Chapter 65: BEST FRIEND

The car screeched to a halt right in front of the school, and the first thing my eyes landed on was the massive black and white luxury coach bus parked neatly

along the curb. Royal Beacon High was printed in bold silver letters on the side, making it obvious that this trip was an officially sanctioned event.

Since it was a school trip and we were supposed to take the bus, we figured it wasn't worth driving our own cars to school, parking them, and then getting on the bus. So, we and Marilyn decided to ask the driver to drop us off instead.

A line of students was already forming near the entrance of the bus, slowly showing their pass card and boarding the bus. Most of them were dressed in the school's uniforms, while the cheerleaders stood out in their fitted cheer outfits, chatting in groups as they waited their turn.

I bit my lip, suddenly hyperaware of the fact that I wasn’t wearing the school uniform, I was the only one in civies. The driver stepped out of the car to unload our luggage.

Frankie was in her cheerleading uniform, and Blanche was in the standard school attire. I had just assumed both of them were just trying to be the diligent students by wearing it, but now that I was looking around, it clicked.

What if wearing the uniform was actually a requirement?

I felt my stomach drop slightly. I had no problem standing out, but getting canceled from the trip just because I didn’t follow some unwritten dress code? That would be infuriating.

I subtly glanced around as I climbed out of the car, grabbing my bags from where the driver stood them and dragging them to my side. Frankie and Blanche did the same, wheeling their suitcases toward the boarding line.

Our driver gave me a small bow, then got back in the car and drove off.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, my eyes darting across the parking lot, searching for anyone else wearing civilian clothes.

Student after student emerged from sleek cars, most saying goodbye to parents who kissed them on the cheek before driving off. Every single one of them was in uniform.

I exhaled through my nose, shifting my bags again, just as my eyes caught a glimpse of someone wearing a very very mini skirt that was definitely not school-approved.

She was leaning into the window of a white Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, talking to someone inside.

Glossy black hair.

Light skin, distinctly who it was.

I felt a rush of relief. Finally.

Without even thinking, I left my bags and quickly made my way over, weaving through students until I reached her.

She barely had time to react before I grabbed her hands in mine, gripping them tightly.

"You're SUCH a lifesaver," I blurted, my voice full of exaggerated relief.

Xinmei blinked at me before chuckling. She glanced around. "Are you talking to me, or some hot guy behind me. You usually talk like you have a wedgie?"

I scoffed and let go of her hands. "Take a compliment when you see one."

she tilted her head. "Okay, why am I SUCH a lifesaver? You look like you just saw a well in the Sahara."

I gestured toward the sea of uniformed students around us. "Look around. Everyone’s in uniform. We might get canceled from the trip because of this." I pointed at my black pants and white long-sleeve top, then at her ridiculously tiny skirt and tank top. "I thought I was the only one, but then I saw you, and I realized we’re both going down together. I can't go down alone, hence the *you're such a lifesaver*”

She followed my gaze, and for a split second, she looked concerned. But then she shrugged and smirked.

"You’re being dramatic," she said, smoothing out her mini skirt.

I gave her a once-over, my nose scrunching up. "Yours is worse. You look like a whore. How much did you buy the skirt for? Half a dollar? It looks like baby clothes."

Xinmei rolled her eyes. "And you look like Regina George, in hip…" She gestured to my pants. "hugger pants? Really? Y2k baddie much“

"Please look in the mirror. Besides, this is fashion. Yours is whori—"

Someone cleared their throat from the car.

I turned, arching a brow, and saw a girl sitting in the passenger seat, watching our exchange with mild amusement.

She was fully Asian, Chinese, dark brown hair cascading in soft waves over her shoulders. She had the kind of face that looked effortlessly adorable, like she woke up looking like that.

I looked back at Xinmei. "Who is this?"

"Oh," she said, gesturing casually toward the girl. "This is my best friend, Song Lucy." Then she turned to her friend. "And Lucy, this is Blakely, my… friend."

My brows arched deeper. "Best..? Best friend?" I narrowed my eyes at her. "I thought you said you had no friends. You said and I quote *half the students are dumb and the other aren't my type*. PS; you souded like a hooker but let's not talk about that right?"

Xinmei clicked her tongue and sighed dramatically. " Okay hold up! Lucy doesn’t go to our school. She went to another one. She graduated last year., and we met at a middle school summer camp.“ She sighed and added, “You're going to suck if being a judge is what you're academically aiming for, I'll tell you that as a friend. Change."

"I feel like you two give the beat friends vibe more than we do" Lucy chuckled and meekly pushed her hair back.

I glanced between them, "first of all that's gross, cause I can't be her best friend."

"You literally just called me a lifesaver minutes ago" Xinmei hissed.

"That's sarcasm miss, know your English" I exhaled, crossing my arms. "Anyway, is she following us?"

"Nope, I'm borrowing her car. My mom wouldn't let me take mine, because she knows it's a trip and said I must take the school bus. Now I'm not sure if taking the car would be allowed"

Lucy grinned. "Does it really matter? Car is here anyway, just tell her you have claustrophobia or something."

"Heyy, look, she's the smarter one" I gave xinmei a taunting look and she rolled her eyes in response. "I'm hitching just so you know, if I spend a second with a bunch of loud kids I might end up murdering them."

"Uh…okay let's keep it PG-13, where are you bags? Or did you come with nothing?"

I shot her a look, then sighed through my nose. "You think i let you ruin my sleep on Wednesday for nothing?," I muttered, turning slightly toward where I left my bags.