That One Time... In Carmel-by-the-sea ;

"Attention Students, Principal Darren Edgar Would Like To Make An Announcement." The registers machine declared. "What do you think it'll be for?" I ask Amara who is standing next to me, trying to find her pink Chapstick in her mess of a locker. It wasn't that bad - but compared to mine it looked like two kids just had a party in there. "I dunno, maybe something to do with the following summer vacation?" She mumbles, applying the Chapstick, finally finding it after 20 minutes of digging. "Well I hope it's better than the one last week, telling us about not getting to continue the book club this summer" I reply rolling my eyes, cringing at the thought. Apparently, according to our school counsil kids where reading 'too much' and needed to go out and socialize a little as well. "Don't give it too much thought girl!, I'm sure it's for the best, This way you get more time to write songs for us!" She grinns putting her arm on my shoulder, dragging me to our next class together. I smile, shaking my head at her always-optimistic behaviour; she's my sunshine. As we are walking down the corridors to our math class the machine beeps again, only this time it was the principal in it's place. " Good morning students, it's your Principal speaking, I'd love to share a great news and opportunity with all of you. Westview high being one of the best highschools in San Diego, would like to proudly announce that it has been sponcerd by a huge company which is hosting a SCC - a summer camp competition, for this summer vacations. The competition is going to be talented based where the voice of Westview high can be heard. The department's are : Singing, Dancing, Acting Sports and Debate. This year the SCC is only being held for the junior and senior classes. Participating is mandatory. If you think you've got something in you that the world should see, then this is the time to step up. The participants will be off to Carmel-by-the-sea on next months June 1st, where the SCC is being hosted for a whole month and a half, coming back on the July 15th. Only two highschools have been selected in the whole world for this, westview high being one of them. For participating, write your names below your department on the paper hanging outside my office door. The participants will know further details by getting a phone call home to talk to your parents. I hope you all learn something from this and have a great time. Thank you." The machine beeped at the end once more as everyone started screaming and jumping up and down, except me and Amara. We both are looking at eachother dead in our tear-filled eyes, not moving. We both know what we just heard can possibly define our futures and fullfil my only dream. She jumped at me, hugging me tightly. "Finally!" she squeaks, half crying half laughing. "Finally" I repeat, hugging her back ; happy tears falling down my face. we attended our last class of the day barely able to control our excitement. as soon as it got over, Amara and I practically ran to the principals office and quickly wrote our names and the name we go by in front of the singing department. ----- one month later ----- I jump up on my bed as soon as I hear the first beep of my alarm going off, which I set up last night before going to sleep so that I woke up at exactly 6am; I can't afford to be late today!!. "IT'S FINALLY JUNE THE FIRST!!!!!" I scream hoping my mom will be up by now - but at the same time not wanting to wake up Nick... well, he'll be fine. he probably wasn't able to sleep all night from happiness that I won't be here for the next month-and-a-half to annoy him, so he deserves a blast before his short term freedom, doesn't he?. With a smirk on my face, I quickly get up and out of my bed, running downstairs where Nicks bedroom is. I tiptoe into his room trying not to make a sound while I moved his wheelchair which was blocking the way to his bed. Finally succeeding at it, I moved to the other side of his bed and crouched down hiding from his view while he was - much to my surprise sound asleep. I smirked at the Alexa sitting against his bedside table, ready for the show to start. "Alexa play the mornings here from Friends and volume on 10" I whisper, yeah imma friend's junky, big Surprise!. But nick actually didn't like it at all! And on top he despises this song -I mean he doesn't have any brain so can't blame him, which! automatically gives me one more solid reason to irritate him other than him being my little brother. I could barely hold my laughter as the song started to play, just after 30 seconds he half woke up, already looking annoyed as hell. "Ughhh not this again Ella!!!... ALEXA STOP!!" He growls, immediately going back to sleep, so I abruptly jump up screaming "MORNING STICK!!!!!!" trying my best to scare him; and it worked!, he screamed