oday...she wanted to sleep as long as her body needed. When her eyes finally opened, the hurt of missing Caleb sat heavy

to the mirror. "He left you. You've

en. Ellie, her sister, bounced in, full of life and chatter. The shy girl she used to be was long g

park...he was saying nasty stuff to Lila. She was ready to fight." She stopped and tilted her head. "Hey, why do w

, ask Mom and Dad? I don't h

ething Caleb always loved. Time for a change, she thought. After breakfast, she'd dye it blonde

ora asked, sitting next to Ell

e got to focus or they'll kick me out. The amount of fun I've had these past few days will last me till the year runs out" Her vo

ut sad. "You're doing awesom

wer time! I'm taking Mom to the li

friends. Skin care was more their thing. She picked a floral dress with a high slit and slid on some cute sandals. The couple's pendant from Caleb hung around her neck, a quiet reminder she couldn't shake yet. She put on her favorite red lipstic

la's new place in the Mission District. They'd moved in together after Maya's ex...mean, con

e!" She pulled Nora into a hug, her sundress spinning. Li

mixed Lila's bold paintings with Maya's cool style...soft rugs, gree

at, a silly video on tiktok, Lila's next art show. Lila poked Nora with

eart. "I'm an Influencer,

y, I need help. Maya, you know all the good places. Can you find m

stepping out!" Lila nodded, her quie

s coming. You're good." By noon, Nora had sign-ups for both, starting

d of you," Lil

g," Maya sai

e about the park mess. "That guy was awful, Nora.

rab your butt, Lila! You're too

head. "Violence is not a

," Lila said,

he hopped in a taxi. Next stop: a salon in

eck."Amy, with pink streaks in her hair, smiled big. "Love it. Very bold move. Let's make it happen." As the dye soaked in and the scissors cut, Nora felt nervous but excited. This

edible," Amy s

a trim, looked over. "

. Outside, she posted them on Instagram, the sun lighting up her new hair. Her friends' chat went wild...Maya's "Hey gorgeous, where's my best

e wrote back, "You'll survive losers. Love you."Next, she stopped at the cooking school and music academy, bot

t tighter. When it stopped outside the old Victorian building, her breath stopped too. The apartment belonged t

ck between turning back and going in. This was the scariest place, where Caleb's s