Back Tucks and Touchdowns

Take Your Time

"Quit moving," Danica reprimanded, batting away Katya's nervous, agitated fingers while she bustled around Katya.

Katya did not respond; instead, she swallowed and forced herself not to straighten her top for the fifth time.

"Shelly, would you pass me the hairbrush?" Danica called over her shoulder.

"Hold on a minute," Shelly responded from her relaxed position on Katya's bed. Out of the corner of Katya's eye she could see Shelly biting her fingernail thoughtlessly as she flipped through a magazine. "I'm trying to figure out if I have cankles or not."

Danica's expression was both bewildered and exasperated. "You do not have cankles, Shelly. Why are you reading those magazines anyway? They're all trash."

"They're not!" Shelly defended hotly. "These magazines are honest compared to you girls."

Danica's brow furrowed, her mouth moving around a bobby pin stuck between her lips. "What are you talking about?"

"Why didn't you guys tell me I have thunder thighs?" Shelly wailed while rising up to her knees, and shaking the magazine in her hand emphatically.

Danica shook her head in amusement. "Shelly you're thighs are fine. They're beautiful. You're beautiful."

Shelly made a face at Danica, before flopping back onto Katya's bed. "You're just saying that 'cause you have to. My legs are huge."

"Your legs are muscular."

"I'm bottom heavy."

"You're bootylicious."

In an uncharacteristic manner, Shelly sat up to throw Danica a scathing look. "You don't have to sugar coat anything for me. I can take it. Just admit it, already. My butt is ginormous and if it gets any bigger it's going to have its own gravitational force."

Danica smiled softly as if pitying her for not noticing her own brilliance. "Shelly, you're gorgeous. Every part of you. Even you're legs. So what if they're not stick thin? You're the best base a cheerleader could ask for. And when we condition, you're always squat more than Kat and I combined. You're legs are awesome."

Shelly was very quiet for a moment before she said in a small voice, "Thanks, Danica."

Danica laughed in response, before walking back to Katya. "No problem, Shells. Now quit PMS-ing and get me the hairspray."

Katya could hear the sheets of her bed rustling as Shelly stood up and muttered in a sullen, nearly inaudible tone, "I wouldn't be PMS-ing if there was some goddamn chocolate in this house."

Katya laughed while Danica touched up Katya's hair.

"You look nice," Danica finally said in a soft tone, that had Katya's mouth forming into an almost-smile. Shelly made a sound of agreement as she reentered the room with a hairspray can in hand.

Katya met Danica's gaze and replied in a quiet and humble tone. "Thanks."

Danica's mouth tightened, before she fluffed Katya's hair one last time. Turning to look over at Shelly, Danica asked, "What do you think?"

Shelly looked up from her magazine and her mouth immediately broke out into a large grin.

"Oh my gosh, Kat you look amazing." In a pleasantly surprised tone, Shelly commented, "Dang you really know how to use a curling iron."

Danica smiled proudly, before aiming hairspray at Katya's head. "Thank you. I try."

"Theo will not know what hit him," Shelly giggled after getting up to inspect Katya closer.