My Last Hope Chapter Three
A/N: Yes, I am aware Kyla isn't really from small town Oregon. Well, in this universe she is.
Kyla Woods was loving life more and more everyday! 12.5 million dollars can do that to someone, and it sure had for Kyla. Instead of living the quiet life she had in the months right after her arrival in LA, the club scene had become a lot more interesting when she became the new heiress du jour, or as she liked to tell her friends, she was the new Paris Hilton "with underwear." Of course everyone thought she was hilarious, especially because she bought them drinks.
Today was the first day she had even been awake early enough to play any part in the move she was making from Ashley's Mother's house to the loft apartment she and Ashley would be sharing. This is mostly due to the fact that the club she frequented was closed the previous night due to a bomb threat. "It's just a threat!" Kyla had complained. But, now she found herself awake at 10 AM, watching large men in overalls move their television set into the living room.
Across town at the mansion Kyla and Ashley had shared with Ashley's Mother, Mina, Spencer, and Ashley found themselves lugging boxes down to the backseat and trunk of Ashley's small car. Despite the fact she thoroughly hated her mother, Ashley wanted the main parts of her room moved slowly. This had been her home, and her childhood seemed to be dissipating with every piece of furniture that moved out.
After loading the very last box of this shipment into the back of Ashley's car, Mina slapped her hands together, her hair hanging down at her shoulders, brushing the straps to the white tank top she wore.
"Hey," Spencer said, walking out of the house, a lamp in her hands.
Mina smiled, she couldn't help it. Seeing Spencer holding a lamp shaped like the genie lamp from Aladdin just seemed so hilarious at that moment, she couldn't contain herself. As much as her Mother had preached to her to stay away from dating, she couldn't help but feel drawn to Spencer's kindness, and that charm she exuded that seemed so genuine and real.
Before Mina had a chance to even open her mouth Ashley seemed to appear from nowhere, standing behind Spencer, like she had been ducking behind Spencer the whole time. Mina knew that was probably not true, and Ashley had been standing there the entire time.
"Thanks so much for your help, Spence," Ashley smiled, as Mina raised an eyebrow at Ashley's oversight. "You too," Ashley said wrinkling her nose in Mina's direction.
Mina rolled her eyes as Ashley reached into the purse hanging loosely off of her shoulder and retrieved her car keys. Ashley slid into the drivers seat, Spencer next to her in the passenger seat, and Mina wedged herself between two speakers.
After a perilous trip through Los Angeles, Spencer and Ashley eased themselves out of the front seat, as Mina gingerly pulled herself from the backseat, her ribs sore from bouncing between the two speakers the entire trip. As they began to grab boxes Kyla made her way out of the entrance of the building, smiling at her sister and her sister's ex.
"This place is AMAZING!" she gushed. "I just fall in love with it more and more every day!"
"Wow, you're awake before the moon rises again," Ashley rolled her eyes, dropping a box in her sisters arms.
Mina stood frozen, leaning her head inside of the trunk her fingers under a box to lift it. That girls voice… she knew it from somewhere. She peaked her head slowly above the trunk. Kyla Woods, she recognized immediately. She had been the "It" girl back in Brookings. The Queen bee of the school. Everyone worshipped Kyla, and she never acted like it went to her head.
She and Mina had been friends, before Mina was truly herself. In fact Kyla had been Mina's first friend in Brookings, dating from the first day of Kindergarten, until the day Mina had revealed her secret to Kyla… and Kyla revealed it to everyone else.
"I have to go," Mina said quickly to Spencer, her back turned to even if Kyla looked in their direction, she'd have no idea it were Mina standing there.
"What, why?" Spencer asked, concerned.
"I forgot something I had to do with my Mom," Mina said, pretending to be looking down at the silver banded watch around her wrist.
"But Ashley was going to take us all out to dinner," Spencer pointed out.
"I know, I guess I'll have to skip," Mina said, her blue eyes darting around nervously.
"Do you at least want a ride or something?" Spencer asked.
"No, I'll just take the bus," Mina said. "I'll call you later."
"Alright," Spencer said waving, as Mina began her trek to the bus stop. Kyla noticed a figure who seemed familiar walking away from Ashley's car.
"Whose that?" Kyla asked Ashley, interrupting her sisters story about Spencer shooting milk out of her nose and failing to mention it had been Mina responsible for it.
"The girl?" Ashley asked, as Kyla nodded a response. "That's Spencer's friend, Nina, or Mina or something."
"She seems familiar…"