Don't Go Back

Chapter 1: Price Tag

Clare's POV

Alli and I were practically jumping up and down until the assistant came over. "Girls, I know you are excited about going to Los Angeles but please, there is no bouncy house on the plane." We both giggled and stopped.

I intertwined our arms and walked on. "So, we do get the front." She said, looking at her ticket. Luckily Principle Simpson asked us who we wanted to sit by, and with the new students, it was hard for them.

We sat in row 21. I got a window seat, (yay!) and looked out.

"Well," I began while putting in one headphone of Alli's iPod, "6 weeks. What are you going to do?" She put in the other headphone.

"Maybe I'll meet a celebrity. YouTube stars like Tobuscus and iJustine. Maybe even Grayson Chance."

I smiled. "Toby and Justine live on a hill, down the street from Lady Gaga, you gonna meet her too?"

She nodded and started searching for songs. We both agreed on Orphan Tears by Your Favorite Martian (RWJ.)

Adam sat in the row in front of us. He volunteered to have the new girl, Katie, to be his partner.

Katie was the most beautiful girl, no wonder he picked her. She was so nice and pretty, just like Fiona.

"H-hey Adam." I greeted, leaning over the seat. He turned his head and smiled. "How's life? Oh, Katie, this is my friend Clare." I shook her hand and returned to my seat.

"She seems nice." Alli said. I nodded to her direction. The two new other kids, Imogen and Jake, sat down. Apparently, they had been dating since middle school. Jake was holding her hand.

I didn't get it, Imogen was the partying type. Jake was a model. But I shouldn't be saying anything… opposites attract. Suddenly my eyes shifted to Eli's then back to the iPod.

Pieces by Red was playing. It was my favorite song. Was. Such a useful word. Most words that are useful are longer than three letters, but I used this so much.

I was normal, but I didn't see the obstacle in my way. I was playing a game.

Wait. If Adam was sitting with Katie, who was Eli sitting next to? I looked back; he sat down next to Fiona. They had become friends knowing both went to therapy and rehab.

They were really good friends.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please turn off any electronic devices at this time." I pulled out my phone and slid the red arrow to the right. Alli turned off her iPod.

The lift off was loud. I looked at the clouds and tried to make shapes with Alli as we lifted up. Adam was telling Katie about the students.

"Alright passengers it is now okay to turn on your devices, the TV's, and get up to use the restroom. Servers will come around in about half an hour with food."

Alli handed me her iPod again and I started playing Angry Birds. Well, it was an iPhone. Alli began talking to Katie ahead of her.

June 7, 2011

I was so happy; Simpson put the trip so it would be over summer. It wasn't a field trip where you have to follow the chauffeur, we got to roam around. Alli and I found the fanciest hotel and booked the second to highest floor.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed when we came in the room. The beds were perfectly made, and had tons of pillows; we could get a view of LA at night by looking out the window.

A flat screen was in the next room, along with some gym equipment and a small kitchen/bar counter. In the one bedroom was a bathroom with a large shower.

In a small closed off room next to the kitchen was another bathroom, with just a small walk-in and other bathroom stuff

Alli wanted to go shopping after reading the hotel's supply of hair and clothes magazines.

"Wow. LA has the weirdest celebrity names." Her eyes went scanning the pages.

I laughed. Later on shopping in Body Central we met up with Fi. "Hey Fi," I said, "Where's your buddy?" I nudged her arm.

"Oh, he's-" She began, pointing her finger, I cut her off. "I meant HJ. Didn't you two go shopping like every day?" I asked. She shook her head saying, "Sorry, I have a lot of friends, I thought you meant Eli. She couldn't come."

"Oh… So what hotel are you staying at?" I asked her. We both looked at the jeans rack.

"The best hotel of them all, Andez." I smiled. "Really! That's the hotel we're staying at!" I squealed.

I bought some ripped skinny jeans and an off the shoulder bright red ruffled top. Fi told me to get a fur vest with it too, so now I have tomorrows outfit.

I mistakably walked into a hair salon. "Oh, Hun, YOU would look perfect with black hair!" A woman said as I tried to walk out. I turned around at the option. "Sure." I said. She pulled me into the chair.

