Pink

Joining In

Nadya brushed out her dark brown hair and frowned as flyaways popped away from her edges. She clipped a pink bow into the curls above her ponytail,  and reached for the bracelet that sat on the corner of her dresser, slipping it hesitantly over her slender wrist. She stared quietly at the pink charm lying delicately on her brown skin, then jumped as she heard the front door open and slam closed.

She turned around to see Lexi's porcelain-skinned face broken into a bright smile. Her makeup done perfectly, the blonde looked gorgeous.

"Gotta look good for our little induction, babe," she giggled, twirling in a cute white lace dress and pink cardigan. "It's kinda cute we have to wear pink on Mondays."

"So... Mean Girls-y. Don't you think?"

"Nooo...''

Nadya shrugged as she swept a mascar wand over her lashes. "Well, then, let's bounce."

The girls walked downstairs and out the door. "Bye, NaNa," screamed Sonora, Nadya's three year old sister.

"Bye, baby girl," Nadya called, climbing into the car with Jayce. His blonde hair brushig his eyes, the senior looked at her with a crooked smile.

"Hey, baby girl," he mocked. "How've ya been, love?"

"Good, you?" Nadya replied, giggling. He'd been taking her and Lexi to school since last year and Nadya had a huge crush on him. His accent made her melt, no matter how often she saw him.

Lexi slid into the shiny Lambo her brother drove, so Nadya turned down the giggling. It was an extra energetic, fun ride to school, with nerves making it seem like electric currents had replaced her blood. She couldn't wait until Allie saw her wearing the charm.

Suddenly, as she got out of the car and thanked Jayce,  the mood changed. The thin chain link bracelet had never felt so heavy. Would she get wierd looks? Nadya played with the clasp, considering slipping it into her pocket.

Lexi must've been feeling the same, because she put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "We've got this." Wordlessly, she led Nadya to the doors of Arligton High.

Nadya started to notice things that she'd been oblivious to all this time. One was that she saw at least six upperclassmen wearing the same charm bracelet. Second was that certain people, specifically the ones wearing bracelets, were staring at her and Lexi. Hard.

With a relieved sigh,  Nadya noticed Allie doing her model walk through the hall. She waved, but the girl barely made eye contact.  The tiniest smile appeared on her face as she noticed the charms hanging off each girls wrist. She nodded discreetly,  then walked briskly away.