BloominDaisy: Thanks for the ideas…I agree with Sean and Holly…and I think I know what you mean with Zach and Anna…but I'm not quite sure! So…I'll wait for your next review to clarify it, and then I'll write it! But for now...actually never mind…I'll write what I think you meant.
Holly was fidgeting in her seat. They had only been in the air for an hour, but it seemed like forever. She had sent the pants back to Ella, after having them for a week. And now Holly felt alone without them. She knew what she was going to have to deal with when she got home. Maybe not Alexia right away…but she would have to deal with Sean some time. The thought of seeing him made her sick. It made her feel guilty about what she had done. "What are you thinking about shorty?" Stephen asked her. Holly took off her headphones and looked up at Stephen. "Nothing…Sean." Stephen sighed and put an arm around her, pulling her close to him. "You know what your parents think." "Yeah I do. I even told him that I we couldn't go on. But now that Alex is leaving…I think we can make it work." "It's up to you. I will still love you no matter what!" "Thanks Phen." Holly said.
Anna was helping Zach move into his new apartment in the city. He and Sam would be sharing a two bed room loft near Columbia. But Sam wasn't there tonight; she was at home helping her father. That left Anna and Zach alone. "How did I get suckered into sharing this place with Sam? All she does is nag." Zach complained as he brought in a box from the hallway. Anna got up from her seat on the couch and ran over to help him. "Because you are a push over. But now you'll be closer to the University and to Eric…that's good right?" She took the box from his hands and put it down on the floor. "Guess what?" "What?" Zach asked. "My parents have decided to come up here for Christmas…and we are going to be here all of next summer." "Really? That's great! I won't be alone after all." Zach sat down on the couch and pulled her down on top of him. She put her arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss him. "I think I'm ready…" "Ready for what?" Zach asked. "To…you know…" Zach took her face in his hands and kissed her. "Ok…but only if you're seriously ready…" "I'm ready." She stated.
When Anna woke up, it was dark outside. She got out of the bed and wrapped the sheet around herself. She could hear Zach in the kitchen. When he saw her, he quickly turned around and went back to searching through the refrigerator. Anna walked up behind him and placed her chin on his shoulder. "What'cha looking for?" Zach was staring absent-mindedly into the bare refrigerator. "Nothing…" But he didn't move. "Was that the right thing to do? I mean…" Anna put her hand over his mouth and turned him around to face her. "Of course it was." Zach wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the top of her head. "You should get dressed…it's getting late. Lucas is coming to get you in half an hour." Anna picked the sheet up from around her feet and started running back to his bed room. "You're funny!" Zach plopped down on the couch and turned on the television. "I'm serious!" He yelled.
Anna sat down on the bed while she put on her tennis shoes. 'I just lost my virginity…' She thought to herself. 'I. Just. Lost. My. Virginity.' She thought again. "Oh my gosh, I'm turning into Bee…" She said this out loud, adding a nervous laugh. "Holy crap."
Lucas had come early to pick Anna up. He was waiting for her in the living room, with Zach. Anna came out of the bedroom with her hair still disheveled. She smoothed down the straying strands with her hands. (I Didn't mean for that line to rhyme!) Walking over to Zach, she kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Call me later, ok?" "Yeah." Zach answered and then showed the two out the door. When they were gone he leaned against the door frame and covered his face. He still had not retained all that had happened. 'I love her…but…what if we did do the wrong thing?'
