Chapter Text
Sunday, October 9, 2005: 5:45 p.m.
The Lafayette residence basked in silence and serenity while the noises of the daily lives of the Upper East Siders echoed throughout the evening sky. Luka and Hyuna had fallen asleep, intertwined in each other’s arms on the couch, dreaming about God knows what. Genevieve, on the other hand, was finishing up the last of her homework while eating leftover birthday food. The week before, it was her 16th birthday. It was pretty extravagant, but she felt like she wanted more. Sure she got a lot of expensive gifts, and she even went on a four day trip to Hawaii with them too afterwards, but she just felt like a day off with her friends would be a great birthday gift too. Genevieve was about to turn off her desk lamp until…
*beep beep*
It was her flip phone. She didn’t hesitate to pick it up, and answered immediately.
”Hello?”
”Vivi!”
It was her best friend, Drew. What could she be doing calling at a time like this? She should be preparing for school tomorrow. What gives. At least there’s something for her to do now after completing all that homework.
“I know this sounds sudden, but~ wanna go to Benihana with Chloe and I?”
*An expensive ass restaurant during a school night? What the hell was she thinking?* Genevieve thought to herself.
”Drew…you know if I ask my dad, he’s gonna say no. You know how strict he is about school…”
She doubted. She always listened to her father’s words. Well, maybe most of the time, and going out on a school night was one thing Luka always disapproved of.
“Can’t you just sneak out? It can’t be that hard.” Drew advised. She really wanted to make this hangout with Chloe and Genevieve come true.
”Dude are you crazy?!? I would NEVER do that!”
That was considered way too far for Genevieve.
“Why not? I’ve been to your place so many times, I know what your dad is like now. He’s actually not that bad.”
”He literally added a ‘NO SLANG ALLOWED!!!!!’ poster in all capital letters. Three years ago. All because I asked ‘What’s the 411’ to Chloe, and some other shit while I was on the phone with her.”
Genevieve glared at that same poster that was across her bedroom door. It was almost as if that poster was looking back at her.
“Oh damn…”
”Ugh I know…”
”So…uh…you’re coming or not”
Drew asked again. Genevieve, now fidgeting her pen, was making the decision to either rebel against her father’s rules and have fun, or stay in her room in full boredom while her parents were snoozing away in the living room.
”You know what? Fine. I’ll go. I’m tired of rotting in this room every damn evening. I need to bask in the city life! I’m 16 for Christ’s sake!”
”That’s the Vivi I know. So, what you wearing?”
”Oh I know..”
Genevieve’s eyes lingered onto her Britney Spears baby tee Hyuna got for her as a birthday gift.
“Hang on a sec…”
She dropped her flip phone and immediately rushed to her closet, where there was a plethora of clothes to choose from.
“Dark wash…nah. White jeans…hell no, doesn’t match…”
One by one Genevieve tried to look for the best pair of jeans she had. Each one she picked up, she threw it on her bed.
”Aha!”
She found a pair of sage green baggy cargo jeans. The really expensive ones. Those were the ones Luka bought for her during his stay in Italy for a movie he was starring in.
“Now. Where are my shoes?”
To finish off the outfit, she had to get her white and pink Onitsuka Tigers. She can’t complete an outfit without them.
”Oh crap…they’re over there.”
She muttered to herself, as she now realized that her shoes are where the door is. Which was nearby Luka and Hyuna. She decided not to make the move, and decided to use the white and red Onitsuka Tigers instead.
“K Drew, I’m finished.”
She said while putting on a thick jacket. Just incase the temperatures drop.
”Great! Chloe’s with us right now in the car. We’re like in front of your complex. Gotta hurry, ‘cus we’re going to my sister’s place to throw a party right after Benihana.”
”Wait really?!?”
Now Genevieve didn’t care about abiding by her father’s rules. It was either Benihana and partying, or laying in boredom, and she definitely didn’t want to take the second option.
”Shit uhh…give me minute.”
Genevieve placed her phone in her pocket. She had to now tiptoe through the hall to her parent’s bedroom to get Luka’s house keys, and that’s what she did. Every now and then she would check if they were still sleeping.
*Okay, got the keys. Not time to get outta here.*
She shut the drawer on Luka’s side of the bed and shoved his keys into her pocket. Now she had to make the riskiest move. Sneaking out. She tiptoed through the hallway, the stairs, the living room, then to the entrance. She could hear Luka and Hyuna’s gentle snoring.
”Sorry dad, I love you, but, I have a life to live..”
She said in her head as she silently unlocked the door, slowly opening it in the process. She shuffled through the small entrance, and once again, shut the door without making a sound, locking it with Luka’s house key. That was when she started sprinting to the elevator.
“Oh my God I made it! I made it!”
Genevieve squealed with excitement as she kept pressing the lobby button on the elevator.
“No way you actually did it. I thought you were lying-“
”HI JENNIE! WE’VE COME TO KIDNAP YOUU~”
Another voice came from the phone. It was Chloe, that auburn haired girl that matched Genevieve’s energy.
”Omg Chloe! I’m at the lobby right now. You guys are in that white BMW right?”
”Yes yes that’s us! Omg I can’t believe you’re sneaking out right now. Your dad’s gonna get hella pissed”
Chloe joked as Genevieve was approaching the car.
”Jenny, this is my sister, Christy”
As soon as Genevieve entered the car, Drew introduced her to her older sister. Christy was 20 years old. Young, but knows everything about the city. Any spot that was known for fun and entertainment, she’ll take them there.
”Alright guys, To Benihana!”
”To Benihana!”
The trio repeated after Christy as they drove off. This felt like absolute freedom to Genevieve. She finally felt like she’s experiencing real teenage life for the first time. All four of them were chatting away while music was blasting from the car.