Great! My parents are just brilliant people. I can't believe they expect me to just pack up my life and move in the middle of my junior year. Worst of all, we're not even moving to a major city, it's some town called Rosewood in the middle of Pennsylvania. This has got to be the worst time of my life, well maybe it comes in second to the time I spent in rehab, but whatever, it still sucks. This is their half-assed attempt at "getting me back on track" or whatever the hell they call it. This car ride is taking forever! Why couldn't we just take a plane? Ugh and my mom keeps asking me questions and looking back at me. I see my dad smiling in the rearview mirror so I glare back at him. I could really use some music right about now, but my phone is dead and they're using the charger for directions. Really? I mean come on people, if you wanted to move here, you should've known the way already. I attempt to drift off into sleep, but my mother's annoying voice is constantly echoing throughout the car and I'm too lazy to tell her to shut up. Finally after what seems like hours we pull into this fake ass movie town and pass through endless streets. I wonder how many people live here. Why does my mom have to like small towns? Doesn't she know people will talk, and I thought this was a fresh start? They even took away my Ferrari! I couldn't believe it when I had to say goodbye to my baby, but they said they don't want to attract any unwanted attention or whatever that means. People are going to find out who we are sooner or later and I'd much rather have the comfort of my car when they do. I'll just have to call my grandpa to buy me a new car.
"We're here honey," I hear my mom say and I scoff at her happiness. I am not happy.
"Whatever," I say.
"Come on Emmy, you should be excited," my dad says getting out the car.
"Excited about what? Uprooting my life and being shipped off to the middle of nowhere? Having my Ferrari taken away?" I complain and see four girls walking with purses and books. One is a tall brunette who dresses preppy, another brunette who's the smallest that pulled off a rock/artsy look, a blonde with blue or grey eyes and cherry red lips, and another blonde who's curls were perfect and her eyes looked like the ocean. She was beautiful, like she came from a catalog. But I returned to my anger.
"Stop being so dramatic," my dad says and I scoff again for the second time.
"This is bullshit," I yell and throw up my hands and I see the girls out the corner of my eye, their stares on me.
"Hey, watch the language young lady," my dad scolds.
"Whatever," I say and push past him going inside the house. I turn back around once I reach the door and see the girls enter in a house across the street from mine. I go up to a room that looks similar to mine and I realize my dad had the movers set it up. I just know I'm going to hate it here. I already miss my girlfriend and all my friends from back home. A couple hours of sitting in my room had my mother sending a search party.
"Emily come down here now!" she yells and I roll my eyes and head downstairs.
"What do you want mother?" I ask.
"I noticed those girls across the street, I was thinking that you should go say hi," she says with a smile.
"How about no," I frown.
"Here I baked a pie, go and say hi," she says and leaves no room for discussion.
"Okay after I take a shower and get dressed. Can I drive around to see what the town is like?" I ask.
"Sure," she relents knowing that's the only way. I go back upstairs and put my phone on the charger. I take a nice hot shower to rinse and help melt the tension. After that I brush my teeth and go through my closet. I settle on that Givenchy shirt I picked up in Paris a couple months ago and black true religion pants that fit loosely on me. I put on my new Gamma 11s sneakers and a fitted hat. I let my hair be wavy for today because I didn't have the energy to straighten it. I walk down the stairs and I am stopped by my dad.
"Where are you going?" he asks.
"To say hello to neighbors, then out for a drive," I say and he nods. "Can I take the Porsche?"
"Yeah that's fine," he says and I let out a sigh of relief because I really don't like my mom's Mercedes, and he hands me the keys.
"I'll be back by 12," I say and went to grab the pie off the counter.
"Don't you have school tomorrow?" he asks.
"Yeah, and?" I ask and he shakes his head and I walk out. The walk towards the house is over fairly quickly and next thing I know I'm pressing the door bell. The blonde with cherry red lips answers the door.
"Hi," she says with a smile.
"Hi, this is for you from my mom," I say lamely.
"Oh thanks, my name's Hanna," she says and accepts the pie.
"Cool, mine is Emily," I say awkwardly.
"Do you want to come in?" she asks and I was about to turn her down when I saw her puppy eyes.
"Sure," I relent and we walk down the foyer into the kitchen. The house is pretty nice.
"These are my friends, Spencer, Aria, and Alison," she says placing the pie on the counter. "Guys this is Emily, she's my new neighbor". She says.
"Hi," they all say.
"Hey," I say and try to think of a way out.
