ONE ON ONE || D.SWING

17. Denial.

November 20, 1987

4:25pm

It was two days before Katrina's 18th Birthday so after school, Karmen decided they should go to the mall to pick out a outfit for the skate party.

The best friends made their way up the escalator conversing about something random until Karmen caught eyes with a dark skin male that was going down the escalator.

Katrina noticed something caught her friends' attention, she followed her eyes to see her practically drooling over a guy.

"If you keep your mouth open longer, a fly might go in."

Karmen stopped her gazing to face her, "I wouldn't mind that. As long as that fine brotha' gives me Mouth-to-Mouth resuscitation, I'll be happy." she cheesed as they stepped off the escalator, making there way to The Gap.

"Girl, he wasn't all that." Katrina commented, going straight to the jean section.

"To you he wasn't, but to me, he resembles Melvin Riley."

Katrina giggled, "Your obsession with him is ridiculous," her head shook, "you couldn't even get a good look at his face with that big ole jheri curl mess on his head. Looking like a wet poodle."

"Of course you say that, we've never had the same taste in guys. You've always gone for those pretty boy types." Karmen defended, making Katrina stop her shopping and giving Karmen a confused look.

"You always wear jeans, why don't you switch it up with a skirt-"

"Whoa, whoa, what do you mean I go for the pretty boy types? When have I ever liked a pretty boy?"

"Uh, Michael. That's pretty obvious, you used to hype him up like he was the Italian version of LL Cool J. And don't get me started on Elijah, you be staring at him so much you'll damn near burn holes into his skull. Whew!"

That last statement made Katrina's eyes bulge, "Elijah? Oh God no, we're just friends Karm, you know that. I don't like him in that way, I don't find him attractive." she glanced up to see Karmen giving her a knowing look, smirking because she knew she was lying.

For the past three weeks, Karmen has been paying attention to Katrina and Elijah's interaction with each other and noticed that they've gotten mighty close. She's even picked up on how her and Katrina haven't been on the phone as often and how Katrina hangs up on her to go to "sleep" when it's just seven at night. It's not just that, she's noted that they take sly glances at one another and flirt shamelessly. Karmen suspects that there's something secretive going on.

"Okay, maybe I do think he's attractive, maybe even cute, fine-" Katrina grunted, wanting to slap herself for saying that out loud, "Just forget I even said that." she turned her back to go to the shirt section.

"Aww, Katrina's got a little crushy crush on Elijah," Karm gushed, embarrassing her friend even more, "oh my god your blushing. This is a Kodak moment."

Katrina looked at the stand up mirror to see indeed in fact that her cheeks were turning a crimson color. She hated feeling like this, her feelings and emotions on display for everyone to see, it makes her feel vulnerable.

Karmen came beside her to pat her shoulder, "Just make sure to make me your maid of honor at y'all wedding." she joked making Katrina more flustered then before.

"I hate you so much." Katrina walked away from her, out the store.

Arms crossed, Katrina power walked across the mall trying to look for a store to escape from her friend.