so loud that if mom wasn't awake by my screaming before she'd surly be striking down the stairs any second now. I can't stop my historical laughing as he just stares at me, his eyes and mouth both wide open with shock. "I SERIOUSLY HATE YOU SOOO MUCH YOU i***t!!!" He yells at me looking murderously angry. But me being me still can't stop gigling. "It's the first day of your short term freedom stick!! I had to give it to you with a blast, now didn't I?!" I say grinning, throwing a pillow at him lightly. He seemed to have approved the point as his mood immediately got better. "Yeah whatever, I'm just glad you're going" he says smiling sheepishly, that smile tells me that no matter what he'll Definitely miss me. "Yeah mee tooo bro!" I smile the same smile back at him telling him that I'll miss you too my stick-Nick. "NICKY WHAT HAPPENED!!!??" Screaming, mom burst into the room. She looks over at nick who is grinning at her, confused, Then she looks at me, and realisation crosses her face. "God you guys scared the crap outta me!" She sighs putting her hand on her chest as if trying to calm her heart. "We are okay mom, just had to do an epic prank on stick here before I leave" I say sitting on the bed next to Nick, plopping my hand on his shoulder, grinning again. "Yeah right!.. now get up and get ready both of you!! It's 6:30 already! You'd get late otherwise Stella!" She says Moving her hands frantically in front of her, panicking. "Don't worry mom, the plane leaves at 9:30; We still got loads of time left...but I surely should go and get ready" I say getting up from the bed, I did tell her we got time but now I'm panicking a little inside myself. "Yupp...now help me get out of this bed and onto my wheelchair which you moved in the corner!" Nick says looking at me annoyed again. "Yea.. sorry about that" I went ahead and wheeled the wheelchair to the bed while my mom picked him up from the bed and sat him in it. I run upstairs again to my room. mom said she's making pancakes for breakfast! So got to be quick if I wanna catch those fresh and hot!. But first! I should call Amara and make sure that miss sleepyhead is awake!. I thought to myself and picked my phone up from the night stand and stared to dial her number. Its been ringing for a while now and she hasn't picked up yet. my heartbeat quickens at the thought of her still being asleep. But then when the call was about to end I hear it connect. "Heyy!! You were still asleep weren't you!!? Now we'll be late!!!" I growl at her, frowning, pacing back and forth in front of my bed. "Stell, stop pacing!" I immediately stop in my tracks, "how did yo-" I am about to say but she cut me off "relax! I wasn't sleeping!" her voice completely Chill. "Oh yeah?, Then what took you so long to answer!?" I roll my eyes, She thinks she can play me so easily. "I was was brushing my teeth girl!!" She sighs, "look i know you are tensed but don't be! Now's not the time to get all panicky and worked up! It's time to sing, dance and get dressed to impress!! You getting me!?" She says calming me down a bit. "Yeah you're probably right" I agree, taking a deep breath. "I know I am, now tell your fav little Alexa to blast some 1d in there and let them tell you how beautiful you are while you get ready! Now go!!, Byee!" And with that she hung up the call before I could say anything else, leaving me in a much better mood than before. I look at the Alexa on my bedside sheepishly and order "Alexa play what makes you beautiful by one direction" before hoping in the bathroom for a quick shower. I had my outfit already picked and ironed for today, I'm wearing a beautiful sky-blue flowy, sleeveless dress with pastel yellow, pink and white flowers printed on it, which ends Just before my knees being neither too short nor too long. I paired it with a some really cute baige one strap sandals which has just the smallest heel. I'm wearing my signature bare minimum makeup look that concludes of a little bit of mascara, some blush pink lip gloss and a lot of nude pink blush on the cheeks, I love to wear coloured eyeliners according to my dress which is obviously blue in today's case. I don't wear a lot of jewelry as such, just some cute little stud earrings, a small bestfriend heart necklace that Amara got me in the 5th grade, I wear one half of the heart and she wears the other half -we vowed to never take it off no matter what- and a little music charm bracelet in my right hand that nick got me on my last birthday. I usually leave my hair open and down on my shoulders but it's really hot today and I don't want it to get all tangled up and greasy so I decided to put it in a ponytail for the journey. And at last completing the outfit with my ity-bity pastel-blue backpack containing all the necessities I might need when inside the flight. I click a full mirror selfie on snapchat