"So where are you from?" Hanna asks.
"New York," I answer back.
"Oh cool, which part?" Hanna asks with interest.
"Manhattan," I reply.
"That must've been nice," Aria says and I nod.
"Why did you move," Alison asks and I cough.
"My mom likes small towns," I say vaguely.
"Do you play any sports?" Spencer asks.
"I swim occasionally but not competitively. Do you?" I ask.
"Yeah I play field hockey," she answers proudly.
"Nice contact sport," I comment.
"So are you gay?" Alison asks and I see the other girls glare.
"Ali!" they say in unison and I laugh.
"Yeah I am, is that a weird thing here?" I ask.
"Hmm not really," Alison replies.
"Too bad, I was looking for a way out of this place," I say sarcastically.
"It's not too bad," Aria says.
"What do you guys do for fun here?" I ask.
"Sleepovers, go to the mall, movies, sometimes we go to Philly to hang out," Hanna answers and I nod. "What did you do for fun?"
"Hmm lots of things. Shop, swim, go to clubs," I answer.
"What do you do with your summers?" Alison asks.
"Well I used to go to my houses out in France or LA," I answer and Hanna spits out her drink.
"You have houses in LA and France," she asks in shock. I guess, but that was normal back in New York.
"Yeah, my family owns a bunch of property in other places too," I say nonchalantly. My phone starts to ring and I answer it.
"Emily!" I hear a familiar voice on the other end.
"Yes grandfather," I say sweetly.
"How do you like your new place?" he asks.
"I hate it here, but it's whatever. I made some new friends," I say looking to them.
"Oh really? How about you come visit me next weekend?" he asks.
"Of course! Just make sure dad doesn't complain, I can't stand his whining," I say and we both laugh.
"You know I will. Actually there's this event going on and I wanted you to come to get your more involved in the business," he says.
"Speaking of getting more involved, I reviewed that deal that we just made," I say.
"Which one?" he asks.
"The one with Marx Pharmecuticals, it was crappy, we could've gotten more shares for less," I say and accept a drink from Hanna.
"Really?" he asks.
"Yeah, but let's talk about that next weekend. I'm on my way to Philly to visit Joanna," I say.
"Okay, and bring your friends next weekend," he says.
"Grandfather! I can't just invite them, we just met," I groan.
"Do it!" he demands and I roll my eyes.
"Whatever you say master," I say sarcastically before hanging up.
"So you're family is into business," Alison says.
"Yeah," I say. "What are you guys doing this weekend?" I ask.
"Nothing, we usually just have a sleepover," Spencer says.
"Would you like to come with me to the Hamptons, it was my grandfather's idea to invite you guys since there's a gala going on this weekend," I say hoping they will agree, my grandfather does not like to be disappointed.
"Hamptons?" Hanna says in shock. "Just how rich are you?" she asks and I laugh.
"Yeah, we'd just have to ask our parents, but it should be fine," Alison speaks for them.
"Good, here let's exchange numbers," I say and we all put out phones. "Okay, I have to go," I say.
"Got a hot date?" Hanna asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Wouldn't you like to know," I say mysteriously before slipping out and going to my dad's car. I take off for Philly. On the drive there I thought about how nice their clique was. Everyone seemed really cool. I pulled up to a restaurant that I frequent when I'm in Philly.
"Fields for two, I made reservations for 6," I say to the host. He takes me over to my regular table and I see my beautiful girlfriend waiting.
"You look absolutely beautiful," I say pecking her on the lips and then sit down. I look at her and she's in a skintight red dress, her blonde hair is slightly wavy and her eyes, I get lost in them.
"You look sexy as always," she answers back. "I ordered your usual".
"Thanks, sorry for being late, my mom forced me to be social with my neighbor," I say.
"It's okay, how was it?" she asks.
"Not half bad, I think I made a few friends," I say and she nods. The conversation is light throughout dinner and I walk with her hand in mine back to my car.
"Can you stay the night?" I ask but already knew the answer.
"Of course," she says and I open the door for her. We drive back towards Rosewood and pull up outside my house at 8:30. Surprisingly I'm home early. It's still light outside and I go to open her door. I kiss her softly and push her up against the car door. I love the feeling of her curves in my hands. I'm hoping my parents are out and I look for my mom's car to see it's gone thankfully. Once we pull apart I see movement in the corner of my eye. I turn towards Hanna's house and see the girls exiting. They waive in my direction and I waive back and feel Joanna's hand wrap around my waist and pull me into the house. She squeezes my ass too, I guess to mark her territory, but I'm not complaining. We made love and are now wrapped in blankets with her backside against my front.
