The Apprentice's Apprentice

Part 1

"Cora, what's wrong with you?"

She looked up from her toenails, the nail polish brush still held delicately between her fingers, and raised her eyebrows in her best friend's direction. "Are you talking today or in general?"

Zoe leaned back against the white dresser, careful to keep her own still wet fingernails clear of the painted wood. "In general. It's the whole you not dating thing. It's weird."

Cora went back to turning her toenails turquoise with a shrug. "Plenty of people don't date."

Her friend rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but no one even asks you. Hell, even that time you had a crush on Greg and asked him out he still said no. And I mean it's not like you're not attractive. You've got a rocking bod-"

"My ass is enormous and you know it."

"You have an hourglass figure I'm jealous of so you can shut up," Zoe retorted loudly before she continued in her normal volume. "You're nice, smart, not obviously crazy and your freakish anime obsession isn't something anyone at school knows about."

"Hey!"

"And you're blonde even though it does come from a bottle. You should've been on at least one date. And it's not like you're on my side of things. I'd have sniffed that out long before now and dragged you completely over to the dark side."

Cora snorted. "Don't act like the red streaks in your hair are natural. And what's with you suddenly caring about whether I date or not?"

"Well, if you were dating someone then you could double with me and Moira."

"Ah-ha! The truth comes out! Let me guess, Moira wants to go to laser tag and you can't find anyone to go with you two?"

Zoe grinned. "Guilty. It's way more fun with someone besides us two. But I am serious. It's weird you haven't gone on a date, especially since we'll be graduating this year. I mean, you should have gone on at least one date before moving away. I should start trying to hook you up with someone."

Cora mock shuddered. "Please don't. I remember the last time you tried to set someone up. You should just keep worrying about your own relationship. Where is Moira anyway? I thought you'd have dragged her over too."

"She's working. I swear she always gets the Saturday night shift. We're going out for coffee once she's done."

"And suddenly the reason you decided to come over so we could do our nails today is clear. You wearing that new skirt?"

Zoe nodded. "It'll be too cold soon so I figure I need to show off my legs while I can. Luckily I still have those strappy heels from my cousin's wedding so I don't have to wear my flip-flops."

"You're going all out tonight," Cora replied, chuckling. "Just be careful where you park. You don't want to get caught by the cops again."

Her friend blushed and giggled. "We've got a new spot that's safe. Now, what are you wearing for the first day of school? And please don't say jeans and a t-shirt. That's all you ever wear."

As their conversation devolved into their familiar debate over comfort vs. style, Cora wished that summer didn't have to end.