Before It Dies | Tratie

xx. red lip classic

I updated what?? This chapter was really hard to write and I hope it's somewhat worth the wait :)

     The feeling of Peggy analyzing your relationship status is a very unique feeling.

     It's like being examined by an all-seeing doctor, then put in front of a lawyer to find holes in the conclusion, only to be faced by a therapist supplying understanding thoughts. Yet in the end, it's just a fourteen-year-old girl who looks smarter than a doctor, more confident than a lawyer, and more patient than a therapist. Peggy is really something to behold. I knew that I certainly wasn't as cool as she when I was her age.

     But her stare was easily intimidating. I didn't like the way she could see right through me as if I were looking glass, my soul on display for her. I turned around, knowing that my face would give me away the most. 

     "Stop it," I said.

     "Stop what?" she responded, voice calm, but I knew she was aware of what I meant.

     "Stop reading me, judging me, it doesn't matter, just stop."

     Peggy was still for a moment, casting an awkwardness upon the people in the room, me, her, Connor, and August. "I wasn't—"

     "You were," I said. "I can feel it. Don't do it. It's personal, it should be kept that way."

     I felt bad, I really did. I wondered if I had offended her in some way or did something wrong. But I was on edge, worrying about Katie, wondering how she would do, if she would hurt herself, blow our cover, or anything that could possibly go wrong.

     It was hard not to overthink it and to be so one edge that I'd snap at her.

     The bathroom door opened and all four of us swung our heads over towards the sound where Katie waltzed out. August's giant hoodie draped over her body, reaching mid-thigh. She didn't look much different other than the expressionless way she held herself and the bright red painted across her lips. Sharp eyeliner made her look intimidating, her hair was brushed back into a high ponytail, the few freckles she had covered. I looked down and saw her hands covered by the large sleeves of the hoodie, however, despite the impassiveness in her posture, she was still playing with her hands underneath it.

     I glanced over at Peggy. She was looking down, also looking a little nervous, though did not seem to be searching anyone with her eyes.

     Connor stopped typing looked up at us from his sofa, taking his glasses off and hanging them onto his shirt. He stood up as our attention drew to him and dug into his bag.

     "We don't really lend these very often, but you'll need it," Connor pulled out a clear ziplock bag. There was a small wire. It didn't look like much but I recognized it right away. "It's an earpiece. It's bendable to fit how you want: in your ear, as an earring, on your glasses, in your hair...As long as it touches your ear, we can communicate. I suggest wearing it as an earring."

     She examined the wire with her long fingers, cautiously turning the earpiece and mic in her hands, watching the way they bent before twisting it into a hook and a rose shape.

     "I didn't know you had gadgets as high-tech as these," she admitted, her words not meant to be offensive as they would have been, had this been a few months ago.

     Connor smirked, his eyebrow raising. "The pranks at Camp was the easy stuff. We make things like this all the time." He glanced at me, then shrugged. "Well, I do. I'm better at making things like this. Travis is the talker."

     Her attention suddenly snapped towards me. "Hence the international relations major?"

     I nodded. "I'll be interrogating the guy you're seducing. Peggy will look into his mind for anything, if he actually has deeper relationships, to begin with, of course."