"No."
"But-"
"No."
"But we-"
"No, Stella."
"But why don't you want to go?" I whine while slamming my fist down on the hard wooden table.
"Why do you want to go ?" Charlie answers my question with a question. I hate when people do that to me; I'm the only one that gets to do that.
"Because it's New York." I say incredulously as if it's that was the most absurd question to ever be asked.
"And we get to go for free." Says Wen, being the backup he has failed to be up to this point.
"Thank you, Wendall." I thank Wen sarcastically through clenched teeth to remind him that I was not happy with him.
Wen nods with an innocent seeming smile while I just glare at him.
"Why not go?" Mo questions trying to steer us back on the right track.
"Thank you Mo." I thank Mo genuinely then I turn and give Wen one more death glare.
"I don't know you guys. 4 months? Gram hasn't been doing too good and I don't really want to risk anything." Olivia says, being her forever worrisome self.
I reach over and place my hand over hers. I look at her in the eyes with sympathy and comfort while saying, "I'm sure Gram will be absolutely fine. She may not be young, but she's a fighter." Mo and Wen mumble their agreement.
"How is your dad even letting you go?" Scott questions Mo, trying to turn the conversation back to the situation at hand and not Olivia's sickly grandmother.
"He's learning to trust me more." I high-five Mo with the hand that had laid on Olivia's.
"And plus, it's not like we're going there totally alone without adult supervision; Mr. Abrams and Ms. Reznick are going with us," I say.
"Even though almost all of us are almost 18." I add under my breath.
"Think about it guys; 4 months , good pay, only, like, 4 large gigs, and New York." Says Wen, ignoring my comment.
"Look-" Scott begins but I cut him off.
"No, you look Scott," I never really liked him.
"I've been stressed out this whole year and I know you all have too. We could use the time we have off to regroup. Don't you think that's just too big of a deal to pass up?"
"That's exactly my point! It seems too good to be true. It feels like they're gonna manage to find some type of loop hole to make us…do promotional adds or something." Charlie points out and I gotta admit it's a valid point and would be a score for him. Too bad I had already thought everything through.
"That's why Artie is going." Charlie looks as though he has nothing left to say,
"Guys, I know you're skeptical. But I promise you when we get there you're gonna wonder why you said no in the first place." I say softly.
Scott, Charlie, and Oliva look between each other before nodding in agreement.
"Yes!" I cheer along with Mo and Wen. I hop out of my chair and do my little happy dance, which doesn't fail to make the others laugh.
If only I knew what was to come in the next 4 months.