We met the next morning before school at Tiffani's. Like always we lined up for inspection as Tiffani strutted around making comments to bring down our confidence for the day.

"Mindi you're hair is gonna need its own zip code if you keep putting that bump on the top. For all I know a family of rats has nested and could be eating you're brain out. Which would explain a lot! Either you don't own a mirror or you're an idiot. Don't answer. I want to see it lower tomorrow."

She passed the quiet girls with an eyeroll and her only comment was sticking her finger down her throat and making the sound of retching. The girls flinched but kept their eyes down as Tiffani strolled my way.

"Aria. Where does one start. It's like coming back to Russia after the Hiroshima bomb went off trying to find a place to plant the first seed."

I wanted to correct her but I knew there was nothing good to come from it. And I kept chanting in my mind it's almost over. Girls like Tiffani didn't need to know relevant historical facts or geography. They were born to parents that paved the way for them to sit in box seats and successful. Nothing else mattered.  And it didn't matter to me if she meant Chernobyl, Hiroshima or anything else, she was saying I was a hopeless mess. Point taken.

"You're feet are huge. Seriously I can't imagine how you can walk with those things. Somehow the thinner you get the more you look plump. Is that even possible? Remind me not to put you in pink anymore. You're skin tone looks like you're about to vomit. Maybe you are? Are you preggo? Because that would explain the gut and the skin color."

I took the insults with a smile. It was the nicest she had been in weeks and I couldn't help but feel just a twinge of victory.

We drive to school together and found Ronald waiting next to Tiffani's designated spot. She added a bit of  sway to her nonexistent hips and the rest of us fell into place behind her. I made sure to stay one step behind Mindi. I didn't want her having any thoughts that I wanted to be second in command. For my plan to work she had to see herself as the big dog pack leader and me as easy to replace.

Tiffani stopped when she got to Ronald. Her eyes scanned him up and down before she swung her hair over her shoulder and turned them towards me. They turned from a blue green algae to grey slate and I wondered if I'd ever figure the color pattern out. They obviously changed with her moods and I hadn't seen the grey before. Something about it made me want to run. When they slowly slid back to Ronald I was relieved. Until she spoke

"Ronald. I have a job for you today. You are going to take Aria to her classes. And carry her books for her. She may have a bun in the oven and I don't want her to exert herself. She needs to keep her strength for tomorrow night. I have a surprise planned for her.

Ronald grabbed my books and looked at my face which was scrunched up and probably made me look constipated. The last thing I needed was rumors of pregnancy. Last time I checked you needed to have sex to be pregnant and the closest I'd ever came to that was sucking face with Ronald in the parking lot at Tiffani's request.

Tiffani left us at the door followed by the three minions. I wondered if they were even enrolled in the school or just followed Tiffani around for some sick satisfaction. It seemed almost impossible that they all had the same classes. But it was probably another perk of being the top dog.

Ronald held the door open for me and didn't say a word. "I'm not pregnant." I blurted out.

He grinned shyly and filed me into the halls.

"I know. No offense, you kiss like a kid. And this isn't the first time Tiffani's played the preggo card. It's one of her favorite forms of humiliation. It's best not to piss her off."

My feet stopped walking right in mid step trying to decide which hurt worse. The fact that I can't kiss or the fact that Tiffani recycled punishment- like wasn't I good enough for an original punishment of epic proportion? It pissed me off and made me sad at the same time.

I marched straight for the bathroom and held out my arms. "Give me my bag. I don't need an escort. I'm fine and I'm not playing into whatever game she has going on here."

Ronald made no move to take my bag off his shoulder.

"Sorry. This isn't my game. I just follow the rules. You're stuck with me today either as friend or stalker. You're choice."

Growling I went in and sat in the stall trying to figure out how to make it through today. Maybe I could have a spontaneous case dengue fever. Comas can be lovely. A warm bed, a medication induced mental vacation. But I had to finish this. Chances are Tiffani would sell my comatose body for picture posing, frat parties or worse!

The bell rang and a knock at the stall door jolted me back to reality. Ronald's voice broke the screaming of my thoughts.

"We're going to be late Princess. Let's get moving."

I slammed open the door and turned to face him. I leaned towards him seeing his face go from smug to horror and I kissed him. Hard and deep and just like on Friends the first time Ross and Rachel kissed.

I felt his muscles relax and him start missing me back. He leaned against the stall door and I leaned with him. Soon his arms were around me and mine grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him closer. Not that he could get closer, I mean, he was already practically crawling in my mouth.

When his breathing turned ragged I pulled myself away and smiled.

"I don't kiss like a kid." I said as I strutted out the bathroom door leaving him standing there arms out like a mannequin embracing the air.

If felt dang good. I wanted more. But wanting more got me into a mess of trouble and today was about getting back in Tiffani's good grace.

This was war and pride had to be swallowed.

The clicking of Ronald's shoes followed me down the hallway. I had to move on Tiffani before tomorrow night when she gave me whatever 'surprise' she had planned. Something was telling me it wasn't going to be a new Charm for the bracelet. If Mindi was a double agent it was game over. And the escort didn't make me feel any better.

********************************
Thinking back, I probably did kiss like a kid. I mean, I was a kid. But that bathroom moment was pretty epic. I dream about it sometimes. Only in my dream it ends a lot better. It all does, the whole situation. Maybe I should tell you that version instead. But that wouldn't teach you anything. Not that you'll listen, we all seem to learn the hard way. Time for the movie. Holy shit we did it. We're really going to see a movie! Later folks! The sporks stayed in the prison loaf and the entire block is silent in anticipation. Even Doris is giddy. I know because she changed her shirt. Without being forced! It's a great day!