Ring ring ring…
JC answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Hi, Josh. We’re at the Stevensons’. We shouldn’t be home too late.”
“Ya know, Mom, I am grown up enough to be home alone without you guys here…”
“I know, sweetie. It’s just that parental mind taking over. I’ll see you later.”
“Ok, have fun!”
“We will. Bye.”
“Who was that?” Heather asked as he hung up the cordless phone.
“Mom. She and Dad are at a friend’s house.”
“Oh, ok. Why didn’t you tell them I was here.”
“I guess they should be surprised as well.”
There was an uncomfortable silence as Heather, JC, and Lexi sat in the living room. The only noise was softly buzzing from the television. The phone ringing a second time cut through the silence like a knife, and JC answered it quickly.
“Hello?”
“Hey, JC, what’s up!?” the loud voice on the other line said.
“I’m all right, man, how are ya?”
It was one of JC’s friends from Bowie. He talked to him for a minute in the living room and then excused himself to go into the kitchen to finish his conversation. Heather and Lexi were left alone, once again, in uncomfortable silence.
“So…” Lexi started, “What college do you go to?”
“University of New York. You?”
“I used to go to the University of Central Florida, but I put that on hold until I finish my album.”
“Oh, well were you in any sororities or anything?”
“Yeah, actually I was in Alpha Phi…”
“Omigawd!” Heather replied. “So am I!”
“Really?”
Lexi and Heather recited the sorority pledge and cheer and were now talking non-stop. About 15 minutes later JC was off the phone and came back into a room filled with chatter and laughter.
“Wow, good things happen when I leave a room,” he said.
“It turns out that we’re in the same sorority,” Heather said.
“I didn’t know you were in a sorority, Lex.”
“That’s right, Josh, I don’t tell you everything,” Lexi smiled.
“Oh well pardon me,” he smiled back. “Well now that you two are best friends you won’t mind if I go out with Lucas for a little bit.”
“Of course not!” Heather said. “Actually, Lexi and I were going to go to the mall to do some last minute Christmas shopping.”
“Ok. I’ll meet up with you two ladies later. Lexi, anything that she tells you about me isnot true. Unless it’s nice, of course.”
Lexi laughed. “No problem, Josh.”
Heather and Lexi pulled up to Free State Mall at about 8 o’clock. Lexi had gone shopping in Orlando before she came. She got JC’s mom, dad, sister, and brother presents. She got JC a present as well, but she wanted to find something that was a little more personal. She and Heather walked around for a long time talking and shopping. Lexi loved doing this. Ever since she began recording her album she didn’t have much time to just hang out with her girlfriends. She talked to them on the phone a lot, and she didn’t forget about them, but they all just had their own things going on. It felt good to finally be out shopping like a normal nineteen-year old.
Lexi and Heather passed by a jewelry store and Heather wanted to go in. Heather was talking to a salesperson and looking at the watches while Lexi browsed through the store thinking about what she could possibly get Josh. She stopped at a display case that was filled with crosses and crucifixes. She kept on thinking about what she should get him as she walked away from the case, and then it hit her. A cross would be perfect! She found a salesperson and picked out a platinum gold (expensive silver) cross with a matching chain. By the time Heather was done buying a watch, Lexi had bought the necklace and had it gift wrapped.
“What did ya buy?” Heather asked.
“Oh, just a necklace.”
“Oh! Lemme see!”
“Oh, I already got it gift wrapped.”
“It’s not for you then?”
“Nope,” Lexi replied.
“For JC?”
“Yeah.”
“You really like him, don’t you?” Lexi was silent.
“It’s ok,” Heather said. “I know my brother. He likes you too…I can tell.”
“Everyone keeps on telling me that.”
“Well we’re smart people.” From that moment on Heather dropped the subject.
Chapter Ten
I'm running out of ways to tell you to go home...