I turn around apprehensively and see a somewhat sweaty Jamie running toward me in her work uniform. I instantly put my backpack down, meeting her halfway. We collide in a hug, and my throat closes up slightly as tears well in my eyes.
“How?”
“Mama Kate added me to the vetted list. I asked her not to tell you in case I didn’t make it.” She pulls back, grabbing me by the shoulders. “Listen to me. You’re my best friend and the only person to show me what true friendship is. You care about me more than my own family does.” More tears rain down my face as she chuckles sadly. “We willalwaysbe best friends. No matter how far apart we are. And I swear, if you don’t text and call me, I will buy a plane ticket to come strangle you.” I laugh, her following along. “I’m gonna miss you so much.”
“I will too, Jamie. You have no idea.” I wipe my face and step back. “I actually have something for you. I was gonna give it to you earlier, but it didn’t come in till this morning.” I rummage around my backpack, and she holds up a rather large gift bag of her own.
“Great minds think alike,” she replies, and I hand her the bag while she passes me hers. She looks at me and I nod, giving her permission to open it now. Reaching a hand in, she pulls out a light blue notebook and gel pens.
“I saw on your wish list you wanted them for studying at UPenn, so I ...” I trail off, and a tear comes down her face as shehugs me tighter.
“You’re the best, B.” I hug her in response. I try to open the bag, but she pulls back, stopping me. “Do me a favor? Open it when I’m not here.”
Nodding at that, I turn around as someone calls my name. Of course, Josh appears while tapping his watch, looking annoyed, causing me to roll my eyes while Jamie laughs.
“Is it wrong that I don’t like that guy?”
I shake my head, giggling before muttering, “Bye, Jamie.”
She puts her hand over her mouth, waving at me. “See you later, B.”
Walking through security, I glance back one last time and see Jamie. She waves again, but I don’t return it. Instead, I walk into the hall that leads to the cart that will drive us to the jet, having finally torn my eyes away from my heartbroken best friend.
Boarding the small plane, I’m greeted by the captain and the flight attendant, and I nod in response. The jet is what you would expect: all white leather seats, the brown lining contrasting. There’s a coolness on my back as I sit next to the chilled bin filled with drinks. Mom and Josh sit comfortably on the sofa, champagne flutes in their hands as her legs rest on top of his. Bending slightly to get my journal, I turn in time to see Mom glancing back at me. I nod at her and she smiles, going back to talkingwith Josh while the gift bag opens up at my feet, tempting me. Multiple layers of decorative tissue paper later, I pull out a gorgeous dress.
I remember daydreaming with Jamie on the Dior website. There was a beautiful gown for twenty-five hundred dollars, and we joked that even selling our kidneys wouldn’t cover it. I can’t believe she went through all this trouble of recreating it. Looking at the detailing, I realize this must’ve taken her hours. I look back in the bag and see a card with my name on it. Tentatively, I open it.
Dear B,
If you’re reading this, it means today is the day you leave Philly. I really wanted to give you something to remember me by, and ever since I saw your eyes light up at that Dior dress, I knew I had found my next project. Of course, I had no idea it would be your going-away gift, but I think it works out pretty well.
I hope you like it, and thank you for always being my biggest hype woman when it comes to following my dreams.
I love and will miss you so much,
Jamie
Folding up the letter, I clear my throat, trying not to get emotional, rubbing my thumb along the dress. It’s an elegant emerald-green gown with minuscule glittering crystals. It’s body hugging and strapless, and I fall in love with the soft, silky feel of it.
I mean, it’s Jamie’s creation. That girl is an absolute genius when it comes to this stuff. I hug it to my chest for a bit, then gently tuck it back into the bag. My journal rests on my leg, the words I’ve been wanting to write for days begging to be set free. The jet rumbles to life, incoherent gibberish coming through the speaker, causing me to laugh softly.
They say hope can either be your saving grace or downfall, but I hope it isn’t my ruining.
I want to have hope again.
I’m going to California, and not just anywhere, but to Los Angeles. The place where I used to live. Where my ex-best friend might still live.
As always, the overthinking part of my brain starts to run as I worry about what to do with my life now that high school is over. Ihate that my counselors were right and that I should’ve applied for safety schools. There’s still time to apply to some community colleges if I really want to stay in Pennsylvania. Then, I could transfer to UPenn. It sounds like the perfect solution, and Jamie and I would finally get to do what we’ve been dreaming of for years. Or ... I could just embrace that I’m moving back to California and apply to colleges there for the fall and either try to transfer to UPenn later or apply to universities there. I feel like I’m being pulled in two different directions, the right decision not seeming clear at all. As my mind wanders a bit, the hopeless romantic in me drowns out the student.
If I were to see Liam, how would he react? Would he be happy ... or unbothered? I mean, there’s a huge chance I might not ever see him, so there’s that too.
And after that, my journal finally gets what it’s been waiting for.
CHAPTER FIVE
BIANCA
Ijostle awake, the ringing in my ears still very much apparent even though I thought napping would help. I grip the armrests as the plane bounces slightly, the pain of squeezing making my head throb even harder. The flight attendant comes close to me, patting my shoulder slightly, and I smile at her kindness. Mom and Josh sit in the seats across from mine, a concerned look on her face, a questioning one on his, as a little ding echoes through the cabin.
