Somewhere in the midst of me laying on my bed obsessing over not obsessing about the beautiful boy with a city for a name, I fell asleep. The comforter was soft, and made me feel like I was laying on a cloud. I hadn't realized how exhausted from the long trip until I laid down.

I woke up some odd hours later and there was still some time before I had to worry about getting ready for dinner, so I decided to start unpacking my things and find their 'rightful place' within the room. This room was beautiful, but it still felt unfamiliar. Kind of like staying in a nice hotel room. It's exciting, but it doesn't feel like home.

After I unpacked all my clothes and put my hygiene products in the bathroom across the hall, I stopped in place when I reached the bottom of the bag. I had brought the pictures I had hung up in my old room back in Denver. Pictures of me with my ex-boyfriend, and my 'friends.' Now, I'm not even sure why I brought them. I should have just thrown them away because looking at them now gives me a sick feeling in my stomach.  

As I've said before, I suppose when I left I had my life in Denver  idealized into something greater than it actually was. It wasn't until I was away from there that I began to be honest about how vapid and meaningless my life actually felt. Being surrounded by people who don't have your best interest at heart is mentally exhausting. 

I felt hopeful that maybe this new town could come with new friends, real friends. Maybe I can actually find my place here. But looking at these pictures with the fake and forced smiles on our faces made me feel sad, realizing I didn't actually have too many people I could count on.

I ripped up the pictures and threw them in a small trash bin by the desk in the corner. Dramatic? I don't think so. Dramatic would have been to burn them, which was honestly my first thought. They felt like my old life.

In order to truly start over meant leaving those fake and toxic relationships behind so new, healthy relationships can have room to grow. Remove the weeds to make way for the flowers. That was probably the cheesiest thing I've ever said in my life, but whatever. Sometimes the truth is cheesy.

I was just about finished unpacking when my cell phone started ringing. I walked over to one of the nightstands by the bed where I had plugged in the charger and picked up my phone. I smiled when I saw it was Chanel's number.

"Hello?"  I answered excitedly as I searched through my freshly hung up clothes in the walk-in closet trying to decide what to wear. I had no idea if this was a formal dinner or something casual.  I also made a mental note that I needed to buy some more clothes when I could afford to. My wardrobe is looking pitiful in this closet. 

Maybe I should get a job or something? I could ask Chanel  if they need anyone down at the diner. Sure it's not a glamorous job, but at least I'd kind of know someone there. Besides, something told me there wasn't going to be too many job opportunities in a small town like this one. Especially for someone my age.

 "Hey, Gia. Sorry we couldn't talk much earlier. My boss has this crazy idea that I like to slack off." Chanel  laughed sarcastically like it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. "So whenever she's watching I have to be on top of my game." She sounded remorseful and frankly, annoyed.

"Hey, don't apologize for doing your job. In fact, they wouldn't happen to be hiring would they? I was thinking a part-time job might be a good idea." Especially if it was just my mother and I now. I had no idea the arrangement my parents had with each other or if he was giving her any kind of support, financially.  If I could have a job where I could pay for my own things like food and clothes, it would probably be a big help.

"Actually we just had someone quit the other night! You should come fill out an application sometime and I'll put in a good word for you. I'm pretty positive you'd get hired." She sounded excited at the possibility of me working with her, which made me feel good it wasn't just me that liked the idea.

"I'll do that Chanel, thanks." I made a mental note to go ahead and do that tomorrow. The sooner I start the sooner I get paid.

"So, has your mother told you about this dinner yet?" Chanel  sounded excited, maybe a little too excited for just a dinner. Made me wonder what she was up to.

"Yeah, she told me earlier. It'll be cool to hang out." I tried to sound at least somewhat casual, afraid of making myself look like a loser with no social life.

"Um..it's going to be a lot more than just cool, Miss Thing." I realize I didn't know her too well yet, but something in her voice told me she was up to something. "That's actually why I called. Make sure you dress to impress tonight!" She sounded downright ecstatic, her voice was shaky.

"Why? What's going on?" I stopped searching through my clothes and listened intently. She definitely had my attention now.

