Stripped

Chapter 4

The next day things between Kara and I were tense we didn't speak much, at least not until we were heading back to Cherry's. It was Saturday night which meant there was likely to be a bachelor party or two. We liked to work them together. At last, Kara broke the silence. "Look I'm sorry for what I said last night. I know you don't really think you're better than me or the other dancers. I just thought it would be nice if you had a friend that wasn't me. They are all really cool girls."

I snorted, "They are little junkies and you know it. I don't want them around me. Okay?" It was bad enough that Kara partied with them, I worried if she went anywhere without me, but I just couldn't subject myself to the anxiety I felt around people that drank too much and did hard drugs. Kara swore up and down that she never tried any of it but there had been a few nights she came home and I could tell she wasn't just drunk.

"Fine," she snipped, "I'll drop it."

Watching her cross her arms across her chest and pouting reminded me of the day I met her. It had been the day I moved into the foster home, she was huddled in an enormouse pile of blankets reading a book. Her platinum hair appeared from beneath the pile followed by a sweet smile. Encasing her right arm was a hot pink cast that bore many signatures and doodles. I watched her practically fall out of bed trying to come welcome me. Without even asking my name she began to chatter away about walking to school together and telling late night ghost stories, She even went so far as to offer me her clothes until I was able to get more of my own. The ones I had brought with me were old and tattered, "This is all you have?" Kara had asked looking shocked. I only nodded in response. "Well we look the same size. We'll share!" It was the first time since the previous night that I had smiled.

That night was my first night alone, I had found it impossible to sleep. It was too quiet. I had grown accustomed to the loud parties that my father had thrown almost every night, as messed up as it is I almost missed the noise. And most of all, I missed Jake. It was the first day in almost eight years that I hadn't seen him at all. Just knowing that I was going to be seeing him kept me going but now, I had nothing. I hadn't realized that I had been crying until Kara appeared next to my bed, demanding in a gentle voice that I scoot over. Although I didn't know her and wasn't used to this kind of friendship from anyone but Jake, I lifted the blankets and she curled underneath them with me. Her soft voice soothed me to sleep that night and for a week after. We've been inseparable ever since.

Feeling guilty that I had hurt Kara, I looked over at my friend who had pushed her bottom lip out in a full-blown pout and was looking down at the ground. "Hey, I'm sorry." I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and changing the subject to something that I knew would cheer her up, "Think we're gonna get a bachelor party tonight?"

Kara's frown immediately turned up into a wide grin, "I hope so!"

Kara's wish came true when we walked through the front door of Cherry's and were greeted by a large group of rowdy men, one of which bore a cheesy plastic crown on top of his head. Judging by their disheveled appearance, it seemed they were already a few shots into their evening and none of the girls had found them yet. "Let's get ready fast before anyone else sees them!" I muttered to Kara who's blue eyes were dancing with excitement. Somehow we successfully managed to apply makeup, do our hair, and get dressed in five minutes flat. The bachelor party was still unattended when we emerged from the dressing rooms. "Now you know why I worry about being late!" I said to Kara.

"I'll never question you again. Oh wise one!" Kara praised, with a giggle.

The two of us approached the crew of tipsy men, offering to take them to the VIP lounge area. Really it was just mismatched leather couches and a personal waitress, but VIP made it sound much more luxurious. Kara and I stood on either side of the groom, looping our arms through his and whispering into his ear.