Malorie's POV:
Baylie wakes me up this morning by dancing to the song Escapism. She's in pj shorts and a crop top. Her hair is in a low bun.
"Good morning," I say.
"Hi! I downloaded Spotify last night and found this sound. I like it!"
"Yes, good, Baylie. Country music sucks." I snap my fingers eight times.
"It doesn't!" She says.
"It does, Bay. It does." I snap my fingers eight times again.
"I went to see my sister this morning. Did you know your mom was with her while she was in surgery?"
"She probably was, yeah." My dad calls me. I groan and pick up.
"Hey, kiddo. We're outside."
"10 minutes." I hang up.
"You need some color in your wardrobe." I put on biker shorts and an oversized tee shirt.
"No," I say.
"Yes." She puts her scrunchie on my wrist. Pastel purple.
"Better!" I put on my shoes.
"C'mon, Bay." We go downstairs.
"I'll show you around later today. When I get back. K?" She nods.
"Okay!" We walk out.
"Have you ever been on a plane?"
"Yes."
"Hm. I wanna go on one. Bye, Mal!"
"Bye Baylie." I get in the car.
"Your mom sent me the picture of you two. Dating yet?"
"No," I say.
"That'll never happen, daddy." I put in my airpods and tune them out until we get to the restaurant. We sit at a booth. Them across from me.
"So. Tell us about her."
"Who? Baylie?" He nods.
"I dunno. She's from rural Alabama. Never had a phone. Lived on a farm."
"Why'd she move here? Do you know?"
"Yeah but it's more of a personal thing." They look at each other.
"Why don't you wanna date her?"
"Because I met her two days ago, for starters."
"You're lesbians they do it all the time. Ever heard the term u-haul lesbians?" I roll my eyes.
"Yes." I look down.
"She's too.. pure. Innocent. I feel like I'd be corrupting her if we ever got together."
"Because she's never had sex?" Dad asks.
"Dan!" Daddy says, slapping his arm.
"What, Cade I'm tell the truth!" He says.
"She's 15!" He raises his eyebrows.
"Yeah we met at that age too, Cade."
"Ew. Stop it," I say. They look at me.
"Is that the reason?" Dad asks.
"Partially, yes. But really, it's just in general dads. She's.. happy. Never been broken. And I know I'm gonna smash her into a million pieces."
"I don't think you will, kiddo," daddy says.
"I will! Mom even said I self corrupt when I'm bored!"
"Why would she say something like that."
"I don't know, dad." I look out the window.
YOU ARE READING
"Pretty Girl"
RomanceMalorie Abbott hates everything. Life especially. She feels as if she's alive just to suffer. Nothing is going good. She just got diagnosed with her 6th mental illness, and she has no hope. Baylie Lionel loves life. An optimist at the surface, she...
