How Swell Of You!

Prologue - The Party

Kimmi's POV

July 29, 2023

4:26 pm

"God , why am I so nervous? These guys are my best buds, c'mon now! This is going to be one heck of a shindig, you should be excited!" Kimmi thought to herself as she slowly progressed towards Millie's house. Currently, she was on her way to Millie and Monica's combined birthday party/sleepover. And boy, was she nervous. 

"Jesus Kimmi, pull yourself together." She didn't know why she was so nervous, but, nonetheless, she was shaking. And her shaking only worsened as they pulled into Millie's driveway.

"Hey remember that you can call me anytime if you want me to come and pick you up. Okay?" Kimmi's father said as she nervously exited the car, shaking. 

"Yeah yeah I'll be fine." Kimmi retorted, grabbing her things.

"Yes." Her father corrected. "God I fucking HATE when he does that ugh" 

"Yes." Kimmi grumbled, getting ready to close the door.

"And they're going to drive you home tomorrow?"

"Yes, yes they are."

"Okay, be safe."

"I will, bye."

"Goodbye." Kimmi's father slowly backed out of the driveway and started making his commute home. She slowly reached the door and went inside. Up the stairs there was a doorway with sliver strands of confetti hanging down. Kimmi took off her shoes and made her way upstairs to see Millie's mom, Jenny. 

"Oh hey! They're downstairs." Jenny said, looking up and smiling.

"Oh, okay thank you!" Kimmi then set her gift bag down, turned around and went back down the stairs and into the basement. There she slowly walked about, wondering where her friends were. 

"They're in there" A voice with a spanish accent said. Kimmi swiveled around to see a older short mexican man, who she presumed to be Millie's father pointing to a closed room. 

"Ok, uh, thank you." She said nervously, walking past him. She opened the door and let herself into the room, closing the door behind her. The room was a lot bigger than she expected, but then again, she was kinda expecting a closet. Across from the door there was a sofa and another door that she thought was a bathroom of sorts. Wigs and other colorful objects littered the sofa and floor across from the door. Across from that were two bunk beds. She then set her belongings down by the sofa and heard the music exploding from the bathroom.

"Omygod who was that." Kimmi heard Millie say as she glanced her chocolate brown eyes into the mirror to look.

 "Oh hi Kimmi!!" Millie said peeking her brunette head out from the bathroom. 

"Omg, hiiii!" Monica said coming out of the bathroom. Both Monica and Millie had on tutus, a pink one on Monica and a yellow one on Millie. 

"Heyyyy!" Kimmi said, greeting her ginger friend. 

"Omigod!" Another voice said from inside the bathroom. A male voice belonging to a tall blue eyed blonde. Toby.

"Toby! What'd you do this time!" Monica faux-whined, shaking her head playfully and returning into the bathroom. Kimmi reluctantly followed her into the bathroom and marveled at the bathroom's size. With a full size mirror across the wall with two sinks, a bath and multiple closets, this bathroom was far from little. In the bathroom a green tutu wearing Toby stood at the sink next to Millie.

"Heyy!" Kimmi said, trying to mask her nervous energy. 

"I heard about you and a certain someone breaking upppp." Toby said. "God please don't be mad at me for that." This was what she was so nervous about. Because of course Toby was going to talk about her. Lydia. Prior to this, Kimmi and Lydia had dated. It hadn't been for very long due to well, complications. But god it was great. Just hearing Lydia's name or even thinking about Lydia made Kimmi's heart ache. Mainly because she still liked her and how she could've done so much better with her. 

"Yeah..." Kimmi sighed, looking down at her socks. Millie and Monica gave her looks of sympathy in the mirror. Sensing the much needed subject change. Millie brightened up and turned away from the mirror to face them.

"When's Irene coming?" Millie said. Irene? Kimmi stiffened up. Her and Irene weren't really per say, friends. In fact, they mostly pretended to hate each other.  And she didn't really know her either. 

"Guys!!!!" A voice came from outside the room.

"I don't know, maybe now?" Monica said as Irene came in the room. Irene had short chin-length brown hair and a long skirt. 

"Hey bbgs! And you." Irene said, faux-glaring at Kimmi. 

"Wow Irene." Kimmi scoffed and rolled her eyes, trying to keep from smiling. 

"Is that a new conditioner you're wearing because dayummmm" Kimmi said, largely biting her lower lip.

"I don't want you, of all people flirting with me!" Irene said, moving closer to Kimmi, "At least, not in front of them!" 

"Irene, what the hell! I thought you were my bbg!" Millie squealed playfully. 

"Now ladies, I understand that you all are fruiter than fruit cups but not in front of the man with a girlfriend." Monica said, pointing at Toby. The group burst into laughter and moved upstairs .As the night progressed, Kimmi started to feel more and more like she was in the friend group, as before she felt more as a side piece to it. 

The group tried on wigs & tutus and had multiple adventures as their southern alter egos (if you want an explanation, i'm happy to give you one). They had a few feeling circles where they all talked about issues they had with Toby's girlfriend, Marz, and all the others. Each member had a turn for as long as they wanted to talk. After they each talked about their respective issues, Toby pulled Kimmi aside.

"Marz just wanted me to tell you that she's not mad at you or anything for the breakup with Lydia," Toby said, "I'm not mad at you either." he added.

"Thanks." Kimmi said, "I, uh, really appreciate it." she said with a small smile.

"BILLLLLL" Monica's voice rang down the stairs with a southern twang.

"I'M COMING BETH" Toby answered as he raced up the stairs.

The night slowly progressed and soon enough they dropped off Toby at home. Irene, Kimmi, Millie and Monica all had a last half-hearted and half-asleep feeling circle before they all drifted off to sleep. 

"I'm so glad you guys are here with me, you're the best." Kimmi mumbled, her voice thick and slurring with sleep.

But golly, was she wrong.