Free Lulu in LA LA Land by Elisabeth Wolf Page B

small as possible. She’s reading a book called Birds, Bees, and Buds: A Native Garden.
    LULU
    (panting)
    Hi, Soph! I didn’t forget. Today’s our day to plant the wildflower seeds. You brought them, right? They came?
    SOPHIA
    Yes.
    Sophia pulls seed packets from her fawn-colored Coach messenger bag, a Christmas present from Lulu’s mother. She tosses the seeds onto the floor.
    SOPHIA
    They came. But I’m going.
    A deep silence spreads through Lulu’s bright, sunny room. Then, despite feeling wiped out from her zoom up to her room, Lulu clicks into action. Her emotions and energy explode.
    LULU
    I know I’m late. Alexis wanted me to do stuff again today. You know how she is: Queen Bee.
    Sophia doesn’t respond.
    LULU
    She’s getting more into me lately, well, into my birthday. She’s been taking me out ’cause she’s trying to get me to be more grown-up.
    SOPHIA
    (mock surprise)
    Really, more grown-up?
    LULU
    Exactly! Today I spent an hour in the glam-a-roo Bel-Air spa learning that a caviar facial doesn’t slather fish eggs on your face.
    More silence.
    Sophia chews on the ends of her hair.
    LULU
    And being with Alexis is hard on my stomach. She doesn’t let me have lunch. The only food in that spa was apple slices floating in icy water dispensers. I was so hungry I considered plunging my hand into the glass cooler, snatching out the apples, and risking the first-degree frostbite.
    Sophia sits motionless.
    Like air let out of a beachball, Lulu deflates.
    More silence.
    SOPHIA
    I’m happy for you. You’ve always wanted to be close to your sister.
    (pauses)
    Don’t think I don’t understand. I wish I had a brother or sister to hang out with.
    LULU
    Soph! You know we’re like real sisters.
    Lulu rushes over and tries to hug her friend, but Sophia shrinks into an even smaller ball, hoping to roll out of sight.
    SOPHIA
    (in a sad, quiet voice)
    I just wish you’d told me.
    LULU
    I thought I told you I was going with Alexis this morning.
    SOPHIA
    No, not about that. I mean tell me, you know. Everything.
    Sophia’s eyes sweep across shopping bags strewn around Lulu’s room. The bags are stuffed with clothes, shoes, and makeup. Lulu realizes what Sophia sees.
    LULU
    Oh, been doing some shopping with Alexis. She’s decided I need a full chick-over.
    SOPHIA
    A what?
    Lulu leaps over to a shopping bag and dumps out tubes of lotions and moisturizers.
    LULU
    A chick-over. Look at this crazy stuff. One of these tubes has stuff I’m supposed to use to cover my freckles! Like I’d ever want to do that!
    SOPHIA
    You mean chic-over?
    LULU
    Yeah, ’cause it’s not like she’d ever help me harvest cilantro or make lemon squares.
    An intercom buzzes. Elana’s voice comes through.
    ELANA
    Sophia, your mother is aqui —waiting for you in the driveway. She say to come now, but that you’re gonna have to wait for her at her next appointment.
    Sophia unfolds herself and rises from the floor.
    SOPHIA
    Gracias, Elana. I’ll be right there.
    (looking at Lulu)
    Since you’re obviously really busy, let me save you the time. I’m leaving because friends can be different, but what they’ve gotta have in common is telling each other the truth.
    LULU
    (trying to keep her voice even)
    Fine, well I can honestly and truthfully say you’re making a grande mistake. Why do you want to sit around some stranger’s house while your mom’s doing a massage when we can be planting our seeds?
    Sophia heads to the door.
    LULU
    (follows Sophia)
    I’ll come down with you and explain to your mom.
    SOPHIA
    (looks at Lulu)
    No, thanks.
    LULU
    Soph, c’mon! You’re my supremely best friend! We’ve got tons of recipes to make up and plants to grow and bugs and birds to watch and stories to—
    SOPHIA
    OK, Lulu.
    (in the hallway, turns to face Lulu)
    Ya know, your dad shouldn’t be the only one up for a Best