dreaming of being a teenager in the nineties ..

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chapter song - call me (blondie)

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Wiskayok, New Jersey
1996, April

KIMBERLY HAD A COUNTDOWN FOR TODAY. Eleven was the number of days she was away for her dad and Lindsey's destination wedding in the Bahamas. And, if you ask Kimberly, it took far too damn long for it to all end and return home to New Jersey. She was itching to see Lottie again - her other half. And, if she knew Lottie (and she did) she would be there soon to drive them both to school as she's always done.

Her ass landed on her pink pouf seat in the middle of clipping her hair up, facing her vanity. Unscrewing her lipstick she began to paint her lips. After finishing up, she sprayed herself with her signature scent of 'Chanel º5' perfume and smiled when a loud car horn broke through the silence of her morning routine.

Giddy, Kimberly stood and skipped over to her window. Her bedroom window was attached to the house's balcony which she frequently accessed. She ducked herself out of her already opened window and let her feet touch the wooden floor, leaning over the balcony. There Lottie Matthews was already exiting her white jeep, yelling up at Kimberly. "Hurry your sexy ass up!" She ordered. "I wanna see you!"

Kimberly, her dad, and her new step-mom had only just returned home late last night. So, a quick trip to see Lottie wasn't possible at that hour. She called down to her, smiling. "I'm hurrying!"

"Faster!" Lottie bit back.

She laughs and rushes back inside her bedroom, shutting the window behind her. Taking her boots out of her walk-in closet she sat on the edge of her bed and zipped them on. Maybe only five seconds passed during that time but five seconds seemed far too long for Lottie who began honking her horn again.

Finishing up she's quick to stand and reopen her window. Not bothering to get onto the balcony, this time she leaned out, yelling. "I was putting on my shoes!"

She couldn't see Lottie from beyond the balcony's railing but the soccer player's voice rose. "And I'm getting impatient!"

Playfully rolling her eyes and returning to her room she closed her window, locking it before taking her backpack and pink cheer duffle and starting for her door. Kimberly rushed down the stairs keeping a hand on the banister to balance herself. When she stepped off the final step her dad, who was sipping his coffee and looking out the living room window, turned to her the moment Lottie honked again. "Your friend could be a little less loud." Joshua Davies was already dressed in his suit and tie ready to go to his office at the bank. "This is a quiet neighborhood."

Kimberly smiled, readjusting the duffle strap in her hand. "Have you ever known Lottie Matthews to be quiet?"

Her dad's eyes trailed down and he noticed what she was holding. "Starting back this afternoon?"

"Yep." She lifted the strap to rest over her right shoulder. "I'll be home at the normal time."

These were the small moments in her life now where she was granted time alone with her father. Those mere minutes he acted like it was just the two of them again before Lindsey wormed her way between their perfect duo. With Lindsey involved he hadn't been the same to her since then. Kimberly never took those small moments of solitude between them for granted.

"It's your first day back."

"Alexis runs a tight ship." She shrugged and tried to keep her face blank in front of her father - but imaginary butterflies still swarmed in her stomach at the mere thought of Alexis Powell. "I'll be home for dinner." She promised before kissing his cheek. "Love you."

"Love you. Kimmy." He smiled back and then searched for his briefcase before heading for the garage door.

Kimberly took her house keys from the entry bowl and stuffed them into her backpack's smallest zipper before opening the front door and exiting. She closed it behind her and then started walking down the side pathways towards the driveway.

Lottie waited near her jeep, impatiently jumping on the heels of her feet gesturing for her to hurry. "Come here!" She squeals with a grin that looked like it hurts.

Lottie Matthews was still the same as ever since they met freshman year. That preppy meets grung look only she could pull off was visible with her graphic, oversized tee that nearly made her lilac shorts vanish. Along with her black boots with matching lilac laces, and her curls in a side braid, she was a sight for sore eyes.

When she was close enough, Kimberly dropped her bags and flung herself into Lottie's waiting arms. The unyielding hug sends her feet off the ground thanks to their seven-inch height difference. With Lottie standing at five feet, ten inches and Kimberly a mere five feet, three inches, even her heeled boots didn't do much for extra height.

With her feet back on the ground, Lottie cradled her face between her hands, swishing her cheeks to the point that Kimberly's mouth puckered. "I missed this face so much!" She said to Kimberly's lips before letting her face free only to be pulled in for another hug.

Kimberly laughed as her arms returned wrapped around Lottie's waist, hugging her tightly. "You're so dramatic."

