Playing with Fire

Chapter 2: Old Friends

After much pleading and a few empty promises, Teal and I finally managed to convince our parents to let us out, provided that we came home before 11 and helped Teal's parents clean up after the reunion. We were now sorting through my closet, trying to find something "appropriate" to wear to Brianna's. It became clear after a few suggestions, all of which had been profusely objected by Teal, that nothing short of what she herself suggested would be considered. So, more than happy to oblige her, I was now lying on my bed, having taken a shower just moments before, in my favourite jeans and a tank top waiting for Teal to find the perfect top. Teal was already in her 'perfect outfit' wearing dark jeans that made her usually long legs looking even longer and a baby blue tank top with a short sleeve navy blue cardigan on top. Her hair was out and was still slightly damp from her shower, making her sand blonde hair look darker, like wet sand after the oceans watery embrace.

"Ah HAH! Oh. My. God. It's perfect! Since when did you have this top, Kiki?!" squealed Teal, making me block my ears. Teal was holding a loose, v-necked t-shirt out in front of her. I myself, had never seen the top before, but I shrugged the thought aside. It really was perfect; the kind of loose top that also framed your figure nicely. More importantly, it wasn't too low cut and was a beautiful khaki green.

"Hm... I think I might actually have to agree with you there, Teal. I really is perfect..."

"I KNOW! Isn't it?!" gushed Teal, "And it's so... YOU! It's totally something you would wear, and it's comfortable and...just perfect!!"

I laughed. It wasn't every day you saw Teal grapple with herself trying to find the right words. She always seemed to have the perfect word to sum up my rambling explanation. Apparently, not this time. I grabbed the top and went to change.

Looking at myself in the full length mirror, I had to admit that I loved it. Together with my jeans, the top managed to make me look a little taller than I actually was. I wasn't remarkably tall or short, but simply average. The outfit managed to stretch my slight 5'1" frame, and make it look 5'2". And in fact, everything about my appearance was average, except perhaps my eyes. They were a rich chocolate brown that sometimes appeared like dark honey depending on how the sun hit it. If one were to study my eyes closely, not that anyone would, one might notice that there were darker brown flecks in my right eye that formed something of a broken and slightly distorted circle around my pupil. The flecks had often reminded me of a scorch mark, though I never understood why.

"KIRI! We have to go or we'll be late!" called Teal.

"Yes! I'm coming!"I called back, quickly running a brush through my already dry hair before dashing out of the bathroom.

"Okay! Let's get this show on the road!" joked Teal when she saw me, linking her arm around mine, as we made our way out onto the cold street.

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2 hours later

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I pulled my side fringe back to its place, as the night wind once again tousled my hair teasingly. I was sitting on the railing with my back against a pillar on the back veranda. To my right was blasting music that had already begun to give me a slight headache, and to my left was the dead of night where the crickets were singing quietly and the owls were hooting sleepily. Teal had temporarily left my side to get us some drinks, and no doubt scout for the two strangers who had somehow managed to fish invitations out of the Bailey sisters.

We had arrived at the party an hour ago to find it in full swing, with everything but the canned drinks and furniture well and truly spiked. Teal, had promptly dragged me to the dance floor in another attempt to get me to dance, even if it only meant I bounced on the balls of my feet. Stubbornly, I had denied to do anything besides imitate an amused statue for the past hour, and had only just been allowed a reprieve.