I hadn't spoken to Erin in two weeks.
My short time on cloud nine concluded with a hard fall on earth. After that, life reverted to its typical, pointless routine. Going to and from school, studying through the night, dealing with the insanity that plagued my household and then going to straight to bed. Every morning I woke up, I repeated it all over again.
Lucky me.
"Who's the cutest little snowflake that ever walked the earth?" Tasha said in a cutesy-voice from behind my locker as I was putting my books away.
"Not sure. If you ever find one though, let me know."
"Bonnie," Her voice went cold as I shut my locker. "How long are you going to keep moping?"
"How many days left to graduate?"
Tasha sulked, crossing her arms before I started down the hallway.
"Babe," She followed fast, locking arms with me. "You can't let some rando girl get to you like this."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, please. We both know something bad happened between you and random biker chick."
"You know her name, Tasha."
She whispered, "yeah, but I'm being discreet."
"I don't want to talk about her, okay?" I said a bit snappish, but the pout on Tasha's face struck me with instant guilt. "Look, you were right. I read into things too much. I was stupid to assume someone like her would ever be interested in someone like me."
"Woah, woah, hang on a minute!" Tasha halted, yanking me back. "I don't know how you came to that conclusion, but no one ever said you were stupid Bon. If anything, Erin's stupid."
"I don't want a pep-talk right now, Tash." I tried to move forward, but recoiled under Tasha's hold.
"Too bad, 'cause you're getting one." She gently smushed my face with both hands on my cheeks. "Sure, she might be some jaw-dropping, perfectly sculpted, goddess with a voice that could probably make every angel cry, but—"
"Is this your way of helping?"
"But, you know what you are?" She leaned in and planted eskimo kisses on my nose. "You are the cutest, smartest, funniest little sugar cube in the entire universe, and if Erin's too blind to see it, then that's her loss."
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay, okay." I pulled away.
"So no more sulking?"
I nodded, "no more sulking."
Tasha clapped like a little girl, then relocked arms with me as we strolled out of the building.
"You just need to keep yourself busy for now," Tasha suggested as we headed to the front gates. "I've got the perfect distraction too!"
"Oh?"
"I've got a special date this weekend and I need some input on what to wear. Let's head to the mall and browse a few stores. I'll buy you something too."
"I don't really need anything. Plus, you have plenty of clothes at home."
"That's not good enough," she whined. Shaking my hand while begging, "please, bon-bon! And I'll love you forever!"
"Are you saying you're going to deny me love if I refuse?"
"Of course not."
"Then—"
She threw her arms around me and whined in my shoulder, "Please, bonnie! Please!"
"Okay, okay." I patted her away, laughing at her cheers after she stepped back.
"Perfect! Because I need to find something defining. Something that'll scream, I'm an independent woman and you can't tame me!"
"But, you're a dependent teenager?"
"Not the point. I need something that'll impress him enough so that he'll…" Tasha's attention wandered off to a small, cheering crowd by the front gate. "What do you thinks going on over there? You think it's a fight? Oh my gosh, I love drama!" Tasha's eyes sparkled as she excitedly tried to skip over to the scene. But I grabbed her bag and pulled her in the opposite direction.
"Better to avoid it," I insisted.
Tasha tsked, "you're no fun."
"And you don't need to be getting involved in—"
"Erin! I love you!"
My head whipped back on instinct. I didn't mean to, but my feet halted at the chant of her name.
"You're right, let's go." Tasha insisted after realizing the situation and tugged on my sleeve to jet off in the other direction. But it was too late.
In the plethora of fans, we somehow managed to find each other's gaze.
"Bonnie!" Erin cried out while signing napkins for her groupies. But just like before, her voice couldn't entrance me anymore. After regaining my sanity, I followed Tasha to escape.
"Bonnie, wait!" She cried out again.
"C'mon!" Tasha took my arm, and together, we bolted.
Erin followed closely behind.