Atomic | Eddie Munson

3*

Katherine shot up to the sound of her alarm, her neck stiff from from falling asleep at her desk. She slammed the alarm to turn it off and quickly took a shower before she got dressed. She pulled on a pair of fishnets and a skirt and layered a baggy t-shirt on top with some chunky jewelry. Steve had been confused the first time he saw the safety pins that she put in as her earrings, but since that day, they had become a signature part of Katherine's look.

She brushed her teeth and did her makeup before hearing a car horn beeping twice. Steve was here to bring her to work. Katherine pulled on her Doc Martens and stuffed some things into her small bag she always brought to work, making sure to grab her lighter and pack of cigarettes, as well as the tape she had rented from work the other day that she needed to return.

"Mike, I going to work. Make sure the house is cleaned up before people come over and make sure you make Holly breakfast and lunch!" Katherine called as she ran down the stairs. On her way out the door she grabbed a black hoodie and a can of Dr. Pepper, and gave Holly a kiss on the top of her head. Her younger sister was playing with her Lite-Brite at the kitchen table.

Katherine walked to the car and hopped in the passenger seat. She reached into her bag to grab a cigarette before Steve smacked it out of her hand.

"Don't smoke in here, I'm picking up Linda later and I don't want the car smelling like cigarettes," Steve complained. Katherine rolled her eyes as Steve backed out of her driveway and started driving to Robin's.

"Well good morning to you too," she said sarcastically. Steve just elbowed her and turned up the radio. As they pulled up to Robin's, Katherine opened the car door to open the soda can. She didn't want Steve to bitch if she spilt any soda in his car. Steve honked the horn twice as they waited for their friend. After another minute of waiting, he honked the horn again.

"I'll go get her," Katherine sighed, getting out of the car, downing the rest of her soda. Steve never understood how she could drink so fast. She walked up to Robin's door and went inside. The friends all had an open door policy for their houses.

"Robin?" Katherine called out for her best friend.

"Kat? Perfect! Come up here for a sec I need your help with something," Robin yelled. Katherine ran up to Robin's room and saw her standing in a bra and holding two shirts.

"Which one?" Robin asked. The first was a blue one with stripes and the second was a black v-neck t-shirt. Katherine stared at two shirts for a moment before pointing.

"The black one," she said. "And you can wear your brown jacket with it, it's a little chilly out. Now hurry up, Steve is getting antsy."

Robin pulled the shirt over her head and pulled the jacket off the hook in her wall before grabbing her bag and following her friend down the stairs. She grabbed her shoes by the door and ran out to the door in her mismatched socks. Once they were in the car and Steve started driving, Robin pulled her shoes on, kicking Katherine in the back of the head in the process. Katherine rubbed the back of her head, her hair still damp from her shower.

"Let me guess," Katherine started, "our little Robin is nervous because she wanted to look good today because Vickie said she might stop by the store." Steve and Katherine laughed.

"Ha, ha, very funny. But do I look okay?" Robin asked. Katherine turned to look at her and Steve gave her a glance in the rearview mirror. He gave her a nod.

"The black shirt makes your boobs look better than the blue one," Katherine said.

"The blue stripey one? Oh yeah, the black one looks much better if you're trying to impress Vickie," Steve said. Robin just reached up and messed with Steve's hair. Steve just started yelling at her.