and write 'ready for the summer!' on it, making sure to download it before clicking send to save the ending streaks. I am going all over my room and luggage once more to make sure I packed everything assigned, when mom calls my name from downstairs, as a sign that the breakfast is ready!. After filling myself up with the delicious Nutella pancakes and orange juice, it is 7:30 in the clock and the time to get in the car. mom went ahead and started putting my suitecase and little bag in the trunk of our SUV. While I am filling up my water bottle for the day. I am about done when Nick comes in the kitchen and parks his chair across me, I'm sure he's here to make some snarky comment about my makeup or dress, but he's just staring at me weirdly... almost like he wants to say something but is nervous to; well that's a first. "You wanna say something stick? Coz I'm getting late..." I trail off, but now he just looks more akward. i turn to the other way on my heel, "okay then I'm going byee take care bro" I call over my shoulder while heading towards the front door. "Ella!, Wait!!" He calls, I turn around and see him driving his wheelchair to me. "Uhh, yeah?" I ask when he stops near me. "Umm... actualy there is something I wanted to say... Just, please don't make fun of it" he mumbles in a low voice, looking at his hand, Okay this is weird, he's never like this!. "What's up dude!?... Okay!, I promise I won't... just tell me" I plead, and got down on my knees so I could be at his level. "Look I don't wanna sound all weird and sloppy and I am really really happy for you that you're going, but... But we don't have a clue if something might happen to me, you know, as doctor tandon said, my lungs are in pretty bad shape... I just don't wanna die with you being gone" he sighs, looking Everywhere else but me, I go ahead and fix his nose cennula which is feeding him oxygen through his little concentrator machine-bag, then taking his hands in both mine, I say, "Heyyy! Don't you think that you have the permission to go off and leave mom alone While I'm gone! Nothing's gonna happen to you! Okay! God has promised me that! So don't you worry... Okay baby bro?" He finally looks at me and we both smile at what nonsense I had just told him and that we both know we have no control over it. I squeeze his hands gently in a reassuring way, "not that I won't be glad to be done with your little sassy a*s, but just wait until I come back, and then i'll do the good deed myself" I give him a sarcastic smile, making him laugh. That's all I ever want... just for him to be sitting next to me, happy, alive. "Now go!, you have to be somewhere to spread your harpies! Byee!" He says smirking, I get up and out of the house, but not before ruffling his hair which made him super mad. he yells "don't give it to Amara! I kinda like her!" To my back as I make my way to the porch where our car is, "will make sure! Byeee" I reply grinning to myself, getting in the car seeing as my mom is already sitting inside, "have fun!" he yells again, "love yaa" I state as mom starts pulling out of the street. I shrug out my backpack and place it on the dashboard, after getting my phone from it. "Stell, ask Amara if she's ready or not Hun?" Mom says while driving towards Amaras house. "Yeah, mom. Let me text her" I say, opening my textbook and clicking on her name and start to type, S: heyy girl!!! you ready to get the show on the road??!. She replied back in less than a second as if she was just sitting on the chat!. A: hell yeah!! Just waitin'for yaaaaa!. S: I'm on my way!, C yaa in 2!;). A: (✿ ♡‿♡). Smiling at her reply I turn my head to look at mom, "She's all set mom" I tell her, with a huge Grin on my face. "Great!" she smiles back. I rest my head on the seat, looking out the window, sighing cheerly. Amara lives just two blocks away from my home so we got to her house in no time. Mom parked our white car in their driveway, she quickly checked her makeup and hair in the view finder and smoothed her beige dress before honking to let them know that we're here, I roll my eyes at her, mumbling "not this again", receiving a glare in return -Let me fill you in, My mom, the mises Alice Collins and my bestfriends mom being miss Sara Garcia were highschools enemies and have stayed like that ever since ; I know! how cliché right?, Like God had to put us in this situation while we don't even know for sure what went down between them which made them hate eachother so much! Why not let you see a little demonstration for yourself- I smile at her sarcastically, knowing what's to come, as Amara, her mom, And her younger half-sister Sofia came out of the door, her luggage is already sitting at the front porch.