***
“Thea,” I groaned, “so help me God if you put that hot pink polish on your nails I will beat you within an inch of your life.”
She giggled and placed the bottle back on the shelf. “What would you suggest then?”
“Black,” Nova spoke up.
Thea wrinkled her nose. “Um, no.”
“Do you really like pink that much?” I asked, suddenly feeling bad for what I’d said.
“Not really.” She admitted.
“What’s your favorite color?” I asked.
“Green,” she answered immediately.
“Then go with green.” I picked up a deep hunter green color. “Try this one.”
She grabbed the bottle from my hand and looked at it. “Okay. I’m going to do it.?
??
Something told me this was a big step for Thea. The color of nail polish probably seemed like such a little thing, but from the little Cade had said I got the impression their mom was controlling when it came to Thea. She wanted her daughter to be a pink glamour princess.
Thea handed her nail polish over to one of the ladies working there. Now that Thea was taken care of it was my turn to pick something. I settled on a dark purple with glitter that appeared nearly black unless the light was shining on it. Nova chose a deep red.
They seated us so the three of us were in a row and could talk.
We were all quiet at first. I think Nova and Thea didn’t quite know what to make of each other.
Nova was the first to break the silence. “If you like green, why were you choosing pink?”
Thea shrugged and the nail lady scolded her for moving. “My mom,” I knew it, “likes me to look a certain way.”
Nova eyed the designer jeans and pale yellow blouse Thea wore. “So I’m guessing this uppity nun garb you’re wearing isn’t quite your style.”
I snorted. Nova was blunt, and I kind of liked that about her.
“No,” Thea laughed. “It’s not.”
Nova nodded and seemed to be pondering something. Finally she said, “I find that pleasing other people in turn makes ourselves miserable.” Pain flashed in her eyes and she hastily looked away. I studied the side of her face wondering what that look meant.
“Yeah,” Thea sighed, “I feel pretty miserable a lot of times.”
My spine straightened. What? I didn’t know that? Thea…she was always so happy. I would never guess that she felt that way. I was shocked to say the least. I guess it showed that I didn’t know as much about her as I thought I did. Just like she didn’t know the truth about me.
Some friends we were.
Nova turned back to Thea. “I think after we’re done here, we should go shopping and get some clothes that you like.”
Thea pondered her words. “I’m not even sure I know what I like.”
Nova smiled sympathetically. “We’ll figure it out.”
Right then, my gut clenched. This was so familiar. I used to do things like this with my best friends, Sarah and Hannah, but they we were gone now and I was…I was here. I was here with Nova and Thea, and I felt like, maybe, the three of us could be best friends—if I found it in my heart to let them in.
When our nails were done we strolled through the mall, going in to practically every store we came across. I was glad I’d worn my Converse, otherwise my feet would’ve been killing me.