Chapter 35

10:30 am Saturday morning JORDAN'S POVI feel my bed dip. I open my eyes opens as arms wrap me. "Good morning." I mumble. "Morning." Maddie whispers. "What's up?" "Nothing. Just wanted to snuggle." "Oh." We lay silently for twenty minutes. Then my door opens silently, Mom walks in. "Hey, time to wake up." "Technically, we are awake." "Okay, smart ass it's time to get out of bed." "But why?" I whine. "Because it's almost eleven and it's nice outside. I thought we could take a walk-" "I don't do exercise." "Oh really, what do you think dancing and skateboarding are?" "Simple. Dancing. I don't skateboard. I longboard. Big difference." "Okay, well that's a form of exercise." "Nooooo." "Yes, anyways I thought we could take a little family walk, or whatever you want to call it, to Starbucks and then to the beach or mall." I scream,"Beach." while Maddie screams, "Mall!" "Well it looks like we have a problem. It's two against one. Two for beach and one for mall. We'll have to bring Nick and Dallas into it." Maddie and I groan at the same time then look at each other and bust out laughing. "Okay, on three Jordan you scream for Dad. Maddie you scream for Dallas. I'm going to hide behind the door and scare them. "One." Mom says from behind the door. "Two." Maddie says. "Three." I say drawing in a breathe. At the same time maddie and I scream, "DADDY! DALLAS!" Then we listen to them run up the stairs. "What's wrong?" They say rushing into the room. Mom slips out from behind the door and screams. Dad jumps and turns around and Dallas dashes to the corner and folds herself into a ball and screams, "What the fuck!" Maddie, Mom and I all burst out laughing. "It's okay." I mumble through a laugh. "What do you guys want?" Dad asks."Mall or beach?" Mom asks. "Mall." Dallas says standing up. "Doesn't matter." Dad says. "Okay two and two. Here are the choices: a sing off. Dance off. Or rock, paper , scissors, best three out of five." "Dance off or sing off. Rock, paper, scissors is for babies." I say. "Sing off, because a dance off wouldn't be fair since she is like a professional dancer." Maddie says."Very true, but you were raised by singers but I'm up for the challenge. You listen to me Delagarza, I will crush you." I argue and stick my tongue out at her. "What song?" "You can choose the song you want to sing," "Okay, Maddie you gotta go first." I tell her. "Can I see your phone." I unlock my phone then slide it over to her. She types in something. "Okay so the song is called 'Another Empty Bottle' by Katy Macallister. You want to listen to it first or do I just sing it?" "Just sing it. " Mom says.

"Momma was a bit naive, And her daddy was a blinded theft. He went and stole away what was left of the remains a family. She'd hide away behind a door she kept locked But the walls weren't thick enough to block out angry noises of the voices that once soothed her to sleep.And she lies tonight Underneath caving roof And she cries tonight wondering what she can do And she tries tonight remembering who she once knew. But they've died inside. Another empty bottle takes a life. This world can be so cruel She lives her life as a broken tool and she believes she enable fix this broken machine. Once they used to throw themselves at love. But in the end it never seems enough to be able to get through all of life's broken dreams. She's watched her father live in regret, She heard mother cry in an empty bed And she swears this is the best night yet.Oh, and she lies tonight underneath the caving roof And she cries tonight wondering what she could do And tries tonight But she's out of memories that once she knew.And she dies inside Another empty bottle takes a life And every little bit Every littler bit of wants to see the light Oh but ever single night another a little bit of her dies inside She's trapped in her mind She feels more alive She feels more alive in her own dreams And she's wondering what's beyond the sky Can she see the light if she falls asleepOh, cuz she feels more alive in her own dreams So tonight she lies lifted up through her own roof Dried eyes tonight There's nothing more that she could do And they cry tonighta daughter they hardly knew And she's lost in time Another empty bottle takes a life. " By the time Maddie finishes Dallas is in tears and everyone claps. I'm blown away but now it's my turn. "My turn." I announce after a few minutes of silence. "I'm going to sing 'Where Ever You Go' by Ron Pope." I type it into my phone and begin to song,