"What are you thinking about?" I ask.
"Us, our future," she says.
"What about it?" I ask.
"I'm thinking about how hard it's going to be to see each other since I'm in New York," she says.
"And?" I ask.
"Do you think we should take a break or have an open relationship?" she asks and the wind is knocked out of me. I've been with this girl since we we're 10, we've known each other since birth.
"What?" I ask and slightly raise my voice. "Why do you want a break? Do you want to see other people?"
"I just think that you will have a lot of temptation here, especially with me not being around and I don't want to always wonder about you," she says and I can't believe what I'm hearing.
"That's bullshit. You know you're the only girl for me, why are you trying to do this?" I ask getting frustrated.
"We can be together once we're in college together, but right now it seems like we're drifting apart," she says. "You've changed a lot".
"How have I changed?" I ask.
"Oh I don't know Ms. Rehab," she says and I feel a sting in my heart.
"That's a low blow," I say.
"No it's not, you were out partying every night ever since you were introduced to that crowd," she says.
"Hopefully we both change for the better and find our way back to each other," she says.
"Whatever," I say completely done with this conversation. I get and put on my boxer and sports bra. "I'm sleeping in the guest room". I'm too pissed off to sleep, but I'm too tired to stay awake. I just stare at the ceiling until my eyes become heavy and the darkness takes over. The next morning I wake up to the smell of eggs and bacon. I walk downstairs half naked since I've always been comfortable with my body. I hear voices in the kitchen and I walk towards it thinking it's just my parents and Joanna, but I was sorely mistaken. Instead I see Hanna, Aria, Spencer and Alison talking to my mom.
"Morning mom," I say refusing to go upstairs in the room where Joanna is sleeping to get clothes.
"Morning sweetie. For God sakes put on some clothes," she says loudly and I hear Hanna laugh.
"I'm good mom, Joanna is upstairs," I say and I know she doesn't know about the break up or break or whatever the hell she calls it. I move to get coffee and stack my plate.
"What's she doing here?" my mom asks and I gave her a knowing look and she threw up her hands. "Not even one day," she says and I scoff.
"Stop! I wasn't going to kick her out," I said and Joanna coming downstairs dressed in one of my shirts and shorts interrupts our conversation.
"What are you guys doing here?" I ask trying to change the subject.
"We just wanted to stop by to see if you were busy," Hanna replies and I nod taking a sip of my coffee.
"Hi Mrs. Fields, hey Em," she says leaning in to kiss me, but she didn't expect me to turn my head. "Really?" she asks.
"What do you want from me?" I ask.
"For you not to be a douche," she whispers and I roll my eyes.
"Funny, you just get everything you want, and I never get a choice," I say.
"Mom, I'm sure you can take Joanna home," I say trying to pawn her off on my mom.
"Nonsense Emily! I am not being a chauffer to your girlfriend. You can take her back to New York," she says and I scoff.
"Can't you just do this one thing for me. Damn that's all I ask. No one ever asks me my opinion," I snap.
"Stop being so dramatic, we have company," she says.
"Oh it's all about appearances," I say sarcastically.
"Stop it," Joanna says.
"Oh that might've worked when you were fucking me, but it's not going to work anymore," I spit out with venom and I regret it once I see the look on her face. "Whatever, go get dressed, I'm taking you home," I say firmly and I see she blinks back the tears and goes upstairs.
"Was that really necessary to embarrass her?" my mom asks.
"Stay out of my business," I say.
"You are my business," she says and I chuckle.
"I know you don't want to go there Pam," I say and hurt flashes across her face.
"Whoa, calm down Emmy," my dad says and the nickname calms me.
"Sorry mom, I'm just angry," I say and take another sip.
"Why? I thought you'd be glowing," my dad jokes and I chuckle.
"I would be if she didn't break up with me right after. Whatever it's not like I wasted 7 years of my life on one girl," I say and roll my eyes and get an idea. "Dad you're a genius".
"What am I taking credit for this time," he asks.
"After I drop her off in NY, I'm going to hang around there. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon," I say and kiss him on his cheek.
"No drugs," he says firmly.
"Of course papa, you're the best," I say and hold out my hand and he sighs handing me over a couple hundreds and putting his wallet back in his pocket. I clear my throat and give him a look and he sucks his teeth pulling out his wallet and handing over two credit cards.
