GOING TOCALIFORNIA
22
Lucky
"It's strange being home,"Lucky said to Jordan as she unpacked. "So much has changed but everything here is the exactlythesame."
Lucky's room hadn't been redecorated in years. She still had the white canopy bed and pale pink walls from her childhood. Her room never bothered her since she rarely spent much timeinit.
"Yeah, it is. Feels like we were gonesolong."
"That's because so much happened. I can't believe all that time we were gone and you didn't tell me youmovedout."
"I didn't want you to worry," Jordan said. "You had the tour anyway. Plus you know me, I don't like talking about stufflikethat."
"We've been best friends our whole lives, you're more important than a tour. Have you heard fromyourmom?"
"I got a text from her last week. It said things weren't bad for me and she misses me. Said I can always come back," Jordan said as she rolled her eyes. "On the other hand, my cousin said my mother is bragging about how she threw me out and won't ever takemeback."
"Would you evergoback?"
"Hell no. I'd rather live on the streets,"Jordansaid.
"You know you can stay here until you move out toCalifornia."
"Thanks, but it'll only be a couple of days. Need to get my stuff out of storage and ship it. Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to moving away. This city looks different now. Grayer. Worn down. There's nothing here for meanymore."
"I'm surprised Dylan didn'tcomeout."
“He was going to, but he got a studio offer that needed him right away. I know it's stupid, but Imisshim."
"It's not stupid. I miss him too," Lucky said quietly as she thoughtaboutJude.
"You haven't heardfromhim?"
"No. And why would I? I made it clear we were over. I just don't know how I convinced myself to do that. How stupid am I? He was literally a dream come true, my first love, and I sent himpacking."
"You couldcallhim."
Lucky shook her head then looked down at the ring he gave her. "Probably better I don't," Lucky said. "There's no way it would last anyway. He's probably already fallen forsomeoneelse."
"What are you going todonext?"
"I don't know. Maybe look for a place. I'm not sure where though. Maybe I'll go out to LA too so I'm nearby for recording. I know I have to get out of here. It's just..." She looked around her bedroom. "This is the bedroom of a child. That's not me anymore. I need to be onmyown."
"Lucky! Pick up the phone!" her mother yelled from the bottom of thestaircase.
"Wait. Did they take your cell awayagain?"
"Yup. Apparently I don't need it ifI'mhome."
"And you didn't say anything?" Jordan said, hereyeswide.
"What's there to say? There's no point arguingwiththem."
"You need to stand up for yourself, Lucky. They need to see you're anadult."
Lucky shrugged. She didn't want to admit it to Jordan, but she happily gave her cell phone over to her mother. She knew if she had it, she'd constantly check if Jude called, or she would break down and call him. Either way she'd feel like an idiot, so this way was better. She picked up the phone in thehallway.