"I overheard Phoenix talking about it at the diner. There's going to be a killer bonfire tonight. All the kids in town will be there, including the two of us." I could hear her dancing around the room while I was trying to process what she had just said. A bonfire?

That..sounded fun actually. Maybe it would be a chance to make new friends, and the thought of seeing Phoenix again seemed exciting to me. Until I remembered the girl with him at the diner. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say she's going to be there too, and she'll probably have her perfectly manicured hands all over him the entire time.

"I..I don't know. I just got to town and my mom might not let me go out so soon." I took the easy way out and played the mother card, not wanting to admit the real reason I was reluctant to go. Considering I don't even know him, I knew how pathetic it would make me seem.

"Oh, don't worry about your mom. We'll work on her during dinner. Just get dressed, because you're going!" Her voice was firm, like she was not budging on this matter. I had to admit, part of me really wanted to go.

After all, what exactly was my plan? To avoid Phoenix  and that redhead he was with until the end of time? In a town this small, that's not likely. I might as well get used to it now, so I can move on.

"Alright, I'm in." I couldn't hide my excitement as I realized how long it had been since I was invited to a party I was actually looking forward to.

"Well, duh. We both know you were never not going." She sounded very satisfied with herself, as if she had talked me into it. "There is something I should mention first, though."

The tone in her voice turned serious, and something told me this was about my run-in with Phoenix  earlier. At least I hoped it was, because it would open the door for me to find out what the deal with the redhead is.

She sighed before continuing, sounding like she was afraid of upsetting me somehow.  "It's about your moment with Phoenix at the diner." She rushed out the sentence like she was in a hurry, confirming my suspicions what this was about.

"We did not have a moment." I said in a monotone, lying through my teeth. I wouldn't be me if I didn't try to suppress my feelings, now would I?

"So..we're doing that? We're going to go ahead and pretend I didn't witness the whole thing?"  There was skepticism in her voice that gave away she knew I was full of it. Not that I was surprised, I've never been a very good liar. But it was worth a try.

"If your mom hadn't shown up and ruined the moment you two would have ended up making out in a bathroom somewhere." She said it in a teasing tone making me cringe, I really wish she hadn't put that image into my head.

"Don't you think his girlfriend would have a problem with that?" I decided to bring up the pretty redhead, seeing it as the perfect opportunity. As much as I tried to make my voice sound indifferent, I could hear a slight bitterness in my voice.

"Ah, you mean Charlotte." I could hear the distaste in her voice when she said the name Charlotte. "Charlotte Valentina. She's a big deal around here, I'm sorry to say."

Ah, the Queen Bee. Typical, isn't it? "In a town this small that's not really that impressive, no offense. It's kind of like bragging about being the lifeguard of a kiddie pool." I worried my sarcasm would offend her, because it tends to rub people the wrong way sometimes. But instead she laughed so hard she sounded like she was crying.

"Oh my God, I will literally pay you to say that to her face." She said it with laughter still in her voice, but I wasn't joking. I would be more than willing to say it to her face, if I felt it needed to be said.

"Can I take a guess and say she's a horrible human being?" I had seen enough movies and television to know how these things work. Or maybe, part of me was hoping she was mean so I'd have an excuse to not like her.

"Hey! Stop getting ahead of me!" We both laughed, but something in her tone told me I was right. "She's not evil or anything, don't get me wrong. Just your garden variety pampered princess that always gets her way." As Chanel confirmed what I already expected, I realized something ironic. I hadn't even actually directly spoke with this Charlotte Valentina  yet, and she was already on my last nerve.

"So, she's his girlfriend then?" I wasn't oblivious she hadn't actually answered the question I was looking for.

"For today." She laughed, but her laugh came out humorless. "They fight more than they actually date. Typical situation, really. Charlotte has tried to get him tied down since day one, but a guy like Phoenix Santiago just isn't built that way." She sounded serious and said it very matter-of-fact. I couldn't help but laugh though, because she made him sound like some science experiment.

"He isn't built that way? What way is that, exactly? With feelings?" The skepticism in my voice was apparent, and I could almost hear her roll her eyes over the phone if that was even possible.

