Learning about friends

Barry saw them walk into the room he was setting at the table, he too had noticed the change in their sister since bringing her to the states. “so what's the smile for love. The car should be back here soon just talked to the company.”

“Uh...” She smiled “well a couple friends invited me to hang out this weekend …. at the beach an out dancing would it be okay if I went.....” Shanell stated as she sat down at the table to start her own homework. “I can catch a cab or something if the car's not fixed by then....”

“no you don't have to take a cab we can drop you off or we an have a driver do that if you don't have the car ….” Andy stated.

Barry grinned “really want to go to this ?” He was glad she was opening up to other people at school and making friends. This was one of the reasons they had brought her to the states. A fresh new start.

“yes please … maybe I'll learn to surf or something … I really want to go can I please....” She leaned her head against his shoulder looking up at him giving the sad brown eyes she knew would always get what she wanted when she was younger.

Barry looked at Andy who had a smirk on his face then back at Shanell seeing the brightness in her eyes something they had missed. She had a smile on her face and she looked happy and he wanted her to start enjoying herself with friends. He wanted her to make friends go out and do things.

“as long as you are home at a reasonable hour I don't see a problem with it.... and like Andy said we can have a driver drop you off or one of us can drop you off at the beach if the cars not fixed. “ He laughed as she jumped in his lap and hugged him. “we want you to be a regular girl Rosebud that means doing things with your friends he wrapped his arms around her. “. if you want to go hang out with them this weekend I have no problem with it... “ He smiled as she hugged him again. “besides we don't have any plans this weekend anyway except probably some working in the studio. “ he kissed the top of her head.

“thank you, I am gonna have to go to the store to get a suit and maybe some clothes to go out dancing I really don't have anything but my jeans....” She stated as she went back to her homework.

Andy sat down grabbing an apple. “well I can take you or maybe if you ask Yvonne could take you out to get some outfits …. you said you didn't want to go shopping remember...”

“No I said I didn't need to get a new wardrobe for my first day of school...” Shanell grinned. “maybe I'll ask her..... “ She went back to her homework before finishing it up. “Uhm how am I getting to school tomorrow if the car's not workin?” She looked at them both.

“well one of us can drop you off... or we can have Jake take you in the Benz....” Barry stated.

Shanell made a face “can't I just walk or … take a cab.....” Having Jake take her though he as nice was not something she wanted to happen. Rolling up to school in Mercedes Benz with a driver would definitely draw attention she did not want.

“No …. Jake will take you tomorrow .. and pick you up ...” Andy stated He laughed at the look on her face “its not that bad Starlight.... remember that's how we went to school in Spain and England...”

“I know.....” She shook her head “alright... not like I can change ya mind...”

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Unfortunately the car was still unable to be driven the next day so Jake had to take her to school. She didn't understand the mechanical jargon that the mechanic told her brother Andy but she did get the jist that it wasn't her that messed up the car. Jake dropped her off at school she had tried to talk him into dropping her off like a couple blocks from there but he took his job seriously. So when he took her to school it was right to the parking lot. She hoped no one noticed but her friends were by Rick's car...She looked back at Jake “I guess I'll see you afta school...”

He nodded “yes Miss Shanell.... I will be here at 3 o clock....” He drove off as she headed over to her friends carrying her books.

Ellen's eyebrows raised another piece of the puzzle had been placed. “nice car....”

Shanell blushed “ ... yeah … there was a bit of a cock up with the car... so Roy had Jakes drop me off. … ...” she headed inside with them. “oh I got permission from Alan I can come with you guys this weekend.....” She smiled “I am looking forward to it …. if the car is sorted I'll meet ya there....” without another word they headed into class. Though the way she arrived caused more questions then answered them.

During lunch now that they knew that she would able to go they started to talk about their plans for the weekend. Ideas on what beach to go to and what Disco. Ellen asked Shanell if she wanted to go shopping for an outfit after school. She thanked her but told her she already had plans. She would be going with Yvonne as she had talked to her and Maurice the night before. Ellen asked her curiously what they were she laughed and said she was going outfit shopping with her sister in law as a late birthday present. Which led to a discussion on when everyone's birthday was she told them that her's was in March.

During study hall they all sat together and talked. The group was a bit more open and asked her a couple more questions to just get to know her. She had fielded a few questions from her friends who Roy was. She had answered it was one of her brothers. They asked her what her brothers did for a living. She just smiled and said that they had different jobs but they were in the entertainment business which wasn't a lie. She didn't say they were singers. She didn't have a problem saying that since both Cindy and Ellen's parents were both in the business. Ellen's father was a producer for Arista Records while Cindy's dad was the vice president at CBS. They teased her a bit of keeping her brothers away from them because they would think they were crazy. She laughed and said no the guys were sane as anything just protective. 

  

Finally by the time the school ended the gang knew more about Shanell. They loved hearing about how she'd traveled to different countries she said it was for her father's work. While they got to know her she got to know them. She found out that Ellen was the oldest daughter and had been dating Jon for two years. Cindy was a middle child with an older brother so she had told her so totally understood the protective siblings and had been dating Rick for a little under a year. Jon wanted to be a singer and Rick was into cars. All of them came from families with more than one sibling. They found it cute that she was the only daughter in the family but that was all they knew. She got a bit more relaxed but still kept her secret to herself but thankful that they liked her for her not who she was related to.