"I didn't see your Dad, isn't he back? I thought you said he told you he wouldn't miss watching you leave for college. You said along the line of him wanting to watch his birdie fly?" Dixie asked Avery, who was focused on refreshing her instagram page. The post had gotten up to 30000 likes and 2500 comments in less than 20 minutes.
"Avery?" Dixie called out, slightly touching her arm slightly to get her attention.
Avery just looked at her expecting her to repeat the question. She didn't hear what her friend had said. Dixie repeated her question.
"Yeah but he probably couldn't make it. It's not a big deal, he'll call or text me to explain himself. He might even fly in, who knows?" Avery was unbothered. She knew her father had a business deal, they spoke about it that morning but she didn't think telling Dixie that detail was important.
"You know what I just suddenly remembered?" Evie interjected suddenly.
"What" Avery responded but she was busy with her phone scrolling through her feed.
"We're going to be on a five hours flight and I didn't curate a good playlist" Evie said with a pout.
"Uh...you know, I actually got something" Dixie replied, referring to the playlist she put together the night before. It took her two hours but she was proud of herself and she couldn't wait for someone else to hear it.
"Who's the dominant artist on this playlist? Let me guess, Lana Del Ray? The sad and depressing artist?" Evie teased her.
Avery chuckled because she knew how much Evie disliked sad songs. One time when Avery discovered Billie Eilish and couldn't stop playing her songs trying to figure out if she was going to continue listening to her, Evie kept asking her if she planned on becoming gothic. She had worriedly explained to Avery that she wouldn't be able to join her in that transition and she meant it.
"She's not that depressing, she's just emotional. Moreover, how would you relate to her songs, you're not in touch with your own emotions" Dixie replied defensively. She didn't like the way Evie was trying to dismiss Lana who happened to be her new favorite artist.
Avery did not care about their conversation but that response brought her attention back to the girls. She couldn't understand why Dixie would say that to Evie but she did not say anything. She looked over at Evie, but as expected, Evie just shrugged absentmindedly and said, "Girl please, I'd rather listen to something that will make me shake this ass than something that'll put me in a mood where everything looks and feels ugly." She was more interested in adding some clothes from Dior to her shopping cart. That was more interesting to her.
"Whatever" Dixie said and just stared outside the car window.
It's just a playlist, why is she that way, Avery thought.
She noticed how Dixie reacted to the joke and sensed that something was wrong with her. She was going to ask her about it but that'll be later when it was just them alone. She also noticed that Dixie had been distant from she and Evie all summer but she didn't say anything because she did not really care about it at the time.
Remembering that they had not talked about their apartment, Avery suddenly screamed, "I call dibs on the best room!"
"Noooo" Evie and Dixie yelled in unison. That was the reaction Avery was expecting from the girls. She texted her Dad, "Already left the house, I'll call when I arrive in NY, Love ya!"
Evie's phone rang and she rolled her eyes before answering the call, it was a fling she was trying to get rid of all summer. Not interested in listening to Evie talking down on the person, Avery took out her airpods from her bag, connected it to her phone and started listening to Ariana Grande's Position album. She got a response from her Dad, it read: "So sorry I wasn't there as promised, I'll make it up to you, double pinky swear. Love you so much Chummilucious".
Fifteen minutes later, they were at the airport. Their luggages were being taken to the private jet terminal and they were asked to wait at the private lounge for five minutes to get the jet ready. Evie was still on the phone, so Avery went over to Dixie who was sitting with her legs and arms crossed and her own airpods plucked into her ears. She looked like she was in her own element, like she didn't want to be bothered.
"Are you okay? You seem like you have something going on and I just want to make sure you're okay" Avery asked after nudging her to get her attention. She hoped Dixie would talk to her.
"Yeah, I'm good" Dixie replied with a smile.
Avery knew that smile, she had seen that smile a couple of times whenever Dixie was trying to hide something she didn't want to talk about. She decided that she was not going to pry, she'd just let Dixie talk to her whenever she was ready.
"Okay. Hey, I'm here for you" She tried to reassure Dixie who still had the same smile but she didn't meet her gaze anymore. Dixie didn't want Avery to read her obviously feigned expression. She knows how smart Avery was. Avery was one of the few person who could see through any smile she was wearing and she wasn't ready to open up just yet.
Avery had noticed the change in Dixie's behavior at the middle of their summer break. The genuine smiles and happiness she always had was replaced by a feigned one and everytime Avery tried to find out what was going on, she'd try to change the subject. Dixie was always the one among the trio who planned their movements and sometimes the parties but the summer changed her and Avery was desperate to find out the truth. She knew she could just ask her mother since her mother was Mrs Bach's friend and Mrs Bach always snooped through her daughter's room and reads her diaries and journals, but she didn't want to stick her head where she was clearly shown the door.
