Peppermint

The first day of summer 1998

Alison, come on, we're going to the pool!!"my friend Violet screamed at me , grabbing onto my hand and pulling me away from my locker . It was the very last day of the school year and all my friends were getting hyped up into summer mode , thinking about beach parties and house parties and pool parties while all I was thinking about was how I'd create a dance routine to get into the top dance school in the country . I had been planning to go out with my friends once a week , every Saturday and then focusing on my dancing for the remaining days , and weeks . I had 7 weeks to create the best most passionate dance routine I'd ever done . All by myself . I must be perfect - get this right for once , not mess it up and spend all summer getting tanned and having fun , instead I need to focus on my career and be prepared in 7 weeks time .

"Stop daydreaming you idiot !" Violet shouted in my face, "we're going to the shops, I need to get some nice ass bikinis for the pool and the beach ! I've got sixty quid my mum sold some more weed last week and had some leftovers" she whispered . Only me - her best friend knew about her mums goings on . Violet spent a lot of time at my house because her mum would always have meN round and deal drugs while not really caring about Violet - but she was happy , she usually got money to spend in the shops . Although she was my best friend , she did sometimes step out of reality at times , not knowing what was happening to her ... she can't really help it though .
" Alison what bikini are you going to get ?"
I was tossed out of my thoughts yet again . "I don't know , probably a black one" I shrugged . "I don't want to draw too much attention to myself" . Violet looked at me in shock .
"What did u just say? A black bikini? No way . You are getting the one I pick out , and trust me it will be beyond sexyyy . All the boys will want you ..!"
I wasn't too sure if I wanted that to be honest , but I went along with it anyway .
1 hour later
"I've found one!!!" Violet opened my curtain and shoved four bikinis in my arms . "Well maybe not one but I liked all of them"
I tried the first one on and realised it was black with very little coverage over the boobs - I looked kind of stupid in it .
"NO WAY! I look like a prostitute Violet !" I laughed while pointing at my boobs .
"I agree - try the red one, it'll be surprising I promise"
As I got into it , I could already see that it was very revealing however I still liked it - it was dramatic but sexy - and I guess that a little fun with some boys wouldn't be that bad .
"You look amazing" violets voice rang through my changing room , and meverywhere ." she shrugged I didn't hear anything for a couple of minutes and suddenly heard some sniffing . "You can't hide your crying from your best friend silly" I thought . Silently I crept into her changing room to see her weeping in a ball on the floor . I dropped down onto the floor and put my arms round her as she sobbed into my chest . "It's ok baby - I'm here" i whispered
" I love you , Alison"
"I love you too, violet"
"Thankyou for being there , I don't know what I'd do without u ."
"Wren broke up with you didn't he." I suspected this from the start.
"Yeah he did ... he said all the other girls were better than me "she choked out , her voice barely working and the tears fell down her pale face .
"That dickhead- I'm going to kill him! What a sick fuck . I can't believe him!! Why would he say something like that? Does he not understand respect ? Does he not get that girls are not perfect ? Just because he expects every girl to be his servant and also be completely perfect all the time with waif-like thin bodies and perfect curves doesn't mean he's gonna get that!!" I felt like I could kill someone right now .
"It's okay , I'm gonna get over it ." She cried silently .
I squeezed her closer , breathing in her minty peppermint scent and stroking her hair , told her it'd be ok.