little darling

I knew that! Pfft. I totally knew that. Don’t be so dramatic about it. If you’re careful and you know what you’re doing, the chances of that happening are less likely. At least, that’s what I think. Oh, I guess that makes sense. I thought you could automatically get it the day you turn 16. I have to wait three extra months, now? You’ll love it! Jack and Coke’s the best mixture, so you should try that first. [She hides the small smile on her face] I think that’s the first time I’ve heard that. I wish I was a fashion designer or something. I’d be able to make them, but I have to go find someone that could. Maybe there’s someone at the mall that can do this for us?

Mhm. Sure you did. [She giggles] I guess I'm just nervous because I really don't know what I'm doing, but a good thing about me is that I'm careful, so maybe it won't be so bad. Nope! Did you ever take driver's education? Jack and Coke? That sounds like a cool Youtube duo. Well, I'm glad to be the first to say it, then, because I mean it! Yeah, yeah, I was thinking the mall. They always have little shops where you can get personalized stuff at. If not there, maybe we can order them online somewhere.

Does it matter?

I'm just curious, I guess. 

Disappointed again. I thought that was clear.

Why, though?

You can’t be afraid to learn, though. That’s what makes the world go round, doesn’t it? Learning and growing? You should definitely do it! Call her and see what she says. I don’t think so, no. You have to be 15 and a half to get your permit, though. Damn! Why can’t we be like the Europeans? Can we convince our president to lower the drinking age? [She raises a brow, surprised] You do? You’re being serious? We’re the badass queens that nobody can stop, obviously. I’ll get us matching leather jackets. That’ll be great!

I meant that specifically with driving! I don't mind learning anything else, but learning how to drive behind the wheel is scary, because that's when you can mess up and potentially kill people. I'll call her tomorrow! No, I definitely learned about this in driver's education. After getting your permit, you have to wait nine months to get your license, which is, if you do the math correctly, sixteen and three months. Slow your roll! I don't even know what alcohol tastes like. First just let me see if I like it. [She nods eagerly] I really do. I would have no problems if I looked like you. Yes. Matching leather jackets. They can have Badass #1 and Badass #2 stitched onto the back of them. 

You’d know what you’re doing, though. You take classes or whatever to learn how to drive. Yeah, of course, I do! I don’t plan on lagging any of it. I want my license the minute I turn 16, and I’m determined to get it. Technically speaking, I’d be legal to drink in Europe. [She wiggles her brows, grinning] That counts for something, right? Yeah, of course, I think so! It’s such a pretty eye color. It’s just brown, though. I wish I had colored eyes! Colored eyes are so pretty. Don’t worry, Sara. We’ll be badasses together. No doubt about it.

The learning part is what I'm afraid of most. I think I'm gonna get my permit sometime soon, though. I have to call my mom and ask, and I have to study! Don't you have to be sixteen and three months to get your license? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but we don't live in Europe, silly. [She giggles and shakes her head in response] But brown is so suiting on you. I love everything about you, so stop. Yes! We are the badass queens. And this is really making me want a leather jacket. 

You wouldn’t be putting people’s lives in danger unless you drove like an idiot, you know? You’re smart, right? I doubt you’d do anything stupid behind the wheel. I’ll get my license when I’m sixteen! Once I’m 18, I’ll just continue doing everything I’ve been doing, but it’ll be legal then. [She sighs exasperatedly] Sara Morris, your eyes are so pretty! My eyes are a boring shade of brown, but yours are a really cool blueish green color. It’s so cool! Yeah, we’re total badasses. Whatever you wanna do, I’m down. 

I guess I am smart, but it's a little nerve-racking, being in control of something and not really knowing what the heck I'm doing. Do you have your permit already? I need some motivation to go get mine. Well, actually, Diana, drinking isn't legal until we're twenty one. [She offers a small smile] You think so? And you shut your mouth! You have beautiful everything, so don't even think about putting yourself down. Yeah, we're… badasses. [She snickers] I want to do everything, Diana. I want to be a badass.

Leave school for a couple of days and nothing’s changed. Rose Valley, you’ve done it again. 

Done what again?

