chapter one: high school never ends
How do you know when your childhood is ending? When you start losing friends. Sure we'd all like to believe that lifelong friendships are possible but they're just not realistic. Me and my friends had a good thing going for almost fourteen years. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start from the beginning of the end. The start of freshman year.
Kimi laid in bed wide awake the morning of her first day of high school. She was so excited that she could hardly get any sleep the previous night and opted to just stare at her ceiling fan and wonder how her high school career would go.
Would she make any new friends? Would Chuckie finally get over the protective big brother complex he had and she and Tommy could finally start dating? What clubs would she sign up for and what field trips would take place. She really hoped it wasn't anything completely underwhelming like in middle school. More importantly, had Chuckie got over his protective big brother complex?
She's startled to hear the knob of her door turning and then loud knocking.
Speak of the devil...
"Mom and dad said to wake you for breakfast," Chuckie told her, "Heya Kimi, why is your door locked? You've never locked it before? Are you okay in there?!"
Kimi signed at her brother's unnecessary panic and overreacting.
Looks like that complex he has going on isn't showing any signs of letting up.
Xoxo
"My babies are all grown up," Kira wiped her eyes as they made their way to the living room.
"Mom you say that every year," Kimi deadpans.
"And cries," Chuckie sighs.
"Again every year," Kimi finishes, "We just reached high school, we won't be moving out anytime soon."
"Those four years will be over before you know it, Kimi-chan,"
"And we'll be sure to treasure every moment," Chas finishes for his wife, rubbing her shoulder in comfort as they take in how much their babies have grown.
Kimi had grown into a beautiful young lady not quite over her edgy fashion phase choosing to wear a gray band tee she got from a thrift store tied in a knot in the front, black high waisted jean shorts, a red plaid shirt around her waist, and doc martens boots on her feet. She had left her hair down for once letting it fall in natural waves after washing. She wore light makeup surprising considering how much she loved bold looks of blood-red lipstick and smokey eyeshadow in eighth grade.
It scared Chas and Chuckie at first but Kira let them know how important it was for a preteen girl to express herself and make as many makeup mistakes as she wanted. Too bad Lipschits didn't have a guide for children past the prepubescent phase. It's a shame really Chas felt that's when parents needed him the most.
Chuckie on the other hand continued to be his perfect angel. Never causing his father too much worry and never seeming to fall into what might be the wrong crowd but best of all he looks out for his sister.
He wore a navy blue collared button-down shirt it's the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, fitted khaki jeans, suspenders, and black Jordans that cost more than what Chas was willing to pay for. Luckily his son had begun to make his own money through tutoring and working at some comic book store. He was even able to get his own car, a battery ran, teal, smart car as well as finally getting to have his braces off, his son was bound to be a heartthrob now.
"Okay you two one more picture for Kimi's dad in Japan," Chas decided, knowing just what to say to get everyone, especially Kimi to cooperate.
He knew her love for Hiro Watanabe didn't lessen her love for him one bit.
He snapped a few more photos and they were on their way.
Goodness, now he and Kira really ought to be headed to work. That gag of college students they hired at the java lava couldn't be left alone for too long now could they?
Xoxo
"Thanks for picking me up by the way if I have to catch another ride with Buster I think my heart just might give out, "
Angelica shrugged as much as she could considering she was the one behind the wheel.
"Wasn't Buster's license suspended due to illegal racing or something like that, Susie?"
"You'd think that but last time I heard he was dating a girl whose father is a really good lawyer,"
The two friends laughed absolutely tickled.
"Which girl is it the one your mom walked in on or the one with the lazy eye?"
Susie sighed, shaking her head.
"The fact that you even have to ask,"
"Cheer up your brother's fuckboy ways aside at least you'll get to see your little boyfriend, "
"Who?"
"You know." Angelica gestured with perfectly manicured nails painted hot pink with The Cynthia doll logo on top one hand still controlling the steering wheel with ease, "my cousin, your future husband."
Susie raised an eyebrow over the shades she wore.
"Tommy?"
Angelica matched her expression twin shades in all though hers arete hot pink counterpart to Susie's gold ones. Just best friends things.
"No." Angelica deadpanned as if this was the simplest evaluation that Susie just wasn't getting.
"Dylan, " she says.
"Is it crack?"
"What?"
"Is it crack? Is that what you're smoking?"
Angelica only laughs parking her shiny red new Porsche convertible in front of The Pickles residence.
"Make jokes all you want Carmichael but just remember I'm telling this very story for my wedding toast when you two get married, " and with that, she honked the horn so loud it did a little dance on their eardrums.
It did its job as both Pickles brothers came rushing out the door. They both seemed anxious to escape their parents and first-day-of-school photos especially Tommy.
He's only a man to appreciate video over photo.
"See you mom, dad we love you bye." Dil laughed as Tommy nearly dragged him along.
"Don't worry I'll look after him though these days he should be the one looking after me Mr. Martial arts, " Tommy added on really fast that Susie almost didn't comprehend what he was saying.
Susie didn't know why she found this information surprising the eighth-grader has had an interest in such for as long as she could remember and the young guy is actually good at it. It was really starting to show in his body too, dude was seriously starting to be toned.
She guesses she's more surprised Mrs. Pickles finally gave in, ever so protective of her boys but she guesses Didi figured it's best her son's talent be displayed in a controlled environment and guided by a known professional instead of in her living room where he poses a risk to everything breakable in her home including her good vases and prized photos of her family from the old country.
Susie smiled.
The two sophomores greeted the freshman and the eighth-grader and replied enthusiastic greetings as well.
