Chapter 32: Sasha's Gift

Sasha has been gone for two weeks. Two weeks! Do you know what that does to a girl? All this testosterone is killing me. It's okay though, Sasha is finally coming back Saturday. Tomorrow.

My eyes widened as I really thought about it. Oh shit she's coming tomorrow and I don't even have a welcome back gift. Although her seeing Caden is probably her welcome back gift. Doesn't matter, I still want to give her something.

"Ms. White please recite what I have just said." My English teacher said.

I blushed. I couldn't recite it. Didn't she see I was having an existential crisis?

"Well? Can you?" She pressed on.

"N-No." I sheepishly mumbled.

"I'm sorry speak up, I can't hear you."

"No." I said loudly. Come kids giggle at me while others stared. All I wanted was to disappear into thin air.

"That's what I thought. Pay attention or I'll send you to the principals office. Understood?"

Never before have I ever done what I was about to do. With that being said, it would mean only one thing to it's occurrence in class today; talk back to my teacher.

I looked her straight in the eye and said "Well that's about the only thing I understand in this class."

I kid you not, her eyes popped out of their sockets. As soon as I realized what I'd said I gasped and quickly covered my mouth. I can't believe I said that.

"I-I am so sorry." I explained. Not only did I talk back, but I insulted her teaching ability in front of about  fifteen students. And knowing those students they'll most likely talk about the insult a student told a teacher. Heck, yesterday I heard kids talking about their 'best friend' and saying how he got expelled and how his dad and is in jail.

Before she could do anything the bell rang. I wasted no time in high tailing it out of there.

Jesse and James were still my bodyguards since the photo was taken down but although it was old news, people still talked. Think about it like this; Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber's relationship even though that happened like ten years ago.

"Sooo... what are you getting Sasha?" I asked Jesse.

He looked at me indecorously. "What?! We were supposed to get her something?!"

"Well no I just thought it would be nice to." I explained.

"Yeah no. I'm not getting her anything. I'll take you shopping after school if you would like though." Jesse smiled a bit.

I gasped. "Really? Okay! I'll make sure to finish my homework." And with that I ran off to lunch with Audrey eventually catching up with me.

"Lidia, do you ever know why our lives revolve around school?" Audrey asked.

I scrunched my eyebrows as I opened the cafeteria doors. "No I never really thought about that."

"Oh well I have. Evan won't sit with us today. He's getting braces on. Poor kid." She said with sympathy. I nodded my head in agreement. No one should ever need to get braces in high school. No one.

We sat down and ate our lunch. Audrey talked about depressing things like always. I didn't talk but that doesn't mean I didn't listen. With Audrey it's different. She doesn't make me feel alone and I can talk to her about anything and everything. Except for Carl of course.

She stared at the menaces-which I call big brothers- table. "Urgh I hate female stereotypes. Big boobs, big ass, plump lips, clear as daylight skin, and skinny body. Makes me sick." She spit out.

I looked down and saw I had some of the sorts. I had a good butt, but large thighs. My breasts weren't really big. They were average I would say. I licked my lips. They were small, with a decent amount of volume in them. I used to be skin and bones but living with my brothers has plumped me up. I thought that was a good thing? My fingers unconsciously grazed my right cheek. No, not clear. Although I had on makeup there were still some bumps. I recalled what I saw in the mirror last night. Little black dots on my nose.

Audrey looked away from them and saw my face. She gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry though, being pretty is overrated. I'd much rather look like the old hag then Gigi Hadid." Wow. Two smiles in a span of a week. New record!

I smiled back at her. "Thanks Audrey."

"No problem. I got you girl and don't you ever forget that." She winked at me.

My smile unconsciously grew bigger. I guess there is a silver lining in everything. Without Carl and mom I could've never been friends with Audrey or Evan. I guess he is good for one thing.

"Oh Audrey! I need help picking out a gift for my brother's girlfriend. She's coming home tomorrow and I would like to get her something. Would you mind coming and helping me pick something out?" I asked excitedly.

"Will your brothers approve? I mean I certainly don't have enough money to pay you ba-"

"Nonsense. And no, I haven't asked them but I'm sure they would say yes. And if they don't I'll just pull a little sister card and beg Luke and he'll probably tell them to. It's fine, honestly." I assure her.