"See, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. You act like I'm being over-dramatic but I know him better than you do. I would steer clear if I were you." The genuine concern in her voice worried me a bit as she said the sentence as a warning. But she was right, I did think she was overreacting.

"I know guys like Phoenix. I used to date one, actually. I promise you, I'm not naive." I really meant it. As basic as it was, I had a history of going after 'bad boys.' If I was attracted to him that was a sure sign he wasn't good for me. I already knew that, which was why I wanted to get rid of this annoying pull he had on me.

"Guys like that are never faithful." I could hear the sadness in my voice as I thought back to the embarrassment that was my last and only relationship. Like Phoenix, my ex-boyfriend was a big deal in my little world. All the girls wanted him. Let me tell you, dating someone that everybody is after is not as fun as it may sound.

"Well, I'm glad you understand. Because you're a cool girl and I'd hate to see you get your feelings hurt." The sincerity in her voice was touching, as I wasn't used to having friends that genuinely cared about my well-being. "I just wanted you to keep that in mind tonight. Because judging from the way he was looking at you, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried something." Why does everyone keep insinuating that he was looking at me some type of way? They're totally blowing it out of proportion. Also, why does the thought of him 'trying something' excite me? Ugh, how annoying.

I can't have a repeat of my life in Denver  going after a guy that didn't actually  want me. Like my mom, this was my chance at a fresh start and I wasn't going to let Phoenix Santiago  ruin it. "I'll be careful, I promise." I finally said, meaning it one-hundred-percent. I would not let myself be another knotch on his headboard. I deserved better than that, no matter how gorgeous he was.

"Well, glad to hear it. But enough about him. Get yourself cute tonight! We're going to have a blast!" She beamed, sounding hyped as we said our goodbyes and hung up the phone.

I sincerely hoped that was true. But now I was more nervous than ever about my ability to stay around from..well, he-who-must-not-be-mentioned.

After a quick shower, I once again found myself in my walk-in closet trying to find something to wear tonight. I wanted to look my best, but not because what's his face will be there. No really, honest! Okay..so not just  because he'll be there. I had no idea who else would be going, but maybe I'll meet someone who can help get me over this annoying new obsession of mine.

I had a limited amount of options when it came to clothes, but I finally decided on blue denim Capris and a lacy red spaghetti strap with matching red flats. Looking at myself in walk-in closets full-length mirror, I decided this was as good as it was going to get. Weather appropriate, cute, but casual enough to not look like I was trying too hard.

I wondered if I should put on makeup and curl my hair or if that would be too much. There was also the matter of the fact my mom hadn't actually said yes yet. If I come out looking like I'm ready for a date, she might get suspicious about the whole thing.

I ran my fingers through my long brown hair, wishing there wasn't so much of it. It looked awesome when it was styled, but very hard to maintain because it was so thick. I decided to put on a little mascara and lip gloss at least. My mother being the girly girl that she is she should appreciate the fact I made an effort in my appearance, right?

Oh wow..you look beautiful, Gia!" My mother once again startled me by popping up behind me. She scanned over my outfit taking in my appearance and nodded in approval. "I swear you could be a model."

I rolled my eyes, not taking her compliment seriously. My mother always said things like that, but it was safe to say she was a little biased. "Thanks, mom."

My mother was in a black dress with red roses all over it, her favorite. As usual her hair was curled and she looked perfect. "Ready to go?" She gestured for me to follow her as she walked out of the closet.

I grabbed a light gray sweater to take with me in case it got cold later. I checked and made sure I had my phone in my pocket and after taking a deep breath, I decided it was time to go.

I was excited to see what the night would bring, but also really..really nervous.

We pulled in front of a beautiful, gray two-story house with white trimming and a wood gable roof. While we stood on the front porch waiting for someone to answer the door, my mom was going on and on about how gorgeous their landscaping was.

My mother was really into real estate and how much 'Curb Appeal' a house has. She always dreamed of making it a career, but my father was a man with old-fashioned views and wanted her to be a stay-at-home mom.

"Caroline Asher? Oh my God, you haven't changed a bit!" We were both startled by the sound of an older woman's voice greeting us at the door with a huge smile on her voice. I could tell right away this was Chanel's  mother.

