Olivia packed her overnight bag for the sleepover at 5:30pm. She wanted to arrive early just in case Mrs. Trudio, required help with dinner preparations. At a quarter to six, she hugged and kissed her gran and headed out the door. She loaded her car and backed down the drive. Fifteen minutes later she pulled up at the ranch and parked. Alessia and Alex were already out of the house and walking toward her when she emerged from the vehicle.
"Hey V, you're early." Alex said, taking her bag. "Is that a problem? I could always leave and come back." She grinned.
"Of course not!" Alessia replied, sending him a glare.
"She knows I didn't mean anything by it, don't you V?"
"Of course, I do."
They headed in the house and Alessia led the way to the big common room loft, where they would all be spending their time. Only Carmichael was there sitting in a big comfy chair watching tv.
He rose from the chair when the three of them came up the stairs. "Hey guys, glad to see you made it Olivia." He said, before he sat back down and continued watching the show.
The common room was huge, everything laid out with dark wood, from floor to ceiling. There was a 52 inch screen tv mounted on the wall, a sectional couch, six recliners, three oversized beanbags, a bar, with a fridge, filled with an assortment of beverages and snacks. A variety of liquors lined the shelves behind the bar, ten bar stools lined the front. There was a pool table and an electric dart board, as well as a shuffle board.
Seven doors led off to the bedrooms, and an extra large entrance led to a shower room, complete with a jacuzzi tub, that could fit ten people. 'The Trudio's certainly know how to entertain,' she thought.
"Let's get you settled in before dinner," Alessia said, leading the way to the last door, closest to the bathing room. Olivia knew this room, it was always hers, when she slept over. There was a queen size bed with a fluffy purple comforter and matching plush pillows. A dresser and desk with chair, sat across from the bed. A thirty-two inch flat screen tv hung on the wall above the desk. A closet sat next to the desk.
"You can put your things in the dresser and closet," Alessia stated.
"Do I really need to put my things in there. I'm only staying one night, right?" She asked.
"Everyone else is staying the entire weekend. You are welcome to also." She replied with a big grin and making her eyebrows dance.
"I packed enough for several days," Olivia replied, grinning.
"It's settled! I love that you're always prepared," Alessia laughed.
"I have everything but the kitchen sink in this big boy," she said, patting her duffel bag.
"Even your bikini?" She asked.
"Yes, even that." She said rolling her eyes.
"Good! We can have a group bath tonight!" She said, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Oh no! I prefer to bathe alone," she said.
"We will be wearing bathing suits," she replied, rolling her eyes.
"It's just weird," Olivia replied.
"I forgot, you're a prude," Alessia replied.
"I just haven't experienced what you have!" Olivia stated.
"I can't wait until you find your special one." She commented with a knowing look.
"I don't see that happening anytime soon," she stated matter-of-factly.
"It might happen sooner than you think!" Alessia replied, excitedly.
"Why are you so much happier about this than I am?" She asked.
"Can't I wish my bff to meet her true love?" She asked, bumping her shoulder. "Besides, I'm ready for double dates!"
"Oh my god, really?" She asked, astounded.
Alessia laughed and wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulders. "I just want you to be happy and what better way than for you to find a boy toy to fall in love with," She smiled.
"I really don't need the distraction," she replied.
"We all need a distraction V, even if just for a moment." Alessia sighed and grabbed her hand and pulled her up. "Let's go get snacks and drinks!"
"I thought we were eating dinner in a hour? By the way, does your mom need help in the kitchen?" She asked.
"We'd only be in the way. She prefers to do it all by herself and I'm thankful for it," she laughed.
Olivia followed her friend to the common bar for Chex mix and sodas. They sat at the bar gossiping about Rosa and Carmichael and how far it would go. She was happy to be there. It beat sitting in her room binge watch Netflix alone. She always felt at peace around them. It wasn't like being at home with her gran.
Although they were related, it felt odd being with her at times, like she was hiding something from her. Her mother was no help either, she even brought it up to her once and she immediately shut her down. Saying that her grandmother had her best interests in mind and if she didn't she would know. Whatever that meant. 'How exactly would she know?'
It seemed that between her family and friends, there were secrets as vast as the ocean. Did she really want to know the truth? Or was she better off living in the dark. Would she be able to handle it, if she did one day discover it? It continued to weigh on her mind, but she couldn't bring herself to even ask her friends. How could she trust them, when they were keeping things from her? Were her friends some sort of supernatural beings? Did they have powers? Were they aliens? Her mind was twisting just thinking about the truth. Why would they be friends with an ordinary human, if they were exceptional? Were they going to use her for some weird experiment?
She couldn't see Alex and Alessia doing anything evil to her. They were always great friends to her, protective and sincere. Was it all a facade, to mask the truth? Were they going to sacrifice her to their deity?! She took a deep breath to calm her worries. One thing was certain, this weekend, she was going to discover exactly what they were hiding.
Her mind was in overload, and she needed air. She turned to Alessia, "Can we go out and see the horses?" She asked.
"Of course!" Alessia said excitedly. "Dad bought a new mare, and I've been dying to show her off. Let's go!" She said, turning on the barstool and hopping off.
"You're going to love her. She's a bit stubborn but the stubborn ones always end up being the best. Just like me!" They both laughed.
"I don't think anyone is as stubborn as you." Olivia replied. Alessia feigned ignorance, but quickly agreed.
"Where are you two off to," asked Carmichael.
"To see a beautiful beast," Alessia replied.
Carmichael gave them both questioning eyes, but immediately turned back to his program.
"When is Rosa arriving," he asked, as they made it out of the room.
"Don't you have her number?" Alessia asked.
A big grin crossed his face and he pulled out his phone to message her.
"He's such a love sick pup," she commented with a laugh.
"And you want me to be the same way?" Olivia asked, with a scrunched faced.
"Yes!" She grinned.
Olivia shook her head and sighed in exasperation. "Not going to happen." She replied.
She followed her friend out of the house, toward the stables.