"Be careful with those," he says and I nod.
"No strippers, no drugs, no cars, no planes, no stores, yeah, yeah," I say and he looks serious.
"I'm serious Emmy," he says.
"Fine okay, but are you sure about the strippers?" I ask playfully. "You guys want to come?" I look to the girls and they nod.
"No strippers, you often become too generous with my money when it comes to them," we both laugh until we see my mom's face it's stone serious.
"You think that's funny Wayne? You know what happened last time," my mom says and my dad clears his throat and attempts to become serious.
"Come on mom, get your panties out of a bunch and live a little," I say sarcastically and pat her shoulder.
"I swear Emily Catherine Fields, if I get the idea that you're doing drugs again or buying strippers, I will ship you off to rehab," she says and I shrink under her gaze.
"Wouldn't be the first time Pam," I say fiercely. "Whatever, I'm done with this conversation". I say going up the stairs, but not before I hear my mom talking to my dad.
"You see the disrespect? Why is she acting like this. She's changed, we should've moved a long time ago," my mom says and I roll my eyes at that entire conversation. I guess you can see that I'm not really close with my mom, but there's a reason for that. I walk upstairs and go to my room to get clothes and I see Joanna naked. The sight of her still makes me weak, but I'm still angry. She begins to walk over to me and kisses me.
"What are you doing?" I ask pushing her off me.
"What does it look like?" she says.
"Yeah well you're not my girlfriend," I say.
"Doesn't mean we don't want each other," she says.
"Well I don't want you," I say and I know it's completetly untrue.
"Oh yeah? Your mouth says one thing, but this says another," she say and reaches inside my boxers and I gasp at her touch. I know at that point I'm completely gone, she's always had that effect on me. Once we're done, I walk to take a shower. After the shower I return downstairs to see the girls with their bags and Joanna comes up behind me and squeezes my ass. At a time before last night I would've smiled, but now I just look emotionless.
"Alright lets go," I say and my dad throws me the keys to the Porsche truck.
"Have fun girls," he says and we walk out. The drive to New York was uneventful. Joanna said nothing to the girls and the girls said nothing back. I was stuck in my head so I wasn't helpful. Once I pulled up to her apartment in the Upper East Side she smiled.
"I love you," she says and I'm left confused at the whole situation, so I do what I do best.
"I love you too," I say but it has less meaning, it almost tastes bitter once it leaves my tongue. She smiles at my response and kisses me on the lips. She looks back to the girls but says nothing and I chuckle and know why she did what she did. She's threatened, by one in particular and I knew she was just playing with my emotions, so I'm going to play with hers.
"Hey Alison, come sit up front," I say once Joanna is exiting and I see her freeze at my choice, but continues to exit. Once Alison is situated up in the front I take off for my grandfather's apartment on Park Avenue.
"Where are we going?" Alison asks.
"To my grandfather's apartment," I say and the rest of the ride is silent. Once I pull up outside a valet boy comes to put my car in the garage. I nod to Harry the desk clerk since I practically grew up here.
"How are you Ms. Fields," he asks.
"Don't call me that! I'm just Emily to you," I say with a smirk.
"This place is nice," Hanna remarks.
"Yeah, I love it here," I say with a smile while we enter the elevator. I see the wheels turning in Spencer's head and I know she has a question.
"Spit it out Spencer," I say.
"Nothing, it's just that you're grandfather lives on Park Avenue," she says and the other girls look confused and I chuckle.
"What does the name of the street have to do with anything?" Hanna asks and Spencer scoffs.
"I thought you were obsessed with New York Han, this is like the richest part of the boroughs, only the elite live here," she answers back and they all look on in amazement. Thankfully the bell indicates that we're on the top floor where his penthouse is. I open the door and let them in.
"God this place is amazing Emily!" Hanna looks on in amazement. Aria goes to look at the view and gasps.
"It's so beautiful," she says and Hanna joins her and pretty soon all of them are looking at the busy streets of New York. I miss this place so much. I walk around the apartment getting reacquainted with things.
"Are you guys hungry?" I ask.
"Yes!" Spencer says and her stomach growls and we all laugh.
"Barry," I yell and a man dressed in a suit comes out.
"Yes Ms. Emily," he says in a British accent.
"Uh, could you make something for the girls, and tell the staff to prepare the rooms," I ask politely.
"Of course ma'am, right away," he says and takes off to follow orders.
"Who's he?" Hanna asks the obvious.
"Our butler," I say.