gloves | vinnie hacker

1.

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Naomi Montana.

"This is our hottest year yet ladies. Face, body, style. Everything." Cherry says from the drivers seat.

Her freshly dyed curly hair puffed out into an afro kind of look which I loved. It really suited her face shape and it didn't hide her doe eyes. It actually made her look animated like a uniquely drawn cartoon character.

I gave her a small laugh. I was pretty excited for senior year as well, it was our last year without real responsibilities like college or fulltime jobs. As much as I hated to admit, I didn't want to grow up. Which was funny because when I was younger all I wanted was to to be a teenager to do all the things I saw in movies & wished of doing.

"My goal is either to be most loved or most hated." Jade smirked at us from the backseat.

I look back and raise my eyebrows at her. Her almond shaped eyes were glued to her phone. Her hair was dark brown, almost black and it was pulled into a messy ponytail. I never really noticed either but she had small patches of skin that were a little lighter than the rest. It was easy to miss though since her skin was already light but with a small tan to it.

"You're crazy." I shake my head.

"What? We start school in a couple of days. I don't want to walk in there with the same attitude from last year. I mean, this is senior year after all." Jade shrugs.

"You know what? You're right, J. Naomi's just playing fun police again."

I guess you could say I'm the more responsible friend. I'm used to it though. Always the one taking care of Cherry and Jade at parties, always the designated driver, always reminding them when we have projects due in our mutual classes. I can't help it though. I'm like that for myself too. Constantly worrying about my grades, due dates, and practice times but it is the only way I get things done.

"I don't like you guys teaming up against me." I huff playfully.

"You know I'm right." She states while adjusting the sunglasses on her head in the rearview mirror making the car swerve. My body slightly jerked towards the car door and back into place like a human rubber band.

"Are you crazy?!"

"See? Fun police."

"You almost killed us!" I exclaim.

"Key word, almost."

"Wait- Where are we going again?" Jade asks, her eyebrows pulled together in a tight knit with confusion painted evidently on her face.

"Starbucks, Cherry's crushing on the new cashier." I say, smirking. In the corner of my eye I see Cherry rolling her eyes at my words.

"Ew, crush? We're not in middle school, Nai." She grimaces as we pull into the parking lot. Jade lets out a small giggle from the backseat, keeping her eyes on her phone.

"You know it's true." I say in a louder tone. I unbuckled my seatbelt and grabbed my phone and purse before opening the door of Cherry's black Mercedes. I loved her car, it was so sleek and classy.

"I just think he's cute that's all." She shrugs, doing the same.

"What was his name again? Harold?" I questioned while we waited for Jade to get out of the car as well.

"That's such a proper name, like Catholic school vibes." Jade laughed, opening the door for us to walk in before following suit.

"Okay okay, shut up. He's right there." Cherry whispered to us. Jade and I simultaneously look up to see a tall boy with messy brown curly hair and light green eyes.