Chapter 5
A/N: Haven't written anything new for this story in a while. Kinda been held up by other things. Ah so sorry. But I did have this conversation with my sister about how we always hated when fanfiction writers took their sweet time between updates. Then I realized...hey, that's me! So I looked through the next chapter, proof read and here's what I got. Um. Just a warning. I will be bringing characters from other shows into this fanfiction. So I apologize in advance if you guys aren't familiar with the other shows.
I'm combining chapters yet again. So there should be multiple POVs on here.
The Diamond hotel was glamorous – though it wasn't quite the sprawling, open spectacle that the Tokyo Tipton hotel had been. The Gemini was more vertical, for one thing, and more tightly packed. The ceiling of the lobby shot up 50 floors. When Chyna stared up – way, way up, she could see huge chunks of light passing through arched beams and trapezoid panels that made up the roof of the building. Chyna felt a little woozy. It was dizzying to look at.
The tight layout of the hotel lobby made Chyna feel crowded. What the hotel lacked in perimeter space, it made up for in people – lots and lots of people. The whole lobby teemed with people – of all shapes and sizes – all looking like they had somewhere to go pronto, and walked as if they didn't see her, or her family, and Olive in the way.
"Whoa! Watch yourself there!" Her father exclaimed, as he moved to avoid that middle - aged lady clutching a designer handbag.
"Debbie was right. New York people are always in a hurry," her mother remarked.
"New York's not the only place where people are in a rush," Chyna said, remembering the Webster High hallways. "The people here are just older."
Just then, Cameron spotted three, snobby looking girls, his age, walk by. "I don't know why you guys are already complaining! I'm going to like it here! Excuse me – " Cameron walked off, without another word to his family.
"I give it 30 seconds before they turn him away," Chyna deadpanned.
Olive disagreed, "Make it 45. He's in a five star hotel and they're going to assume he has money."
Chyna's dad said, "I'm appalled at the two of you! That's my son you're talking about!"
"That's right, honey," her mom agreed. After a pause, "I'd give him a full minute."
Cameron returned almost exactly a minute later, with a full on smile on his face.
"So what happened?" Chyna asked.
"They told me to get lost!" Cameron announced brightly.
"Ok….so, why you smiling?" Olive asked.
"Don't you guys get it?" Cameron said, as if it was obvious. "They talked to me! Usually girls like them would just walk away like they didn't hear me! I am moving on up!"
"Keep dreaming, Cameron," Chyna said. She turned to her dad, "So dad, maybe we should check in? It's still early. Maybe we can still look around – maybe check the city block."
"Yea sure, lemme just find the front desk – "
Chyna's dad led the way, while everybody followed behind as they bumped into and stepped around people.
At the front desk, a balding, dark skinned man in a dashing suit greeted them with a pleasant smile: "Good afternoon! Welcome to the Diamond! My name is Marion and I'll be assisting you today. Do you have a room?"
Chyna's dad answered, "Yes – "
"We have a room," Chyna's mom finished. "We're reserved under Parks."
"Parks. That's P A R – That's right. I see your name. Here's the key to your room, and have a pleasant day. Enjoy your time with each oth – " Marion stopped short at the sight of China and Olive.
"You have kids."
"Yea, that's right," Chyna's dad answered. "Is that a problem?"
"No, it's not a problem at all!" The balding man grinned broadly. "Why would it be?" Chyna suppressed a shiver though, at the look the man was giving her –
Marion pointed two fingers at his own eyes and then pointed them back at Chyna. She could've sworn he mouthed, I'll be watching you.
"Right," Chyna's dad said warily, "We'll just be going now - take care!"
With a scramble, the Parks and Olive left. Chyna still felt the man giving her the evil eye from behind as she left.
"What was that about?" Chyna wondered.
"Beats me," Olive answered honestly. "Maybe he just doesn't like kids?"
Chyna shrugged. "Yea, that might be it."
They were in Suite 789 now, a pretty high end open space that was as large as the first floor of the Parks' suburban home, with two sitting rooms in the corners and four bedrooms. The whole west – facing wall was glass, and had a single door that led out to a balcony that faced the Hudson River.
"It doesn't matter anyway," Olive said. "What matters is that we're finally here – in New York. There's so many things to do! I don't know where to start. There's Times Square, Central Park, the Bronx Zoo, South Street Seaport, the Business District, Jacques has a restaurant somewhere over there – there's Radio City Music Hall, Broadway Musicals – "
"Whoa, slow down, Olive. You know we're here for just three days right?"
