodded and didn’t say anything else.

I stared sideways at Lizzie, Brandon and Belvia.

I couldn't look anywhere else.

I was scared to find one of them looking at me.

I knew that this was going to blow up in my face one way or another.

What I wouldn't give to be at home right now talking with Mom about her trip with Sky and another big bowl of ice cream in my arms.

I really need to learn how to say ‘No’ to Lizzie.

✿

A while later, we settled in the theater watching a horror movie.

I had settled beside Lizzie who had sat next to Brandon and then Jason sat next to me and Alisha sat next to him and Belvia next to her so you get the picture.

The reason we were watching a horror movie was because Alisha had said she wanted to see one.

Brandon asked why because as far as he knew, Alisha didn't like horror movies but she persisted and so, here we are.

I flipped my hood over my head and hugged the large popcorn Lizzie had gotten for just me.

Yes, it was big but I doubted it would last till the movie was over.

Another really short while later, the movie started and surprise, I hated it.

Not the movie, I couldn't care less about the movie.

It was really crappy horror movie.

Not that I was expert on horror movie or anything like that but even a five year old wouldn't get scared when watching it so I didn't get why Alisha was screaming and clinging to Jason at the really crappy so called horror scenes.

Lizzie kept sneaking me glances every few minutes or so.

She was feeling bad and I let her.

She was the one that forced me into this mess in the first place.

She was going to have to do more than just popcorn for me to let it slide.

Not like I was going to make her buy me anything though.

If I have my way, it would be more of a sentimental value.

As we exited the theater, I waited for everyone else to get up before I did.

Surprisedly, my popcorn was still remaining so I munched on it as I exited.

I didn't engage in any conversations as I made my way out.

Leaving the others chatting in the lobby, I went to stand outside at Lizzie's car.

I wasn't worried about getting mugged and anything, it was still pretty busy outside because the city never slept.

I stood there in silence for a while before Jason decided to join me.

“Was the movie that bad?” Jason asked as he came to stand beside me me.

I shrugged and stuffed a handful of popcorn into my mouth.

“Silent treatment?” Jason asked and I shrugged again.

I don't know why but I didn't feel like talking with him.

I didn't feel like it.

“No, I just have nothing to say,” I said and Jason let out a small laugh.

“You,” Jason repeated, “have nothing to say? Unbelievable. You always have something to say, Sienna but you choose not to.”

“Says who?” I questioned,“the guy I met a week ago?”

Jason leaned back against Lizzie’s car.

“Today wasn't what you expected, was it?”

“What do you mean?”I asked and Jason shrugged.

“You weren't expecting Alisha and Belvia, were you?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I said without thinking,“but they're your friends so it's cool for you.”

“They could be your friends too,” Jason suggested,“Ally’s great. She's competitive and she likes to win but she's really fun too. She likes healthy stuff, sports and working out but she's still as girlie as ever. And Belvia, she's blunt and a lot of people think she's mean but she's just honest and that's how she talks. It's like someone waved a magic wand and we were friends. It's been Ally, Brandon and I since birth but–”

Jason stopped and I looked up at him.

He was staring back at me.

I looked away.

I wasn't listening.

I didn't want to be friends with Alisha and Belvia.

Kenzie's words kept ringing in my ears and I hated it.

Forgiving and understanding... But only people like Jason, Brandon, Owen and Matt got to see that side of them.

Jason and I stood there in silence.

I tried– for some reason– to chew my popcorn quietly.

“Well, I–” Jason started to speak but was cut of by the voice that interrupted him a few hours ago.

“Jason!” Alisha said loudly, her dark hair bouncing behind her as she walked to him. “Can I have your jacket please? It's freezing!”

Alisha's eyes turned to me as though she had just noticed my presence, apologetic.

I couldn't tell if she meant it or not.

“Am I interrupting something?”

She sounded like she was implying something.

“No,” I said, shaking my head, “I just was leaving anyway.”

“I'll see you at school then?” Jason asked as a sort of goodbye or something of the sorts and I nodded.

“Yeah,” I replied before I slipped back into the theater to call Lizzie so we could leave.

“PJ girl,” Belvia smiled as walked up to me eyes examining my outfit, “Your style is... cute.”

I didn't like the sound of cute.

“I wanted to ask about Matt,” she said going straight for the kill.

I blinked once, then twice.

Why was she asking me?

“He seemed weird after the party at Brandon’s,” Belvia continued,“did anything happen?”

“Why are you asked me?”I questioned, schooling my features and trying to get the answer I wanted from her.

“You guys were together at the party, weren't you?” Belvia said, looking at me like I was the dumb or something.

“You sent me to the room of purpose,” I said.

It wasn't a question.

Belvia let out a tired sigh.

“Look, Sienna,” she said,“you're cute and chill. Well, I guess that you are because you're friends with Lizzie. Matt likes you if you haven't noticed so I sent you up there to help a friend out but since that night he's been acting really weird and it irritates me. I don't know what's up with you and Jason though but could you at least give Matt the same kind of attention you give to Jason? Except you like Jason? I mean it's not hard. Just look at him.”

Belvia pointed and I followed the gesture.

He and Alisha stood together.

That looked like a couple.

Resting against Lizzie's car with her body wrapped in his jacket and her side against his as they both stared up at sky.

Jason's hands were folded across his chest.

“He's popular, cool and he's really not bad to look at,” Belvia said.

“I know but I don't like him,” I told her, “I know about Alisha's feelings for him.”

“Good,”Belvia nodded,“and I'd like it to stay that way. They're meant to be and I'm not going to let anything or anyone ruin it.”

As she walked past me to go outside, that was when I saw that Lizzie and Brandon's lips were locked.

I turned away to give them privacy.

I pushed some popcorn into my mouth distractedly and chewed.

At least one of us has a good night.