At the mall Linda and Louise walked through a thrift shop that had just opened. The two browsed the racks, Linda looking diligently at everything as Louise followed, still in deep thought about how she could convince Rudy to stay. Part of her knew it was wrong but he’s her best friend! She and he had been through so much together since they first met on that school field trip. It felt like there was nothing they wouldn’t do for each other, but Louise knows that he deserves the right to choose so trying to change his mind felt...wrong. Even still, it was worth a try to show him all the new adventures he’d miss out on.

“Mom, I think I’m gonna take your advice.”

“W-Whoa? Oh! You mean what I said in the car?”

“Yeah, I’m going to show him what we could be doing in high school, all types of tom foolery. Late nights, concerts, mischief-”

“I don’t think I meant all of that but okay...”

“I just need to pull my refrence.” she says as she takes out her phone and shot a text over to Tina to no response. That’s okay, she’s probably in class or something. I’m sure she’ll text me later. She thinks. The pair continue thier shopping trip as Louise thinks of diffrent ways she would show a preview of what highschool together could look like while periotically checking her phone.

“What if we snuck out? Or tossed empty beer bottles at abandoned buildings?”

“OOOOh, dangerous.” Linda response, “But maybe not that.” she corrected. Louise couldn’t think of the right thing to do and to add insult to injgiry Tina still hadn’t texted back.

“One class can’t be this long, why isn’t she texting back?” she questioned in frustration.

“Maybe she’s studying, or- *gasp* She could be-”

“She’s not dead. She’s probably just mad about what I said before she left.”

“Oh yeah. Why’d you have to go and say that?”

“I don’t know, I just did. It’s not like I meant it but I guess- maybe, she thought I was serious.”

“What’d you even say, I don’t think I was there.”

“No one was there. We were in her room and I was sitting on her bed talking about how everything that was once hers was going to be mine and I sorta said I wouldn’t miss her but I was trying to be funny.”

“What did she say?”

“Nothing, she just picked up her last box and went to the car. I thought it was weird at the time but I didn’t think she’d be mad and ignore me like this.”

“Awe, I’m sorry.” Linda sympathised.

“It fine, I’ll just call her from your phone.” extending a hand for it. Linda promptly haned it over, taking it Louise dails the number by memory even though it was saved; she was just that eagar.

“Hey mom-”

“AHA! I knew you were ignoring me.”

“Louise! I was in the middle of a date, he just stepped out to go to the batheroom. I wasn’t ignoring you but I am still mad at you.”

“Look, I didn’t mean it that way. I was joking- also who are you on a date with?”

“Oh! Give me that phone! Give it! Give it!” Linda snatches the phone back to Louise’s dismay,

“Mom!”

“My tiny Tina, who are you on a date with?”

“Oh it’s sam from middle school, remember him? We both hid in the laundry room at one of Chelsy’s parties, he’s really grown into himself now, you can tell.”

“AWE! How romantic.” Linda gushed.

“Can I get the phone back please?” she reaches as Linda disapointedly handed the phone back. “So, did you at least see the text?”

“No, It’s a date. I turned my ringer off so we wouldn’t be intrupted.”

“Okay, well I need to ask you what would be the perfect high school experience I could show Rudy to convince him to stay?”

“Rudy’s leaving? Where?”

“I’ll explain later, I just need to show him what high school could be like for us if he’d stay.”

“Well, I never really went to any but there were a lot of secret parties some kids would throw out in the woods somewhere. I got invited to one but there was drinking and I didn’t want to follow any bad influences so-”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah and did you catch the name of this party spot?”

“No, it was a secret. You had to know someone who knew the party planner.”

“ So it’s word of mouth, huh? Did Jimmy Jr. Invite you to this party by any chance?”

“Yeah, he said it was a group thing but I felt like he might have been hinting at something a little more- I mean, I was pretty over him at that point but I-”

“Okay, okay. Just send me his number and I’ll ask him who was throwing all those parties and I’ll get the locatioin from them, whoever they are.”

“Fine but I don’t think you should do it, the only good party is one where someone gets hurt and I don’t want you to get into any trouble-”

“Look, I promise I won’t do anything bad. Do booze and no violence unless there is-”

“Louise!”

“What?”

“I have a bad feeling about this. I don’t think-”

“Hey, I already paid at the front. You ready to go?”

“Yeah, just give me a second. Louise I’ll give you Jimmy Jr.’s number but I’m letting mom know what you’re doing just so she can keep an eye on things.”

“Mom’s the one who gave me the idea, I don’t think there’s going to be any problem.”

“Fine.” she hangs up and soon after Louise’s pocket buzzes with a text from Tina. Like she promised, Jimmy Jr.’s number.

“Yes.” she quietly cheered.