Death of the Perfect Girl

84- The Loved

Mid November

Poppy sat up on her bed and stretched. A smile spread across her face. She looked at Sadie sleeping on the blow up bed beside her. Poppy grabbed her pillow and threw it at Sadie. Sadie flinched then sighed. "Poppy," she groaned and rolled over on her back. "Are you kidding me? It's early."

"It's ten o'clock love. It's late."

Sadie sighed again and slowly sat up.

"Especially if we want to get to the concert on time. Noah's picking us up in two hours."

"What if someone sees us together? They'll start asking questions."

"Hey," Poppy tilted her head. "You avoid me in the halls already. I think a concert out of town is fine."

Sadie shrugged. "Fine, but I'm driving."

"Yay!" Poppy threw her arms up.

Sadie giggled then she stared at her with a smile.

*  *  *

The girls walked down Poppy's front steps with smiles. "Hey," Poppy kissed Noah's cheek.

"Am I supposed to give him a kiss too?" Sadie walked around the front of the car. "I mean, you guys are supposed to be friends. So, I guess I should give him a friend kiss too."

Poppy giggled and shook her head getting into the front seat. "Hey Liam," she looked back at him and smiled.

"Hey," he smiled back.

Noah threw his hands up. "Wait a minute, wait a minute. I thought I was the driver."

Poppy rolled down her window. "That's what I thought too until she convinced me to let her drive."

Noah shook his head and smiled getting into the car.

They drove dancing and listening to music. Poppy threw her arms up and started singing and Sadie sang along. Noah shook his head. "You guys know we're going to hear the exact same music at the concert right?"

"Exactly," Liam groaned staring out the window. "It's annoying as hell."

"This is rehearsal, Liam," Sadie looked back at him. "We have to prep ourselves."

"To scream the lyrics?"

"Oh, most definitely."

Poppy laughed.

Noah smiled at them. "Who would've thought. Sadie and Poppy, going to concerts and having sleep overs and stuff."

The girls looked at each other. "Yeah," Sadie smiled at Poppy, "who would've thought."

Poppy leaned her head against the seat.  "Sadie's awesome."

"Awe. You're awesome too." Sadie's phone buzzed on the dashboard. She was about to reach over and grab it but Poppy quickly grabbed it.

"Don't text and drive, love." Poppy looked down at the phone. She furrowed her brows. "Mr. Pearce? Is that who you were texting all night?"

Sadie blushed and shrugged.

"Sadie," Poppy shook her head. "Brody is toxic right now."

"In what way?"

"Well, he's older and an alcoholic. Don't text him, please? This is for your own good."

Sadie sighed. "Fine."

"Great." Poppy started scrolling through Sadie's phone.

"What did he text though?"

Poppy groaned. "He said 'Good Morning'. Don't reply."

"I won't." Sadie looked at her then turned back to the road. "Are you going through my phone?"

"I mean," Poppy giggled looking at the pictures they had taken together.

"I shouldn't have given you my password."

"Awe," Noah mocked them," you guys even share passwords with each other now?" He turned to Liam. "You may have some competition here, man."

Liam looked at Sadie in the rear view mirror. She smiled at him and he smirked back. "I don't mind."

Poppy looked at them both then she smiled. She stopped on a video Sadie had made. She seemed to be crying. Poppy clicked on it. It began to play.

"God, I'm such an ugly cryer...and an ugly person."

"Hey," Sadie looked at Poppy. "You're watching my personal videos now?"

"I'm sorry," Poppy was about to turn it off.

"No, it's okay. You can watch it...I was going to post it after we spoke...but I've never gotten around to doing it."

Poppy and the others listened to the video to its end.

"You should post," Liam looked at her. "Let people know that you're trying to change."

"I will," Sadie nodded. "I haven't been on social media in so long...it feels good to not be in touch with that side of me, you know? The side that other people see me as. The fake me. That's why I don't want people to know that we're hanging out. I know that once they know...they'll begin to make assumptions and I don't want to jump back on social media to answer questions. Not right now."

Poppy nodded. "I get that. And it's completely okay. Whenever you're ready to tell everyone you've changed...just do it. Okay?"

"Yes. It can wait though. You know what I can't wait for? Thanksgiving. My dad makes a mean lasagna and it's going to be a killer. I'm so glad your parents invited us."

"They love the company. They're tired of just seeing my face."

Sadie giggled. She sighed and smiled then she looked at Poppy. "Thank you, Poppy."

"You need to stop thanking me already. We're cool and I love you, okay?"

"I love you too."

*   *   *

Poppy stood dancing with Sadie and singing along to the band on stage.

Liam stared at them. "Sadie's really different."

"Yeah," Noah nodded. "I guess."

"You don't think so?" Liam looked at Noah.

"I don't know. I don't trust her."
 
They both looked at Poppy and Sadie.

Poppy smiled at him them waved them over to join them.

"I guess they want us to join them," Liam chuckled.

"Yeah," Noah shook his head. They both made their way over to the girls.

Poppy began to dance with them and Sadie looked down at her phone. Brody had texted her again.

Brody: Is everything ok?

Something pulled Sadie's leg telling her not to reply. But she couldn't resist. She texted him back. Then shoved her phone in her pocket and danced back over to the group.