The Green Girl and the Good Girl

Catfight

Trigger warning: It isn't until after they get back and SPOILER ALERT it is Riley and Rhiannon bullying Micaela. I italicized it so you know when it is coming.

I felt it before i saw it.
A human being lying next to me.
I jerked away, falling to the floor.
I don't know if hitting my head helped, but it was in that moment that i remembered why i was there.
Alyssa's sweet giggling filled my ears.
"That wasn't funny i could have died," I mumbled.
"Aw, you poor thing. Come on Elphie, are you okay," I could hear the friendly mockingness in her voice.
"Shut up," I said, laughing as i hit her arm playfully.
"I've been hit!" She shrieked.
I rolled my eyes and went into the living room.
"You're just going to leave me here to die?" I heard her yell.
"I planned on it," I called back.
Suddenly, i felt a weight launch onto me.
Alyssa was already slightly shorter than me, but now she was on my back as if i were giving her a piggy back ride.
In fact, that's what i ended up doing.
I gave her a ride right out the door, plopping her in the hallway and locking the door behind me as i went back in our room.
"Micaela Pine, you open this door right now!"
"Or what?"
"Or...Or...Or i'll go get Polly."
Without meaning to, I laughed like a witch. "What is she going to do?"
"You could get in trouble for this. How do you fancy detention?"
I stayed quiet.
"Suit yourself. Polly, hey!"
"Oh, hey Alyssa. Is something wrong?"
"Actually, i can't seem to open my door, Micaela-"
I quickly opened the door.
"Alyssa, did you forget your keys again?" I said to Alyssa then turned to Polly. "It's the third time so far."
"Alyssa, try to rememer your keys, okay? This is different than home. Your parents won't be here to save the day," Polly chastised.
Alyssa blushed. "Y-Yeah, sorry."
Alyssa walked into the room and i followed, closing the door.
Alyssa did not say a word.
"Are you mad?" I whispered.
"Yes," She answered, but i couldn't help but see her try to keep down a smile.
"Are you sure you're mad?" I said, tickling her side.
"Very mad," She giggled until i stopped.
"Can you forgive me?" I asked.
"I don't know..."
I gave her a puppy dog face. "Pwease?"
"Fine," She smiled.
I gave her a giant hug.
"You won't regret that," I promised.
"You know i would never have told Polly you locked me out, right?"
"Yep," I admitted. "I also knew you would forgive me no matter what you say."
She narrowed her eyes at me, yet she had to smile.
"I've never smiled so much in my entire life," She sighed.
"Why not?"
"You met my dad. He never showed me love. Just gifts. Gifts are different than happiness and they are nothing close to love. Sure, you enjoy them for awhile, but then they are just a huge reminder of the love you lack," Alyssa told me.
"I love you." I quickly added, "like a friend."
"I know," she smiled. "And i love you, too. Like a friend. Honestly, i have trust issues, and i may not trust you fully right away. Usually it takes me awhile to call someone my best friend, but it is true. You are my BEST friend."
I thought about Kate and our friendship. Sure, she will always hold a special place in my heart, but is she still my best friend?
"You are my best friend, too."
We smiled at each other.
"So, what so you want to do?" I asked. "Classes don't start until Monday and it is Friday."
"Let's look around outside campus. I hope they have a theatre! Please, Elphie, please," Alyssa pleaded.
I laughed. I like it when she calls me Elphie. "Okay!"
I got dressed in white shorts and a sky blue tank top.
"You are looking very Elsa today," Alyssa observed. She was in blue jean shorts and a purple shirt.
"You're looking very Anna," I commented.
"Don't tell me you like Frozen, too!"
I nodded and Alyssa squealed.
"Come on!"
I pulled Alyssa into the hallway.
"How are we going to get there?" Alyssa wondered.
"We'll take a bus, then we'll walk," I answered with a smile.
"Are you sure you don't want to use my car?"
"Positive. But remember. Until we get off campus. We hate each other."
I pushed Alyssa out the front door and waited thirty seconds before following her. She was walking by the fountain.
When she saw me, her face turned in disgust.
"Ugh, must you follow me everywhere, Artichoke?" She growled.
"I'm sorry, your highness," I mocked. "Excuse me for wanting to get away from that room. All the strong perfume and fake wigs give me headaches."
"I do not have wigs!"
Riley and Rhiannon walked up to Alyssa.
"Hey, girl. Is the green bean giving you a problem?" Riley asked.
"Just calling my hair fake," Alyssa responded, sending me a quick apologetic look.
"That is the worst insult a woman can get!" Rhiannon gasped.
"Not like she would know. She's hardly a woman," Riley snarled.
"Then what am I, huh?" I shouted.
"A bit-"
"Finish that sentence, i dare you," I muttered.
"Girls, girls, not now. I have a trip with daddy to a beauty salon," Alyssa lied.
"We'll take care of you later, Green Bean," Riley threatened.
The two popular girls left with a toss of their perfect hair.
"Sorry about that," Alyssa whispered.
"I'm sorry about this," I said as i pushed Alyssa into the fountain.
"What was that for?" Alyssa yelled.
"That was for you putting atrichokes in my bed! Have fun fixing all that make up!"
I stalked off and out of the Zihs gates.
