Kim trudged down the sidewalk, same tattered shoes scuffing across concrete she's walked down too many times to count. the air felt sticky, she knew is was bound to rain soon so she quickened her pace. she hated running errands. she loathed the days her mother would slip a 10 dollar bill in her hand and tell her to bring back her change.
a fat rain drop soaked into the top of Kim's head as she borderline jogged home, looking down at the slowly darkening sidewalk ahead. the sound of screeching tires and loud music grew louder behind her as she grew more and more uneasy. cue the stomach drop.
"what's a pretty girl like you walking alone?" a voice yelled from the car.
Kim stopped walking, her flight or fight instincts kicking in for a second. the voice was female and oddly familiar.
could it be? hopefully not
Kim turned towards the car to see Brea with a shit eating grin. Kim thought she was gonna collapse with the way her knees wobbled. her face and neck grew undeniably hot.
"i seem to only run into you when its raining" Kim looked up and the grey sky, thick with dense clouds.
Brea laughed, a little more harder than necessary and it made Kim smile.
"need a drive home?" brea asked, sounding more sincere than Kim was used to.
as the rain begin to get heavier and so did seemed the bag, she accepted the offer. Kim awkwardly jogged to the side of the car and hopped in. upon getting in Brea stepped on the gas, sending Kim jolting forward with the sudden speed.
"joyride?" Brea smiled, not taking her eyes off the road.
Kim gnawed at the inside of her mouth, she didn't want her mom to worry but she'd be lying if she said she enjoyed every time Brea quirked her eyebrow.
cold unforgiving dread pooled in Kim's stomach, did Brea forget about what happened?
did Kim want her to forget?
another flood of dread.
the radio crackled as they drove; Brea drummed her hands on the steering wheel, curving down the darkening streets. Kim's eyes flickered to the dash. it was already 9:50, time seemed to silently creep away when she was with Brea. she looked at the side of her face, her eyes outlined the bridge of her nose and the dip of her lips. she smiled as she sang, rocking in her seat.
"hey now kid, you're my salvation"
Kim thought the song was cheesy but it sounded sweet being sung by Brea.
Brea suddenly turned to Kim, still smiling. Kim wanted desperately to turn away and get blotchy and blushed like the bottom she was but she didn't. she stuck it out and felt the corners of her mouth lift. Brea simultaneously stared at her and through her.
"you're red"
Brea's hand abandoned the wheel to let her hand brush against Kim's face, letting them fall down her neck before pulling away. Kim swallowed her pride and reached for Brea's hand. she turned her palm over and lulled at the details on it. looking up she saw Brea's eyes were on the road, a small smile and content eyes painted her face as she let her fingers lock with Kim's.
Kim felt her heart swell as she looked at the other girl, surely Brea knew what she was doing. or did she simply look at Kim as a friend? the thought felt like barbed wire snaked around her ribs.
"you're pretty" Kim blurted. desperate for a sign that she felt the same.
did Kim really want Brea to feel the same? more barbed wire sneaked up. what surely nothing would come out of this, she knew her family definitely wouldn't approve and she didn't need that stress.
stress would be the death of her.
Brea parked in a vacant gas station parking lot, pulling out a cigarette at let it hang from her lips. Kim made a 'gimme' motion with her hand, watching the light smoke swirl in the dark or the car. Brea let her head fall back slightly, laughing.
"so my attempt to scare you away from smoking failed?" Brea asked, pulling out another one.
now it was Kim's turn to smirk.
"nah, more like fueled it" Kim breathed it the cigarette, letting the deep smog caress her throat.
Kim was in no way sinless; she of course dabbled with weed when Brandon or her cousins offered, but there was just something about cigarettes that was so...sad.
"ah fuck it, i'm gonna die anyways" Kim let her own string of smoke fill the car.
Brea chuckled. "look at you, being all artistic and-"
"realistic" Kim cut her off, a serious weight seemed sit on the roof of the car now.
Brea took another drag, turning her body to look at her. Kim just looked out at the window. she looked at Brea who simply nodded her head, hinting she wasn't gonna let this go that easy.
"i was born with CF" Kim let her arm rest out the window.
another quirked eyebrow came from Brea. not understanding what she meant. Kim sighed, she was used to talking about since it consumed most of her life between doctors appointments and short term medication. she loathed the thought of Brea knowing, not wanting her to look at Kim differently.
"good ole cystic fibrosis," Kim gave a her a sarcastic smile, searching for that dreaded look of pity.
"damn.." Brea flicked ashes out of her window, softly shaking her head. she couldn't help but smile.
Kim looked at her, a little bit stunned but her lack of response, looking at Brea with a smile of her own,
"is that all?"
"what, you want me to get all mushy, Hun?" Brea laughed as she tossed the cigarette.
"no, thanks for keeping it real" another heart swell engulfed Kim.
the drive back was quiet and content, Kim felt herself sag against the seat. it was already 12:15, the probability that the door was locked was pretty high. was her window locked? fuck, probably. she felt a deep sigh leave her as she wondered how the fuck she was gonna get in without getting yelled at.
"something wrong?" Brea asked, pulling up to her house.
"i'm probably locked the fuck out"
"go check"
Brea watched Kim move to the front door, giving the handle a tug before throwing her head back, lumbering back to the car with a huff.
"no luck?" Brea asked, tying to keep her smile down.
"nah, i'll just ask if i can crash at Brandon's for the night" Kim opened her phone.
"you could sleep in the car if you want" Brea offered nonchalantly
Kim put her phone down, she felt a wave of anxiety wash over as she chewed at her cheek.
"id offer you to sleep in the house but mom and dad doesn't really let pretty girls in the house" brea joked, watching Kim squirm.
"its fine, beats sleeping in Brandon's neko girl room" Kim sank into the seat as Brea took off down the street.
they stopped in front of a house, Brea jumped out and went to the front door. from the bushes a cat mewled up at her.
"who's that?" Kim looked at the fluffy gray kitty.
"this is Pep" Brea motioned towards the cat, opening the door for the both of them.
she came out with a purple quilt and pillow bunched up in her arms. Kim thanked her and crawled into the warm backseat. the blanket smelled like clementines she thought as she curled up into the heavy blanket, falling asleep to the starting drops of rain on the roof the car.
