this is me trying

sunset in the rearview

"Losing your control. Losing your control."

"Come on, Alex! It'll be fun. It's an excuse to dress cute for once. You love an excuse to dress cute! And we're in the VIP section, so great seats and we won't have to deal with people." Christen Press' enthusiasm had always been contagious, but in that moment, Alex could have done without it.

She didn't really feel like being dragged and thrown around LA for some random live musician who she had no stake in.

She didn't really feel like doing much of anything lately.

Her life had become a swallow routine of eat, soccer, sleep, repeat, for a little over a year, and she couldn't break the momentum. No matter how claustrophobic she was getting. She had become content in her wallowing.

And yes, Christen was right. She did love an excuse to dress in something other than athleisure every once in a while, but would it even be worth it?

"Kelley. Help." Christen pleaded to her girlfriend who was already ready to leave and dressed in an unbuttoned green dress shirt, ribbed tank top, and straight leg jeans. The woman barely looked up from where she was absentmindedly scrolling through Instagram.

"Alex, just go so Christen doesn't start pouting. You know I don't like it. And you're my bestie it'd be a shame if I had to give you a wedgie for upsetting my girlfriend."

Alex scoffed. No way in Hell would Kelley be able to give her a wedgie...though she would certainly try hard enough to.

Alex resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Fine, I'll go. Whose concert is it anyway?"

Christen looked positively giddy, like a child who was just given a bag of candy, "Yay! It's a surprise! I'll help you pick out your clothes."

Alex kept her grumbling to a minimum as Christen shuffled her through her own house and toward her closet. Why'd she even open the door to let them in? Oh, that's right. She didn't.

They barged in with their key.

"Okay, we don't have long. The town car will be here in half an hour. I didn't think it would take you that long to agree to come."

Alex sat on her bed, letting Christen ransack her wardrobe, "Why'd you order a fancy car? We could have forced Kelley to drive."

"I didn't order it. Our mysterious performer does it for all VIP at her shows."

"Sounds pretentious." Alex dodged the stray graphic tee that came hurtling towards her head as Christen chucked things out of her way, with no real care as to where they landed.

"Sounds safe to me," Christen soon emerged from the man-made fabric avalanche and chucked her findings into Alex's arms, "Now go get dressed. I'll set your makeup up."

Alex shuffled into her ensuite with a confused huff. She wasn't sure why Christen seemed so excited about this concert. Alex hadn't remembered hearing about anyone of much importance coming to Los Angeles that weekend, but then again she hadn't gone out of her way to find out.

She had planned on spending one of her rare days off, lounging around and feeling sorry for herself. So much for that.

Christen had picked out a relatively similar outfit to Kelley's for her, the only difference was a white fitted cardigan.

Alex exited her bathroom to find Christen fiddling with the wares of her vanity.

"Great. I'm thinking light make up. You'll probably sweat it off anyway." Christen stood from the vanity to give Alex access. She swept off the imaginary dust on her skirt.