They only broke apart upon hearing the garage door lift open and watched her dad's station wagon back down the driveway. "Have a great day girls." Joshua Davies told them with a wave.

Lottie sweetly smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Davies."

"Bye Dad." Kimberly waved back watching as he rolled his window back up and left for the road.

They both watched his car disappear around the corner. "Is he still acting different?" Lottie asked Kim.

"Right now it's only with Lindsey around."

"Kimberly!"

An annoyed groan sounded out of Kimberly's lips as she muttered. "Speaking of the devil." Then turns to her new step-mom.

Post engagement and pre-moving in, Lindsey and Joshua had agreed for her to quit her job at the bank and become a housewife. Which should entail cleaning the house and taking care of the family. However, Lindsey's image of a suburban housewife was lounging about, inviting friends over, going shopping with Joshua's money, and doing pilates.

Kimberly felt personally responsible for having all the chores done amongst her already busy schedule. She didn't want her dad to have to or see the house he and her mom bought turn to ruin. She does it behind his back though not wanting a fight, letting him believe it was all Lindsey.

That said woman was standing in the open doorway of the house in only a short, silk dress robe. Not caring if her exposed skin or peaked nipples from the cold was indecent to the young children walking past for the bus stop. "I need the bathrooms cleaned, scrubbed down to perfection before our party tomorrow night."

The party she was referring to was the one they were throwing that Friday night for all those who couldn't attend their destination wedding - which was most of her dad's business friends and Lindsey's, including Lottie's parents.

When Kimberly started to answer Lottie took her bags off the driveway and tossed them in her backseat next to her own. "I'm starting back practice every afternoon till six-ish." She reminded her, knowing Lindsey took no interest in her personal life or schedule.

She crossed her arms and turned her nose up. "Then you'll be up late making sure it gets done." Only then did Lindsey seem to notice Lottie's presence as she moved to open the passenger door for Kimberly. "Your parents hadn't RSVP'd yet, Charlotte. Should I still count them?"

Lottie winced upon hearing her full name which made Kimberly giggle, earning her a pinch on the hip from Lottie as she lifted herself into the passenger seat. "Oh, yes. The three of us will be there." She shut Kimberly's door and hurried around her jeep to the driver's side.

"Good." Lindsey nodded before returning to the house, closing the door.

By that time Lottie was already in her seat, starting the engine and backing out. "Like I'd leave you alone during that." She lets another car pass before turning onto the street. "God, she really is a witch. Sucks that she's hot."

As they neared the exit of her neighborhood Kimberly gave her best friend a scared look. "You really think that? Please say you're joking."

Lottie laughed showing off her perfectly white teeth Kimberly was always jealous of. "Yes, of course! Plus, she's not my type."

"Oooooh, you have a type?"

Lottie's smile fell. "Forget I said anything."

"No! No, no, please tell me!"

"I lied, I don't really have one."

"Mmh sure."

It wasn't long after they'd grown rather close and during their second slumber party when they confided in each other about both being attracted to the opposite sex. Equally having insane crushes over Cindy Crawford and Winona Ryder - especially in 'Heathers.''

Lottie's right hand left the steering wheel to lift Kimberly's cheer megaphone necklace- which hung just under her classic 'k' one she'd had since the summer before freshman year. "What's this?" Her thumb ran over it before dropping it and returning her hand to the wheel to make a turn. "It's new."

Kimberly lifted it and looked down at it, smiling. "You like it? Alexis got it for a late birthday present."

It was hard to read Lottie's face as she turned down the song currently playing in her cassette player which happened to be 'Call Me' by Blondie. "Looks expensive."

Kimberly frowned, dropping the necklace. "I guess?"

"When did she give it to you?"

"Right before we left?" Kimberly could tell this was bothering Lottie. For some reason unbeknownst to her Lottie always seemed to hate Alexis. She said it stemmed from middle school, the one they both attended without her, but Kimberly couldn't tell if that was the entire truth. It sucked more than words could explain having her best friend hating her crush. "Do you really not like it?"

Lottie seemed to recognize the pout of Kimberly's lip and the crease between her eyebrows. She smiled, using a finger to 'boop' her nose. "I like anything you wear."

Kimberly swatted her hand away, smiling brightly. "Kiss ass."

✧

Lottie pulled her jeep into the school parking lot and parked it in a senior spot. They both hopped out at the same time, closing the doors. "Please tell me Ms. Blanchard got nice in the two weeks I've been gone."

