Coffee Meetings

Chapter 9

The rest of the school day went on normally. More classes, more work.I  rushed to my  locker to get my stuff so Kara didn't leave without me, like she claimed. I ran/walked to the doors so I didn't get in trouble for running in the hauls. As I stepped on to the ascending steps toward the parking lot, I saw Kara and two of her friends standing by Kara's car, wich was impeccably clean and shiny. Kara was a little revealing in her low scooped tank top and flowing tan shorts with a black purse and delicate gold necklaces. Outfit above.

" Oh, Elissa. You made it. We were just about to leave." Kara said, acting annoyed because I was kind of late. It was only 2 minutes, settle down.

" Sorry." I mumbled, picking at my chipped nail polish.

Kara sighed," I don't care. Anyways, this is Claire." She said pointing to a girl with bright red curly hair and freckles who wore a black and white striped crop top, grey shorts, and a jean jacket with black converse.

" And this is Lana ." Kara said pointing to another girl with straight blond hair in the same shirt Claire was wearing, purple comfy-looking shorts, and white converse. Both outfits above.

Claire gave a welcoming smile at me," Nice to meet you Elissa." Claire said happily. She seemed nice.

But Lana stood silent, tapping on her phone. Claire elbowed her in the side, signaling her to say hi.

" What?" Lana said annoyed to Claire.

" Say hi." Claire said, motioning towards me.

" Hi." Lana said grumpily, not even looking at me. How welcoming.

Kara fished her keys out of her purse and looked up at us.

" Are we done with the chit chat? Yay. Then get in the car." Kara said not even waiting for are response, opening the car door,sitting in the passenger seat, and slamming the door.

" You two sit in the back." Lana said warningly,  settling into the  passenger seat and slaming the car door.  Claire frowned, but gave a weak smile to me as she jumped into the back seat, me right behind her.

Kara turned on the engine with her keys, a gray fluffy key chain attached.

" I like your key chain." I said as we hit the main road, trying to make her like me more by giving out multiple compliments.

" Well, you should like it. It was 20 bucks at Urban Outfiters." She said.

I gasped silently. 20 bucks for a simple key chain. That's dumb.

" So, Elissa. Tell us about yourself." Claire said, wanting to stray away from the silence that filled the car.

I hesitated," Uhhh...nothing much. I just like to shop and hang with my friends." I lied. I hate to shop and ...

" But it looks like you don't have that many friends." Kara said, taking the words right out of my mouth.

" Yeah, I never see you around the school, it's like your invisible or something." Lana said, still tapping on her phone but smirking at the same time.

Oh yeah, these are SUCH good girls to try to make friends with. Next to Claire I mean, who has been only nice to me. I guess I new that Kara would be a brat and already hated me, but Lana and me had never talked and she was already stating that I was a loser in her own words. How could she be one of the most popular girls in my school.

I mean, aren't popular girls supposed to be people that you can look up to. People that are easy to make friends with. What's the point of being popular if you only use it to make fun of people and be cruel.

" I'm friends with Kathy Simpson. And a thew others." I lied once again, trying not to make eye contact by looking out the window.

Claire tilted her head to the side, confused.

" But didn't she just get dumped by that Eric guy ?" She asked.

I nodded, still sad for Kathy. She hadn't talked to me all week and didn't show up to the library at lunch, where we usually ate. She should just forget about Eric and move on, but I guess it's hard for her. It seems like she really liked him.

***

We arrived at the mall ten minutes later. Me and Claire stayed silent in the back as Kara and Lana talked about boys, new clothes, and " nerds ". No mention of Carter yet.

We soon walked into Brandy Melville and the girls started to look at clothes while I stood in the corner, not interested in the clothes or prices.But soon Kara walked over to me and dumped a ton of clothes into my hands.

" Try these on. Their your color." She said naturally, smiling up at me.

I hesitated," Uhhh, I don't think I can afford this stuff."

Kara tilted her head, confused by my lack of money next hers, having a very wealthy family and all.

Claire walked up to us, seeming to have overheard my so called ' dilemma '.

" If you like any of them, I can buy them for you." She said smiling happily, holding up a wad of cash she had retrieved from her purse.

I shook my head quickly, not wanting to take this sweet strangers money.

" No. It's fine." I said quickly.

But Claire didn't care about what I said and shoved some money in my hand while pushing me towards the dressing room.

I got in and tried on some clothes, which I guess, as Kara stated it...were my colors.

I walked out and modeled an outfit for the girls.

Kara acknowledged me with a small smile and Claire held up an enthusiastic two thumbs up. But Lana was still tapping on her phone and looking at clothes, not paying attention to anyone around her next to the buff sales guy with shaggy blond hair.

***

" Ok. Do you guys wanna head to my house?" Kara asked as we headed back to her car.

We had been shopping for a while and now are arms were about to fall off due to the weight of our shopping bags. Claire had bought me a ton of stuff, which I was very great-full for. I told her I didn't need any of it, but Kara chimed in and said " Every girl needs a shopping-spree once in a while."

" Uh, I should probably head home." I said, stopping in my place. " I can walk." I headed to the sidewalk to start the walk home but Kara grabbed my shoulder.

" No! You have to come sleep over! I think your decent enough ." She said placing her hands on her hips happily, acting like she had discovered a spark in me that never had been there. Well, it's true,that little spark had never been in me and never will. I've lied to her, Lana, and Claire about my interests, favorite things, and every thing in between. I'm a lie to them thus-far. I'm using them to get information on Carter. I don't like treating them this way being as Claire is really nice. I mean Kara is stuck up and sometimes quite rude, and Lana is the definition of a girl who needs a reality check, but it's not good to treat anyone this way. But I will...for Carter.