I GUESS YOU'RE JUST WHAT I NEEDED

“don’t you dare call me a boomer! oh my god, im twenty-three, not forty. my dad instilled a tragically strong work ethic into me, what can I say?” she stifled a laugh. “though i don’t know if you should really model your life after spongebob’s? wait, wait, your life is almost kind of like his though. without the rich parents thing. think about it.” dana’s epiphany was cut short by, well, being found out. “we are here because i am simultaneously the worst and best friend who just wants to see you skate around because you’re so darn good at it dang it! and also maybe the cute guys. but mostly the first thing. do not say anything.”

dana was out for a jog- yes, a jog, she was running- when she happened up on this young man and his little baby. dana wasn’t exactly great with children, but she was good at consoling other people. and maybe she needed to stop talking to strangers, but she wasn’t about to do that now. she slowed her pace and got down to the stroller’s level, pouting at the noisy little guy. “isn’t he cute! poor guy, so sad!” she turned to the father, sensing how distressed he was “you know, when my little sister was born, i wanted to push her stroller off of a cliff every time she cried.” way to go, dana. what a comforting thing to tell someone you just met. “but eventually i learned that she would stop on her own, or if mom and dad came to take her away. im no good about parenting tips or anything but i do know you’ll get through this.”

“i’ll only let you buy me a drink if it’s a capri-sun.” dana laughed as she took the paint from the other, never turning down an opportunity to help. “you did very well with the rest of your beard- it looks awesome! now if only i had a beard. i could paint it with the bi flag and then we could match.” her nose crinkled as she smiled- working on his beard with intense focus. it had to be perfect. “there. i think that looks good.” she held her phone up. “do you want me to take a picture so you can see it?”

as dana drove she was taking some pretty serious detours to get to the ice rink just so tasha wouldn’t notice. at some point she lost her path but regained it just as quickly. taking in everything her friend mentioned, she almost did want to get lost- feeling guilty for trying to trick her. but no- stay on course. “if it isn’t for the money, it could at least be a learning oppurtunity for that very reason. it’s good to know how to run a business. you can be an entreprenuer. like that one episode of spongebob.” dana tried to turn the conversation a different direction, not wanting to continue with the same old argument they always bickered about. she knew there’d be time for that in a few minutes. “i think being happy and carefree is something different for everyone. for me it’s knowing that i tried my hardest and did my best at something.”

“tomayto tamahto.” all dana could do was shrug as she drove. she was too preoccupied with executing her brilliant plan to realize the huge swings in genere changes bumping over her radio. “i mean, wouldn’t you want to be financially independent from her at some point? If you’re not going to skate in your outfits, at least sell them. monetize that side hustle.” to dana, everything was a side hustle. monetize, mobilize, get-money-ize. “i just want to see you succeed, tash. you know i’m coming from a place of sisterly love.”

“i didn’t say anything about competing.” a beat. “i just think that trying to challenge yourself is a healthy outlet for any...” ‘thinking of bullshit, thinking of bullshit’ “...any life stressors.” dana nodded at her own crap, pleased with herself. “we can eave it at that. that’s all i’m gonna say. for now.” she laughed. “oh i could never accept. at least let the organization pay you. you put so much love and care into your costumes. we wouldn’t want to take advantage of your labor.” ‘no, i want you to wear them tasha!’ “good. i can drive. it’s kind of out by the morning catch.”

“all i’m trying to do is help you! you know if you put in a little bit more effort...” she trailed her sentence. tasha was putting in the amount of effort that she was comfortable with and pushing too hard wasn’t about to be something dana did to her. ‘not everybody is driven by the same things as you, dana.’ was a constant thing she needed to remind herself. “i suppose, if it makes you happy marie kondo.” she let a laugh slip. “fine, you’ve worn me down. i can take us to a new spot to go running if you want! i found it on a hike the other day.” dana said. and lied. she did not find a new running spot. the running spot was the ice rink. full stop.

following natasha around joann’s for what felt like an eternity wasn’t exactly how dana had planned to spend their shopping trip, but trailing her as she pulled out every single bolt of fabric with a sequin on it entertained her enough. “you know, paying for all of this overpriced fabric won’t be worth anything unless you actually wear the outfits you make with it.” she rolled her eyes playfully at tash’s complete disregard for time management. “why don’t we take this stuff back and actually get you on the ice.”