Bridget had told Ella what was going on, and the two had sat down to have a serious discussion about it. "Well there are pros and there are cons mom," Ella started as she took a sip of her coffee. "Pro: This is New York City, and my life long dream has been to attend New York University…I would be able to do more things with art. Con: I'd be leaving my best friends." "I'd be leaving my best friends too honey, but I also love Eric." Bridget told her. "I know…and then there's your job. But I don't think you'd have a big problem with that! You could probably even take over the woman's team at Columbia!" Bridget nodded in agreement with Ella. "I know…you know you are dealing very well with all of this?" "I know. I'm trying. I would hate to leave the girls and all…but I think I need to step outside of the box. And it helps that I love this city. I also love the people." Bridget paid for the two cups of coffee and they walked off, down the street. Ella stopped in her tracks. James and Lucas were walking ahead, up the street, in their direction. Bridget hadn't seen them yet. "Hey honey, are you sure that you and Lucas aren't…" "I'm sure mom!" Ella said trying to think of an escape route. But it was too late. Bridget had seen Lucas. And Lucas had seen Bridget. "Hi Ms. Vreeland. Hey Ells." Ella hugged him and waved to James, who smiled in return. "Umm…" Ella started to say something but Lucas cut her off. "Ms. Vreeland this is…James. He and I…are…" "Dating." Bridget said for him. Ella was shocked. "How did you know Mom?" "Honey, a mother knows these things. When I saw James here and Lucas from across the street…they looked so cute together." James laughed at Bridget. "We get that all the time." "No we don't." Lucas said to him. James took out a cigarette and lit it. "And I can tell that your mother's gaydar is perfectly intact Ella…unlike yours!" Ella slapped him on the arm. "Shut up!" "What's he talking about Ells?" Bridget asked. "Oh, nothing!" Ella said staring at Lucas and laughing.
"Well, James and I have to get going. I have to go pick up Anna in an hour, from Zach's. We were just going to get some pizza. Actually, do you guys want to join us?" "We'd love to join you, but we are having dinner at Eric's tonight." Ella explained. "There are some big things in the works. I'll call you tonight." The two hugged and everyone said goodbye.
Eric lived in a posh apartment complex. He had a suite that took up the whole top floor. His life style was anything but horrible. He had cleaned up a little, refusing to let his maid work tonight. He was just about to take the chicken out of the oven when the door bell rang. He ran to get it. Bridget walked in and kissed him, tugging playfully on the colorful apron he was wearing. Ella walked in behind her and stopped. "Don't think I'm going to kiss you…eww gross." Eric laughed and pointed towards the kitchen. "Dinner is almost ready."
"So, what do you think?" Eric asked Ella. "I know it's a spur of the moment decision…but I would love to have you two living here with me." "What about marriage?" Ella asked him. "I don't want to move my whole life up here if you two aren't going to work out." "We haven't discussed that. It would be best, for all of us though, if we took everything one day at a time. We'll, all discuss marriage later." "Yeah." Chimed in Eric. "Ok then…now that that's settled…oh wait. My cell phone is ringing. And it's Anna…I need to take this."
Ella walked down the hallway and into a bathroom. "Hey Anna, what's up?" Anna didn't speak. "Anna? Is that you?" Ella asked. "Yeah it's me Ella. I'm sorry…my mind is just somewhere else." "Like where? Honolulu?" Ella joked trying to loosen things up. "Haha…funny!" Anna said. "No…I'm just trying to get a grasp on everything that happened today." "Oh my gosh! I know! After mom picked me up we had a little talk and then we ran…" Anna cut her off, not that Ella was mad. (Anna didn't know of James yet.) "Zach and I had sex."
"Excuse me!" Ella shouted. Eric looked in the direction of the bathroom and started to get up. Bridget grabbed his hand. "Not a good idea. They are probably just talking about the price of lip gloss or something!" Ella continued shouting. "You did what? Annabelle Bailey McBrian! I can't talk to you right now about that. I'm standing in the bathroom at Eric's…I will see you when I get home…just let me take it all in." Anna hung up the phone with out saying good bye.
"What was wrong? You kept screaming." Bridget stated as Ella walked back into the dining room. "Oh, that? Everything is fine. I had a little freak out moment. But I think I'm ok now. Thanks for dinner Eric. It was great." "Thanks for coming Ella." Eric said to her. Bridget stood up and kissed Eric on the cheek. "I'm going to run Ella back, and then I'll be over in about an hour…or sooner." "Ok, I'll be waiting." Eric stood up as well and walked them to the door. "See you later Ella." Ella waved and ran to the elevator. "Come on Mom! I need to get back! Anna needs me!" Bridget ran to the elevator and walked in, as the doors were shutting.