Hours later I was up and out. I looked in the mirror and instantly smiled at my reflection. I paid for it and walked to Alli.

She went shopping while I got my hair died. "Wow! You look hot!" I posed for her then laughed. "I'm lying." She said.

I walked past her and muttered, "Fuck you." She came up laughing, "I'm sorry. I was just kidding!" I laughed with her.

Eyes looked at me. I turned to see Eli staring at me from a table in the food court. Dammit! He knew me by the side of my head, even with hair dye.

Eli's POV

"Dammit Adam! Why do I still love her? She left me! Broken!" I stood and got in his face while yelling.

He stood and got in mine. "Because you know how beautiful she is, and you can't get over it! She died her hair! So what? You don't have to stare at her even though she's fucking beautiful!" I sat down and sighed.

"You think she's beautiful?" I said, in a hushed tone. "Everyone knows. She is beautiful. I don't mean it like I'm in love with her, but, you know what I mean." He sat back down and took a sip of his drink.

"Yeah, I do." I muttered. I mean, Katie, Anya, even Fi… Fi? My best friend… I thought she was beautiful. She is but, I don't like her like that.

If Clare was going to play this game, she's going to have a hard opponent. "Have a nice lunch, Adam." I said before leaving.

Clare's POV

Alli and I walked out, bags filled. We spent a lot of time shopping in a place called Hot Topic. Hot Topic was punkish, rebellious, but not too much of those.

I went in my room to try everything on. Alli said she had a date with Drew, so I said goodbye.

Oh how I loved that bitch's excuses! Everything went perfect with my new hair. I climbed on the bed to reach the phone and asked the maids service to come for laundry.

I quickly ripped the tags off of the clothes, and took a shower. The maid came just as I finished getting clothes on.

"You called?" The lady asked, coming in with a basket after I let her in. "Yes. Thank you." I said as I helped her load the clothes into the basket. She walked out of the door and closed it behind her.

I pulled open the window and looked at the lights, LA was so beautiful. I decided to take a walk.

I walked downstairs and got into the elevator, a boy walked next to me, wearing a fedora. I leaned against the wall awkwardly waiting for it to end.

When I got out, he got out, and he walked one step behind me on the sidewalk. I spun around. "Stop following me and fuck off! I don't want to be raped on my first day in LA!"

I shouted. He started to speak quietly, "I know, that's why you don't walk alone." He took off his hat. I should've noticed his hair.

"What're you doing?" I asked. He looked at me. "You always need a guard, little sis." Sav walked beside me. "So, you partners with HJ on the trip?" I asked him. He started talking to me and I felt bad for swearing at him.

"Do what you must but I'm going to meet Bianca. It's been a while…" I said. My head looked at the sidewalk.

"You don't know what kind of people could be out here! It's almost nine!" He yelled quietly. I nodded and muttered thanks.

I walked the streets next to him having normal conversations. "Why didn't you take a cab?" He finally asked, and I realized we were already here.

"I felt like a nice walk would be nice. Thanks for coming." I hugged him goodbye and called to ask B what floor she lived on.

Wow, floor 187, interesting… I pushed the button, (When I found it) and felt the elevator shuffle before launch.

I walked on the dark green carpet. The décor was so fancy, so beautiful, and definitely eye-catching. There were famous painting all along the walls, and each door along the hall had a different color from red to black.

I knocked on the door marked 453. Bianca asked, "Who is it?" I sighed before yelling outside the door, "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK IT IS?" But I didn't yell so loud the people next door could hear.

She opened the door with a welcoming smile on her face. "Whoa! The place is awesome!"

Her living room had the wonderful beach pattern. Blue walls matched with dark oak fireplaces, a flat screen (on a dark oak stand,) candles, and white leather couches and chairs.

"Thanks. BTW, who did you take?" She asked me. I didn't have a boy, and I figured it being really weird sharing the room with one if you're a virgin.

"Oh," I began, my mouth staying in that place. "I brought Alli of course! Who for you?"

She smirked, "Well, my boy Drew!" She almost squealed. Before giving me the tour of the house.

The bedrooms were painted awful mustard yellow. But it had a bubbly feel to it. With a bed planted in the ground that had white sheets and light wood, I wondered how B managed not to redecorate.