- The Garcia's own an amazing house, they are quite wealthy as well, but to people's shock, don't own a car cause Sara doesn't know how to drive one, and for some reason hates the idea of a driver. So Amara usually drive's with me and my mom whenever we gotta go somewhere- The 3 of them stared heading towards us, Amara and Sara both carrying a bag. Mom rolled down her window when they got to us, I quickly jump out and launch myself at Amara hugging her tightly, making her stumble back a few steps before she hugs me back, "Heyyyyyyy! You looking too cute to be true my beautifull!!!" She says smiling wide, as she pulled out of the hug to look at me like I'm a cute doggo. "Omg- you look like a queen shut up about me!" I say laughing, looking at her with wide eyes; she's wearing a beautiful peach crop top with blue denim shorts. Her gorgeous curly-black hair are up in her epic two buns, she barely ever wears any makeup except of a bold black cat eyeliner, some mascara to bring her hazel-green eyes out and a clear gloss on the lips, her golden-dusky skin is flawless to the n***d eyes with or without any makeup. She's wearing a few gold-delicate bracelets and necklaces including the other half of the heart with cute hoop earrings. She has paired the whole outfit with her white doudled snickers -she had written all of her favourite lyrics on it including some cute doudles. She's carrying a tiny backpack too but hers is a classic black leather one. She's looking breathtaking like always. "And you my princess" she replies winking at me, making me giggle. "I can't believe we're finally going!!!" I say excitedly, taking both her hands and jumping up and down, screeching happily. she quickly joined me by doing the same. But We were cut short in our happiness by our mothers who have started to argue about something once again. Nothing surprising in that but I don't want any kind of drama today. "Really!?" Amara says rolling her eyes at the two. "I freaking know right!, I'm so glad we won't have to deal with this for the next 45 days!" I say nudging her shoulder with mine, grinning sheepishly. "Ahhh that'll be like heaven" she says closing her eyes as of almost imagining it, I take her hand and lead us to our moms, who might just eat eachother here and now by the looks of it. "You are really saying that I don't know how to drive a car when you haven't even sat in the driver's seat since you were 16?" My mom yells at Sara from inside the car, "Oh I sure am! I'm not the here risking my own daughter and her best friends life! Now am I?" Sara growls back, "How dare you say that! You bi-" "Mom!" I quickly cut her off before she says that and blasts the grenade. She looks at me and I could see it in her eyes how hatefully angry she is. "Mom, please open the trunk for Amaras luggage, -oh and Sara why don't you help us!" I ask them politely, trying to stop the growing fight. Amara steps in front of her mom and practically drags her to the back of the car by hand, while I beg mine with my eyes to open it and not to make a scene. she takes a deep breath and presses the button that Instently opens the back door. I mouth a "thank you" to her and go to help Amara and Sara. A few minutes later we both got Inside the car after Amara had said her goodbyes, now she is sitting in the back seat and I'm riding shotgun. As we are about to leave, Sara comes to Amaras window looking sad, "I feel terrible that I won't be at the airport to see you off, I'm so sorry, but I really have to attend this meeting!, And I need to take Sofia to her first day of dance class... Im sorry honey!, I really hope you're not mad at me" she apologizes, reaching for her daughter's hand. "It's okay mom!, I swear!, Don't you worry, I have Alice and my girl Stella. I'll be okay! Byee now! I love ya, take care" Amara tries to reassure her worried mom who is frowning now at the mention of my mom being there instead of her. - I can't say that her feeling jealous here is wrong. "I love you too my baby! And you take care as well! I'll miss you tones" Sara replies kissing her forehead. She backed off to stand near Sofia who was crying now, they both wave at us as mom drives of. "What's the time now?" Mom interrupters us jamming to señorita with the question. "Umm, it's almost 8:30! SH*T!!!" We totally forgot about the time!!. "Omg! Our flight leaves in less than an hour and we're not even at the airport yet!" Amara panicks from behind me, "Okay Don't freak out girls! I'm here, just hold on tight" mom says putting the gear up one more notch and slamming her foot on the gas, making the car Jump forward like electricity. "WAOH" screames Amara as I close my eyes shut out of fright. She's rash driving to its extinct. "Mom I really am not having a good feeling about this, and dare I say Sara's fear of you driving is turning out pretty genuine right now" I say petrified of what's to come. "Shut up and let me focus!" She orderes and I oblige. She literally is behind the wheel of our lives.