The Phoenix

Always

Lucy woke up to about 20 texts from Eliza and Zimmer. She had kissed Leo last night, and of course, the pictures were making their rounds on Instagram and Twitter. Zimmer had seen the kiss, but Eliza had absolutely no idea.

She didn't reply, so Eliza called her.

"Damn, Lucy."

"What?"

"The President's son? That makes you, like the Princess of America."

"This isn't a monarchy. I'm not the Princess of America, I'm just the girl who made out with Leo Kirkman last night."

"Is he a good kisser?"

"What are you, five?"

"Stop avoiding the question."
"I mean, yeah, I guess." Lucy laughed nervously.

"You should bring him back to the club sometime. That was fun."

"I won't be going to any club for a very long time. Going there already gives me enough anxiety. Having to worry about being caught by paparazzi only makes it worse."

"You are literally the last person I ever thought would have to worry about paparazzi."

"I know. I can't even go to press conferences anymore because I'm scared I'll get mobbed."

"So, not only are you sucking faces with the President's son, you're shopping with the Vice President's daughter. Replaced me already? I'm hurt." Eliza joked.

"I could never replace you, Liz. Plus, with the hours I work, who else am I gonna meet?"

"You make it sound like you have an actual job."
"Hey, it's a job! I just don't get paid."
"Then it's not a job. It's an internship."

"Whatever, so how's life going?"

"Good. I've managed to keep a low profile. Some of us don't want to have to act all prim and proper 24/7."
"You know good and well that I didn't get an internship at the White House so I could become Leo Kirkman's Mystery Club Girl."

"I know, Luc, I'm just pulling your leg. So, tell me about Emily and her boyfriend."

"How did you know Emily has a boyfriend?"
"I looked through almost all of the pictures from last night. There were some of them. It's pretty obvious, although, I wasn't 100% sure until now. Thanks for confirming it."

"Okay, well, you didn't hear this from me, but she's always late getting home."
"Who else would I hear it from?" she laughed.

"I don't know, but it sure as hell wasn't me. How's Amari doing? I heard something happened to her brother."

"Yeah, he got shot in the stomach at a house party. There was some gang fight and Nick managed to get caught in the middle of it. He'll live, but Amari said he's gonna be in the hospital for awhile."

"Yikes. How's Arielle doing?"

Arielle was Eliza's little sister, who had been attached to Lucy since she could talk.

"She misses you. When are you going to come visit?"

"Buffalo is a seven and a half hour drive. That's a long way. Plus, I have a job now. Just bring Arielle with you the next time you come down."

"First of all, you have an internship. Second, the only way my parents would let me take Ari more than 15 minutes away would be over their dead bodies."

Lucy's eyes somehow drifted over to her alarm clock, which told her that she only had 30 minutes to get ready.

"Hey, Liz, I'll have to call you later. I have to get ready."