Kate and her besties, Katy and Alisha, sat on the plush carpet of her bedroom with poker cards in their hands and fits of giggles that wouldn’t stay down.
“We’re so baaaad!” Alisha bumped shoulders with Kate and unleashed another torrent of giggles.
“I know! Right? We’re the worst!” Katy smirked as she threw down a card. “hit me.”
“Hit me? Isn’t that what you say in, like, Pinochle? That’s not as daring as Poker.” Alisha capitalized her words with her emphasis, as if it mattered. It started an argument between her and Katy.
Just as Kate settled the argument with an, “I don’t care!” the door to her bedroom opened.
She probably looked as much like a deer caught in the headlights as her besties. All of them leaned away from the door with wide eyes and their cards held close to their chests. To Kate’s horror, her entire band just walked right in.
“What are you doing here??” The words blurted out before she could think better of them.
“We can’t come visit?” It was Justin, her purported boyfriend, who said what they all looked like they wanted to say. That only made it worse.
“No, I. Of course you can come over.” She hastily gathered up the cards.
Alisha and Katy both oh-so-helpfully snatched up the pennies in the pot. They scrambled to their feet, not at all like any of them felt guilty about anything.
“Huh. Playing poker? Deal us in.” Bruce made like he was going to sit between her and Katy but stopped when he realized they were getting up. “Aw come on. Party pooper.”
“Look. Guys. Now isn’t really the best time…”
“Oh wow! It’s really them.” Katy grabbed Bruce’s hand. “You’re such a big star now.”
“I helped!” Alisha grinned from one to another as if she hadn’t had a ton of cutting remarks to make about any and all of them just last spring. “I views your music video over and over again.”
“…Not the best time to come over.” Kate sighed. She suspected there wasn’t a single person in the room listening to her.
“Sorry about that.”
She was wrong, Justin had been listening. Listening and watching very carefully. And Emma was watching Justin. It made Kate feel like a rat because she knew all along that Kate liked Justin. Or at least she suspected. But Kate just had to have him and now she didn’t even want him anymore. Not him and not the band. But here were her besties gushing over them like they really were rock stars or something. She could hardly stand it.
“Emma.” Alisha looked down her nose at her former friend. “I notice YOU weren’t in the video.”
Emma looked stunned, but the rest of the band started laughing. Pretty quick, so was Emma. All of them gave Alisha looks of pity.
“Look, Kate. We’re sorry about coming over like this.” Justin put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We just didn’t have anywhere else to go. But we’ll go now. We’ll find a place to belong. You know you’re welcome if you want to come with us.”
“Or not.” Bruce pried Katy’s hands off his bicep. “Let’s go.”
And just like they came, all at once they left.
If you enjoy Suzie’s House and would like to see more, please leave a comment. Suzie’s House is powered by its readers.
Are you also posting a serial? Leave a link in the comments. I will come visit the first chance I get.
3 Responses to Suzie’s House 549 : Kate’s Place