As they drove back to the hotel, Alyssa turned to her mother with a thoughtful expression.
"Mom, can we go shopping tomorrow? I need to get some supplies for high school, and I also want to get some gifts for my friends."
Her mother smiled, "Of course, sweetie. We can definitely make time for shopping tomorrow."
The next day, Alyssa and her mother set out to the local mall, with Alex and Dr. Maria opting to spend the day at the beach instead.
As they walked through the mall, Alyssa's mother suggested they start with the school supplies. Alyssa nodded, and they spent the next hour browsing through the aisles, picking out notebooks, pens, and other essentials.
After they finished with the school supplies, Alyssa's mother turned to her with a mischievous grin. "Now, let's get some fun stuff."
Alyssa's eyes lit up as her mother led her to the cosmetics store. They spent the next hour browsing through the racks, picking out lip glosses, eyeshadows, and other girly treats.
Alyssa's mother also insisted on buying her a few new outfits, including a cute sundress and a pair of trendy jeans. Alyssa tried them on, twirling in front of the mirror as her mother oohed and ahhed over how cute she looked.
As they left the mall, Alyssa's arms were loaded with bags, and she was beaming with excitement.
"Thanks, Mom," she said, giving her mother a hug. "This was the best shopping trip ever."
Her mother smiled, hugging her back. "I'm glad you had fun, sweetie. You deserve it."
As they drove back to the hotel, Alyssa couldn't wait to show off her new purchases to Alex and Dr. Maria. She was also excited to give her friends the gifts she had picked out for them.
It had been a wonderful vacation so far, and Alyssa was grateful to have such a thoughtful and generous mother.
As Alyssa and her mother returned to the hotel, Alex was lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun. When he saw Alyssa, he jumped up and walked over to her, eyeing the bags in her arms.
"Hey, what's all the loot?" he asked, grinning.
Alyssa smiled, holding up a few of her purchases. "Just some school supplies and a few new outfits. Mom took me shopping today."
Alex nodded, impressed. "Nice. I'm sure you'll be the coolest freshman in school."
Alyssa rolled her eyes, laughing. "Thanks, Alex. But I'm a little nervous about high school. What's it like?"
Alex shrugged, settling in beside her on the lounge chair. "It's not so bad. The work is a bit harder, but it's manageable. And there are a lot of cool people to meet."
Alyssa nodded, listening intently. "What's the social scene like? Are there a lot of cliques?"
Alex snorted. "Yeah, there are definitely cliques. But I've found that if you're just yourself and don't try to fit into a specific group, people will respect that. Plus, there are always people who share similar interests."
Alyssa smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thanks, Alex. You're really helpful."
Alex grinned, nudging her with his elbow. "Anytime, Alyssa. That's what friends are for."
Alyssa's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, "So, Alex, what are the girls like at your school? Are they pretty?"
Alex chuckled, looking a bit embarrassed. "Uh, yeah, there are definitely some pretty girls at my school."
Alyssa leaned in, intrigued. "Oh, yeah? What are they like?"
Alex shrugged, trying to play it cool. "They're just normal girls, I guess. Some of them are really into sports, while others are more into music or art."
Alyssa raised an eyebrow, teasing him. "And which ones do you like? The sporty types or the artsy types?"
Alex's face turned bright red as he protested, "Hey, I'm not interested in any of them like that! I just meant that there are a lot of different types of girls at my school."
Alyssa laughed, enjoying Alex's embarrassment. "Sure, Alex. Whatever you say."
Alex playfully rolled his eyes, grinning. "You're just trying to get a rise out of me, aren't you?"
Alyssa smiled, feeling happy to have such a fun and easygoing friend like Alex. "Maybe just a little."
As they continued to chat, Alex suddenly turned serious and said, "You know, Alyssa, you're going to have to deal with all the drama and stuff that comes with high school. But just remember, it's all superficial. Don't let it get to you."
Alyssa nodded, taking his words to heart. "I'll try not to. Thanks for the advice, Alex."
Alex smiled, his expression softening. "No problem, Alyssa. That's what friends are for."
Just then, Dr. Maria called out from across the pool, "Alex, Alyssa, why don't you two come and join us for some lunch?"
Alex stood up, stretching his arms over his head. "Sounds good to me. I'm starving."
Alyssa laughed, getting up from her lounge chair. "Me too. Let's go."
As they walked over to join Dr. Maria and Alyssa's mother, Alex turned to Alyssa and whispered, "Hey, don't tell anyone, but I think you're going to be just fine in high school."
Alyssa smiled, feeling a warmth in her heart. "Thanks, Alex. That means a lot coming from you."
As they sat down to lunch, Dr. Maria asked Alyssa about her shopping trip with her mother. Alyssa enthusiastically shared stories about the clothes and school supplies she had bought, and Alex chimed in with jokes and teasing comments.
After lunch, Dr. Maria suggested they all take a walk along the beach. The sun was shining, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of saltwater and coconut sunscreen.
As they strolled along the beach, Alex and Alyssa lagged behind, chatting and laughing together. They talked about everything from their favorite TV shows to their childhood memories.
At one point, Alex turned to Alyssa and said, "You know, I'm really glad we met. You're one of the coolest people I've ever met."
Alyssa's face turned pink with pleasure. "Thanks, Alex. I feel the same way about you."
As the sun began to set, they made their way back to the hotel, tired but happy from their day at the beach.
As they said their goodbyes, Alex turned to Alyssa and whispered, "Hey, want to meet up for breakfast tomorrow and make plans for the day?"
Alyssa grinned, feeling excited about the adventures that lay ahead. "Definitely. I'll meet you at the breakfast buffet at 8 am."
Alex nodded, flashing her a thumbs-up. "See you then, Alyssa."