"So, the guest list," Summer walked into the kitchen holding up a yellow legal pad with a list of names, "We've got to send out invitations by next week, so we've got to figure this out."
"Um…how about immediate family only," Seth suggested over his bowl of Lucky Charms. Livvy sat on the stool next to him with her own bowl of sugary cereal.
"You know we can't do that," Summer whined, "We agreed on a Newport wedding…which means a giant guest list."
"Is it to late to change our minds?" Seth laughed, glancing over the list, "Oh god…Julie Cooper? No. Especially not if Aunt Hailey is invited. And Holly? How did she make the list?"
"Julie is married to your grandfather Seth, we can't not invite her," Summer explained, looking at a few of the names, "And Holly happens to be a client of mine, as well as half of the other people on my side of the list."
"Why? What about your family and what not?" Seth inquired, stealing the list back.
"God, I don't even want to think about my family," Summer wrinkled her nose, "I wouldn't invite any of them if I didn't have to. My dad and the step monster are coming and a few of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. "
"Oh," Seth nodded, "Well, I guess the list is good."
"Is Barkley on the list?" Livvy piped up referring to her stuffed dog, "Because he told me he wants to come too."
"Of course he's on the list!" Summer beamed, "And guess what else? You get to be the flower girl."
"Really?!?" Livvy cried with delight, nearly spilling her bowl of milk, "Yay! I can't wait!" For a moment she grew silent, and then gave them a quizzical look, "What's that?"
"It means you get to carry a basket of flowers and throw them at people," Seth explained, picking Livvy up and twirling her around, "Sound good to you?"
"Yeah! I love throwing things," Livvy laughed, throwing her arms around his neck, "What else do I get to do?"
"Um…well you'll get to see grandma and grandpa," Seth explained, "Since we're going to California."
"Does that mean I get to go swimmin'?" Livvy's eyes lit up as Seth put her down. "I'm going to go get my water wings!" And without another word Livvy ran to her room to start packing…two months early.
"She's odd," Summer laughed, leaning against Seth, "Just like you."
"And cute," Seth smiled, putting an arm around her, "Just like me."
"Hello all," Lena wandered into the kitchen still in her pajamas. Chelsea was right behind her, but fully dressed…in the outfit from the night before.
"How was the movie last night?" Seth questioned as Lena poured herself a glass of orange juice.
"Wonderful," Chelsea answered for her, "We gave it two thumbs up."
"What did you see?" Summer added, setting the list down on the coffee table.
"Spiderman 5," Lena told her, nonchalantly glancing at Chelsea, "But we better get going soon."
"Yeah, I've got a late flight tonight, so I've got to go back to Marissa's and pack," Chelsea informed them, "So you should go get dressed Lee, so we can be off."
"Will do," Lena nodded, taking her glass of juice with her back to her room. Within a few minutes she emerged in a pair of American Eagle jeans and an ACDC tee.
"Okay, we're going," Chelsea announced, "Bye guys." She gave both Seth and Summer a quick hug, before dragging Lena towards the door, "See you at the wedding."
"Bye Chelsea," Seth replied, "And Lena, get back here by 2, we've got to stop by your mom's house to get your stuff."
"You mean she said okay?" Lean gasped, popping her head back in the door.
"Yeah, she's fine with it," Seth confirmed, "Now go, get the girl packed so she's out of our hair."
"Hey! I heard that!" Chelsea yelled from the hall, yanking Lena out of the doorway.
"So what was up with you last night?" Chelsea questioned as Lena paged through a copy of Rolling Stone on the guest bed at Ryan and Marissa's apartment.
"What do you mean?" Lena raised an eyebrow, looking up at Chelsea who was stuffing a shirt into her bag.
"I mean, you like weren't having any fun," Chelsea explained, "You we're just sitting there, talking to people."
"Yeah, I was talking to people," Lena nodded, a bewildered look on her face, "Who says I wasn't having fun? Just because I wasn't bouncing off the walls and dancing on the tables like you."
"Haha, what can I say?" Chelsea laughed, "I was having a good time."