"That's 72 hours! Make it 79 because we're not counting today – More than enough time to see everything on my list so as long as we follow a carefully laid out itinerary to the letter."
Chyna just grinned politely. It was the only thing to do when Olive was on a roll like this –
Her phone rang.
"You just – hold that thought, Olive," Chyna picked up the phone.
"Hello? Is this Chyna, Chyna Parks?" A female voice asked.
"Hi! Yes, this is Chyna."
"Kiara?" The lady asked.
Chyna rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time she'd been confused for that girl. "No – this is Chyna," Chyna assured the stranger.
"So weird. You sound like someone I know. Anyway, I'm Stella Malone. I'm the wardrobe coordinator for the concert. I wanted to get the chance to meet you, and maybe we can work together to see what you might like – what clothes you'd want to wear, that kind of stuff. You're opening the show, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Well then, how about you come meet me up in the 34th floor. There's a sitting area in the Northeast section that has a really great view of the Hudson River. I was thinking we can bounce around a few wardrobe ideas, and it just so happens that I have the concert coordinator with me … he tells me you worked together a few times back in LA."
"Oh – Joe Lucas's working the concert?"
"Yep!"
Chyna felt relieved. At least there was going to be one person she knew working with her the night of the show.
"Ok. So when do we meet?"
"How about – now? I'm sorry – I usually give more notice. I was actually calling earlier but I didn't get a ring tone."
Chyna looked to Olive, who was gaping and gushing at the New York scenery from the terrace. She hated to abandon her friend now, when they'd just got here –
"Chyna! Come take a look at this!" Olive was calling.
"It's fine. I'll be right up," Chyna spoke into the phone.
Up on the 7th floor, Chyna was able to maneuver her way easily to the elevator, for the most part, until she'd reach the elevator. A hulking figure slammed right into her as she rounded the corner –
She flew straight off her feet, but avoided landing on her backside as two strong hands had grabbed her just in time.
Finally. All week she'd been bumping into things and people, but not once had someone stopped to save her from falling -
She focused her gaze to identify her hero when, she recognized the green eyes, the shaggy hair and roundish chin -
"Angus?" Chyna cried out.
Angus looked pretty surprised himself – his small, green eyes widened comically.
"What are you doing here?" They demanded of each other at the same time.
"You first!" They said simultaneously.
"Well, I'm here to do a concert remember? Madison Square Garden, singing in front of fans, I even invited you – wait, what am I doing - I told you all this already! I don't have to say anymore!" Chyna said, annoyed.
Angus laughed, "Oh yea, that's right." Then he was silent. He gave Chyna an innocent, doe – eyed expression that looked inappropriate on a boy twice her size. "Do I have to go next?" He said finally.
"Yes! You know what – wait till I tell Olive about this."
Angus grabbed her wrist. He looked spooked –
"No, not Olive! Please, not her. I'll tell you. Just don't tell her anything."
Chyna raised him a single, suspicious eyebrow. "Start talking, boy."
Angus slumped. "Man, I was hoping I wouldn't have to – well, where do I start?"
He gave it some thought, "I guess I should start at the beginning – "
Just then, a chipper female voice sang in the hallway –
"Oh, there you are, Angus! Hey, Chyna! Wait – Chyna? You're here? Oh, that's so sweet, Angus – your friends came here to support you on your job interview."
Chyna recognized the girl. The woman was dressed in a sharp, pinstriped business suit. Blonde, curly locks sat atop a smiling, pink, heart - shaped face. "Maddie? What are you doing here?"
Maddie Fitzpatrick's beaming smile dropped, quick as a flash. "Oh, Chyna doesn't know?" She asked Angus, to which Angus shrugged, his eyes on the floor.
An odd quiet filled the air. Maddie looked at the time –
Maddie laughed awkwardly, then blurted, "Oh, would you look at the time. 9:34 already. I'm running late guys. Ciao!" The blonde scurried off.
The silence continued on for a bit, until Chyna ended it, "You're here for a job interview?" She asked.
Finally, Angus had something to say –
"Yea – Maddie was the one who hooked me up actually. She'd been looking for a way to put my mad hacking skillz to good use since she met me. Turns out she knows some people who work for the US government in an "unofficial" capacity," Angus gestured the quotation marks, "I'm here in New York to meet them. Maddie calls it a job interview – but I think it's just a formality thing. Not to brag, but I think I got this one in the bag."
