Street corners; where teens go to die

Flickering

The streetlight flickered. At an abandoned train station three girls leaned against the plastic wall. The wall had different posters with informations about old trains.

Minnie let her long, dark hair out of her ponytail.
"It's not very windy tonight." She stated. Moonlight filtered through the cobwebs that hung by the street sign. The only noise being made was the echo of a train that passed. Gina and Laika looked at Minnie. "Wow i don't think i've ever seen you without a ponytail, Minnie! You look so pretty with your hair down." Laika said and smiled. Her hands quickly grabbed at Minnies dark hair and started to admire its length.
"Ohh, Laika, you're too kind. I like your hair too, i wish my dad would allow me to dye it." Minnie replied, blushing. Laika giggled "Oh, thanks! I think blue and purple really suit me." She responded and took a quick look at her own hair.

"Do you guys know where Ali and Gina are? I havent seen them since sunday church." Cara said. Her ginger hair—cut just above her shoulders, wasn't something she liked and so she tried to avoid the subject of looks. Laika dropped Minnies hair and leaned back on the plastic wall.
    "Well, if i'm gonna think logically then i guess... Gina's probably grounded and Ali is probably doing drugs with her boyfriend. Like usual." She rolled her eyes. "Why do you hate drugs so much, Laika, have you even tried them?" Cara responded. Laika scoffed and smirked like she had something funny to say, but stayed silent.

     "What's so funny?" Cara said, smiling.
"I just find it... funny... that you, Cara, a former addict is defending Alis addiction." Laika said and laughed awkwardly.

Minnie stared blankly at Laika, Cara did the same. Laika quickly stopped laughing and stared at her feet. She put her hands together and tapped her fingers in some sort of rhythm to calm herself. The group was silent for multiple minutes. "My addiction wasn't the same. I was 13, don't even bring that up." Cara finally responded, with her voice being sharp. Her jaw tightened and she grinded her teeth together. Minnie was glancing away, hoping she wouldn't have to pick sides in whatever was going on.

     "Fuck- shit- I..." Laika stammered. She lifted her hands to her forehead and pressed them against her whole face. Her hands were covering her mouth but she was mumbling something. Then she looked up, and put her arms behind her back. Her face was red and eyes were almost tearing up. "I shouldn't have said that—" She turned around and slammed her hand to the wall. Cara pinched her nosebridge with her fingers.

    Cara sighed and slammed her head on the wall gently. "It's ... fine, Laika. Laika?" She put one arm on Laikas back to reassure her. "Laika, it's fine. It's not that big of a deal. I just don't like joking about it." Cara continued. Minnie had now grabbed Laikas hand gently and stroked it lightly. Laik turned around and Cara lifted her hand off her back. "Yeah- yeah. I'm sorry- it's fine. I didn't think. Sorry." Her eyes weren't teary anymore. She just seemed emotional. "Are- are you okay? You seem a little— on edge, right now." Minnie asked. Laika ran her fingers through her hair. "It's just that this is only the third time seeing you guys here and i just feel like i always do something wrong." Laika mumbled, laughing slightly to make the mood lighter.

   "We don't hate you. I mean- shit we're all a bit fucked up." Cara said and laughed, Minnie smiled. Laika smiled as well and was about to say something when she spotted another girl approaching them. It was Gina.

"Gina! Hey! How are you?" Laika yelled out. Cara and Minnie looked the their left and there was Gina, with bagy clothes as usual. Her green hair reflected in the moonlight. "Damn, whats going on here? This seems so dramatic, everyone aight?" Gina asked.

Cara, Minnie and Laika all looked at each other. "Yeah, we're fine. Just the usual." Laika said and scratched her head.
Cara laughed, it was weird, but true. It shouldn't be normal that something dramatic happens every time they hang out, but it is. She wondered why, was it because they were all struggling, or because they all were all just.. weird? She didn't know. But she did know that her friends made her feel just alright.