Twenty minutes later Ella was running down the hallway into Anna's bedroom. Anna was lying under the covers and had a confused look on her face. She saw Ella and sat up. "Thank God you're here." Ella shut the door behind her and made sure it was locked. "I tried to hurry."
Holly came home to an empty house. She and Lena walked inside to find a note sitting on the kitchen counter.
Lenny and Holly, I had to run into the city…Jon blew a fuse in the building. All of the power went out. Alex is at Stacy's and I'll be home before lunch.
Love Paul
Holly looked at her watch. It was only eight o' clock. Lena was exhausted. "I had forgotten how much jet lag one can get when they travel that far. I'm going to go take a nap." "Ok Mom, I'm just going to check my emails and then start unpacking."
Holly turned on her computer and immediately an email from Ella popped up.
Holly…first off. What a summer it has been. I know you agree with me! I got the pants and I am wearing them. I need all the strength I can get. Mom and I have some big news…but we can't tell any of you until we are face to face with you…it's big. On the other hand, Anna has some big news too. She called me in a panic last night and was freaking out. She and Zach did it…when I say it I mean…well you know what I mean! I told her I wouldn't say the word. (She really is freaking out, I think.) And it wasn't like mom's and Eric's first time…and trust me there was a second. I had to hear that from Anna herself. And did I tell you that dreamboat Lucas has a boyfriend? Yeah, pretty much stunned me! (I happened to be throwing myself all over him when he told me!) But yeah, James is really cool. So, I haven't had a boyfriend, but…I have Lucas…who I haven't kissed. But we do hold hands and we do cuddle. Mom loves him though…I wish he wasn't gay! I'd marry him in a second! Call me when you reach land…this land of course! I love you…have you talked to Esi? I talked to her the other day, and she seemed very upset. It was a few days after the concert…the pants fiasco thing. I really think that the pants are content to just be plain when they are on me. I am, as you call me, a plain Jane! Again, I love you! Call me soon!
Ella
Holly heard a knock at the door. When she went to get it, she almost had a heart attack. She had said that she could deal with seeing Sean later…not ten minutes after she got home 'later'. Holly calmly opened the door and stepped outside. "Hey." "Hey." Sean said, his hands stuck inside his pockets. "You look good." He said to her. Holly had gotten a tan while in Greece, and her usually colored hair was back to its original shade, a dark brown. "Thanks…you too." In actuality he looked like crap. He hadn't shaven what little hair he did have growing on his face. And his hair was a mess, even his clothes were rumpled. Holly reached back and shut the door. "Do you want to go for a walk, or something?" She asked him. He looked over his shoulder at the road, like someone was watching them. "Ok."
They walked in silence for a few minutes, Holly's flip flops hitting the pavement. "I've been thinking." She said quietly. "About what?" He asked "My parents don't really agree with us…and I was acting in the moment when I broke up with you. I even told my mom that I liked this guy in my art class at school…" "Well do you like him?" Sean asked, placing his hands back in his pockets. "Yes…not really. He likes Ella. But she doesn't know that. Back to what I was saying, before you interrupted." She let out a laugh, and it seemed to help the situation a bit. Sean laughed with her.
Holly pulled her sunglasses up and uncovered her eyes, so that she could look into Sean's. He cautiously placed his hands on her waist, she flinched underneath the pressure. "Are you saying that you want to try to work this out?" He asked taking a step closer to her. "Yes. But I need to talk with my parents and Alex before we decide anything else. She needs to know." Holly said pulling her sunglasses back down. "But why are you changing your mind? I thought you were stubborn?" "I am stubborn… I also never back away without trying. And I never really tried to make this work…I need to get home. I need to unpack. I'll call you later." She ran off in the direction of her house, leaving him to walk back to her house alone to get his truck.
