New Leaves

Chapter Five - Bad Reputation

Emily's POV

The day of the concert arrived, and I heard Kaitlyn practicing in the shower. After getting dressed, she wandered into the living room and sat next to me on the couch. "Hey! Did I hear you getting warmed up for tonight?" I asked.

"Tonight...? Oh, yeah. Just practicing some of The Gutter Kittens's songs," Kaitlyn said.

"This is going to be so much fun. You must be pumped!"

"Yeah... totally."

"I get the sense that you're less than pumped. What's up?"

"Okay, I know I've been getting way into this 'new me' thing, but I'm thinking about changing up my style a bit. I mean, I don't even look like I'm in a punk band."

"Wait, so... you want to go all out?"

"I just feel like I could use a change, you know? The clothes to match the attitude."

"Kaitlyn, you have so much attitude, I don't think there are any clothes that could match it."

"Okay, valid. But I'm just remembering when I'd drive home from school, listening to all those punk albums... I thought the girls in those bands looked so amazing... Seriously, let me show you a picture of Rita Steele from Coagurot sometime. She rocks the purple hair. I always wanted a look like that, but I knew my parents wouldn't be cool with it. Now that I'm in college, I feel like I can finally try it out!"

"Hmm... You don't have anything you can wear to the concert?"

"I mean... I have clothes... just not the kinds I want for this. And no hair dye."

"Kaitlyn, why don't we give you a punk makeover, then? What do you say? We could head to the shops, find you a studded jacket and some hair dye..."

"That's exactly what I had in mind! I know appearance isn't everything... But I think it would make me feel a bit more confident. Plus, I just love makeovers."

"Totally! And once you're all dolled up, we can pierce your nose with a safety pin!"

"Uh, that might be going a little far, even for me. I draw the line at blood. Actually, I wanted a nose ring in middle school. My parents never let me, but... I always thought it'd be cool."

"I'm guessing you wore a lot of skinny jeans and arm warmers?"

"Unfortunately. Maybe it's for the best that I never went full punk. As if I needed my high school pictures to look more embarrassing."

"Well, I promise that this time around, you're going to look adorable."

"Emily! Punk isn't supposed to look adorable!"

"Sorry, I mean you're going to look intimidating and disaffected."

"That's more like it. Now let's go shopping!" Kaitlyn and I headed to our favorite clothing shop. Kaitlyn bounced up and down the aisles, giddily pulling clothes out from the racks. "What about this? Too lacy?"

"Well, you can pull off anything. Like that giraffe-print onesie over there? You would probably still look badass."

"Hey, I'm serious here!"

"So am I!"

"Okay, I accept your flattery. But I really do need to find some clothes that work."

"Well, then we'll keep searching." Kaitlyn let out a sigh. "What is it?"

"Ugh, it sounds really stupid, but... I'm worried I'm not cool enough for them."

"What? That's ridiculous! You're the coolest person I know!"