A Can of Coke

Midsummers part 2

Crickett

"Okay--spill." Kie demanded while sitting in front of her mirror twirling her hair around her flower crown. 

"About what?" I shyly asked as I attempted to tie my hair into fishtail braids. 

Kie was being forced to go to a country club event tonight, so she asked me to come and help keep her sane. We were in her room getting ready together now. 

"About everything! We've been friends for a year and I feel like I know nothing about you."

"...sorry..." I shyly mumbled as I kept undoing and redoing my braiding attempts. 

"That's not what I meant. You've just been under John B's thumb this whole time, and now that you're not I feel like we can finally talk, ya know?" 

I warmly smiled and nodded my head. 

"How're you doing with the whole Branden and James situation? I know they're pretty bad people from your past."

Finally tying off my hair, I nervously answered: "I'm honestly not sure. I try to not actively think about it."

"Fair enough," she chuckled while handing me a woven bracelet. 

"You should wear this, then we'll match." She smiled and raised her wrist so I could see her woven blue one. 

"Did you make these!?" I exclaimed while excitedly looking at them. 

"...maybe..." Kie chuckled as she tied the purpled strings around my wrist. 

"It's beautiful! Thank you!" I pulled her into a warm hug. 

"I'm so happy we can spend time together like this." I smiled-- I was so grateful to have her as my friend.

"Me too! And if any of those Kooks start bugging you tonight or try to cause any problems, don't hesitate to get me. I'll whoop their asses for you." 

With my cheeks aglow with happiness I laughed and replied, "and I'd join you." 

We continued chatting as we finished the final touches of our outfits. 

Kie wore a silky purple dress that gently clung to her body and I wore a blue gingham dress that flared out at my hips. 

"Damn, we look good." Kie laughed as we stood in front of her mirror. "The boys aren't gonna know what to do with themselves." 

I don't know why, but her saying that made me feel really happy. I never really thought of myself as beautiful. I was just plain. In my family, my mother was the pretty one, and I had come to terms with that. 

"If JJ sees you in this dress I don't know what he's gonna do." 

My cheeks flushed a blood orange. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" 

"Okay, Crickett, don't act like you don't know." 

"Don't know what?" My heart began to race as I anticipated her next words. 

What was she saying? What did she mean?  Did JJ...?

"That JJ is totally infatuated with you!" 

Fireworks went off in my mind as I tried to wrap around what I just heard. 

"Pshh, no he isn't. Look at me." I gestured to myself, causing my eyes to trace along old bruises and scars. 

"You are just further proving my point--look at you! You're a knock out." 

My cheeks continued to burn while I tried to prove her wrong.