Angus's boasting – on most days, she'd just smile and roll her eyes, but it annoyed her today.
"Ok? That still doesn't explain why you need to keep it a secret from the rest of us."
"See – that part's kinda complicated," Angus laughed nervously. "Uhm – I'm just going to go now." Angus turned away –
"Whoa. Not so fast. You're telling me, and make it fast because I got some people to meet in the 34th floor. Actually, just come here – " Chyna dragged Angus inside the elevator with her, then pressed the up button. The door closed.
Inside the elevator, Angus had fallen quiet. It took maybe 7 floors of Chyna giving him the evil eye before he spoke up. His voice was barely audible when he spoke, "Once I got the job, I was going to leave the Ant Farm – without saying goodbye. I wasn't going to tell anybody. Ok?"
"Wa-wa-wait, back up a second, Angus. Can you say that again?"
"I said – I was going to leave, without saying goodbye to anyone."
Chyna was slow to choose her next words, "You're telling me – that you were just going to up and leave, without telling Fletcher, Olive, me? When were you going to do this?" She was flabbergasted.
"Next week."
"What?"
Angus stepped back a bit, with a very guilty look on his face. His face reminded Chyna of the Bake Sale of 2012. Angus was banned from all cupcakes at school since then.
"I don't understand. W- what about graduation? We still got 5 months of school left."
Angus shrugged. "I don't really need school for this kinda job. I've been able to hack stuff in my sleep, since I was like, 8."
"So? I still don't get it. Why not take the job after graduation, then."
"The people Maddie is hooking me up with aren't really patient people. If I don't take the job now then they'll just take the next best person."
"Oh wow," Chyna was visibly stunned.
The elevator door opened. They were on the 34th floor now. Chyna stepped out, but before leaving, she held the door open. She had one last thing to say. "Don't think we're done with this conversation, mister. It's not over, by a long shot."
Angus gulped. He tried to wave as the elevator dinged. "Bye, Chy-" The doors closed in his face.
The 34th floor was a really confusing floor to navigate. Chyna felt like she was a rat in a maze. She made a left turn here, a right turn there, and then eventually found herself right back where she started – the elevator. She spent about ten minutes feeling like a fool before she finally was able to find her way to the Northeast corridor.
The Northeast section seemed a little like an airplane lounge - it had that panoramic view of sky going on, as well as the Hudson river and the rising morning sun. Sitting over the corner, watching the sun and laughing was Joe Lucas, with a blonde. Chyna assumed that she was Stella – the lady she spoke to on the phone.
Chyna walked up to them, eager to say hi, but wasn't prepared for what came next.
Chyna had caught Joe's attention. He stopped in the middle of talking to Stella, and pointed in Chyna's direction –
Stella got up, and turned. She was a pretty, tall blonde. She reminded Chyna very much of an older Lexi, but with genuine friendliness in her smile. But the smile quickly lost its place as Stella fixed a look at Chyna –
Stella shrieked, "Oh my God!" as she backed up onto Joe's lap. Her voice was so shrill it hurt Chyna's ears.
A smirk flitted Joe's features as he caught her. He leaned back into his chair as the weight of Stella fell on him, and laughed. With a playful grin he said, "See, I told you Chyna looks exactly like Kiara."
"I thought you were exaggerating!" Stella smacked Joe playfully, who looked like he was enjoying himself.
Chyna laughed. "Don't worry, Stella. Joe had a way, way girlier reaction the first time he met me."
Stella and Joe laughed.
"It's true," Joe admitted.
The three of them spent the rest of the afternoon chatting – all about things that had nothing to do with the concert.
The line was incredibly long. It stretched all the way down half a block – and there were more people, Olive knew – around the corner. Olive was waiting in line, with Chyna and Stella – who she'd been introduced to earlier in the morning – and they were pretty much smack dab in the middle of the line, where they'd been stuck for easily ten minutes now.
They were several blocks downtown from the Diamond. It was a bright, clear New York afternoon – and it was unseasonably warm for January. Olive had fallen in line wearing a white hoody – but now she had it off. Still, she found herself sweating.
"I didn't think – New York weather was going to be like this – " Olive complained. It wasn't only hot – it was humid. The air felt thick all around her.
"Well, you're the one who wanted ice cream," Chyna said, "and you picked this of all places – why was that again?"
They were falling in line for an ice cream truck.
