Chapter 2-Just Like Us
The girls arrived home with excitement and light hearts. Hayden, her usual self, was practically bouncing off the walls. Lauren was obviously thinking, because she hadn't said anything since they left the deserted house. As soon as Amber walked in she opened the trunk again.
"What is all this junk?" Amber pulled out an old white t-shirt. Pulling out the tag she saw that it was marked with a name. "Hey look Hayden, it's your friend, Kostos." she handed the shirt to her.
"Why in the world would someone keep a nasty guinea pig cage?" Lauren held it up awkwardly by the wires.
"I guess this was the Sisterhood." Hayden held a frame. She ran her finger, sweeping off the dust, where you could make out four faces. The first on the left was a average looking girl except for her blue highlights and piercings. Next was a dark headed girl with a baggy shirt on and loafers. After her was the tallest of the four with brilliant blonde hair and an athletic build. Last was a much shorter, heavier girl who appeared to be Mexican.
"It must be, 'cause look, she's holding The Pants." Lauren pointed to the Mexican girl.
"The rest of what's in the trunk its just a bunch of junk, there's a soccer ball, some letters, a sketch book, a name tag from Wallman's, not much else."
"That's it?" Hayden looked to see for her self.
" I wonder if this sisterhood made a secret website or something." Lauren said, apparently not talking to anyone but herself. She walked over to the computer and began frantically typing.
"Found it!" Amber and Hayden rushed over. " I knew they wouldn't leave us with one little letter and a trunk of stuff explaining absolutely nothing."
Hayden studied the screen. "It's some sort of archive. Look they are all titled the same as the entries on The Pants." She brought The Pants over to them. "I want to know who Kostos was."
Lauren scrolled down and clicked the one titled "Kostos' arms." A window came up with a picture of a dark, handsome man in front of a beech with crystal waters. "Greece," Hayden murmured. She had been there a few summers back. Below it talked about Kostos. Apparently it was part of a girl named Lena Kaligaris' story.
"There was a girl in the picture that looked like she could have been Greek." said Amber who had been quiet until now.
"Moving on, this looks important," Lauren pointed to a hand-embroidered patch that read "Bailey Was Here."
The three girls quietly read the screen until Amber noticed the look on Lauren's face. "Sounds like you and Tibby have a lot in common." Lauren had a little sister named Taja. Taja died of leukemia nearly a year back.
"Yeah," she replied, pushing her frown back into her face. She didn't like to show people her emotions.
"Maybe we should stop for today," said Hayden who was noticeably uncomfortable. "We have plenty to talk about as it is."
"My dad called today," Amber tried to change the subject.
"What'd he say?" Lauren asked, letting Amber know she had succeeded.
"Well, he wants to come see me. I guess it's a good thing." Amber wasn't close to her father because her mother died when she was younger and her grandparents had custody of her.
"Yeah Amburger, that's great," Hayden jumped in, softly touching her hair.
"I don't know though," her eyes questioning," he always has another reason. He probably wants money or something."
"Who wants pizza?" Hayden jumped up. There never seemed to be a good subject. She called the delivery place and reported back, "It'll be here in thirty minutes. I have to take a shower, so get the door when it's here."
The two remaining girls sat in silence for a minute until Lauren broke in, "I can't believe this is happening."
"I know, it's crazy. I mean it's actually real…"
" I know, and what are the chances we would find them?"
" I don't know, but who gets them first?" the question had obviously been on Amber's mind.
" Um, I guess whoever needs them first. Maybe you, if your dad actually comes."
"Yeah, like that's going to happe…" she was cut short by the door bell ringing.
"Pizza!" Lauren bounced up and ran for the door.
"You're such a pig!" Amber yelled trailing after her laughing.
For the rest of the night the girls sat up talking and eating their weight in pizza. Their anticipation increased because they each knew their adventures would soon begin.