LIV
"Liv! Get up. Don't you have class at 10?" Amanda stood next to my bed, tapping at my shoulder, in what felt like the most annoying way possible. I'm definitely not a morning person, and being woken up in the morning is so irritating. I groaned as I turned to look at my sister, them my clock.
"It's already eight in the morning. Why aren't you with your boyfriend," I asked as I got up out of bed and walked to my bathroom.
"Well, even though it's none of your business, he has an appointment." Amanda said, defensive as she watched me in the bathroom doorway.
I gave her a look into the mirror as I put toothpaste on my toothbrush, "he's going to the beauty salon at eight in the morning?"
She rolled her eyes then left, finally giving me some space.
I eventually made my way downstairs and sat at the table, in the middle of my parents' conversation with my sister. My mom was engrossed in conversation and didn't even seem to notice me. My dad did though, and gave me a warm smile, "good morning kid."
I smiled back at him, "morning."
It took my mom a few more minutes to say good morning as well. Her main interest at that moment was my sister's first NY Times' best seller. Amanda is a 'fixer' with a law degree, who's now seen as one of the best in the country. Someone approached her about writing a book on her work, and here we were.
I was happy for her, really I was. I was glad she'd done what she loved and had found success in books, too.
"Oh, Olivia," my mom turned to me, "we have some new neighbours that moved into that house next door. Since you'll be the only one home tomorrow, can you take the fruit basket and cake over there? It'll be ready once you get home."
I shrugged, "sure."
"Thank you, ma chere," she said, then returned to their conversation.
I sat in front of my eggs, fruit, and toast, half-listening to my family's conversation as I looked through my phone. It felt kind of like I wasn't there, aside from their occasional glances at me and 'what do you think's every now and then. That was the first I'd seen my parents in about a week, since they traveled all the time for work.
And it was like I wasn't there.
******
I walked down the hall to my lecture, with Amanda in tow. Not by choice. She practically forced me into her car when I was leaving, saying she wanted to "visit old friends". I didn't know how many friends she'd find here after going to this school for one semester. I was pretty sure these friends were gone, but whatever.
We walked past this guy with the most gorgeous hazel eyes I'd ever seen. And I knew those eyes, because I looked into them for hours last week at a dive downtown. Jessie Eliot, who I was very close to becoming exclusive with. He looked at me intently as he passed us, and I smiled to myself.
Amanda caught up to me, with a big smile on her face. Her heels clicked as she tried to match my pace. "He was totally checking you out!"
I shook my head then look at her, "don't worry about it." She scoffed, "I don't understand you sometimes."
******
"Liv, I saw your sister earlier," Myra, my best friend, told me during our early childhood development class. We'd been friends since middle school, and our families were also pretty close. We didn't think we'd be lucky enough to get accepted into the same program at the same school, but here we were.
"Well she insisted on coming," I replied, trying to focus on the baby doll in front of me. Myra tapped me on the shoulder, then leaned in so no one else could hear her, "I saw Jessie flirting with her earlier."
I turned to my friend, surprised, "Are you serious?" I wasn't sure if Myra was joking or not. Her idea of fun was sometimes at the expense of my emotions. "Honest to the good in my heart." Myra said, placing her hand over her heart. I sighed, frustrated and annoyed because this was not how I wanted my day to go.
"Attention class. Eyes up here." Professor Gallagher waited until she had all of our attention. "Alright. As you may already know I will be retiring next week, so this is my last class with you." She said as she looked around the room. I was sure she expected awes and why's but there was none of that. Myra tried to stifle her laugh, along with some other students.
"We're gonna miss you, professor," I exclaimed, loud enough for her to hear me from the near back of the lecture hall. She nodded then gave me a small smile.
"Thank you, Olivia... Anyway," Ms. Gallagher cleared her throat awkwardly as she continued, "you will be getting a new professor. Unfortunately, since he is rather busy, you won't be able to meet him for several weeks. You'll have a substitute during that time.
And due to my retirement, your classes are cancelled next week, so use that time wisely to catch up if you're behind in my class or any others.Make sure to complete your assignments before the break, I'll still be grading them. Have a good long weekend."
Students started packing up and leaving, and some actually went up to the professor's desk to say their goodbye's and wish her well. I went up to give her a hug, then Myra and I left, on our way to Cafe Cerise.
"You had to laugh, Myra?"
She rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry, but it was ironic and funny."
I gave her a light shove in return, "I don't think you used that word prop-"
"Liv!"
Amanda's hands landed on my shoulders before I could even react to the clacking of her heels. I groaned as I turned around and was attacked by a bear hug. Myra watched at us two sisters, amused
"It's been a while Amanda." Myra gave my sister a smile. Amanda tackled her in as well.
"You look good Myra!" Amanda, holding her at arm's length, smiled like a proud aunt. She then hooked her arms onto ours, elbow to elbow, and walked with us down the hall.
"So, ladies, I wanna take you out to lunch and discuss some things."
My eyes roamed the hall, "we actually already made plans-"
"We can all go to the cafe, Liv," Myra cut in, and seemed way too excited to bring my sister with us. Amanda seemed pleased, and I was the only one that wasn't crazy about the change of plans.
My elbow nudged my sister.
"You're buying."
******
"A club? No."
This was not the time to be asking me to spend my night around sweaty, drunk and stupid strangers. Not while I was trying to enjoy my matcha latte. There was very little good I'd heard about the nightlife. Plus, the last time I went out with Amanda I just watched her get wasted, because there was no one else to drive back.
"Liv, you're turning 19 now. You're legal. And a sophomore in college. 'Liv' a little." Myra and Amanda laughed at her pun. My face didn't change, so Myra, in agreement with Amanda, gave me pleading eyes. "Common Liv! Clubs are great. And there are some sexy guys that go there."
"Yeah, right. You can't guarantee that we'll have a good time, can you?" I questioned, not happy that Myra was up for this crazy idea. But also not surprised. "Please, Liv. Believe me. Ryan, Myra and I will make sure you have a good time." Amanda said, grinning. Her mention of her boyfriend, Ryan, somehow made the whole idea seem worse.
"Common Liv. You know what? If you come to this party, I'll let you have my room and bathroom."
I put my cup down, a smile slowly emerging on my face. She isn't at home half the time anyway, so that space should've already been mine. But this would definitely save me an argument in the future.
My eyes went from Amanda to Myra, and I laughed. I could not believe I was about to say this...
"Alright. I'll go." Amanda and Myra squealed. "Yes! I promise you, Liv, you won't regret this." Amanda said, grinning like it was Christmas morning.
I looked at the two ladies in front of me, then took a swig of my latte. I really hoped they were right about this.
_______
A/N
If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to vote and/or comment.
Thanks so much for reading and for all your support!
-Ruth
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