It was double the size of a large trailer, splashed with lots of loud decorative colors and bells and whistles, and fitted with a bullhorn that the vendor was yelling into every 5 seconds. It was definitely a spectacle to look at.
"Olive. I'm sure there were plenty of indoor, air - conditioned alternatives nearby – like a Coldstone Creamery or a Sixteen Handles. Why not go there?" Chyna complained.
"It's one of those things on my to – do list when I come to New York," Olive explained, not for the first time. "Do you want me to run the list by you again? Cuz I'd be more than happy to – "
"No thanks!" Chyna said immediately. "Really – thanks for that though."
Olive shrugged, thinking nothing more of it.
Stella laughed. "Super Sweets is always on every tourist's to – do list."
"Of course. According to McCaber's What to Do When You Visit New York guide – which I memorized every line of – Super Sweets is the place to go to when you want ice cream in New York. It's and I quote, 'The best ice cream in the area. Can't leave New York without trying it once.' " Olive said.
Stella smiled. "I didn't know they said that about Super Sweets. I tell you what, though – don't get me wrong – I like their ice cream, but I think there are better ice cream spots in the city."
Olive's interest was piqued. "Where?"
"There's one that definitely comes to mind. It's on the West Side of the city – by Washington Square Park. It's called Tien's. Not as popular a spot among tourists – but I guarantee that you won't regret going there."
"Is the line shorter?" Chyna asked.
"Oh, yea – much, much shorter. It doesn't get the kind of hype that Super Sweets gets – it's definitely one of NYC's best kept secrets."
"Well, I'm sold – what are we waiting for then? Let's go!" Chyna said.
"Hey! But what about Super Sweets?" Olive asked, a little miffed.
"Look at the line, Olive. We're going to be stuck here all afternoon. I don't really wanna be standing here for an hour and a half under the sun. Do you?"
Olive tugged at the collar of her white blouse – which was feeling sticky and tight from all the sweating. She looked at the long line, which was at a complete standstill. "I suppose not."
Chyna's sharp face softened. "Don't worry, Olive. We'll be back here again, maybe at a time when the line isn't that long – "
"Lines are always this long," Stella piped in.
"Ok! When it's not so hot then!" Chyna put on a smile. "In the meantime, we'll get to do some walking around – explore the city – preferably under shade – and aren't you just a teensy bit curious about this ice cream place Stella is talking about?"
"Well, I can't say I'm not," Olive admitted. "Ok then," she turned to Stella, "how do we get there?"
"Our best bet is to hail a taxi. C'mon, up a block from here, I know a spot where I'm always able to find a taxi – "
Olive made a face. "Oh – taxi's? I was hoping we'd be able to take the subway. I never took the subway before."
Stella had an amused look on her face. "Is this another one of your to – do things?"
"Guilty again," Olive admitted, a little pink in the face.
" - Olive has a lot of things on her to – do list," Chyna explained.
"Well, it'll be a little bit of walk East, and then we can take the 6 uptown – if you guys don't mind the walk. We can probably take this way over here – " Stella pointed to 2nd Ave. " – Lots of trees and buildings and shade. What do you think? It's up to you."
"Sure, I'm game!" Olive said.
"Really, Olive? This is just going to make us sweat more. You know that right?" Chyna said.
After a little over 30 minutes of traveling, they'd finally made it. The Washington Square Park area was decidedly a more relaxed environment than Midtown Manhattan – not as crowded, stuffy or noisy – Olive liked the change in scenery.
There weren't as many commercial buildings in the area as Midtown, but Olive saw a lot of NYU buildings.
"I can tell you like the area," Stella noted, brightly.
"Yea, it's not half bad – " Olive admitted. " – I'd probably hang here all the time if I lived here."
"That's exactly what I did. I lived here in New York a little while – with Joe – he had a place in the Upper West Side. He took me here all the time for the ice cream – I swear Joe loved Tien's more than I did – if he wasn't so busy with the concert stuff, I bet he'd be right here with us right now."
"Really? You guys wouldn't be mugged – by paparazzi or fans?" Chyna asked.
"Maybe years before. But not so much these days. Joe isn't as famous as he used to be. And I think we both prefer it that way – much easier to go out and do whatever we want."
"That's cool," Chyna said.
"Anyway, we're here," Stella announced.