She gives me a look like she's thinking it over. "Okay I guess I could come if your brothers say yes."

I clasp my hands excitedly. "Great! Now to just ask them.", I glanced over at their table for a moment.  I sighed. "This is going to be hard."

I slowly pushed my chair back while my best friend had wide eyes. This week has been a shitty one. Let's end it off with a bang.

I walked to their table and tapped Jesse on the shoulder since I would have the best chance with him saying yes. He turned around, obviously annoyed until he saw my face. "Hey big brother. I was wondering about you taking me shopping for a gift today."

He narrowed his eyes at me "And what is this wonder you speak of?"

"Since you aren't good at giving gifts and I'm okay at giving them, I was wondering if my best friend could join us. Y'know, Audrey?" I pleaded.

He fully turned around in his chair now. "Look Lids, I'm perfectly fine with this. In fact I think it's great for you to hang out with friends but I don't think Luke would like it on such short notice."

I looked down with slight disappointment but before my head could fully hang down it popped up with an idea. "Okay then, text him."

Jesse gave me a confused expression. "Huh?"

I nodded confidently. "Text him. Ask if it's okay right now. He'll respond by the end of the day, right?"

"Well I guess s-"

"Okay then, text him. Now." I cut him off.

He gave me a knowing smile. "I see I have taught you the ways of persuasion huh. Okay you got me, I'll text Luke. Now, go sit back down and eat. Zack would kill me if he knew you didn't eat."

I smile a grateful smile. I spun the other way and marched to my table. Audrey's face practically screamed at me to tell her the verdict. "So he said yes but he has to double check with Luke." We both simultaneously giggled.

As I predicted Luke agreed to let Audrey come with us. Knowing him he'd probably already done a background  check on her. With him being in the mafia and all.

Audrey and me walked out to Jesse's car. We both got in and sat down and I quickly motioned her to close the door. She looked at me weirdly but understood as soon as she closed it.

I looked around the car. "Where's James?"

"Oh him? Caden is picking him up and dropping him off at home since he didn't- and I quote- 'want to be in a car fully of squealing girls'."

"But there's only two of us." Audrey replied.

"Oh yeah and he doesn't like you." Jesse added.

She nodded her head. Makes sense. I mean she did slap the crap out of him once. The whole car ride to the store was full of us talking. This wasn't like lunch where she would talk and I would eat and nod, this was where we both made conversation.

We stepped out of the car and walked into the empty store. "Wow, you really chose the place Lidia. The whole thing is practically abandoned." Audrey commented, looking around. My head was swiveled from left to right.

Jesse chuckled. "That's because our dear eldest brother rented this place out."

Her eyes looked like Mrs. Priscott's after I insulted her. "Seriously?"

He nodded. She then swiveled her head to me. "Well then, let's go pick something out!"

We first went to the clothes. I had borrowed a shirt from her after mine got all dirty and it was a size or two to big for me. I wear a youth medium so she would wear an adult small. What? We got small bodies.

I held up shirts she would like and Audrey shook her head no on all of them. We eventually gave up on clothes after we started to look for ourselves rather than her. I don't like shopping but shopping with Audrey immediately makes it ten times better.

We moved onto the jewelry. We both looked around the glass cases but none of them screamed SASHA. They were all too girly with way too much diamonds or way too plain.

We looked throughout the whole store and still found nothing for her. As we were leaving Audrey put a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay. Listening to how you talk about this Sasha, I'm sure she won't mind you not getting her something."

Just then I glanced up at her and my eyes landed on something behind her. A necklace with a simple dolphin on it. I know she's from the South and probably misses it.

I gasped and ran towards it. I held it in my hands. It had a simple black chain with a simple silver dolphin. It was made so delicately but so simple. It was perfect!

Jesse narrowed his eyes. "Don't you want to get her something more expensive? We have the money if that's what you're worrying about."

Audrey elbowed him in the side. "Ow! Fine, it's really pretty. Let's pay and then we can leave."

And with that we headed home with a dolphin necklace so simple yet so beautiful.

We really did go out with a bang.

I hope you guys liked this one! I stayed up all night writing it. If you have any recommendations for any book please let me know! I would love to read them. Well I hope you liked it and don't forget to vote, comment and obviously like :)