"Cuz when the day light bends I'll follow you And if the pavement ends I'm driving off the road When the daylight bends I'll follow you where ever you go. Where ever you go. I'd say I miss you but think I'd choke on the words. Dreamt a picture and you don't know how it hurts.And I've been thinkin' how to tell so here I go So here I go Cuz when the day light bends I'll follow you And when the pavement ends I'm drivin' off the road. If the day light ends I'll follow you where ever you go Where ever you goI had a nightmareWoke to the sound of your voice But you don't sleep here I lay awake in the dark I've been screamin' But you don't hear me at all So here I go Cuz when the day light bends I'll follow you And if the pavement ends I'm drivin' off the road If the day light bends I'll follow you where ever you go Where ever you go. Cuz when the day light bends I'll follow you And if the pavement ends I'm driven' off the road If the day light ends I'll follow you where ever you go. Cuz when the day light bends I'll follow you And if the pavement ends I'm driven' off the road If the day light bends I'll follow you where ever you go. Where ever you go.Where ever you go.Where ever you go.Where ever you go. " Everyone claps, and I smile. "It's time to consult with my fellow judges." Mom announces "How X-Factor of you." "We will talk in the kitchen, no easedropping, Jordan." Mom says pointing at me. "Wha- Why are you pointing me out?" I ask. "You just seem like the ease dropping type." "True." I admit smiling. Mom, Dad, and Dallas leave, and I turn to Maddie, "Good job." "Thanks. You too. Who do you think is gonna win?" "Honestly, I have no clue." "Girls come down here." Maddie and I race to the kitchen, but I win because I push Maddie into the wall in hallway. "I won?" I scream as Maddie walks in. "What, this bitch is lyin' right." "Hey... Now, no need to a poor loser." Before Maddie can respond Mom jumps in, "You tied, so your choices are to rock, paper, scissor or to go to both.""Both." Maddie and I say at the same time."Okay go put on your swim suits and clothes on over them." Mom says. Maddie and I run upstairs. I shower and dress quickly, leaving my hair wet. I grab my back pack and throw in my sunglasses, some money. I start to grab Shadow's leash. Oh no. "Mom!" "What?" She asks. "What about Shadow?""She can come." "No... Cuz we're going to the mall too." "Oh yeah, I'm let me talk to Dad." "Okay." I grab my slip on vans and go outside and play with Shadow for a little. "Jordan let's go!" Maddie yells. Shadow follows me inside. "Okay so Dad's gonna meet us at the mall with car. Shadow can walk with us. When we're in the mall she can stay in the car. Then when we walk to the beach she can walk with us there and back home, plus we will need car if we buy anything." Mom explains. "Okay, hey Mads you want to longboard with me?" "Yeah." We all walk outside to the garage. I let Maddie chose a longboard first. I grab one. Dad's already gone. Mom and Dallas have started down the drive way. I let Shadow off her leash and she runs down after Mom barking. Maddie and I pass Mom and I scream, "See ya at the gate suckers!" I'm quickly at the gate and whip around before I crash. "Shit! I can't stop." Maddie screams. I jump in front of her before she crashes into the gate. She leaps into my arms. "Maddie? What happened to your arm?" I ask noticing the stitches. "Nothing." She says quickly. "Did that guy do this?" "What? No. It's nothing. I don't wanna talk about it." "Okay." I say we wait at the gate for Mom and Dallas.We reach Starbucks across the mall I tell mom to get me a smoothie and everyone goes in as Corrbin comes out with a girl. "Hey Corrbin!" He gives me a hug and I smile. "Jordan, this is my sister