The next day I received a text from Jo, demanding a girl's day with us and Camille after we got out of our classes. We had only been given a reading assignment for the day so we were actually able to go. We decided on the mall today. Sometimes when we were able to meet for a girl's day, we did exciting things, but we were all too tired for that. Camille had been to nonstop auditions, Jo nonstop filming, and I have been worrying myself out of sleep.
"We need to stop by the food court soon, I'm starving." I admitted. I had been feeling a little light headed all day, I'm guessing it was my bodies way of punishing me for not giving it what it wanted; food.
"We can stop there next, it's right up ahead." Camille replied swinging a bag in the direction of the food court.
JO'S POV
Elizabeth nodded as we picked up our pace to a quick walk, "Elizabeth," I started catching her attention, "when was the last time you ate?" I asked.
She stopped dead in her tracks and locked eyes with me, her brow furrowed, "Uhm, yesterday. I had cookies with Carlos. Why?" She asked.
I didn't have any excuse to ask her that other than I've been concerned about her. I haven't been able to hang out with her lately, but Kendall and I have been talking and he seems to think she may be losing herself. I felt bad about talking about her behind her back, I would feel worse if she ever found out, but I don't know how I would talk to her about something like this.
I wasn't sure if she even had a problem in the first place. She looked fine to me, a little tired, but that happens when you try to get into the entertainment business. She just seemed so grounded when she got here that it didn't look like a worrisome thing.
I shrugged my shoulders, "I was…just wondering." I tried to get out of it…sloppily.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes before she started walking again. I sighed inwardly, she didn't question me, but now she would be suspicious about what I said. Camille shot me a look that told me I was almost busted; I nodded agreeing before we continued after Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH'S POV
We regrouped at a food court table after going to our favorite food stops. We sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments while we ate before I spoke, "So," I began in between taking bites of my Chinese food, "I auditioned for Gustavo yesterday." I realized it was probably too big of a statement to say as nonchalantly as I did when they both stopped eating and stared at me with wide eyes and gaping mouths.
"How did that go?" Camille asked her hand in front of her mouth as she chewed her…salad? She got salad at a food court?
"I got a trial contract, he's not going to officially sign me until I write something he likes." I slowly looked from my food up to my friends. Their vacant expressions flashed to smiles.
It was a good thing we didn't care about looking silly in public. I could only imagine what passersby thought of the three squealing girls in the food court. Somehow, we were able to calm down before we got ourselves kicked out of the mall for causing a disturbance.
"So what's the game plan now?" Jo asked as we all went back to slowly eating our food.
"To go up I presume. It would be a nice change of pace." I replied vaguely. I honestly didn't have a plan. Sitting locked in my room trying to write a song didn't do me any good, but it was the only way I have ever written before. Maybe it was time for a new method; a new me?
We spoke of random nothingness for the next few minutes before something caught my attention. Jo was also eating a salad. Seriously? We go to the mall and they order salads? I looked down at my food for a moment; a heaping pile of Chicken Lo Mien sat in a cardboard container on my tray. I felt a wave of gurgling move through my stomach.
I furrowed my brow and set my fork down next to my food. I had barely eaten any of it, but found myself willing to throw the rest of it away. I picked my fork back up and played with my food while trying to keep a conversation going with the girls while trying to make it look like I was making progress with eating my food.
I jumped, startled when my phone vibrated in my pocket, "Jeez," I laughed along with the girls at my small heart attack and dug into my pocket for my phone. I pulled it out and unlocked the screen to see that I had gotten a new text from a number I haven't seen in what felt like ages.
From Brandon:
Hey.
It didn't say anything more than a conversation starter, but it was enough to make my throat go dry, "Who is it?" Camille asked reading the concern on my face.
I looked up from my phone, "My ex-boyfriend." I had no reason to lie or beat around the bush about it. There was hardly any emotion in my voice as I spoke, "We haven't spoken in...Months, since before I moved here even."
"So what does he want now?" Jo asked as we all stood up from the table, carrying our trays to the trash can.
We dumped put trays and set them on top of the trash cans before returning to our table to gather our things. I locked my screen and slid my phone into my pocket, "I don't have the slightest idea. He may have sent it to me by mistake."
"Why is he an ex?" Jo slid her arms through the handles of the bags.
"He...just isn't the boyfriend type. So where are we heading to next?" I asked wanting to change the topic.
"We have the whole other half of the mall to tackle before we go back to the Palm Woods." Camille answered as she pulled Jo and I into a crazy game of Whip as we took our turns being dragged and pulling each other in and out of stores.
Jo and Camille were in changing rooms of Forever 21 trying on clothes they had picked out. I was still looking through some racks, sliding hangers across the bar when my phone vibrated again. I let out a sigh as I checked it again.
From Brandon:
Elizabeth, is this still your number?
Wow. I'm sorry this took so long to gt out. I was hit with MAJOR writer's block, but I'm starting to get around it. So, tell me what you thought? It really helps the writer's block when you do. Let's me know you guys like the story so far or not. :) XOXO
