BREATHE | bubbline ✓

" questionable life decisions "

IT WASN'T THAT Bonnibel disliked parties. To be frank, she actually quite liked them; it provided her with a good opportunity to study the people around her. It...intrigued her — how people could be the same but yet be so different. But, yet, people were just obnoxiously loud. She preferred to stay by the beverage section sipping on fruit juice.

"You look stunning," Lolly says encouragingly from beside her mirror. The look she bestows her is soft, happy, contented. Bonnibel thinks that she likes that expression on her aunt. A lot.

"Thanks to your handiwork." Bonninel does a small spin, admiring the flow of her dress, its pink chiffon material sitting comfortably atop her skin. "It looks great."

"You mean, you look great," Lolly laughs. She folds her arms over her chest. "Give yourself a little more credit."

"Credit for what?"

"You being you." Lolly takes a brush and sweeps some glittery pink eyeshadow over Bonnibel's eyelids. "Pretty, and all that."

Bonnibel hums in meaningless acknowledgement.

Pretty meant being attractive, and being attractive meant people liking her. Was this why Marceline liked Phoebe? Just because Phoebe was pretty? Something to ask her in the future, Bonnibel surmises.

"Anybody picking you up?" Lolly finishes up her other eye and snaps the colour palette close, setting it down by a pile of young adult novels on Bonnibel's desk. Bonnibel looks at herself in the mirror, and the girl who stares back bewilderedly is completely different from the person she used to be.

"No." Bonnibel offers a small smile at her reflection.

Lolly gasps dramatically, "Not even that lovely girl?"

"Iris?" Bonnibel gives her aunt a mortified face. "No way. She's Jake's, I'm afraid."

Lolly bursts into a hearty laugh. "No, I meant the girl that Neddy's grown quite fond of. Marcy, I'm quite sure it was."

"Marceline?" Bonnibel whips her head back. "You remember her?"

"How can I not when Ned talks about her all the time?"

Bonnibel rolls her eyes fondly. "Doesn't mean I like her."

"But she comes over everyday—oh my, your colour is fading off a little—" Lolly tidies her braided hair, fingers moving dextrously to set stray strands back in place. She makes for the hair spray on the stool beside her. "—anyway, that Marcy girl is really polite."

Wait till you see her with me, Bonnibel thinks, with an internal snort. Strangling kids at a swimming pool when she was a lifeguard...

But somehow, that memory just brutally slaps a smile on her face and she can't stop it. Darn these...feelings.

Feelings. Bonnibel clams up, and Lolly pokes at her shoulders.

"Relax, she can't be that much of a bother." Lolly's voice smiles above her. "Just enjoy the...unpredictable she brings. Your life won't go entirely to plan, Bonnibel. And truthfully, people like her make life fun."

Her life already wasn't going the way it was — what with Marceline crashing into her life and all. And she finds that it doesn't bother her as much anymore. Odd. Nowadays, when she thinks about her, there was an inexplicable feeling in her chest.

And she knew what it was. Or, at least, she can make a pretty good guess after researching.

"Thinking about it?"

"No," Bonnibel says quickly. "I think she's a debatable friend to have."

"How so?"

"Questionable life decisions."