"Yeah," Lena replied, a little miffed, "A little too much. You went from like zero to 90 in under 5 seconds. What was up with that?"
"Oh, just a little help from a thing called lover's speed," Chelsea held up an aspirin bottle.
"What?" Lena asked, snatching the bottle from her. She unscrewed the cap and looked inside, "Hun, this isn't aspirin."
"Duh," Chelsea stated, stealing the bottle back, "Its ecstasy, dumbass."
"Your kidding me!" Lena exclaimed, "Your on x?"
"Shhh! Let's not tell the whole city!" Chelsea stuck a hand over her mouth, "And I'm not "on it". I take it every once in a while to get myself going."
"Are you really that stupid?" Lena snapped, "That stuff is terrible."
"Lighten up, kid," Chelsea ruffled her hair, "I'm not a coke addict. Ecstasy isn't even addictive. It's just…like a pick me up. Like a vitamin!"
"We learned about it in school," Lena replied folding her arms against her chest, "And I'm telling you Chels, It's no good."
"Oh no! School told you it's bad?" Chelsea gasped in mock horror, "God, I better not do it if school says it's bad!"
"I'm serious," Lena sighed, sitting back down, "But fine, go ahead, destroy your life."
"Lena, do you really think I'm that stupid?" Chelsea responded seriously, "If it we're that bad for me, I really wouldn't be doing it."
"You promise me?" Lena demanded as Chelsea took a spot next to her.
"I promise," Chelsea nodded, "Here, you can even try a few yourself. Then you'll know I'm not kidding."
"I really don't think-," Chelsea cut her off before she could finish and pressed the pills into her hand.
"You ready to go?" Ryan stuck his head in the door. Chelsea hid the bottle behind her back, and smiled politely.
"Yeah," She beamed, "Just a second." After he had left, she turned to Lena, "I've got to go. We're going out for lunch before I leave. But just try them sometime, you'll thank me." Chelsea gave her a quick hug and then left the apartment. Standing alone and confused, Lena stared at the green tablets in her hand, completely unsure of what to do.
Anna's POV
Glancing around the empty room, I felt a pang of misery in my heart. Boxes upon boxes we're loaded up in the back of the Navigator, and I couldn't believe my daughter had collected so much stuff. Where had it all come from? There must have been a thousand boxes- at least 10 boxes of clothes and shoes, and just as many for books and comics. This felt so wrong…only a week ago I had had 4 years to prepare for this moment, not just four days. My daughter, my baby girl, was leaving me. Possibly forever. And all because of one, silly fight. Except it wasn't silly…it was serious and extreme. Bottled emotions had been spilled that night, and now they could never be taken back. Lena hated me…she blamed the downfall of her life on me and me alone. The worst part was that I understood why, and it actually made sense.
"I better get going," Lena sighed, grabbing one last box from her room. I turned slowly, and just stared at Lena. She looked so grown up, so sophisticated. Tall and gorgeous, and smart as a whip. If I had been such a screw up as a mother, how had she turned out this perfect? Her brown eyes were softer than usual, and all I could do was picture her at age four, back when I could do no wrong. What happened to those days?
"Yeah, did you get everything?" I asked, taking my eyes off her so that I wouldn't cry. This was so hard to take.
"Yep," She nodded, shifting her weight slightly, "I'll see you later then."
"Bye Catalina," I said quietly before she began to walk down the stairs. My throat went completely dry as I watched her fade away…and I felt as if I was fading away myself.
MornirDragon- Thanks for the constructive criticism, I'm really happy you took the time to tell me what I was doing wrong, so that I can make this the best story it can be. But I would like to say that though this story may not seem realistic to you, I do write from life experience, and the experiences of the people I know. I've only lived in one town all my life, so yeah, my idea or reality and life may be different. I'm only writing according to how life is here in The OC…Oak Creek, Wisconsin that is, lol. Yeah, which means I go to OCHS. LOL. Crazy little factoid there. But again, thanks for the reviews everyone, and for reading my little story here. Don't hesitate to email me or IM me with any further thoughts or questions. Hope you had a great holiday!
Happy New Year!
Stephanie