It was 10 when the tall white wooden front door opened and in came Claire closing it behind her.
"hey," she said dropping her stuff on the wooden floor by the door, the entryway, and coming into the big living room.
"hey," I said looking her way.
"moms at the store Vanessa's at work. Shell be back by 11 mom by midnight," Claire informed me.
I looked at her: "ok."
Then from her to her stuff on the floor, back up at her: "you'll have to-" I began meaning shed have to put her stuff in her room before mom or Vanessa got home.
Claire looked at me: "yeah I know."
She was slightly annoyed at having to be reminded again..
"or ill do it. I've been back since 9."
I was saying since id been back for an hr Id had time to rest before going on to the next activity.
"ok sure."
It was one of moms rules that all our personal stuff had to go in our rooms when we got home before she or dad or Vanessa did to clear the entryway for guests.
I got up w/ her following. I got to claires stuff and picked it up and started carrying it up the wide white carpeted stairs that led to the 2nd floor where our bedrooms were. She followed.
"lock the door?" I asked: "how was class? How'd you get home? Have you had dinner? Do you want dinner?"
Behind me I could feel her smile.
"yes," she replied: "ok. Bus. No. and yeah ill just microwave something."
I stopped: "uh….bus? You know we cant take the bus untill were 15."
That was another one of moms rules along w/ the cell phone thing.
"yeah I know but. My friend was sick we couldn't get ahold of her mom and I didn't have the money for a cab."
"oh ok."
"don't tell?" my youngest sister asked desperate not to be found out.
"don't worry I wont."
"ok."
We continued up the stairs.
"so," she began.
"yeah?"
"modeling's gotten boring. We always model the same thing. But apparently he wants you since he's seen you in shows and thinks you could model ballet wear. Er. Dance wear. You could come w/ me and talk to him this weekend if you want."
"ill think about it."
"ok let me know by wed. well have to call Adam so he can take us. Id rather have my brother knowing than my dad."
"yeah I know."
Wed reached the top of the stairs and headed down the hall to claires room. As a model she made $150 an hr for 5 hrs since she worked 5 days a wk. which is how much I could be making. If I wanted to. That would help me out a lot w/ the cost of toe shoes but it would also mean I'd have less time. Which comes out to be $750 a week and that's $3,000 a month which is. $36,000 a year. And she only just started.
"he knows about your schedule and says you could go at night. Again ill talk to Adam," Claire told me.
"ok."
Adam was our brother. Brian and nick were the other ones. We both knew id rather have my brothers take me than dad.
"how's jen?" I asked of my sisters best friend.
Jen used to be 'jenny' but changed it when she got older.
"she's ok. How's Karen?" Claire asked of a friend of mine.
"im not sure. I haven't talked to her in awhile."
"oh. She comin by?"
"I don't know she might."
"ok. what about matt and john?" Claire asked of other friends of mine.
"not sure."
"if john comes you know hell cook," Claire said.
We were now in her room.
We both smiled.
"yeah I do. Oh I meant to make you something if you wanted me to," I told Claire.
"uh wow sure ok."
"I can make beans or pasta or latkes or grilled cheese. Or I could microwave something for you."
"um pastas good," Claire told me.
"ok."
We started walking out of her room. I heard a phone ringing and realised that it was mine which I'd left in my room.
"ill get that," I said.
Claire looked at me: "well I don't think you'd want me to."
"well no."
"and ill get the ingredients out."
"ok."
She went downstairs and I went into my room.
"yeah?" I said into my phone answering it.
"hey its me," Karen said, "were coming by."
"ok um we?" I asked.
"myself and my friends Pam and Natalie. you'll like them they're nice. Your mom said it was ok. At some point I want you to meet Amanda and Nancy. And then Hannah. But not yet."
"oh ok."
We hung up.
At that moment as I was leaving my room the doorbell rang.
"ill get it!" Claire said as I headed down the stairs.
"ok," I muttered.
The door opened and I heard someone enter. Their footsteps were big which meant it was a guy.
"oh hi! Good to see you!" Claire said to whoever it was.
"hi honey you too," the guy said.
From his voice I knew it was my friend john.
"come in come in."
"thank you."
Id reached the bottom of the stairs where my friend john was waiting. He looked up at me. He was tall w/ dark skin eyes and hair. Claire was my height 5'4. And thin. john was in a long sleeve button down blue shirt and pants.
"well hello dear. You look good."
"I'm just wearing pajamas. And hello to you too," I said coming down the stairs.
Ever since realising I was interested in him I was shyer around john than usual. Which was why I hadn't thanked him but he understood and this didn't upset him.
After I got home I'd changed into a pair of green and black plaid fleece pajama pants and a gray short sleeve shirt. My hair was up but not formally. By which I mean it was in a loop.
"well you always look good though," we hugged then let go.
"where's matt?" I asked.
"w/ your brothers."
"ok. Who wants chicken?"
"well both of us do."
We walked into the big cold lit kitchen where john set the chicken on the wooden counter in the middle. All the counters and cabinets were wooden. It was quiet in there but not empty. the proximity of people was felt and noticed. The walls, ceiling and fridge were white the floor wooden. The kitchen didn't smell like anything nor did my house.
"um karens coming by and her friends Pam and Natalie who I've not met but apparently I'd like them."
"I don't think any of us have," Claire said.
"ok," john said.
The doorbell rang again and I went back into the living room. In the kitchen I heard Claire and john talking. He was asking her how class was and listening when she told him modeling had gotten boring.
I smiled on my way to the door. John was that way warm friendly nice and caring to everyone he met. His older sisters Reba and jessi were that way too. And his parents. That was one reason I loved being at their house. They really took you in….took care of you. I hoped I'd be there soon. And I was hoping some day wed get beyond just friends.
Reba and charlotte were Vanessa's friends. and Haley. Her brother matt and rebas brother john were my friends. And Karen. And Maria. Karen's friends are Amanda, Pam, Hannah Nancy and Natalie. Who I didn't know well but wanted to get to know.
