Them and Us

9- (Kerrie's POV)

These pictures above are not real. Blondes can be smart. Brunettes can lose and redheads can be quiet.

If you're doubting yourself because you have been called a 'Dumb Blonde' you know they are lying.

If you are angry because people think you are going to cause trouble because you're a redhead you have every right to be angry.

If you are annoyed because people are always expecting you to win because you're a brunette help others who aren't brunettes win to and prove them wrong.

If people are dismissing you, annoying you or making you angry because of your hair colour tell them to get lost or get stuffed.
.....................................................

When I saw Ruby trying to hold in a cough I was so scared. What if that was the moment? What if she was about to die without saying goodbye to her family?

I was so scared because I couldn't lose Ruby.

I jump from the bunk and come over to Ruby. 'Did- did you hav-'
'No!' Ruby yells. She kind of lurches forward. '*cough* need...tissue *cough cough*,'

'Ok. Come on. No one wake up Poppy,' I say and point at Ambrose and Drew. I was not having a tired Poppy tomorrow.

Ruby and I rush into the bathroom leaving a very stunned Drew and Ambrose behind.

'What happened?' I ask straight away. She shakes her head and coughs into the paper towel. I pull out more and hand them to her.

She coughs and coughs and coughs. For what seems like forever but is really five minutes.

After cleaning herself up and gargling some mouth wash she tells me the story and how half way through she started tasting blood and she really needed to cough. 'But I didn't want to in front of Ambrose so I just kind of coughed inside and it sounded like I was crying. It was so embarrassing Kerrie! Now he thinks I'm pathetic!'

'Don't tell me you're trying to impress him!' I say wide eyed.
She snorts 'Not in a million years,' but even she could tell that she was lying. I chose to ignore it.

'But Kerrie he has never seen me cry before! Oh wait... yes he has. When I broke my arm but it wasn't even that bad,'

'Why are you so worked up about being seen crying?' I ask.
She sighs. 'I have been seen the tough girl of our group. You the smart one,'

I open my mouth to protest but she gets there before me 'Yes, you're a lot more. So am I. So is Poppy but to the people who don't know us, that's how they see you Kerrie. Don't deny it,'

I sigh because she's right.

'And people see Poppy as the stupid one who has only one emotion.' she looks at the door.

'Yeah so?' I say not catching onto her point.

'So? So Kerrie if people see me as weak they won't have a category to put me in! I'll be seen as the tough/sook girl! There's no category for that!'

'You just made one,' I shrug.

She glares at me 'Kerrie, I've gotten so used to being the strong one. Being seen as the strong one. I'm scared that if people see me crying they won't know who I am... and that makes me wonder will I know who I am?' she whispers. Blushing slightly.