Our Star Has Fallen | Chapter 1

Instructions

Chapter 1 Mindy Ah, summer. Definitely the best season out of spring, summer, fall, and winter. You get to hang out with your friends for hours on end, go camping in your own backyard, take month-long road trips, and get 37 missed calls from your best friend at beauty camp. I'm watching the scenery pass by me from my car window when my phone buzzes for the hundredth time. "Who's that?" Mom asks from the passenger's seat. I don't even have to glance at the screen to know it's Coral Mackenzie, my best friend who's been texting me since I arrived at beauty camp. Currently, I'm about 2 minutes away from my house, and she still can't wait to talk to me. Coral is waiting on my front steps when the Audi pulls into the driveway. She waves rapidly and jumps up and down, eager to finally talk to me. I grab my duffel bag and my backpack full of makeup supplies and open the car door. Coral's jaw falls to the cement. "What. Did. You. DO!?!" Coral gasps, running up to me like an excitable puppy. "What do you mean?" I ask slyly, tossing my newly-curled hair. "Um, girlie, don't even. You look like a unicorn barfed on your face!" Coral exclaims. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I wonder hesitantly, adjusting my duffel bag on my shoulder. "I'm not sure...." Coral shrugs and grabs my backpack. We head inside the house and up the stairs. "You have to tell me EVERYTHING. I've been waiting all week for you to come home!" she adds as she opens the door to my bedroom. "There's not that much to tell you," I say. I set down the duffel bag on my bed and flop down next to it. Coral pushes the bag aside and joins me. "Aw, come on! You've been gone for 7 days! Clearly you have SOMETHING to tell me," Coral whines. "Okay, fine. I learned a bunch of new makeup, hair, and outfit techniques and made some new friends," I tell her. She gasps. "Oh, Melinda Kamille Wilson! I thought we were friends!" "Um, we are," I say, furrowing my brow. Did Coral get over-dramatic while I was gone? Then she shoves me playfully, and I know she was kidding. "Mindy, learn how to take a joke sometimes! You're so serious...." She sighs, then stares into my eyes. "So—tell me about these friends you met." "Alright." I then explain the friends I made at beauty camp and the antics we got into. She smiles and nods, intently listening, but every once in a while, I see a gleam of jealousy in her eyes. I ignore it, continuing on with my stories. Soon, after exchanging many laughs and anecdotes that happened while we were away from each other, the light outside starts to fade and the topic switches to more important matters: the first day of high school. "I can't believe we'll be 9th graders tomorrow! I'm not ready to grow up yet," Coral sighs sadly. "Don't worry, Coral! We can still stay up late at night, chatting about various Disney theories we have," I reply. "You're absolutely right. But...do you think we'll fit in?" Coral asks. "Of course we'll fit in! What makes you ask that?" I say, already knowing the answer. Coral glances down at her Minnie Mouse T-shirt, then looks back up at me. Oh, boy. This is the dreaded question I knew she would ask sooner or later. Because the two of us are obsessed with Disney (more so Coral than I), I knew we might be bullied for it, like we had in the past. So at the age of 7, I secretly decided to let go of my obsession over Disney and started watching PG-13 and R-rated movies like all the other kids. "Don't worry, Coral. Disney is a really popular franchise. I'm sure there are some other kids in high school that'll be fans, too," I reassure her. I watch her face to make sure she takes the bait. It takes a while for the words to sink in, but eventually, she nods and smiles, her braces filling the majority of her grin. "Alright," I say, quickly changing the subject. "What do you wanna do now?" A mischievous smirk spreads over Coral's lips. "Wanna have one last sleepover before we turn into women?" "Why not?" I shrug. — Nothing is perfect, but this day turns out to be. Coral and I end up staying up late, watching Disney classics and munching on popcorn. The old routines resurface. We dance around the living room to Taylor Swift's 1989 album. We jump on the bed, despite my mom's warnings. I had gone back in time and was 5 years old again. At 10:00 that night, we walk out to the patio with our cans of Dr. Pepper and lie in the grass. The cool dirt comforts us and eases our worries—at least for now. The stars seem to hug us. "Here's to new friends and new experiences," Coral says, raising her can in the air. "And eventually creating the master plan to defeat the school bullies," I add. Coral laughs, and I clink my can against hers. The toast is finalized with a sip of the soda from each of us. As soon as Coral is done drinking, her grin twists into a frown. I glance over at her, furrowing my brow when I see her strange expression. "What's wrong?"