“So you’re going to be okay?” Fay asked Harleigh uncertainly. She nodded, and turned to look out of her bay window still hugging the pillow she’d had in my grasp for almost an hour straight. Fay hurried back over to Harleigh’s side, and wrapped her freckled arms around Harleigh’s frame again. They’d repeated this for the past ten minutes. Just when Harleigh thought Fay was leaving, she’d turn around and hug her once more. Don’t get me wrong, Harleigh thought, I loved the fact she was trying to comfort me, but still I just wanted to wallow in my own sadness. “I got Mom to ring school to say you had an obscure illness, though I think she may have told them that you had explosive diarrhoea.”
Harleigh groaned into her pillow, and threw it at the closed door of her bedroom. If it was easy for her to read Carlie Hepburn’s patient review when she was in the Nurse’s office yesterday, then someone could easily prowl back in there and read hers if Mrs. Bradbury left it up like the abominable idiot she was. “Did she really say that?” Fay gave an apprehensive nod. “Argh, that’s so embarrassing!” Harleigh wailed. “Right, Fay, not to be rude but can you please just get off to school, I don’t want you to be late.”
“Promise you will call me if you’re feeling low.”
“Okay, okay I promise I will.” Harleigh lied. She had no intention of doing that. Why should she drag Fay down with her in this whole bloody mess when it wasn’t Fay’s burden to bear? If Octavian County Day wanted her to change, then she would. She’d give them whatever they wanted.
“Right then...” Fay stepped backwards three paces, softly bumping into the handle of Harleigh’s door, watching her sister for any trace of Harleigh’s mood going south once more. “I’ll just be going then shall I?” She pulled open the door, and slowly tip toed out. Fay, having zero experience with Harleigh’s moods before, was treating her like a mental patient that could blow any second.
Harleigh waited until her sister’s car pulled out of the drive, and she waited a good ten minutes before leaving her spot on the window seat in fear of Fay returning and figuring out what she was up to. “Pick up, pick up... please pick up!” She whispered into her phone after dialling an almost too familiar number.
“Hey babe, what can I do you for?” His Australian accent filled her ears with its familiar depth.
Taking a deep breath, she spoke slowly and quietly. “I need your help Jackson.”
~ * ~
“Haha! So you’re telling me that some Latino bitch has swagged in, stole your crown and basically become top dog while you were in California.” Jackson sniggered into his mint ice cream.
“Watch your mouth Ritter I’m not quite down and out yet.” Harleigh smiled conspiratorially and leaned in closer, motioning for Jackson to do the same. “That’s why you’re here. You’re going to help me change my look.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Jackson snorted into his ice cream making flecks land on the table they were sat at. “I’m going to help you? Change your look? Haha no way Harls, I’m not a miracle worker.”
Harleigh felt quite offended at her friend’s words, but held back her snappy retort when she realised he was only speaking the truth. “Oh piss off Jackson; you know you can do it! Why else would I have picked you to come shopping with me?”
“’Cause I’m the campest guy you know, who won’t make a move on you and has rocking taste in lady gear?” Jackson supplied.
“You know sometimes, I hate how well you know me.” Grumbled Harleigh as she stood up, and turned to look at the huge expanse that was the largest mall in town. It held everything from Target to Prada. “Where we headed first?” Harleigh asked, stowing her more than half of her ground beef taco in the nearest trashcan.
After staring at Harleigh’s now taco-less hand, Jackson stood up to join her. “Are you not eating again?”
“What? Of course I am! Don’t start Jackson, if I wanted your advice on my ‘disorder’ then I’d ask it.” She snapped before dragging him into the nearest shop. It was some independent clothing store, and it stunk of dust and cheap price tags.
“I’m just worried about you! First you call out the blue over some weird bullying crap, then I take genuine concern in the fact you may be slipping back into anorexia and you’re snapping at my ass?” Jackson hissed, ducking behind a metal clotheshorse with some attractive shirts dangling from it on hangers.
“You’re right... I’m sorry but I’m not slipping back.” Harleigh lied blatantly. She just wanted to lose a few pounds. Not a lot of weight, but just a little bit, just enough to notice it slightly. Just enough weight gone for people to notice she was changing. She turned slightly, and saw the cashier giving her a slight once over.
No matter who you were in Harleigh’s town, you still had to give someone a once over. It was vicious. They weighed up every item of clothing you wore, and itemized the whole thing to the nearest dollar like you would see in a magazine. “Hey, do you mind staring? You’re giving me the creeps.” Bam, she shot her down in true Harleigh fashion. Well so much for Harleigh’s change in attitude. A leopard couldn’t change its spots and all that...
Harleigh seemed to realize that as she dragged off the mystified Australian. “You do realise pissing off every cashier in town isn’t going to help your case?” Jackson said matter-of-factly.
Harleigh pulled her tote bag further up her arm as she carried on tugging her friend towards suitable shops. “Oh shove it up your old wazoo.”
Jackson feigned a look of hurt. “I’m not that much older than you sugar.” He pointed out, winking and picking up a chic white camisole. You know, if librarians were chic. “Now this would probably fend off the groping males,” He picked up a pair of light blue skinny jeans. “If paired with these,” and then he grabbed a beanie and nestled it against Harleigh’s brown locks. “Voila, you shall look hot my love.”
“You know this isn’t half bad. At least my legs will be warm, and they show off my butt quite well.” Harleigh admitted.
Jackson smiled, and held out his hand. “Cash card please.” Harleigh dropped the black plastic into his waiting palm and sat down in the shoe area. She watched as her friend pottered up and down the rails, picking up all manners of clothing and holding them up against himself. Harleigh chuckled happily at the sight of her friend. Her very good friend whom she had neglected. Thinking back, Harleigh couldn’t remember the last time she’d rang Jackson to just hang out.
“Hey Jacks?” Harleigh called, laughing slightly as he stumbled into her view.
“Yes Harls?” He replied happily, before holding out his newest acquisitions and holding out a clothes-laden arm to help her up with.
She took his hand and stood up. “I’m sorry for you know... Not calling you. It’s completely unfair of me.”
“It takes two to tango; I never really extended the hand of communication did I?” He said evenly before tugging her gently towards the till, and pushing her towards it.
Harleigh signed for the clothes before strolling out of the store and heading in the direction of the food court.
“Where are we headed to now my fair lady?” Jackson asked.
Harleigh grinned at him whilst lifting her bags. “I’m just going to stash these in my trunk, and then I’m taking you on a date.”
“Yeah doll you know I adore you, but I don’t... bat for your team.”
She chuckled happily. “I know that you doofus, but I want to spend some time with you, so I’m taking you to the cinema, and then I’m going to drop you home as I have a 4pm curfew.”
“Ain’t that the sweetest thing?” Jackson grinned.
