Brown-ish

Chapter 4: Friend(s)

"Friendships are funny y'know that? You're essentially a pair or a group of strangers with some kind of common interest getting together to form a companionship that could lead to either a disastrous fortune or a beautiful tragedy. I guess the same could be said for more intimate relationships beyond a friendship, but we're not there yet. Let's just focus on what's at hand. Your friends. What kind of friends are they? What kind of friend are you? What type of people do associate with enough to call them a friend and how does that reflect on who you are?"

~

Zoey Johnson was on top of the world. Who wouldn't be with all the good things in her life? She had a moderately wealthy suburban family that she could go home to every day. She was the queen bee of her school. She just got her best friend back in her life and said best friend's glow up was all the more welcome if you get what I'm saying, and last, but certainly not least, she was Zoey Johnson, enough said.

With the closing of her locker, Zoey zipped up her bag and held it over her shoulder as she moved down the school halls whilst texting on her phone. As she walked, people either stared and looked on at her in admiration and envy or the more popular kids were confident enough to greet her and she just absentmindedly greeted them back.

"Zoey!" A girl exclaimed and Zoey turned to see her friend, Kimberly, running up to her and giving her a hug.

"Morning Kim." Zoey greeted as they pulled back.

"So, what's up? Where were you this weekend? It's like you disappeared off the face of the earth, and you're glowing-" Kimberly cut herself off with a gasp and then she smirked, "Do you have a secret boyfriend you aren't telling me about?"

Zoey rolled her eyes with a giggle, "No, it's nothing like that. A bunch of stuff happened last week and I was just spending the weekend catching up with an old friend."

"Ooh~ An old friend huh?" Kimberly asked, wiggling her eyebrows, "I get you. I get you. Are they cute at least?"

"I feel like you actually don't get me." Zoey said, "And yeah, she's cute."

"She?" Kimberly asked in surprise.

"Yeah. She." Zoey said with a smirk of her own.

"Oh, well, forget I said anything then." Kimberly said, "Sorry for all that. I thought it was a guy and I was just assuming. Obviously you of all people aren't into girls."

"Why me of all people?" Zoey asked in slight offence.

Kimberly looked at her, "Zoey, come on. Obviously queer people aren't popular."

"That sounds so offensively incorrect on so many levels." Zoey says.

"Not really. I mean someone like Eris comes to mind." Kimberly names.

"Eris just does her own thing." Zoey said with a shrug, "How do you even know she's queer? Have you asked her?"

"No! She's way too scary." Kimberly said, "And besides, why would someone like me be seen with someone like her when I can be seen with someone like you? Right?"

"Right..." Zoey said with a slow nod as they continued their way to class.

"So, anyway, since we couldn't get ahold of you last weekend, you gotta come over this weekend. We're having a little get together." Kimberly insisted.

"Who's coming?" Zoey asked.

"The usual gang. Aiden, Cody, Jessica, Tyler-" Kimberly listed as Zoey was surprised by the sight in front of her.

"My mom..." Zoey said absentmindedly.

"Your mom?" Kimberly asked with a weirded out look, but then she noticed Zoey quickening her pace ahead and she spotted Mrs. Johnson leaving the admin room.