I waited at the bus stop, thankful that there were no students in sight.
Soon, i felt a hand grip mine excitedly.
Alyssa was changed into jean shorts and a different purple shirt.
"Still looking Anna, i see," I smiled.
"Yes, Elsa, thanks to you, i got all wet," Alyssa said.
"I'm sorry! Trust me, i am. I saw a tall man in black clothes and sunglasses. I figured he worked for your dad," I said.
"Probably," Alyssa answered.
A bus stopped in front of us. We showed the driver our student IDs, which gave us access to certain buses.
We drove to the middle of the town and got off.
Zihs was located in a small city at the Northern edge of Pennsylvania.
There was about a three hour drive to New York City.
We walked around, pointing out shops and cafès we may want to try. Excitement flooded in us when we saw a theatre near our university. In addition, we saw a community park and a library.
We stopped at a cafè for lunch. After that, Alyssa made me go dress shopping. She ended up buying me a sky blue, Elsa type dress. It was the only thing i agreed on, besides black and navy blue of course!
She got a pink dress that was, even in my opinion, gorgeous.
Enough about that.
We headed home after a long, fun day. Alyssa carried our dresses so it wouldn't seem weird for me to come back by myself with a dress. Plus, someone could "accidently" ruin it.
Alyssa strolled onto campus two minutes before me. By the time i walked in, few people were outside.
I thought i would have it easy until i heard a voice behind me.
"Artichoke! Hey!"
I turned around to see none other than Riley and Rhiannon. Great.
"Be careful, that witch might turn you into something ugly! Like a frog!" Riley laughed.
"A frog would be better than turning me into her!" Rhiannon giggled.
"I'm right here!" I retorted.
"I'm sorry, did anyone ask you?" Riley snarled.
"I'M sorry, i couldn't hear you over the sound of how awesome i am!" I told.
"You mean how wicked!" Rhiannon said proudly.
"Oh, girls, stop flattering me," I smiled.
"Alyssa? Is that you, hun?" Riley called.
Then i saw Alyssa's shocked face watching us from the Carter Hall door's window.
Alyssa walked sheepishly outside.
"Hey girls! I didn't want to bother your little, uh, catfight," Alyssa apologized.
"You want to join?"
"I...i don't know..." Alyssa began.
"Come on Alyssa! Show us that you are apart of our group!" Riley purred. But the way she said it was as if she really wanted to yell, "if you don't we will make fun of you forever."
I knew what i had to do.
"What? Are you scared of a witch?" I shouted.
Alyssa glared at me, but i could tell the glare had so much more meaning behind it. I'm sorry. Forgive me. I love you, like a best friend of course!
"If you are really a witch, then this would burn," Alyssa grabbed a bucket that had been left by chance, dumped it in the fountain, and threw the contents on me.
I took a step back, shivering in the cold evening and laughed like the witch i tried to prove i was.
"Feel better?" I asked, throwing a reference at Alyssa.
She smiled. "Yes, i do."
"Good," I yelled. She "accidently" left the bucket where i could grab it, fill it with water, and dump it on my best friend. "So do i!"
Alyssa gave me a death stare, and i gave one back.
If only i had seen Riley and Rhiannon nod at each other before they stepped forward and lifted me into the air.
"Would you like to do the honors?" Riley asked Alyssa.
"Gladly," She responded, and there was no doubt in my mind that she was lying.
Riley and Rhiannon lifted a screaming me into a position where Alyssa could push me, and that is exactly what she did.
I felt hands softly push me into the fountain. I fell with a huge splash, and Rhiannon and Riley high fived.
The water was freezing. I tried to stand, but ended up falling. That only made Riley and Rhiannon laugh at me.
They grabbed a sharpie from their purses, held me down, and wrote the word loser on my arms. They seemed to have forgotten Alyssa was there until they stepped back and handed her the Sharpie.
Alyssa looked scared for a brief moment until she stepped into the water and gently put her hand on my arm, making it look like she was putting pressure on me.
She lightly wrote artichoke on my forehead, so lightly that it would be easy to scrub off.
She threw the pen at Riley and Rhiannon, who took pictures of and laughed at their masterpiece and walked away.
When Alyssa was sure they were gone, she reached down and helped me up.
"I'm a terrible friend," Alyssa mumbled. "I'm sorry. Forgive me?"
"Always," I answered. "And i understand. You need to keep up your reputation."
"But you matter more to me than my reputation. My father is what i am afraid of," She sighed.
We walked into the building and up to our room.
"We need to get showers before we catch a col-ACHOO!" I said with a sneeze.
Alyssa snuffled and went to grab a tissue. I hopped in the shower, hoping to get rid of my cold.
It was hopeless. When i got out, i changed into comfy sweatpants and slippers.
"At least we don't have classes tomorrow," I sighed.
"Yeah," Alyssa said and sneezed.
"Let's forget today, okay?" I suggested.
"Forget what?"
I smiled. "Exactly."

YES? NO?
Btw, i'm going to camp tomorrow (Sunday) and I won't be back until noon-ish on Friday. I know, I know, it's sad.