"There she was my new best friend..."
___

"I like her. Y'know, your new friend."

"Kennedy?"

Paige nods.

Royce smiles. "Yeah," she agrees, because it's been a while since she'd made a new friend, and she's kind of happy, because all of the friends she does have all seem to be like, the same. "I like her too. I'm so glad she's trying out, y'know?"

"She's practically made the team already."

Royce hums.

"...And did you see Liam in the stands? I swear he came to see youuu."

Royce laughs.

"What? He's cute."

Royce rolls her eyes, fumbling with the new combination on her locker. "Seriously, Paige? It's only the first day of school."

"What?" Her older sister's eyes widen. "Liam's cute and he's a senior, and he's rich as hell," she folds her arms. "Of course I put in a good word for you."

"I barely know him, Paige."

"So?" she shrugs. "Now's the time for you to jump on your man."

"Thanks," Royce laughs, because she knows her step-sister means well. "Great reminder."

They were close. Like, possibly too close, including their brothers. Their parents had gotten married when Royce was four and Paige was five, so life before the other was practically unmemorable.

Paige tugs at her hair. "I just want you to be happy, Poppy."

"I know," and Royce flashes a smile. "And Liam is cute. He's in your year," she taps her sister, "You should set me up. He's Zayn's friend, right?"

Paige falls dramatically against the lockers. "Zayn," she swoons. "Someone marry us, already."

Royce slams her locker shut. "I heard he's single again..."

"Yep," Paige exclaims happily. "Now's my time. Just wait, Pops. By Homecoming, he'll be mine."

"Keep the dream alive," and Royce slips on her hoodie. Having just come from cheerleading practice, she's ready to go home. She's tired and it's only the first day.

And she has homework.

Welcome to Junior Year.

Kill her now.

Royce looks around. "Where's Tobe?"

"Dad got him early," is Paige's reply. "Remember? He had that concert today?"

"Right," Royce says. Their brother was a new Freshman at St. Augustine's, and Royce had been really adamant about making his transition from middle into high school as seamless as possible. She was really hoping he'd continue to make lots of nice friends.

And Paige only nods, leading her sister into the lot towards Paige's Audi.

"Hey, Paige?"

She pulls open the door, slipping into the driver's seat.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know Calum Hood?"

"I mean," Paige wrinkles her nose, turning on the heat and adjusting the radio, "Kinda, not really..."

"Oh, c'mon. You know everyone, Paige."

She shrugs in response. "I mean, he's that stoner, man-whorish kid who hangs out with his stoner, manwhore friends. Why?" Paige lifts a brow, stealing a look at her sister. "You like him, or something?"

Royce forces a laugh. "What?"

"You do, don't you?"

"I hardly know him, Paige."

"Well," Paige purses her lips, "I don't like him."

Royce scoffs, coughing out a, "Who says I was even-"

"Just sayin'," Paige continues. "I don't like him for you. Honestly, I don't like him at all. Seriously Royce, you can do so much better."

"We aren't even friends, Paige!"

"What about him, then?" She snorts. "Y'know, I heard he fucked Perrie in the locker rooms when he was a freshman."

Royce pulls a face. Seriously, so much for that, then. She thought he was hot and weird and different, and Royce really liked different, but if Paige didn't like him then she couldn't. If Paige hated him then she had to. That's just how things worked. That's the way things had always been.

She shakes her head. "He's just in my Calc class. He sat next to me today, and I was just curious-"

"Christian might have a heart attack if you dated someone like Hood."

"Paige! Christian's not even here to-"

"And Daddy'd have a fit if you brought him home, too."

And there was that, too.

"And Daddy doesn't have to worry 'cause we aren't dating."

They seriously weren't even friends.

And by the looks of things, aka Paige's ultimate dislike, Royce would have to keep things that way.

Royce shakes her head. "He like, doesn't even know who I am."

"Everyone knows who you are, Pops."

"Lies."

"Not lies. Like today, Jesse invited me to that party-"

"Eew," Royce wrinkles her nose. "That one he throws every year?"

"Of course," Paige grins. "He said you had to come. Told me to tell you before he did."

Royce wrinkles her nose. "Jesse's a creep, Paige. I seriously don't get what you see in him, like...how are you friends, again?"

"We're friends by association," she explains, pulling from the parking lot. "And his parties are always fun and you never go, so now I'm telling you you've got no excuse. Besides," she wiggles her eyebrows, "I think he likes you."

Royce scoffs. "What happened to Liam?"

"Multiple men can't have a thing for you?"

Royce rolls her eyes, her sister's laugh filling the cabin of the moving car. "You're ridiculous."

"Am not," she grins. "I just call it like I see it..."

"Whatever," Royce sighs, leaning her head against the cool window. "I don't like Jesse, and watch me not show up to his party."

"Aw, c'mon, Royce! Come with me!"

"We'll see," she yawns. "We'll see..."

__

in case you haven't seen the cast list, paige is played by leigh-anne pinnock (lol yeah cuz I'm all the way team #ziegh).

okay last filler bc here comes drama

comment and vote my lovelies. :)

also paige calls royce 'poppy' and you'll see why later. xx

this is what makes us girls || lana del rey