under pressure

it's only a test

"Apotheosis." Donna said to Brenda. The four best friends sat in Kelly's room, the three sophomores studying for the SATS. Bree was enjoying their company, lying down and reading a book for her English class.

"It's like the best." Brenda says, making Donna nod.

"An exalted or glorified ideal." She says, making Kelly smirk.

"Sort of like Patrick Swayze is the apotheosis of adorable. See, if they would put these words in sentences that we relate to, this test would be a breeze. I'm not counting on it, though. The SATs test your entire brain." She says, flipping through the magazine she was looking at.

"Autodidactic." Donna says the next word.

"Isn't that something Madonna did in her last video?" Donna laughs at Bree's words, shaking her head.

"I don't think so. It means a person that is self-taught...hm, like us."

"What's the difference between malignant and benign?" Kelly asks, making Bree look up.

"Well, benign means harmless and malignant is the opposite." Kelly nods, looking down at what she was reading.

"So, malignant is bad. Like how a malignant tumour is the bad kind, right?" The other three girls look at each other, raising brows.

"Yeah, I guess. Kelly, what are you reading?" Brenda asks, making Kelly sigh.

"It's this test for breast cancer. Y'know, checking yourself for lumps." She says, making Donna furrow her brows.

"Kelly, that's something my mom does. We don't have to be worrying about that stuff at our age."

"I know, but...it says here it's never too early to start the habit. 'One out of nine American women will get breast cancer and out of those, one out of four will die.'" Kelly says, reading. Brenda and Bree look at each other, looking down.

"Our aunt died of breast cancer," Kelly looked at the two, now feeling bad for have read that to them. She quickly apologises, while Donna asks when it happened. "Two years ago. It was my mom's younger sister; my favourite aunt. I mean, it first started in her breast and she had to get a mastectomy. They thought it was over, but six months later it came back. It entered through her lymph system or something. She died on her birthday."

"How old was she?"

"35," Kelly then grabs the magazine, putting it in front of them. She then starts to unbutton her shirt, making their eyes widen. "Kelly, what are you doing?"

"I'm taking this test. I mean, which is more important? The SATs aren't gonna save your life," They all look at each other, before lying down and unbuttoning their blouses so that they could fit their hands through. They put a pillow underneath the side they're checking, before putting their hands underneath their shirts. "Is this side good?" Kelly asks, making them all nod and smile. "Okay, now switch your pillows and let's go to the left one." The three girls do as Kelly says, as she reads the magazine.

"Brenda, maybe you should tell Dylan to do this." Bree jokes, making Brenda hit her with her other hand.

"Bree, this is supposed to be serious." Brenda says, but she lets out a laugh as well.

"Okay, now bring down your arm and press on your armpit." Kelly says, and they listen to her.

"Aren't you glad you used Dial?" Donna asks, making them all roll their eyes and giggle.

"Finally, feel the lower, outer portion of your breast going from the outer part to your nipple," They feel it and Bree looks over at Brenda, who has a worried look on her face. Bree sits up a bit more. "All clear?" She asks, while Bree and Donna repeat it. Brenda smiles, but Bree knew it was fake.