Olive had sharp eyes – but she bet she would've probably missed Tien's if Stella hadn't told them they were here. Its exterior was plain and nondescript – it had blended in perfectly with all the buildings on the block. There was only a small sign that said Tien's, hanging overhead with a plain ice cream logo – one scoop of vanilla ice cream on a waffle cone. She looked inside – there were lots of empty coffee tables. The floor was old, washed out wood. There were only five customers occupying a table, happy to sit back and enjoy their ice cream. Racks of magazines filled the wall in a corner, and Olive could smell the air of warm sweetness, particularly toasted walnuts.
"This is it?" Chyna sounded a little skeptical.
"Oh, c'mon guys! Don't be like that. Have you ever heard the phrase, 'Don't judge a book by its cover?'" Stella said.
"Only about 2,643 times," Olive said.
"Well, there you go, then! Trust me – the ice cream is out of this world."
"Ok," Chyna said hesitatingly. "Let's try it."
They went over to where the ice cream was on display. The ice cream looked really good, Olive had to admit – and there were lots of them too –
A squat man in a full beard and friendly eyes came up to greet them. "How you doing, guys, I'm Gervin – do you know what you want to order?" Gervin eyed Stella. "Hey I know you – you've been here quite a few times, with that boyfriend of yours."
Stella looked impressed. "Oh wow! I can't believe you'd remember – it's been a while since I came here."
"Well, I always remember a pretty face," he said charmingly, then deadpanned, "and a famous boyfriend."
They all laughed. "Right," Stella said. "Well anyway, I'll have the pumpernickel, medium, please."
Gervin began to scoop the ice cream. "Right away, Madame," he said.
Once he finished serving Stella the ice cream, he turned to Olive and Chyna. "And what would you young ladies like?"
"I dunno," Chyna eyed all the flavors. "There's so many choices to pick from."
Olive knew what she wanted right away, "I'd like the black sesame and the taro, please."
Chyna was interested, "Oh wow, I've never heard of those flavors before. How they taste like?"
"The taro tastes like yam. It's very fruity and very sweet. Black sesame – not so much fruity, but it has a really different texture than other ice cream – it kinda has a peanut butter after taste to it."
"Um ok," Chyna said. "I guess I'll try it out too."
Once they were all served and sat down, Olive tried the ice cream. "Oh wow!" She gushed. "This tastes so good – it's exactly like what I had in Tokyo."
"You went to Tokyo too?" Stella asked Olive, with intrigue on her face. "I knew Chyna was there a couple months ago – for her concert – "
"It wasn't really a concert," Chyna explained. "I just sang at someone's wedding party. There were just lots of people there. Olive was at the party – actually my whole class was. We were all there on a field trip."
"That's some field trip," Stella said in an impressed tone.
"Yep. Anyway – you had ice cream over there? Where was I?" Chyna asked Olive.
"Oh sorry – I guess it slipped my mind. I went to this ice cream shop around the corner from the Tipton with Angus. They serve ice cream over there just like this – except the place was a lot more packed. It was Angus, actually, who'd first introduce me to black sesame," Olive explained. She felt a smile come to her face –
"Oh, Angus?" Olive caught Chyna's tone, and the slightly sour look on her face.
"Yep," Olive answered, a little defensively.
"Olive – do you like Angus?" Chyna asked.
It was such a random question for Chyna to ask, and out of the blue – but Olive had the feeling Chyna had been meaning to ask. Olive felt heat rise to her face. "I don't – I mean, I - why are you even asking this?"
"I just don't think now's the time to be crushing on Angus," Chyna said.
"I – well – that's not fair – why is it ok for you to crush on Fletcher – but I can't crush on Angus?" Olive blurted. She put her hands to her mouth. With a startle, she realized she in fact, did like Angus –
"I – I'm not crushing on Fletcher," Chyna said, very unconvincingly.
Olive recovered from her startle quickly. "Sure you are! And how very convenient of you to start liking him after he gets a girlfriend," Olive said, feeling smug.
"Well. I think this is my cue to take a walk!" Stella announced. She got up from the seat, and the two girls had barely noticed –
"That's not fair," Chyna defended. She was starting to look a little ruffled now -
"No, I think it's very fair. You say that it's bad timing for me to like Angus, but it's not like he has a girlfriend. So why would it be bad timing?" Olive was curious.
Chyna sighed, looking defeated. "Olive – trust me – Angus is not someone you want to like right now," she insisted.
Olive hmph-ed. She felt like being stubborn. "I think I'm perfectly capable of deciding who I like, thank you very much." With an up turned nose and a jut of her chin, she got up from her seat.