"Oh, aren't you the cutest little muffin?" Evie squealed to whoever she was talking to over the phone. The rest of the conversation was mostly giggles from her.
Avery continued listening to the rest of the songs on the album as she checked her instagram -230000 likes, 52000 comments, 38000 shares and 4000 new followers in 30 minutes after she made the post, that was impressive to her. She replied to some messages on her socials before she decided to look around.
"Ma'am? The jet is ready", a cabin crew member announced to the girls as she led them to the jet. As they walked, they knew the eyes of everyone present lingered on them. it was something about the way they looked and how confidently they strutted. The girls were accustomed to these type of stares, they looked like runway models so it was inevitable.
They were greeted by the pilot when they got on the plane. He looked like he was in his early thirties. He was effortlessly good looking.
"Welcome aboard ladies, my name is Fernando and I will be your Pilot today. I..."
The girls were not interested in the next things he said, all they knew is that he was a handsome pilot with a lingering name which can only be pronounced with an Italian accent. The way he said his name got them all dreamy. He was done speaking and he did a little now before returning to the cockpit.
"What did he say? He lost me after-" Evie began.
"Fernando!" the girls said in unison with an Italian accent they said mimicking the Pilot.
"Damn Evie, where did your dad find that adorable huncho?" Dixie teased.
"What I wouldn't give to find out" Evie responded as she settled into her seat. "Oh, now I'm dying for some pasta" She continued.
Two female private flight attendants walked in immediately and told the girls that they'll be in charge of taking care of them throughout the flight.
"Hey honey" Dixie beckoned on one of the flight attendants who came over. "I'd like some snacks and maybe a blankie" she continued.
"Alright"
"Just get us varieties boo" Avery called out to the flight attendants.
"Noted" she replied as she walked off.
"I'm finally gonna binge watch this series you recommended, Veve" Dixie called out.
"Which?" Avery enquired
"You" She replied.
"Good choice" Avery replied as she waited for the flight attendants. She decided to also binge a series from Netflix. As she was trying to browse and look for something good, the flight attendants brought what they asked for. On the trolley, there were muffins with different flavors, chocolate bars, sandwiches, popcorn mix, a bowl of fruit mix, juice and water. Dixie grabbed some chocolate bars, two blueberry muffins and a bottle of water. Evie took two chicken sandwiches, a bag of popcorn mix, and a bottle of orange juice. Avery took a bag of the popcorn mix, a strawberry muffin and a bottle of water.
After about thirty minutes, the flight attendants returned to take the remains of the almost devoured meals away. They brought in some warm towels and comfort soft pillows for the girls and retreated.
The girls got comfortable and ready for the next fours hours of the remaining flight. Avery and Evie slept off after an hour later, while Dixie continued binging the series that seemed quite interesting to her.
The flight attendants dropped by every thirty minutes to be sure the girls were okay and to ask them if they needed anything.
The flight was finally over, the Pilot announced that they were landing soon.
The girls went over their looks. Everyone tried to redo everything that was slightly undone or almost undone, like their hair, eyes, lips, etc. Satisfied with how they looked, they were ready to start their education life in New York.
As they walked past the private jet terminal, they could see everyone staring at them but Avery noticed a particular gaze.
It was different from the rest.
It was from a guy.
As he stared, everything seem to be moving in slow motion. She could tell that he knew she had caught him staring but he still stared anyways. He was handsome, tall, with a sexy physique, every muscle stayed exactly where it belonged. He stood in a confident stance with one hand in his pocket and the other just resting perfectly beside him. He had a perfectly structured face—it was both inviting and warning you to back off if you don't want to get hurt. His beards made him look older but Avery knew he must be in his early twenties. He had a perfect tan. His aura looked mysterious. She felt his gaze linger on her body, he caressed her with his intense gaze and she loved every bit of it. He smiled for a second and just as she had imagined, it was a charming one, the type that would get most girls swooning over him.
"Right Avery?" Evie nudged her out of her trance with the strange at the terminal. Her friends were talking about something she didn't hear.
"What?" She asked.
"The weather looks promising" Evie said as they now moved to get on their ride who was waiting for them outside with a black 2022 Range Rover Velar. They girls were greeted by the chauffeur who held the door and welcomed them to New York.
"Ouuuu Champagne, don't mind if I do" Evie said excitedly as she popped the bottle, poured out the drink into three champagne glasses. She gave them to her friends and made a toast, "To the best year ahead. I'm so glad I'm doing this with you guys. To us."
"To us" they echoed back excitedly.