"Do you know how worried sick I was...we were!" Now you would expect that to be Mari yelling, but nope that's all Joe.

" Look, guys, I'm sorry. I had way too much champagne last night and I don't remember much."

"Why did you leave without me!? Why didn't you come and get me and tell me that you wanted to go home, Jay!?" Mari whines angrily.

"I know I know. I wasn't thinking straight and I just...I just..."

"Yeah, you weren't!" She snaps angrily. That stupid vein popping out the side of her neck. I always know when she's angry just by that vein.

"It's fine...as long as you're okay," Joe groans like she's an adult. I buckle my seat belt and prepare for the various questions Mari is about to throw at me.

"You Know you slept at a lesbian house right?" Mari asks idiotically with a huge smirk plastered across her face. I squirm in my seat a bit and turn to stare at her.

"Yeah Mari, I learned that this morning!" I grit my teeth annoyedly as my head still pounds. My eyes hurt a bit from the various sunlight we are opened to. I go to Mari's dashboard to find the many pairs of sunglasses she keeps in there. I slip on a pair and pull down the mirror blocker thingy.

"Yeah learned that this fucking morning!" She chuckles hysterically catching a glance at me.

"I swear you guys curse like sailors," Joe calls from the back seat. I turn to stare at her and she throws me the fakest smile. I stick out my tongue playfully and she tosses a piece of candy at my nose...jerk!

"My bad Joe! So you're into- you're into chicks now?" I turn quickly to face her as she breaks out into fits of giggles. I slap her arm softly-knowing she's driving and I can't punch her!

"No Mari, I am not into chicks!" I grunt.

"Who are we kidding, Ky's fucking sexy, sorry, Joe. But those tattoos, short curly light brown hair and sense of fashion, plus she's got that bad girl, "fuck you" attitude. Let's not mention how loaded her family is. Her mom is in Belgium right now, living lavishly. Oh boy, how I would love that." She smiles into thin air at the well explained luxury life of Ky Whatever.

"I obviously don't know anything about her or her family, just that they're rich. And since when did you become attracted to women?" I smirk deviously at her flipping the tables. She shakes her head as she chuckles.

"I'm not, just for Ky Gurey and her very beautiful appearance. She's the type to turn you gay if you're straight, and that's if you're 100% straight," she adds nonchalantly as she causally shrugs her shoulders.

"So who was the girl smiling at you?" Joe ask.

"I don't know all I know is her names Deck," I state rather harshly.

" Jesus Jay, what have you've been doing all your life, living under a rock? Deck Gurey is Ky Gurey's younger sister. She's a model of Voúrish Incorporation," Mari says coming to a stop at a stop sign as kids race across the road.

"Sorry Mari, I don't read gossip and magazines like you. Unfortunately, I have a life," I state rather offensively.

" I read the magazines for fashion tips, smartass!" She groans as she reaches over and searches through her dashboard-while trying to keep her eyes on the road. She pulls a magazine from it and tosses it to me carelessly hitting me in the face. I stare down at the thick papered book, and there Deck is. She's wearing a blue polka dot lacey bra and the matching pair of underwear. Her hair is longer and it's a chestnut color. Her grey eyes stare seductively as she poses. It kinda makes her look more mature, seeing how she reacted childishly when we first met.

"You done checking her out?" Mari smirks raising an eyebrow. I shift uncomfortably in my chair. Mari chuckles so I think fast and back to last night.

"Hey, I'm still wondering why you were crying!" I state looking through the magazine while staring curiously out the corner of my eye at her odd shift in her mood.

"Her and Jeremy broke up," Joe state tossing a sour patch into her mouth. I quickly turn to stare at Joe then back at Mari. How come she didn't tell me this! It's kinda heartbreaking that she can tell a 10-year-old and not her best friend. Trust me, I love her and Joes relationship and she's rubbing off on her in a positive way.

"Hey, when we have girl talk that's between us," Mari groans toward Joe who mumbles an apology.

"You guys broke up!? Why?" I question surprisingly shocked.

"Uh, because I-I told him a-about a business deal," she stammers nervously rubbing her palms over the steering wheel.

"Okay, and that's why?" Joe leans between the seats and stares at her.

"No uh, the o-offer was in California. I uhh b-brought my o-wn parlor. I would be in charge of everything and..."

"You're leaving?" Joe asks interrupting her.

"In 4 days but I..." she begins to explain but it's my turn to interrupt.

"Does your dad know?" I ask curiously.

" Yeah, I told him last night at the banquet. He was kind of angry, b-but he has a lot going on here in Northview. He's chief commissioner and everyone adores him. He loves this town and me I want to explore the world."

"I understand Mari." She pulls over and stops the car. She leans her head against the steering wheel and quietly sobs. I grab her and she leans on my shoulder. I pat her back softly as a tear slowly rolls down my cheek.

"You're leaving! B-but what about us and...You can't leave! You're like a sister I never had." Joe blurts out angrily, her voice on the verge of cracking. I finally understand what she just stares and turns to stare quite offended, wait what?

"Umm, you have a sister," I state confused yet hurt.

"But Mari does a lot with me, she pays attention and now she's leaving. To go to California!" Tears slowly fall from her cheeks and her nose turns bright red.

"Joe you don't understand, you didn't let me finish!" Mari tries...

"Finish what? You're leaving! There's nothing to discuss," I stand there in utter shock. She doesn't think of me as her sister. She opens the door and starts running.

