Trust me, babe

Chapter 11

Kathryn

I sat on the couch in the living room, anxiously scrolling through Instagram, not really being able to focus on anything I saw. Persimmon was supposed to be here in five minutes to give me a ride to Louisa's place. Tonight was the night of the sleepover. The sleepover to which Louisa wouldn't have wanted to invite me and I wouldn't have wanted to go. Yet that was exactly where I'd be spending my Friday night.

Despite not wanting to go and being almost certain I would feel like an outsider throughout the whole sleepover, I was trying to stay positive. Who knew, maybe this would be the perfect chance for me to make some more friends. At least I wouldn't have to cook for myself tonight. Although I probably wouldn't have, anyway. The pizzeria nearby had home delivery.

My phone vibrated with a text from Persimmon telling me she was outside the building. It was time to go. Grabbing my bag from the floor, I rushed out of the apartment and down the stairs all the way outside. The evening was a bit chilly, making me shiver as I made my way to Persimmon's car.

"Hello m'lady," she greeted me as I slumped into the passenger seat.

I couldn't stop my lips from curving into a small smile. "Hello."

"I'm so excited for this sleepover!" she squealed as she drove down the road. "I've probably already told you this, but it's an annual thing and it's always so much fun! Louisa's mom prepares all sorts of delicious foods and snacks and we talk and play games."

I nodded along to her monologue, something I was rather used to doing.

"I'm so happy that you're getting to experience it too!" she glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "Besides, this is a great chance for you to win them over! I would love it if you would get along with them so I wouldn't always have to decide between you and them."

"I'm glad you spend time with me as often as you do," I replied.

She pulled up to a traffic light and turned to look at me. "Well, I'm all you have, babes and I hate seeing lonely people." She patted my arm and I was surprised to notice her nails weren't covered in a coat of bright and glittery nailpolish like they usually were. "Besides, I actually like hanging out with you. You're chill and kinda funny even if you don't probably think so yourself." She was silent for a while and I could see there was something on her mind which she wasn't sure if she should say or not. "Sometimes, though," she continued as the lights turned green, "you start acting all weird without a reason. Especially around guys who pay attention to you."

I knew she was talking about Samson. It was something she often tried to bring up and each time I found a way to dodge the conversation. I was lucky her attention was so easy to divert elsewhere.

"You're nice company too," I replied. "And you always look like you stepped straight out of a fashion magazine with every little detail carefully thought through. Which is why I'm really surprised you don't have any nailpolish."

"You flatter me," she said, dramatically fanning her face with her hand, nearly steering us off the road. She didn't even seem to notice it herself as she just continued her babbling. "It's because we always paint our nails at these sleepovers." Then she launched into a thorough explanation of all the traditions this sleepover contained while I nodded along, glad that I had once again managed to distract her.

Persimmon chatted excitedly for the rest of the car ride to Louisa's. I pretended to listen, agreeing and laughing along in all the right places while my heart thudded in my chest. Way too soon she pulled up to a driveway which I could only assume was Louisa's. She killed the engine, grabbed her bag from the backseat and stepped out of the car, not once quitting her endless babbling. I followed her up the steps to the front porch. She rang the doorbell and we didn't have to wait for long before the door opened revealing Louisa on the other side.