They had the same mocha skin, big brown eyes, and shiny black hair. She looked like a friendly woman, the type that always greets you with a smile.

"Nadine Carlita?! You look beautiful!" My mother reached out and gave the woman a big hug. The two held each other for a long moment like best friends would, going on and on about how great the other one looks. My mother didn't have many friends back in Denver, so it was nice seeing her have someone to talk to.

There something about seeing her old friend from high school that made my mother seem younger. Gave me a small glimpse of the small-town teenager she once was, and it put a smile on my face.

I was awkwardly standing on the porch waiting for them to stop hugging, when the woman called Nadine  noticed me. I smiled politely and waved, feeling shy at the moment.

Her face lit up as she approached me with a smile. "You must be Gia! Oh my Lord!" She startled me by wrapping her arms around me, giving me a bear hug. I looked over her shoulder at my mother who was shooting me looks that seemed to command me to not embarrass her, so I returned the strange woman's hug.

"I'm sorry to just grab you like that honey, but I swear! It's like stepping into a time machine! You look just like your mother did when she was your age!" She fluffed my hair and took in my appearance, seeming to approve.

I had heard I look like my mother so much that at this point my first reaction was to roll my eyes, but I didn't want to be rude. She seemed really nice. "Thank you, Mam. That's nice of you to say." I smiled at her and she playfully tapped my arm.

"None of that 'mam' stuff! I'm not that old yet! Just call me Nadine, sweetheart." I nodded in agreement and we followed her in the house. The living room was warm, and inviting. Much like Nadine herself.

"Let's head on to the dining room, dinner's all ready! Chanel should be in there setting the table." Nadine  gestured for us to keep following her and I was silent while the two of them immedietely began reminiscing about 'the old days.' Something told me this was how the entire dinner was going to be.

For dinner we had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, a salad to start and pie for dessert. It was delicious, and honestly the first home-cooked meal I had in a while.

We never really did the whole 'family dinner'  thing. My dad was always gone and my mom found it silly to cook for just the two of us so most of the time we got take-out. Don't get me wrong, I loved take-out. But I had to admit, this was nice for a change.

Nadine, Chanel, My Mother and I had managed to make it to dessert and just as I expected, our moms spent majority of the meal talking among themselves. Occasionally Nadine  would ask me a question like what my favorite subject in school was, or did I have many friends back home. But Chanel  and I spent majority of the meal listening to our parents talk a mile a minute, gossiping about people they went to school with like they were still in their teens.

Just as I had taken the last bite of my pie, Chanel shot me a look and sat up straight in her chair. Was this it? Was she finally going to bring up the bonfire? I was wondering when we were going to bring that up. How anticlimactic will it be if after all this, my mom says no?

"So we were wondering, well..I was wondering.." our moms stopped mid sentence and both looked at us inquisitive as Chanel  finally got the courage to ask. "Some of the kids are having a bonfire tonight, I was hoping to take Gia with me. Introduce her to some of the other kids." Chanel smiled sweetly and I had to admit, I was impressed with her ability to sound sweet and innocent. Clearly, she had done this before.

My mother looked at me and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You want to go to this bonfire, Gia?" I nodded in agreement, trying to not seem too eager.  "Well, I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea to make some friends. What do you think, Nadine?" My mother turned to her, obviously wanting some kind of confirmation this was okay.

"Don't worry Caroline, I assure you Chanel is very responsible. The kids have parties like this all the time. Not much to do here, you know. But it's never anything too wild." Nadine  winked at us as she took a huge bite of her pie.

My mom thought about it for a long moment, studying my face. "Will that boy from earlier be there?" She seemed concerned and Chanel  looked at me remorseful while Nadine  furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"What boy are we talking about?" Nadine wondered out loud. I felt like sinking under the table, this was the last thing I wanted to talk about.

"Phoenix Santiago." Chanel  said his name, answering her mother's question. A knowing look spread across Nadine's  face as she smiled at me.

"So the Santiago boy has dug his teeth in you already, has he?" She grinned, but my mother didn't look amused.

Somebody sedate me.

authors note: If you enjoyed this chapter, please don't forget to vote:)