Lottie chuckled, taking hers and Kimberly's bags out, handing the latter over to her. "I would, but that would be lying-" After locking her jeep she flung an arm around Kimberly's shoulders, steering her away. "And we don't lie to each other." She kissed the top of Kimberly's head when she pouted.

She and Lottie always had a sorta 'touchy-feely' friendship. The stray kiss on the head or cheek or a squeeze on a hip was completely platonic. Even their other friends knew of their close relationship and no one ever batted an eye.

They entered the courtyard area of Wiskayok High where students hung out before the bell rang. With blue picnic tables and trees that covered them in shade each friend group was in their own cluster. It's where Lottie's friends, the Wiskayok High girls soccer team, hung out that she brought Kimberly to.

She wasn't nearly as close to them all as she was to Lottie- maybe Mari more than all the others. Whom was the one to greet her with her hug, pulling her out from under Lottie's arm. After voicing how much Mari missed her she lifted one of Kimberly's pink sleeves, noticing her darker skin. "Did you get a tan out there?"

"Trying to impress someone?" Van teased as she chewed a piece of gum.

She rolled her eyes with a smile, letting her know she wasn't upset in the slightest with her accusations. "No, Van. I was just out in the sun for like ten hours a day." She took her arm back from Mari, pulling her sleeve back down.

"She's only jealous cause she burns like that." Tai, short for Taissa, snapped her fingers with a smirk.

Van held up her hands. "Okay, you all try being pale with red hair and see how you'd like it."

"How's the step-mom?" Jackie asked.

The last thing she wanted to talk about when she wasn't home was Lindsey, but Jackie didn't know what Lottie knew. She was just trying to be nice so Kimberly faked a smile. "She's fine." She tightened the hold of her backpack strap. "Yeah, all good."

"God," Mari threw her head back, groaning. "To have a stepmom that hot."

Kimberly had questioned Mari's sexuality ever since she caught her staring at the way one of her cheer squad members stretched. And it wasn't a casual look. But it wasn't like she could easily ask her so she let that question stay unanswered.

"She's really not, guys." Lottie came to the rescue- per usual. "Maybe a five?"

Mari made a face, shaking her head. "You clearly have never met my step-mom."

"Kimmy!" Kimberly looked over her shoulder at the mention of her name. The caller was Alexis who was waving her over on the other side of the courtyard, along with Charlene and Sarah, the two she was closest to on their squad.

Nat gasps with a hand over her heart, mocking Alexis' voice. "Oh no, Kimmy! Queen Bee is calling."

Alexis' reputation was the same at high school as Lottie said it was in middle and everyone knows it. She squeezes Lottie's hand with a smile. "I'll see you in class?" And then let go, backing away with a wave. "Bye, guys."

Kimberly jogged over to the girls, dropping her bags off on the nearby picnic table. "Hi!" Alexis hugs her and Kimberly takes a deep inhale of her coconut shampoo. "How was the trip?"

"More work than fun." She said letting go and turning to hug Charlene and Sarah as well.

Sarah readjusted herself from where she sat on the top of the picnic table, next to everyone's bags. "Did you do the one-person stretches Coach told you about in that packet?"

"Yeah," She demonstrated, twisting her torso, wincing at the creaking she felt. "But I still feel tight."

"Oh?" Alexis turned Kimberly so her back faced hers and started to press her fingers up her spine. "Yeah, I feel the knots. Is it just your back?"

Kimberly knew she was simply just acting as a Cheer Captain would for her Co-Captain. There were no alternative motives - she was just beyond grateful she chose an outfit that hid the goosebumps that now covered her body. "And my legs and torso." She informed her, turning back around when she felt her hands leave.

"That shouldn't be hard to fix. I'll help you stretch this afternoon."

Kimberly let out a small. "Okay, thanks." Trying to stop from becoming flustered. She was only just helping her stretch. So why the hell did her mind go straight into something dirty? She followed them as they walked to their private locker rooms to put away their cheer duffles before class- Kimberly hoping the day would go by fast, eager for this afternoon's practice now.

⁺˚*･༓☾ ✧ ✧ ✧ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

- 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 -

Yes, this came very slow and if you don't know me I make slow updates.

It's because I never force myself to write. Only when I feel like it. I'm not one that can do that because everything would just come out sounding wrong and not me.

But just know, no matter how long the updates come, I'm never abandoning this fic <3

I love y'all and stay safe

- 𝓚𝓪𝔂𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓰𝓱 ৻ꪆ

Ps - I hope there's no mistakes. If so I'll fix them later .. my eyes are hurting xD

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

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- Kayleigh