Grace was having a good time. Ballet was never her favorite thing in the world, but she appreciated everything about it. Like being a lifeguard, ballet dancers had to follow a strict exercise regimen. She flushed when Ben held her hand. She squeezed his hand back.
She was on her third date and was already falling hard. Ben and her talked online, but their relationship was long distance due to him living in Chicago. She knew this will be hard, but she was hoping this relationship worked out. She watched as Suzanne Devlin did her solo. Wow. She looked so graceful.
She kissed Ben goodnight. She giggled seeing his face. But it was way too soon for a nightcap. Besides, he is heading to San Diego for a business trip anyways. She thanked him and shut the door. Phew. What time was it? Wonder if Ellen was still awake.
Ellen was watching a old video when her phone rang. Like Grace, she kept her house phone as well.
"Hello?"
"Did I wake you?"
"Nah. Just watching old movies. How was your date?"
They talked for an hour till Grace hung up. Ellen smiled at her phone. Ben sounded really nice. Ellen looked at the TV. It was the last video the Unicorns ever made. This was the summer after eighth grade graduation. The Unicorns were breaking up. None were interested in carrying the club into the ninth grade.
All of the members were there. Grace, Belinda, Jessica, Elizabeth, Mary, Maria, Ellen, Janet, Tamera, Betsie, Kimberly, Brooke, Evie, Lila, Mandy, and Rachel. Amy's half sister Ashley wanted to come, but she couldn't leave New York. But as a honorary Unicorn, she sent a card; which all the Unicorns signed. They were in the Wakefield's backyard lounging by the pool. She laughed at Janet's expression seeing The Angels. The new Unicorns, they were different from when Janet was the leader. Mr Wakefield was BBQing on the grill while the girls were holding a camera telling their hopes and dreams about the future.
"Elizabeth! What is your plans for high school?" That was Jessica holding the camera.
"Joining the Oracle. Being class valedictorian in four years."
Ellen laughed hearing Jessica's exaggerated yawn.
"Really Liz? This is high school! Cheerleading, Pi Beta Alpha, boys. Live a little."
The camera cut to Jessica's face.
"As for me, I plan to be head cheerleader before junior year, President of Pi Beta Alpha and have the hottest boyfriend at SVH." She glared at Steven who was laughing.
"Ha! Good luck! College entrance essays, tests, lab work, you won't have time for any of that! Besides I know the head cheerleader. She won't take freshmen for cheerleading. As for Pi Beta, it's more exclusive than the Unicorns! Good luck getting in!" The camera showed Steven getting thrown into the pool.
"Ignore him. I will be a pioneer. I will get freshmen in cheerleading, and I'll get in the sorority. Let's talk to Mandy. Mandy! What is your plans?"
Mandy smiled at the camera. God, she looked so young. Her once long hair was gone, she had to go for a second round of tests. Luckily the results were negative, but Mandy cut her hair short anyways. It looked great on her. Short or long, Mandy was gorgeous.
"I live for the moment. I don't like thinking ahead. Plans change everyday."
"Sounds morbid. But I 100% understand. Thanks Mandy. Grace! How does it feel being a sophomore?"
"Awesome. Sorry about you guys being freshman. But SVH is awesome. The guys there, major babes. Looking forward to seeing my old friends!"
"One year being in ninth. Mary! How about you!"
Mary smiled a dazzling smile.
"Look forward to starting anew. I know high school will be a blast. I already have a new wardrobe thanks to Mandy. Future designer. Plus, it didn't cost me very much. Vintage is very underrated." She stood up showing her forties bathing suit. "This only cost me fifty cents, but since forties style is coming back, this same design is at Lissette's for a small fortune."
"Looks great. Thanks Mary. Rachel! How about you!"
Rachel slid her Tom Ford shades down and blows a kiss.
"This is my farewell before I move up north to San Francisco. I'm sorry I cannot see you at SVH, but maybe someday I can see you again. Unicorns for life!"
"Always. We will miss you Rachel. Lila! How about you!"
Rachel gives Rachel a cool look. They were good friends, but like Jessica, they competed with one another. Like that bathing suit. That bikini Lila was wearing cost as much as Rachel's sunglasses.
"Well, I'm planning to sign up for drivers-ed next year. I want Daddy to buy me a car before junior year. No way in Hell am I riding that smelly bus." Ellen could see everyone else rolling their eyes. Even Jessica's snort was heard. Lila glared at the camera. "Good thing Janet has a car, she agreed to drive me."
"Only because my parents are doing a favor for your dad. I don't hang out with freshmen. Besides, I only agreed for the first week. You are your own cuz."
"Okay, since Janet is going to junior year, how is it?"
"Great! I'm already planning on winning prom queen and homecoming this year. After that I have to start getting ready for college."
"Really? Why so soon?"
"Stanford is very competitive. I plan on getting into politics and Stanford is my dad's alma matter. I was thinking of Harvard, but Stanford is in California."
"Good luck Janet."
Ellen wondered why Janet came to the BBQ. When she asked Lila, she said she was under a lot of pressure from her parents. She drove Lila to the Wakefield's, and seeing the Unicorns decided to come visit with Tamara and Betsie for old times sakes.
