A/N: Happy New Year!

I got up from the swing and sighed, texting Alex, "heading now."

Alex responded with, "got it," and I got in my car and drove to the park she was at. I pulled up and got out, wiping my eyes. As I remembered mom and Scarlett's conversation earlier I got sad and started crying so it took me longer than usual to get here.

Alex ran up to me, saying, "What took you so long? You drove and everythi- oh my God what happened?" Obviously, she could tell I was crying, great.

"Uh, mom and Scarlett fought and dad was mentioned."

"Oh, Callie!" Alex brought me in a hug. We were hugging when Alex's phone went off. "That's probably Kelsie." We separated so she could check. "Yup, Kelsie asking what we're up to, as school is officially out and we didn't show up." Then, both of our phones went off. I checked it and it was a message from Emma to the group chat we have.

"oh my GODDDDD we need to hang out! Callie and Alex weren't even at lunch yesterday or school today. >:("

"Are you up to them all coming to the park?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, we just gotta hope they don't notice I was crying, too." I chuckled.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Alex, I'm perfectly fine. Besides, Emma has a point, we did skip lunch with them yesterday and school today."

"Okay. Actually, let's pick them up since we have your car anyway."

"Sure, why not. They'll need to squeeze, though, given there's 7 of us and only 5 seats," I say as I get in.

"I'll tell them." Alex starts typing on her phone as I drive to the house closest, Kelsie's. I heard my phone go off as Alex turned off hers, presumably after sending the message to the group chat. As I pulled up, Kelsie came running out as if she was waiting for us.

"Let's go! Everyone else should be home, too." Kelsie got in behind me. She had brown eyes, the left one being a little brighter than the right, and collarbone length hair dyed ombre and different on each side. The left side went from a deep red to light pink, and the right side went from a royal blue to an icy color. She also had her signature headphones, as well as Alex's that she left over there last time we hung out.

"Thanks," Alex said, putting her headphones around her neck as Kelsie gave her them. "Shaylynn and Shaylyee we go!"

***

"Okay, so where are we going now?" I ask as we circle the block after getting everyone. Kelsie decided to sit between Alex and I in the front and so Emma, Shaylyee, Shaylynn, and Morgan were all squeezing in the back. 

Morgan had dark dyed blue-green hair in a pixie cut and eyes a lighter version of the color. Shaylyee and Shaylynn were identical twins, originally blonde, but Lyee dyed her hair a semi-dark blue while Lynn dyed hers a light blue. Lynn also had various flowers in her shoulder-length curled hair. Their eyes were a blue that was between their hair colors. 

Emma had darker skin than most of us, but not as dark as Alex's, and had pale grey hair but was also a light shade of brunette, it's hard to explain. Her eyes, almost like the twins, matched her hair.

"Should we go to Alex's? It's been a while since we were there, after all." Morgan slumped against the window as she spoke.

"Well, it's also been a while since we've been to Emma's," Kelsie pointed out, leaning backward to almost be on top of those in the back.

"Yeah, we're going to mine." I started driving towards my house and parked, everyone getting out.

Everyone but Alex and I stretched while we walked to the door. "Hurry up slowpokes!" I called out and heard them all start to rush toward us. 

"Hey!" Mom smiled as she saw us all walk in as she was in the middle of the hallway.

"Hi." I forced a smile with Alex.

Her look said She feels bad, give her a chance while my look said Save me from this.

"Do you girls wanna watch a movie? Have some snacks?" Mom was never really sure what we wanted or did do.

Emma, who was in the back, rushed forward. "Could you make us some snacks? Maybe something like fruit and a salad?" She nodded at mom and dragged us upstairs to my room.

"Okay, explain," Kelsie said, not a second after my door closed. We sat in a circle on the floor.

"Justin asked me out on a date. And I said yes!" We all freaked out. Justin was the most popular and hottest guy. Some people like to date before they meet their soulmate so they can get practice. 

"When is this." Morgan's face was dead serious.

"Tonight." Emma was chewing on her hair that didn't fit in her single bun that she always wore like Alex's twin buns. "At seven."

"Emma it's 5:35!" We all screamed, getting up and scrambling to get her ready. While we did she said what she needed to be done.

"I need my makeup retouched, a good outfit, jewelry, dangly earrings-" 

"I'll run home and get my earrings." Kelsie pointed at Emma before running out.

I sat Emma down at my desk and pulled out my makeup while the girls went through my clothes and what jewelry I had. I cleaned all her makeup off, saying, "We're just gonna redo it and go big." She nodded while I wiped her shut eyes. "Alex, get my Hot Topic makeup out." 

Alex went to where I kept it. I started, and the girls held up outfit ideas behind me when Emma had her eyes open.

After a while, mom opened the door and brought food in. We all froze in our spots and looked at her. "What's going on?"

Alex had one of the hairbrushes in her mouth and a makeup brush in each hand as she was helping with makeup and hair, Kelsie hadn't gotten back yet, Lynn had 3 skirts over her arm and hangers with shirts on her hands, Lyee had also left to get things, and Morgan was telling us the recent gossip that was usually discussed at lunch but Alex and I missed.

"Emma haf a dat." Alex said, it muffled around the brush. She moved a makeup brush to join the other in her hand and grabbed the hair brush in her mouth to her empty hand. "Emma has a date, I mean." 

"Oh, okay. I didn't realize people still dated before meeting their soulmate, but have fun!" Mom left the room, closing the door.

Alex gave me a look that said tell them about her.

"Uh, speaking of soulmates. Mine's a girl. And her name is Harper. . ."

Lynn's arms dropped, all the clothing falling. Emma opened her eyes suddenly, wide, but then cursed when she got fallout in her eye. There was a faint thud heard outside my room, making me worried.

"Why didn't you tell us!" Morgan jumped up. "How long have you known?"

"Uh... A while? I figured it out around 12, maybe 13? Uh, whenever she got her period."

"Does your mom know?" Lynn asked in her soft voice. I shook my head.

"She has no clue."

Just then Kelsie and Lyee walked in. "Door was a smidge open, so we heard. And tripped up the stairs. We had to convince your mom we're just clumsy so she didn't hear you." Kelsie spoke.

"Now, you are going to march your cute little butt down there and tell your mom and you guys are going to cry and hug and forget about Emma's date and only then will you come back up," Lyee spoke, a bit too loud for my liking with the door still cracked open. I sighed. I knew I wasn't getting out of it. I stood up, stretching my legs as I was crouching this whole time.

"Fine, fine, I'm going," I muttered as Lyee pushed me out of the room.