Chapter One
“Riley!” I groaned as I stepped in the door. How did she know I was home? I sighed and shouted, “Yes mother?” I smirked when she walked down the hallway to meet me.
“You know I hate it when you call me that,” she told me.
“I know,” I smiled at her.
She shook her head and said, “Anyway, honey, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Depends on what the favor is,” I said.
“I need you to take Lauren and her friend to some concert this weekend.”
“Ugh, mom!” I whined.
“Please do this for me. I can’t make it,” she begged me.
I closed my eyes and ran my hand over my cheek, “Yeah, I guess.”
“Thank you!” She hugged me, “You can take Bailey with you. I got four tickets instead of three on accident.”
“That makes me feel better,” I said walking up the steps to my room.
I fell on top of my bed and pulled out my pink razr and called Bailey. She picked up the phone, “What’s up?”
I sighed, “What are you doing this weekend?”
“Something with you obviously,” she laughed.
“Good. Because I have to take my sister and her friend to a concert. Come with, please?”
“Sure. What concert is it?”
“I have no idea,” I answered honestly.
“I hope it’s not like some Disney Channel pop star.”
I laughed with her, “Yeah. That would be torture.”
After I got off the phone with her, I walked into my sisters room. “Do you know how to knock?” She asked me as her friend laughed.
“Hey, just for that, I’m not going to take you to that stupid concert.”
“Mom’s taking me,” she smirked.
“Not anymore, sunshine!” I beamed at her.
“What?” she stood up and said, “You can’t just not take me. We bought tickets.”
“So what?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
She looked at me and then begged, “Fine. I’m sorry! Please take me.”
I laughed, “I was joking. Bailey and I are going to take you twerps.” I nodded at her friend. “She’s going right?”
“Duh,” Lauren said.
“Okay. So, where is this concert?”
“In New York City,” she explained.
I nodded and said, “Okay. I’ll get the tickets from mom and find the directions.”
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“Hurry up Riley!” My dad called from downstairs. I put my scarf around my neck and hurried down the steps. I tugged on my beat up converse and hurried out the house. I walked down the driveway and got into the car. “Sorry guys,” I smiled and put the seat belt around me.
My family was going out to one of those Christmas Tree Lots to get a tree for the living room. We went on a Friday, the day before the concert. Every year, we’d go out and pick out a tree together. Then go home and put ornaments and lights everywhere.
I stood beside a tree, crossing my arms over my chest, looking at it. It was the same as all the others. But according to my mom, they weren’t the same. There was always something different about each one. Whatever. I don’t see it.
“I like this one!” Lauren said behind me.
I turned around and said, “Great. Lets get it and go!”
My mom came over and said, “I like this one better though.”
I groaned and followed her tiredly. “Mom,” I whined, “Can’t you just pick one?” She nodded and said, “Yes. But it takes a while. Stop complaining.” I laughed and said, “We’ve been out here for hours!” I looked at my cell phone for the time, “We’ve been out here for an hour and a half! Is any body else freezing?” I raised my hand. I looked around at my family. Lauren and my mom continued walking as my dad came over and laughed. “I’m freezing.”
Finally they picked out a tree and I hurried over to the car. I started it and turned on the heat as quick as I could. I rubbed my hands together and shivered. It feel like it was below zero outside. I sat in the drivers seat until my parents came over and told me to get in the back.
“Thank God,” I muttered to myself, walking in the front door.
“Alright guys,” my dad said, “let’s set up the tree.”
I helped Lauren get the ornaments and lights from the garage. We set them down on the floor next to where we’d put the tree. I grabbed the lights and helped my dad wrap them around the tree first. Then we’d grab the ornaments and scatter them all over. At the end, Lauren, my mom and I all stepped back to see the tree light up. My dad plugged in the cord and we smiled when it turned on.
“It’s beautiful,” my mom said.
“Took forever,” I muttered. They all laughed at me and my dad put his arm around my shoulder. I fell into him and pushed away, laughing. “Stop dad! You’re messing up my hair.”
He chuckled and released me, “Oh my goodness! Not your precious hair!”
“Got that right,” I nodded at him.
