nightstand

chapter 2

 ⠀⠀One of the best things about having access to a platinum credit card is definitely that picnics are taken to a whole new level. Where most kids cobble together an assortment of take out pizza and budget bags of potato chips, the teens from Riverdale feasted on dishes like handmade sushi from Japan and French patisserie. It probably seemed a bit excessive to ship in handmade delicacies from the other side of the world just for one measly picnic, but to them it just seemed normal.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"I think I ate too much." Maddie remarked, staring at the empty wrappers littering the blanket they had made into a table. ⠀⠀"You sure did." Gino grumbled. "You ate all the chicken." Kalani smiled lazily as the two began to bicker. She couldn't understand how people could lose their tempers on a day like today. The sun was shining and the river next to them provided some gentle background noise as they chatted.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"Why don't we play a game?" Ava said hastily, noticing that things were getting quite heated between Maddie and her ex.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"Spin the bottle?" Kendall suggested, eyeing Brandon with some interest.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"Of course you'd suggest that Kendall." Nia said smoothly. "Any excuse for a bit of action. It's a pity that when the bottle lands on you everyone else feels like they've lost." Kalani exchanged a worried look with Josh. This afternoon wasn't feeling quite so peaceful anymore.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"How about we play 'ten years from now'?" He suggested quickly. A ripple of agreement ran through the group.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"I'll start!" Zach said with a grin. "Ten years from now I want to get laid." There was a collective groan from the group, loudest of all was Maddie, his current girlfriend.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"I second that." Gino chipped in, still glaring at Maddie. Ava rolled her eyes at the two boys.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"Anyone want to say anything sensible?" She asked with a laugh.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"I want to score a touchdown at the Super Bowl." Brandon said, winning himself a nod of approval from Ava and Nia.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"I want to have graduated from Med school." Nia said smiling. Everyone knew what her dream job was and everyone knew she was hardworking enough to achieve it.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"I want to be an environmental lawyer." Ava said. Everyone looked round at her in surprise. "What?" She snapped. "I can't be a model forever you know."⠀⠀
⠀⠀Josh said he wanted to be a hockey coach and Kendall said she wished to be famous, although she didn't explain how, or why. Maddie expressed a desire to open an art gallery which came as a surprise to everyone. Kalani just smiled slightly before saying hers. "I want to live in a little cottage by the sea, writing stories." The others looked at her as if she was mad.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"Don't you want to be a dancer?"⠀⠀
⠀⠀"Or on Broadway?"⠀⠀
⠀⠀"What about being an actress?"⠀⠀
⠀⠀"The country is so boring!"⠀⠀
⠀⠀"I think it sounds nice." Everyone looked at Josh in surprise, most of all Kalani. "Would you have any neighbours, Princess?"⠀⠀
⠀⠀She considered the question carefully. There was no way that she could imagine her life without Josh living next door, however many years away the future might be. "I think I might have some, yes." She said softly, causing Josh's face to light up.⠀⠀
⠀⠀"Do you think there'll be a place to play hockey out in the countryside?" He asked the group in general. When they shook their heads he looked momentarily saddened. Then he perked up again. "Time to change that."⠀⠀