"Joe!" I call.

"JOE!" Mari calls after.

"I wanted you guys to come with me," She blurts out turning her body to face me. I look up at her like she just asked do I want 5 million bucks.

"What?" I chuckle nervously.

"Yeah! I was going to purchase a three bedroom apartment in south beach for us but I had to ask you first." She plays with her fingernails. She does that when she's nervous, she actually use to chew them, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to mess up her nail polish.

"I-I don't know h-how to answer that. W-where do I work? How do I help you with the payment? Our plane tickets. Our things. Mari, how do we pack up this life here and move it all the way to California?"

"My dad helped with that. I got it all covered Jay. Don't think I didn't see your sketchbook lying around in your apartment..."

"You looked at my sketchbook!" I bash angrily.

"And you lied, so I think we're even!" She smirks.

"Back to my speech! So I so happened to run into your sketchbook and saw how awesome of an artist you are! I would say you're better than me but..." She chuckles.

"Okay, so what? You want me to work in your shop?"

"Wait don't jump into the pool just yet. You'll start off with organizing and decorating!" She smiles nervously.

"This is great and I really appreciate everything, but I-I can't take this Mari. I already owe you my kidneys and heart! I can't give you anything else," I pout sadly. I can't give her anything because I have nothing.

I don't have a secret stash of money hidden away. Each check I receive goes directly to important things.

" And if I ever need a kidney transplant I'll put you at the top of the list," she smirks.

"That's not funny Mari," I groan flatly scared.

"Jay! You're my best friend and I expect nothing from you but our friendship and that adorable little sister of yours that I love dearly and look at as my own."

"M-Mari I-I..."

"Are you coming or not Jay? You can't sit here and look at your past wrapped up in this small town that only caused you horror. Your dad he's ill and he's been in the hospital for 3 years not getting any better," I frown as that statement leaves her mouth. She glances up at me and frown.

"No Jay I didn't mean it like that. What I meant..." I didn't really get offended by it because what she is saying is totally true. I understand everything she is stating and it has gotten me to think for a second. I've never really been to California, heck I've never been out of Northview.

"I know what you meant and I'll come. I'm 100% on board! Under one condition..."

"What?" She questions nervously as she bites her lip.

"I get a second job in advance..."

"Okay!" She exclaims, relieved that it wasn't something extreme, and even if it were it wouldn't have bothered her because she is willing to be the best-best-friend.

"I'm not finished! You will, and I mean it, WILL NOT TRY AND DO EVERYTHING!" I demand.

"I got it!" She rolls her eyes and let out a huge exaggerated groan.

"Are there any schools in that area for Joe?" I question curiously.

"Yep! Checked twice also the school ratings. Do you know no crazy white kid has tried to shoot up the school yet!" She jokes stupidly. I chuckle a bit but return to being serious.

"That's not funny Mari!" I groan.

"I'm just kidding! Cheer up. Now let's go to Joe's secret hideout," she chuckles. I wipe her smeared mascara and tears as she sniffs and smiles goofily.

"Where?" Question surprised.

"Oh, you forgot about our tree house! That kinda hurts," she pouts. She starts up her car and head to her dad's house.

Mari climbs the stairs on the tree first and I climb after her. I really seriously haven't been to our tree house in 11 years.

"She comes here?" I question staring at the huge tree.

"Uh huh!" Mari states nonchalantly.

"Is it safe. You know since it has been up for like 15 years. Hasn't it got eaten by wood beetles or termites."

"My dad replaced the wood a year ago for Joe when she first discovered it out here," she smirks down over her shoulder at me.

"Hmm." We crawl inside and see Joe ripping photos of us all.

"Josephine?" I call to her. She glances up at me angry. Tears falling down her adorable face and snot runs down her nose. I could do nothing but laugh at how she cries and the look she's giving me. Call me evil but this is hilarious.

"I told you never call me that!" She pouts annoyed and turns to face away from me.

"Joe you didn't let me finish!" Mari states scooting over to her. It's a bit tight inside to small area that use to feel like a mansion to Mari and me.

" You're leaving me. It's going to be so bored with Jay working and coming home late and never having time for me. You were the other sister."

"I actually like that movie The Other Sister. " Mari smirks trying to lighten the mood. I sit quiet, ashamed and hurt.

"Look Joe I know you are mad but turn that frown upside down because we're going to California." I stare at her shocked. She isn't even going to lead into it like she just explained to me? Wow Mari, just wow.

"Really, you go right into it?" I finally speak.

"Hey, I just spent five minutes talking to you, I don't need to go down that road again," she huffs out and leans against the bean bag.

"Are you sugaring me?" Joe exclaims loudly screaming. I chuckle because I actually taught her that, instead of saying "shitting", which she got in trouble for saying at her school and I had to meet with her teacher to discuss that situation.

"Do you wanna make the neighborhood think your getting killed!" Mari states as Joe jumps into her arms.

"Are you serious?" She squeals.

"Than a heart attack," Mari smirks.

"Is Jay coming." Joe questions oddly.

"Well, I don't know! Are you Jay?"

"Heck yeah, I am. Can't let you go alone with Mari crazy personality on your hands," I force a smile.

" I have to call Nadia!" She cheers.

"You go do that! Let my dad know we're up here, okay?" Joe nods and crawls down the latter. I lean against the wood.

"We're going to California," I mumble in disbelief, sadly and happily.

"That we are," she chuckles as I lean my head on her shoulder.