"Um, ok – I guess we're taking the ice cream to go then?" Chyna joked.
Olive left the ice cream shop without a word.
They took a taxi back to the Diamond Hotel. The ride there was awkwardly quiet, for the most part. Olive sat on one side of the bench, and Chyna on the other. Stella was sandwiched right in the middle.
"Uhm. Just remember Chyna, that you need to head to rehearsals tonight. Joe has the whole place pretty much set up, so uhm – yea, you need to go," Stella repeated again, awkwardly.
"Yea, I'm going," Chyna answered. She leaned in and craned her neck to look at Olive, "So, it appears I'll be gone for most of the night. You'll be all right alone Olive?"
Olive at this point, was feeling less and less annoyed with Chyna. She never could stay mad at her that long - but a part of her still felt like giving her friend a hard time. She was curt, "Yes, I'll be all right."
"Um, ok, then," Chyna started to giggle, but it faltered at the flat look on Olive's face.
Another day had fallen in New York City. The sun was setting now. The glassed west side of the suite was painted a faint orange. Chyna was getting ready for dress rehearsals now, and Olive was pressed to help solve Chyna's dilemma.
"So what do you think?" Chyna said to Olive, for the millionth time.
"I don't know, Chyna," Olive said tiredly. "Whatever you want, I guess?"
"No, really." Chyna insisted, serious. "I'd appreciate your input."
"Whatever! Ok, fine – I pick that one!" Olive pointed at the item on Chyna's right.
"Really?" Surprise took over Chyna's features. "I could've sworn you'd go with these." Chyna held up a powdered doughnut to her face. "See there – O for Olive!"
The joke was so stupid. It didn't work the time Chyna ruined her science project 4 years ago, but for some reason, it did the trick today. Olive's mouth twitched -
Chyna had a twinkle in her eyes. "Did I just see a little smile there?"
Olive couldn't help it. A smile forced on her face –
"There it is! So I take it you're not mad at me no more?"
"No – not anymore," Olive admitted.
Chyna wrapped her in a hug. "I knew it – best friends can't stay mad at each other forever."
Olive said, "Yea – not really."
"Awesome! Well, I'm going to take a few hours at dress rehearsals. Will you be able to hold up without me?"
Olive pssh-ed, "Sure! Of course! I'm sure there's tons to do here at the hotel. Don't worry about me," she assured.
"Great," Chyna looked glad.
"I just wish there were other Ants here to keep me occupied." Olive thought about the Tokyo trip. There were plenty of Ants on that trip. "Like Fletcher, or Angus – " Olive sighed longingly.
"All right! That's it!" Chyna burst. "I can't take it anymore – there's something I have to tell you about Angus."
Olive felt a pit of concern well up in her chest. "What is it?"
"He's – "
The phone rang. Chyna answered.
"That was Joe," Chyna explained. "I got to get there ASAP. Can we hold this conversation till later?"
"Sure. On one condition though. You have to introduce me to your new celebrity friends."
"Oh, sure. Of course! Anybody. Who'd you like to meet?"
Olive announced dramatically, "The one and only, Nicki Starr!"
Chyna made a face. "Are you sure you wouldn't want to meet anybody else?"
"The question should be, why would I want to meet anyone else? He's only the most popular 18 year old in the world." Olive gushed.
"Olive. I kinda met him in passing. He's kind of a jerk. Even a bigger jerk than Chad is, if you can believe that. And I don't think he's really 18."
This provoked a gasp from Olive. "You lie!"
"No, really."
Olive was deep in thought. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time a Starr had lied about his age, I guess. But I'm still confused. I've seen him, and his brother on TV. They seem nice."
"Well, his older brother Justin's actually a pretty cool guy. At least that's what I heard. I haven't met him yet."
"Hmm. Ok then…well, don't you have somewhere to be?"
Chyna's face had an oh-duh expression. "Oh right! I got to go!"
Chyna made a mad dash for the door. On Chyna's way out, Olive called out, "Have fun, Chyna!"
Chyna's voice was already distantly echoing down the hall. She was in such a hurry: "I will!"
Olive wondered how long it'd take before her friend would trip, fall, or run into someone -
"Ow! Watch where you're going!" Olive heard a random voice scream from down the hall.
"I'm so, so sorry – " Olive heard Chyna's voice say.
Ah. There it was. Olive chuckled. Not that long at all.