Esperanza hugged Nicole goodbye and then hugged her cousin. Andy took Nicole's hand in his, and Esperanza laughed. "You two have a good life together!" "Come on Esi! It's not that funny!" Andy laughed. "Oh but it is cousin!" Esperanza teased back. The three were standing in Andy's front yard. Esperanza heard her dad honk the horn and she ran to get in the car. "Bye guys…I'll call you when we get home."
As they were rounding the corner that led them straight down Market and towards the highway, Esperanza swore she saw Max, standing by his car staring straight at her. When she blinked and turned around, he was definitely there. "Hey Dad! Stop the car!" Jack stopped the car and turned around in his seat. "What now?" Esperanza got out and ran over to Max. "Listen," She said. "I don't want to leave things like this. Can't we just be friends?" Max looked past her and down the road. "I don't know, but I can definitely try…I'm sorry about all of those things I said. I didn't really mean them. I was just upset." He reached out his arm to shake her hand. "Friends?" "Friends." Esperanza said back. But she didn't shake his hand. Instead she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you Max…I'll never forget what you did for me this summer." She then backed away, slowly walking back to the waiting car. Max waved and got into his car.
Esperanza got into the car and leaned forward to talk to her mother. "Is everything ok?" Carmen asked. "It's good…thanks. Now let's get back home! Please!"
Holly ran downstairs when she saw Carmen's VW green bug coming down the street. "Mom! Carmen and Esperanza are here!" Lena was in the kitchen talking to Paul; she dropped the knife she was using to cut tomatoes and ran outside. All four girls hugged each other. Holly and Esperanza were actually crying. "I hate summer!" Esperanza exclaimed. Holly laughed and hugged her friend again. "I think we all hate summer!"
The same day Esperanza and Carmen had left, Ella and Bridget climbed into their car, saying goodbye to Tibby and Anna, who would be coming home the next day on a plane. Ella winked at Anna and produced her cell phone. "You know what to do babes if you need me." Anna smiled and waved bye. "See you tomorrow."
Anna knocked quickly and loudly on Zach's door. Sam answered. "Oh hey Anna. He's in his room…but…" it was too late. Anna had already run under Sam's arm and was at Zach's bedroom door. She didn't knock. He sat up in his bed, the lights were out. She flipped the switch, making him cringe. He turned his bed side lamp on and pointed at the light switch, motioning for Anna to turn it off. She did so. Sitting on the edge of his bed, she pulled her feet up, crossing her legs. "You didn't call me." "I know that Anna…it's just that was a huge step for both of us…I freaked out…you didn't call me either." Zach said accusingly. "I freaked out." "See I told you it was the wrong thing Anna!" Zach tried not to raise his voice. Anna stuck out her hand in protest. "It wasn't! It was not the wrong thing! Stop saying that! Do you love me?" "Of course I love you! Why would you say that! You are one of the only constant things going for me right now…" "That's going to change after tomorrow. I'm leaving to go home." She said. "I know that…but if we love each other, as much as we say, then it's going to work." "Ok…It's going to work…I trust you." Anna stood up and moved closer to him on the bed. He pulled the covers back. "I still have worries though…I mean I'm only sixteen. And we've only been dating for two months." "Ahh, well did I ever tell you that my parents got married after three?" Zach asked. "No you didn't. And I can't see us getting married in a month! By the way…I think Eric and Bee are going to get married." "What makes you say that?" Zach asked as he reached over her to turn the light back off. "I saw them at dinner last night…They were acting…strange." "Yeah well don't worry about it…it's not going to happen anytime soon." "So they are?" Anna squealed. Zach laughed and turned his television on. "I will say that I have the inside scoop on what's going to happen…but I'm not telling you."
Blah! Its a little blah…it's like six pages and I kind of just went with what BloominDaisy said. Hope ya'll like it! I can always change it right? Right! So…review please! I really need ya'll to help me!lol!
Rachel