Not My Life | gxg

Chapter Eight

Bethany was standing in Kita's bathroom, holding Kita's borrowed clothes to her, anxiety tight in her chest. These weren't going to fit. Kita was slight, with narrow hips, and slim legs. She didn't have an ounce of fat on her. Bethany smoothed the t-shirt and shorts down her much-rounder body. Maybe she should just go home.

No, she really didn't want to do that. Bethany lifted her head and looked at her reflection. She looked horrible. Bruised shadows of missed sleep framed her eyes. She badly needed a haircut and, more simply, a brush in her life. She scooped her messy hair up in a bun and ran a hand over her face. Since when had it mattered what she looked like around Kita? They'd known each other most of their lives. Kita had seen her at her very worst. That was the hazard of being best friends since you were a small child.

'Get a grip,' she murmured and then turned around.

The clothes fit. What would have been a baggy t-shirt on Kita hugged Bethany. But she wasn't bursting out them, so it would do. She splashed water on her face and returned to the room. Kita had changed too into a vest and shorts. She was sitting cross-legged at the window with a cigarette in her hand.

'How long have you been smoking?' Bethany asked.

Kita's gaze followed her as she made her way to the bed. Bethany picked up a pillow and clutched it to her body.

'Don't you like it?' Kita asked.

'They smell and give you cancer. What's not to like?'

Kita smirked and blew smoke out of her window. 'I've cut down a lot. Now I tend to smoke before bed and when I'm stressed out.'

'What made you start?'

'I'd tried it a few times to see what it was like. And Isabelle smoked. It was easier just sort of falling into it when someone you're with a lot does it.'

She finished, stubbed it out, and hopped off the windowsill gracefully. The vest was so long it fell over her shorts.

'I'm gonna go brush my teeth.' She padded out, and Bethany took the opportunity to look about.

There were very few pictures. There was one on the desk of Kita and her dog, who had died of old age when they were ten. And next to that was one of her and a girl Bethany hadn't met. Kita was taking the selfie. They were lying in the grass together, Kita's arm straight up to capture them both. The girl was lying on her side, looking at Kita, her long white blonde hair tangling behind her like broken angel wings. This had to be Isabelle. Bethany felt jealousy of all things bubble to the surface, which was selfish and stupid of her. She'd left; she abandoned Kita. Not only had she loved someone else, she'd been in love with them and it had broken her heart. Bethany hadn't been there, and now she was actually jealous of a dead girl.

Bethany moved away from the picture to the other side of the room. Kita wasn't a big reader, so most of her bookshelves were filled with art books and sketchbooks. There were some comics there that Kita hadn't told her about and some she had.

Kita returned to find Bethany sitting on the edge of the bed reading one of the comics.

'This is good,' Bethany said, holding up the comic so Kita could see the front cover.

'Rosalie Hale's trip to ASDA.' Kita nodded.

'Never thought about her picking out hairspray and nail polish.'

'Gotta try and blend in some way and look like a normal teenager, especially when you're beautiful and a few hundred years old.'

'And married to your sort of brother.'