Yeah, yeah of course, babe. We’ll take shots together soon. I promise. Neither do I, but I want to get it soon! I can’t wait until I turn 16, honestly. You’d be surprised at how smart you were at that age. Most kids are. [She gives her a pointed look] You’re blind, Sara. You’re obviously blind. I think I should buy you a mirror or something because you really need to see yourself better. That’s my point! Cheerios are stale and tasteless. You’re not stale and tasteless. You’re a freaking daredevil! Look at you. You had a pot brownie and we’re going to get drunk together soon. If that’s not cool, I don’t know what is.

Okay. Okay, good, because I still want to do that. I think I'm scared to get my permit or license because then I'd be putting people's lives in danger, and I don't want to put people's lives in danger.  What's so great about sixteen? I can't wait until I turn eighteen and I'm officially an adult. [She crosses her arms and sighs] It's only the truth. I mean, my eyes look kind of pretty when I wear makeup but that's only when I wear makeup. Well, I guess that is cool. We're pretty reckless girls, huh? We should start a biker gang and wear black leather from head to toe and smoke cigarettes. 

Yeah, he’s pretty great.

Thanks.

Um, I'm assuming you two are siblings? 

I didn’t mean it now either, Sara. [She slaps a hand to her forehead, laughing] You won’t die! I promise you won’t. Unless you get behind the wheel while high or drunk, you won’t die. Sip of Satisfaction, huh? I think I might use that. Good one, kid. [She sighs, her voice growing softer] Sara, I’m being honest here. You’re a nice girl. If you don’t like being noticed, how do you expect to make friends? Baby, please. With a body like yours and a face to match, you’re definitely not some stale, lame cheerio. Believe me, yeah?

But we can drink together another time, right? And be cool party girls? I don't even have my permit so there's no chance I'll get behind the wheel of any car, because yeah, then I'd die. My twelve-year-old mind was actually intelligent? That's so super cool. [She purses her lips, trying not to roll her eyes as she listens to Diana's pep talk] With a body like mine? I barely fit a B cup and I've got no curves whatsoever. And I didn't even say stale! Now you're just making me feel worse. Like, not only am I a tasteless cheerio but now I'm a stale cheerio, too. Great.

Um…I—right. Wait, I can. I can do this.

No, quit it! I am so done with you. This conversation is over and the next one we have, you better not look so-- be so, you know, you. 

I’ll remember that then. Of course, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t be. [He waves his hand, dismissively] I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll stop.

Yeah, that's right. You better be sorry. And why are you still laughing? You can't do that! You can't apologize and then keep smiling that charming smile. 

Are you sure you wanna go through with that? You just tried weed and you’re freaking out. [She fumbles around in her purse, finding a small, half-drinken water bottle] I have this, but I doubt it’ll be enough. It’s the best I have to offer. Dull and tasteless? You? Not at all! You’re cute, sweet, and totally hilarious when high. You should try to put yourself out there more, y’know? Get noticed?

No! No, I didn't-- Not now. I don't want to do that now. I would actually be dead, then. Another time, okay? I promise. [At the sight of the water bottle, she snatches it and unscrews the lid, chugging down every last drop of it] Thank you. That was… SOS. SOS means Sip of Satisfaction. [She giggles at her own joke] I made that up when I was, like, twelve. Now you're just saying nice things to make me feel better about myself. It's not working! I don't like being noticed, because like I said, I'm just a stupid cheerio. 

It’s a good thing you didn’t drink any alcohol. That would’ve been something else. You probably wouldn’t be reacting this badly, though. You think about dying young? Why? Yeah, of course, it’s a thing! They’re called edibles. They’re not so bad, actually. [She shakes her head, waving off her comment] Forget it. Just don’t get attached to anyone and you’ll be fine. Protect that heart of yours.

Well, because, I was going to wait to drink alcohol with you. I… I don't know. I'm just dizzy and I can't see straight and those chips really made me want more water. Screw you, salty foods. Sorry, what were you saying? [She lets out a huff, irritated with herself] No boys talk to me, anyways, so there's nothing to worry about. I'm literally a cheerio in the midst of a bunch of fruit loops: dull and tasteless.