Alicia Rivera tossed her long black mane behind her shoulders and pursed her plump lips in the compact mirror. Not liking the beige color of the lipstick on her mouth, she swiped it off and applied a pink one. She smoothed out her pale pink sweater and smiled to herself once again, then shut her compact.
"Alicia! Come on down! Dean is ready to drive you to the airport." Len Rivera, her father, boomed from downstairs.
"One second Papa." Alicia called down as she tossed her Ralph Lauren handbag behind her shoulder and stared long and hard at herself. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this. She was moving to California. But it was only for school, nothing more to her parents, but to her, it was a stepping stone.
Alicia ran into the dining room where she expected to see them. And there they were. The table was set out with the yummiest breakfast foods you could imagine. Her father sat at the head of the table next to her mother. "Good morning. Sorry I didn't get time to eat breakfast with you all. I'm going to pick something up from Starbucks."
She could see the disappointed look on her Mother and Father's face. "At least sit down for 5 minutes. We would like to talk to you." Alicia's mother replied calmly as she motioned towards a chair.
"Okay…" Alicia took a seat reluctantly as she glanced at her phone. It was 8:15 am.
"I know this is a complete change from what you've been used to Alicia, but I need you to promise us you won't do anything crazy. I trust you are old enough to take care of yourself so please don't make us regret allowing you to go." Len rushed out.
Alicia scanned their faces. Her mother looked a bit older than she was before, her emotions weren't clear through all the Botox. Her father had wrinkles on his forehead, and an uneasy smile flited across his face.
"I promise. You guys can trust me." She stood up to hug her parents just as the horn on the limo honked.
She took a deep breath. It was time to go…
"What do you think about this going away outfit, Bean?" Massie Block asked ecstatically as she checked herself out in the mirror. She had pulled on light acid washed jeans, a red flannel and a grey beanie, her outfit read relaxed yet cute.
Her pug had settled comfortably on the white duvet, a satisfied look on Bean's face. Barking twice, Massie knew the answer was a yes as she hugged the pug close. She wouldn't see her dear dog for 3-4 months. And unfortunately there was a no-pets rule which Massie found incredibly stupid.
Massie flipped her dark chestnut hair and headed downstairs to say goodbye to her parents.
"There's our big girl!" William Block, Massie's father, exclaimed as he stood with a camera in his hand. Flashes went off as he took picture after picture.
"That's enough pictures, dad." Massie teased as she posed for the camera. Kendra Block, Massie's mother, walked into the room with what looked like a proud smile through the Botox.
"We'll miss you lots! And some presents will be shipped to you as soon as you get into the school." Kendra hinted as she hugged her daughter.
"Well, I better get going. I have to pick up Claire soon." Waving goodbye to her parents, Massie Block opened the door.
"Bye sweetie! Make sure you visit for Christmas!" William called just as Massie closed the door and headed off to the rest of her life.
Claire Lyons zipped up her baby blue sweater and shoved her feet into her trusty paint splattered Keds. Just as she grabbed her phone and purse the familiar sound of the range rover honk, knocked her into reality. Jumping off the couch in the living room, Claire grinned and dragged her luggage to the front door. "MOM. DAD. I think I'm ready to go. Massie's here."
Judi Lyons covered her mouth sadly as a tear escaped her eye. Pulling Claire into a tight hug, she could feel her father join into the hug. "Guys, stop crying, you're gonna make me cry."
She felt the weight of her parents being lifted as they removed themselves from the embrace. "Clairebear please make sure to take lots of pictures and send them. And don't forget to call." Her father cooed as he ruffled her hair.
"Daaaddd. I'm not a kid anymore. And sure, I'll take pictures. But my old camera doesn't have much storage and the quality isn't the best." Claire smiled and embraced her parents yet again. She couldn't believe she was going to be thousands of miles away from them.
"Oh! I almost forgot! We got you a going away present!" Judi exclaimed. She ran into her room and came back about a minute later with a bag. "Go on and open it." She handed Claire the present.
"I'll open it in the car, I have to go." Claire kissed her parents on the cheek. "Thank you! And please tell Todd I say bye. And that he shouldn't be a pain in the a-" She almost finished just as the Range Rover honked yet again.
Kristen Gregory jumped onto her small hand me down Coach Suitcase and attempted to zip it up. She didn't have any other suitcases to use and didn't have the money to buy another one so she had to make the most out of the one she had. Pretty soon she would be getting on a cab to the airport to be sent directly to her new boarding school, Forests Edge. Words couldn't explain the excitement that coursed through her veins. No parents. Lots of hawt boys. And best of all she gets to go with her best friends in the Pretty Committee!
"Kristen, your cab is here!" Kristen's mom, Marsha called from the living room.
"Coming!" Kristen managed to reply as she zipped the bag up completely, her room had been "cleaned out", all her fab clothes packed into her luggage and her shoes had been sent to Massie since Kristen didn't have enough space and suitcases to bring them. Massie had promised to give the shoes back to her once they see each other at the school.
Pulling the handle of the suitcase, she glanced back at her bedroom. "Sayonara." She whispered under her breath as she exited her room and entered the living room.
Marsha rushed to give Kristen a hug, tears brimming her eyes and threatening to spill. "Please Kristen. Be responsible and make sure you focus on school. You do realize this school is a prestigious one. So you better be on top of your A-game."
"Yes, Ma. I think I hear the cab outside." Pulling away from the hug, Kristen popped open the front door and waved before lugging her suitcase out.
Dylan Marvil squinted in the full length mirror to check out her butt in the dress she had just put on. It was baby pink and strapless with a lace detailing on the sweetheart neckline. Throughout the whole summer she had dedicated her time to working out and eating healthy to shave off the pounds she had so terribly wanted to lose. Proud and happy with her improvements, Dylan exited her now noticeably empty room. "Mother! I'm leaving."
"Not without the camera crew seeing you, you're not." Merri-Lee Marvil exclaimed as she scanned her daughter's outfit, a disapproving frown on her face. "Did you lose anything this summer? You are a size 2 now aren't you?" The camera crew was close behind her, the red light on the camera patronizingly staring at Dylan.
Dylan rolled her eyes and popped open the refrigerator, scanning for something to eat. "Yes I am." She opened a tub of Cool Whip and sniffed it. The expiration date had faded, but settling on the fact that it was okay to eat, Dylan spooned a dollop into her mouth.
"DYLAN MARVIL! Those are NOT good manners now please put down that junk and start heading out to the limo." Merri-Lee grabbed the Cool Whip from Dylan's hands and tossed it into the trash can. The camera crew following close behind.
"Great way to send me off. I'm sure you're so happy I'm leaving." Dylan scowled angrily at the Camera Crew and opened the front door.
"Now, Dyl pickle." Merri-Lee smiled tightly as she placed a thin hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I'll see you when it's Christmas time."
Dylan got the memo. Her mother wanted to look good on Camera. Smiling tightly, Dylan placed a kiss on either side of her mother's cheeks. "Bye mother." She waved good bye to the camera and eagerly ran into the limo. Glad that after she would arrive in California, it would be buh bye camera crew and buh bye mother.