Wow, Angelica had gotten a lot closer with her younger cousins once she matured almost too the pint of being overprotective and spoiling her cousins like a girl would do to her baby brother.
Susie pretended she didn't see Dil blush heavily at the sight of her adjusting his lucky sherpa a bit in nervousness before quickly recovering.
Okay, maybe Dil did have a bit of a crush on her how cute. She remembers she had a crush on an older boy named Hakeem when she was in middle school. Nothing came from it of course as it should be but her and Hakeem actually did come to be great friends heck she's even close to his girlfriend Brandy.
Susie decided to ease the mind of the poor kid.
"You still kicking ass?"
Dil beamed at her not bothering to open the door of the backseat choosing to hop over it. (Angelica: Hey watch it, Dilly Chan).
"And taking names."
The two fist-bumped in their own unique way as Tommy made his way to the other side of the car seeing as Dil couldn't be bothered to move over rolling his eyes at their antics but unable to hide the fondness all the same.
Angelica readjusted her rearview mirror.
" Everyone's seat belts are intact and fastened? Yes?" she didn't wait for a reply, her foot was already off the break and on the gas.
The passengers in the car could barely brace themselves.
"Stop one the middle school and high school the final destination,"
"Actually…" Dil started.
"Genius over here skipped a grade, " Tommy rolled his eyes, "Starting high school with my baby brother, can I get one thing to myself?"
"Hey at least you're the one who didn't have to deal with all the hand-me-downs" Dil argued.
Angelica and Susie congratulated him nonetheless though Tommy was still skeptical about the whole thing knowing the kid had plenty of friends old and young at the middle school still and wouldn't mind simply breezing through school for one year.
The look he gave the youngest Pickles said as much.
"It's really nothing, T, Middle school's cool and all but two years is enough of it without you guys around and-, " Dil pauses, taking a quick glance at Susie when he thought no one else was paying attention, "Besides a little head start in life never hurt anyone."
Xoxo
It's the first day of high school and of course, the Deville fraternal twins are running late. Of course, they are why wouldn't they be? Let's phase it. The Twins are destined to live chaotic lives.
She doesn't have time to triple-check that she has everything she needs for her classes in her backpack but makes sure her gym bag for soccer is perfect.
She wore a pale pink crop top with long sleeves and light blue so stressed skinny jeans along with chunky white sneakers. Her style was girly yet still kept in touch with her sportiness. She decided to straighten her normally wavy hair last night and wore it down parted in the middle today. She also wore light waterproof makeup to not have to remove so much of it when tryouts came about. She looked amazing.
With this and her newly toned and dare, she say hot body from all the work she put into soccer camp over the summer she was bound to be popular and make the junior varsity girl's soccer team. After that, she'd make the varsity team then co-captain then captain, homecoming queen, and prom queen. Yes, the road to popularity and the hall of fame was so close she could practically taste it.
But first, she had to get to school on time. Only kids that came to school on time could possibly catch the rumor mill of the location of Sean's "welcome to hell" beginning of the school year party. Everyone who's anyone was going to be there as if you weren't well...she didn't even want to think about those poor unfortunate nobody's because she's destined to be a somebody.
"Phillip and Lilian Deville if you don't get your butts out the door right now you're going to be late, " she heard their mom's girlfriend call from downstairs.
Next thing she knows she hears Phil stomping down the stairs. Not one to be last in anything especially against her twin she quickly matches him not without her things.
"Coming Helen, " they annoyingly say together despite years of practice to not be so alone being twins and raised in the same households really didn't offer much breathing room.
It happened when they were in eighth grade their parents decided that they worked better as co-parents being true to themselves. It took some time but they eventually found partners that matched them better. Betty found Helen a hard-working, no-nonsense but somehow was still a very passionate and nurturing lawyer with a pixie cut. Howard found Eugene an architect and vegan who loved to constantly travel the world and take their dad with him.
They constantly would receive postcards and gifts from the couple labeled "wish you were here" sometimes Phil and Lil didn't know where in the world Howard Deville was.
Still, Lil loved the fashion they'd sometimes send her from European countries especially good ol Paris, France. She still couldn't believe the only time she got to see the city was when she was a baby and too young to remember!
Phil on the other hand simply enjoyed the snacks and cookbooks from around the world, it made Lil wonder if he missed cooking. Who knows at least his personal hygiene had improved well enough if he wanted to maybe Helen would at least let him take on the responsibility of preparing the family meals every now and again.
"Woo there they are, babe, " Betty said once her twins unceremoniously crashed into the kitchen school and soccer gear along with them, "Told you it would work."
Helen combed her fingers through her short hair, "I seem to recall being to one that came up with this plan to get them out the door in time for school, darling."
She got up from the bar chairs at the kitchen island and was at the stove preparing plates.
"Here, have a quick breakfast with your mother and me, we have an announcement, " she said piling eggs, bacon, sausage, and chocolate chip pancakes on plates for them.
"No time, " Lil said nearly out the door before her mom placed a gentle hand on her shoulder attempting to rain in her temple Lil continued, "We're already so late to start the morning you have no idea how bad I wanted to get to school on time the party of the ce-whats so funny?!"
Phil signed collapsing to the floor mad he could've slept in a little longer instead of rushing around like a lunatic. He wore
"Check the clock downstairs we've been set up, Lillian," he said.
Lil checked the time on the stove and they still had an entire hour and thirty minutes before they needed to be out the door. They lived within walking distance of the high school anyway which admittedly tended to make them slack off in morning preparation for everything. She really couldn't believe it.
But most importantly she'd get the information she needed.