Coral." "Hi Coral, I'm Corrbin's-" "Girlfriend, Jordan's my girlfriend." He says. "Told ya they were dating." Dallas announces. Coral looks between us. "Cool." Is all she says as she walks away. "We're going to the mall then the beach. You wanna come?" I ask. "I have to walk my sister home, then I'll meet up with you." "Okay." I step closer to give him a hug, but he pecks my lips then runs after Coral. "Girlfriend!" Mom and Maddie coo. I smile. We walk as Mom calls Dad to see where he parked so we can put Shadow in the car. We walk into the mall, "Okay, you two can go where ever. Meet up in the food court by three call me if you need me." Mom says, "Here's some money." She says handing Maddie and I a wad of twenties. "Mom, I have money." I try to protest. "Take it." I don't argue.Maddie and I roam in the opposite direction than Mom. We find our way to Forever21. I file through the kids section, and find a purple skirt and a few rings and earrings. I go and find Maddie, "Hey, you getting anything?" She holds up a crop top and a pair of wedges. We pay, "Where to next?" "We can go to Zumiez." "Okay." We walk in silence until we come up to Hot Topic, "Let's go in here for a second." We go in and I buy three t-shirts, and some more head bands, and a dress in the smallest size but it's still too big. Maddie seems to be in her own world. When we walk to Zumies she snaps out of it. "I'm going to buy it all!" She whisper screams. She goes over to the rack and pulls every other thing. She's in paradise and I can't help but smile. My phone rings and it's Corrbin and I smile,"Hello?" "Hey, you still at the mall?" "Yeah, in zumies." "Okay, cool be there in a few minutes." I walk over to were Maddie is. "Hey, Corrbin is on his way, it's two. We should hit up the pretzel stand and a couple more stores." "Okay, let me pay. Then let's go to TopShop." "Okay." Maddie goes up to the counter and as arms warp around me. "Hello there." I say spinning to hug him."Hello." He says then pecks my lips. "Jordan! Do you have any money I can borrow?" I groan and grab Corrbin's hand. "Yeah, how much?" "75 dollars?" I whip out four twenties and hand them to her. We leave and go to the pretzel stand and grab some lemonade. We make our way to TopShop, and my jaw hits the ground. "HEAVEN!" I shout, and then run from rack to rack. I end up spending four hundred dollars. We walk out and I check my phone. Mom has called three times and we still have fifteen minutes to spare. I call back and she answers immediately,"Where are you?" "Heading to the food court. " "Okay bye."We pass the guitar center and I fall in love with the keyboard in the window. I don't even know how to play but it's just so beatuiful. I take a quick picture and then meet Mom and Dad at the food court.We walk to the car and put all our stuff in it, Maddie, Corrbin and I decide to leave our longboards. I grab Shadow and we start toward the beach. Mom, Maddie and Dallas are all asking Corrbin questions. Dad pulls me behind and we walk slower than the others. "Jordan I have a question." Dad says."Wazzzz up?" "I'm working on this song that I'm supposed to sing with mom, but I was wondering as a surprise if you would sing it with me at her first concert." "Yeah, that would be cool." "Okay, now go save your boyfriend from those crazies." I smile, but then I remember the keyboard, "Hey... Dad look." I say showing him the picture of the keyboard, "It's only three hundred, I have the money. Can I get it?" "Yeah, I'll talk to Mom." We walk for another ten minutes. I hear the waves. "BEACH!" I scream and I take off running. I hear feet following me as soon as I hit the sand I pull off my shirt, and then I hit the waters edge. I strip off my shoes and shorts and run in. "yes! This is awesome." "You are like a three year old." Maddie yells. I flip her off and giggle. Everyone gets in. We rent boogie boards and tan. Until Corrbin's mom calls and we have to take him home. As soon as we get home I go to bed.

****A/n****Okay so this chapter is 2393 words.... My longest chapter so it took me so long but I hope you like it. comment and vote thanks! ❤️~Sydney