Cool Kids

One:

"Kizza!" Destiny shouts at me, trying to catch up. I turn and wait with a small smile.

"Yeah?" I walk closer to her as well, closing the distance faster.

"Sleep over at my house tonight. Can you come?" She situates the strap of her backpack on her shoulder.

"Probably. Let me text my mom."

Me: Can I sleep over at Dessi's tonight?

Mom: Of course. You know I love that girl.

Me: Alright. See u tomorrow. Love ya!

Mom: Kay. Love you too!

"She said yes. I'll text the girls." I send a group text, letting them all know that we're staying at Desi's house tonight. Celeste and Veronica answer immediately, but it takes Leigh a few minutes. "Everyone says yes! Let's go meet at the bike rack." I grab her arm and drag her to meet the girls. She laughs the whole way there.

"Hey, Karisma! Destiny!" We both flinch as Chasity and her clique begin to close in on us, forcing us to walk faster by instinct. "I know you can hear me!"

"Just keep going." Destiny mumbles as we move.

"Kizza! Dess! Over here!" Ronnie, shouts. We call Veronica Ronnie, because she liked the idea of a nickname, but hates being called Very. Destiny and I turn and begin to move toward her, but it's too late.

I yelp as Chasity harshly grabs my shoulder and slams me into a wall. "Get off of me, Chasity!" I growl at her, noticing that her best friend, Brittany, has Destiny pinned as well.

She only pulls me back and shoves me back into the wall. "How come you nerds didn't show up this morning, huh? Daddy doesn't buy my lunch anymore, and I need the money!" She punched me in the gut, receiving a groan from me.

"Then why don't you get a job, you spoiled little brat?" I ask her. Anger boils through her eyes, just before she launches a punch right into my eye, making me cry out. But then it's like I get a huge boost of adrenaline and before I know it, I give her a right hook straight into the jaw, making her gasp in surprise.

"I'm telling my Daddy! He'll get me a lawyer! You'll pay for that!" She cries, then runs off toward her Fararri that her-wait! Just guess- her Daddy bought for her.

"Oh my gosh! Kiz, are you alright?" All the girls run to my side, and help me to my feet.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You know… She's not all that strong." I laugh half-heartedly. The girls join and begin walking with me.

"Still, our tough Karisma." Celeste chuckles. "Come on. Let's get to the car."

***

"Hey, girls! How was school to- Oh, Karisma! What happened to your eye?" Destiny's mom, Brenda, gasps and scurries over to me to see if I'm okay.

"Oh, not much. Just didn't buy Chasity's lunch today. That's all." I chuckle sarcastically and the girls join. She sighs.

"That girl really needs to be taught a serious lesson. Come here." Brenda leads me to the freezer where she puts some ice into a cloth and wraps it into a ball, then gives it to me.

"Thank you, Brenda!" I exclaim as the girls drag me up the stairs.

"You're welcome. What do you guys want for dinner?" She shouts, just before Dess closes the door.

"How about breakfast for dinner?" She replies, grinning at us, who all nod with much excitement.

"Sounds great to me! Alright, have fun, girls! But- hey! No rough housing with Karisma's eye like that!" She yells, making my cheeks turn a deep crimson.

"Okay, Mom!" Destiny laughs, choosing the door and running over to sit next to me on the bed. "So, what do you guys want to do?"

Celeste grabs her backpack and pulls out four big Yearbook CDs. "I brought all the boys' albums. We could listen to them and paint each other's nails." She suggests.

"Perfect!"

***

"Hold still, Ronnie!" I cackle st Veronica as I try to paint her nails while she jumps around to the beat of the music. "Veronica, I cannot paint Zayn's face onto your nails if you're bouncing to the beat of Act My Age!"  I give her a stern look, until she finally holds still. I can't help but release a small giggle as she sits there and pouts.

"When I can hardly walk and my hair is falling out…" We all whistle the tune. I put the finishing touch on her nails so we can all scream the lyrics. "We'll still stay out till morning! We'll throw the after party! Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah! I won't act my age, no I-" Veronica sings Zayn's high note while we all sing different boy's parts of the song together. "Won't act my age, no I'll still feel the same about you!" We all point at each other. "I won't act my age, no I won't act my age! Cos I'll still feel the same, you will too! Hey! Nana nananana nananana, nanananana Nanana! Nana nananana nananana, nanananana Nanana!"

The album ends and Leigh immediately jumps up and grabs the CD, putting it back in the case and jumping down to pull something out if her bag. "Hey, guys, check this out." She pulls out a big scrap book that has pictures of each of us with our names and quotes on each page. "I started on it about three weeks ago, but I finished it last night and I wanted you all to see it." She lays it down and we all lay in a circle around it on the bed.

Destiny opens it up to the first page and begins reading. "Destiny, you're such a nerd, but we love you anyway." We all laugh as Destiny chucks her glasses down on the bed and pouts, but then let's out a laugh of her own and continues. "Celeste, you always make us smile. It makes me wonder if you get your comedic streaks from the Tommo himself." Again we all laugh. "Karisma, you're so innocent and sweet… I have no idea why you're so into immature boys." I turn bright red at the comment, while the girls giggle and point.

"She may be innocent, but who knew she could throw such a nice right hook?" Veronica chuckles.

"Oh, add that in!" Leigh squeals. "Okay… Veronica, even though you seem like all leather, neon hair dye and studs, we all know you wear your heart on your sleeve." Veronica smiles as we all chuckle quietly. "Okay… So you girls have to make mine."

I think for a moment, then just speak my mind. "Leigh, you may shy on the outside, but I'm glad we get to know the truly happy-go-lucky you. Everyone should be blessed with that laugh and grin!"

"Perfect!" Celeste shouts and writes it down.

***

"Ugh… I'm so stuffed!" I groan.

"Really? I thought you'd eat the rest of the table!" Celeste laughs sarcastically.

"Oh, ha-ha!" I smirk.

"Well, I mean… you ate more than Leigh did tonight! That's crazy!" Veronica states. "And don't smirk like that! It looks like you've been possessed by Styles." She chuckles, causing all of us to erupt into a fit of laughter.

"Hey, I have an idea, girls!" Destiny stands up and puts the last plate into the dishwasher."

"Yeah?" We all look up at her.

"Race you upstairs!" She shouts then runs toward her room with the rest of us trailing not far behind.

Just as I'm stepping into the room, all of our phones go off. We all look at them and grin. "It's eleven-eleven Gs! Kizza, you first!" Leigh shouts.

"I wish that I could be like the cool kids." I sigh dreamily and fall backwards onto the bed.

"Me too." All four girls say. Then Ronnie continues. "On three, all of us." She orders, counting down on her fingers.

"I wish that I could be like the cool kids. Cos all the cool kids… they seem to fit in. I wish that I could be like the cool kids. Cos all the cool kids… they seem to get it." We harmonize as we sing. At that moment, the clock strikes 11:12 and we all fall to the floor.