Just Us & My Doll

New City

The Edmonton air felt sharper than LA's smog, biting against Blue Ivy Greenblatt's cheeks as she leaned against her matte black SUV. She adjusted the black cap backwards on her head, dark wavy hair straightened and tucked neatly beneath it. Baggy grey hoodie over a tight white tank, black cargo pants slung low—her usual uniform. Comfortable. Loud. *Her*.

At eighteen, Blue had already starred in enough hits to afford her own two-story rental on the quieter side of the city: four bedrooms, big windows, and a backyard perfect for jamming on her guitar. Her parents, Rachel and Marcus Greenblatt, had stayed behind in LA for work, trusting their girls to handle the move. Ariana needed this school and a new movie role. Blue needed the emergency firefighter-police drama filming here. Simple.

Inside Edmonton High, Ariana Greenblatt bounced on her toes, clutching her backpack straps. First day nerves had vanished the second she'd been paired with Eliana Kalogeras for a group project. The fifteen-year-old was funny, quick-witted, and didn't care that Ariana was "that kid from the movies."

The final bell rang. Ariana practically sprinted out the front doors.

A familiar black SUV rolled up. Blue hopped out, one hand still on the wheel, and grinned. "Hey, kid."

Ariana launched herself into her sister's arms. "You survived!" Blue laughed, squeezing her tight. "How was it? Any drama queens I need to fight?"

Eliana walked up behind them, smiling shyly. "Your sister's cool. She already carried our science group."

Blue glanced over Ariana's shoulder, flashing that easy, flirty smile she was famous for. "Appreciate you looking out for her. I'm Blue."

Eliana blushed. "Yeah... I know."

Across the courtyard, Demitra Mia Kalogeras stood with her friends, arms crossed over her soft pink sweater. Her curly hair courtesy of her Greek dad—bounced in the breeze. At seventeen, she was used to attention, but right now her brown eyes were locked on the scene by the black car.

"Damn," one of her friends whispered. "She's hotter in real life."

The other nudged Demitra. "Yeah, I saw her last movie. Girl had two people kissing down her neck. *Two*. Different genders. Icon behavior."

Demitra didn't answer. She couldn't. Something about the way Blue moved—confident, effortless, laughing loud with her little sister made her stomach flip. Her fingers tightened on her backpack strap. *Why am I staring?* She was used to liking girls and guys, but this felt different. Sudden. Overwhelming.

As the SUV pulled away, Eliana ran over, practically vibrating. "Holy *fuck*, I just talked to Blue Ivy fucking Greenblatt!"

Her friends swarmed her with questions, but Demitra stayed quiet, replaying the smile, the backwards cap, the easy swagger. *Get it together, Mia.*

Later that evening at the Greenblatt house, warm lights glowed through the big living room windows. Blue tossed a script at Ariana, who caught it mid-air.

"Okay, Ari. Read. Loudly. I wanna hear if this cop dialogue is as cheesy as it looks on paper."

Ariana flopped onto the couch, flipping pages. "You're really gonna be running into burning buildings for this show?"

"Stunt doubles exist for a reason," Blue smirked, grabbing her guitar from the stand. She strummed a lazy chord, voice soft and warm as she hummed along. Music had always been her escape singing, guitar, even banging on drums without a single lesson. It just *clicked*.

She glanced at her sister, warmth filling her chest. New city. New show. New house.

But something told her Edmonton was about to get a lot more interesting.
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Word count: 603