"Evie! The last one to stay behind at SVMS. How do you feel?"
Evie teared up.
"All of my friends are moving away to high school. I'll be all alone."
"Aw. Cheer up! You are in eighth grade now! You can rule the school! Besides, you joined the drama club. Soon you'll have lots of friends. The Unicorns and Angels will be a distant memory."
"Never. Friends for life!"
Ellen wished Evie kept in touch, but she went her own way in high school, and barely talked to anyone from both clubs. Wonder what Evie was up to now?
"Brooke! Better late than never. How's things?"
Brooke grinned at the camera.
"My plans are to join film club. Dad's in the movie business, and I have to keep up if I plan to inherit his movie studio someday."
"What about music? Your mom's a singer."
Brooke's eyes clouded and her smile fell.
"I can have a ear for music."
Poor Brooke. Her mom moved away and never talked to her daughter much. Even now, their relationship was strained at best. Jessica coughed.
"Thanks Brooke. Maria! What about you!"
Maria was eating a hot dog.
"Everything. But I have news. My parents are moving away. So I won't be joining you at SVH. Sorry."
Ellen was there at Maria's going away party. Elizabeth cried losing her best friend. First Amy left, and now Maria. Maria moved away a week after the BBQ and didn't move back until mid junior year at SVH.
"We will miss you Maria. Especially Elizabeth. But you will always be a honorary Unicorn."
"Thanks Jessica."
"Kimberly! How about you!"
Kimberly waves
"My boyfriend is looking forward to attending SVH with me."
"Which one? I can't keep track of them all."
"Denny. You know Denny Jacobson? He transferred to Palisades before ninth grade. Now he's back."
Denny and Kimberly dated all through high school and college. Janet's and Kimberly's friendship was strained because Denny and Janet dated in junior high, and Janet and Kimberly were friendly, but always had a mild rivalry about Denny. But Denny was always deeply in love with Kimberly. In the tape, Ellen saw Janet and Kimberly avoiding each other.
"True love? It's way too early for me. But tell Denny I said hi. Moving on, Belinda! How was private school?"
"Okay. I liked it. Their sports program is the best in Southern California."
"Coming back to SVH with the rest of us?"
"I love to, but I can't. I need to stay behind. With Billy, my parent's income is stretched thin. I'm here on a scholarship. I need this school to get into a good college. Sorry I can't see you this fall."
"No worries. School or no school, you will always be our friend."
"Thanks Jess."
"Where is she? Aha! Tamara! Miss Sophisticated herself. How is life?"
Holy shit. Even back then Tamera was stunning. She was always the most well dressed of all the Unicorns. The only other queens of fashion were Lila and Mandy. But Tamera had this knack of making everything she wore look great.
"Same old same old. Just came here for old times sake. Wow. The Unicorns changed so much since I was a member. You let in Maria and that small eighth grader? Wow. You guys all changed. Good for you."
"Plus Elizabeth. Good to see you Tamera."
Tamera. She moved to France after high school to become a designer the last time Ellen heard.
"Betsie! Miss Quiet herself. How are you?"
Betsie smiled. She was Janet's best friend but also the most quietest. She was a member but rarely showed up to many of their meetings.
"Not much. Just surviving high school. You guys are in for a wild ride."
"Thanks Betsie. Last but definitely not least. Ellen! Club President Herself. What is your plans."
"To rock at life. The world is my oyster! I don't make plans, I live them.''
"Words of wisdom. I knew we made you President for a reason. Thanks Ellen." Jessica turns the camera on herself. "Well that is it. The Unicorns final meeting. Will we exist in the future? Whoops! I forgot. Excuse me." The camera shows Jessica talking to Mrs Wakefield who was bringing lemonade. "Mom!"
"Hold on. Let me set this down." Jessica waited till Mrs Wakefield put down the tray. "What is it?"
"Can I make a long distance call? I want to call Ashley."
"I don't know. Long distance is very expensive."
"Just for five minutes. Please? It's for my video."
"Make it quick. Any longer it comes out of your allowance."
"Thanks mom."
A few of the Unicorns were gathered around the phone. Except for Maria, Evie, Rachel, Elizabeth and Brooke, who didn't know Ashley or ever met her, were talking to Ashley. Lila used her credit card to call Ashley.
"Miss Ashley! What is your plans for the future?"
"Work. I been busy lately. The Butterflies are busier than ever, we are volunteering to clean up at a old church." Ashley says over the speaker.
"Sounds like you never changed. What about for fun?"
"This is New York. There is hundreds of things to do. Besides, I have to keep up the grades to get into a good college."
"You sound like our sisters. Thanks Ashley. I hope we can meet again."
"Thanks guys! I miss you in Sweet Valley! Bye!"
"Bye!" The other Unicorns say. The camera cuts back to Jessica's face.
"Okay. This is it. Say bye everyone!"
Everyone waved to the camera.
"The final meeting. Till we meet again. Goodbye."
Ellen was crying when it ended. Life was so simple back then. Most of the members had good lives now. Either were married with families or having great careers. Ellen felt like a loser. Her younger self was driven. What happened to her? Ellen wiped her eyes. She had to turn her life around. She had a silver membership on Lila's app. Maybe she can start there.