“You look amazing,” Zaina said as she backed out of Nicole’s driveway.
Nicole did a double take as she took in Zaina’s hair. She had on an ombre blonde to light pink shoulder-length bob. It was quite a change from her usual platinum blonde pixie cut, but with Zaina's delicate features and petite frame she could pull off almost any hair style or outfit.
“What’s with the new look?”
“You like it? I figured I’d try it out tonight. I got it for the Chamber’s Witches Night Out for Breast Cancer Awareness that’s coming up in a few weeks. You’re coming right?”
Nicole frowned, “Honestly, that rah! rah!” she made air quotes, “you’ll beat it, you’re a warrior, pink stuff — I find it annoying.”
“How come?” Zaina asked. “I thought you of all people would be pro-breast cancer awareness.”
“I’m all too aware,” she laughed ironically. “It’s not that I’m against it in principle. It’s because I know all too well that for many people, men and women, their cancer isn’t early stage and they don’t get a do-over. They have it and then they die.”
Zaina was quiet for a moment before responding, “I hear you. I guess I don’t think about that part of it. I’m too focused on the fun and celebrating survivors.”
The only sound in the car was the quiet hum of the motor. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a downer,” Nicole whispered.
“Don’t apologize. It’s good for me to hear this. I’m on the planning committee for the event. What could we do to make it less frustrating for people like you, especially survivors and their families?”
Nicole had an answer ready because she had been thinking about the dreaded October Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns. “Give some of the money to groups that help people with stage four breast cancer. But it still needs to be a fun event and people who are happy are more likely to give money, right?”
“True,” said Zaina. “Do you think you have time to help me put something together for the committee?”
Nicole felt lighter, a little of the weight she carried these days had lifted. Maybe if she talked about some of the cancer baggage she carried with people she loved, she’d feel better. “I’d love to help!”
On that high note, Zaina put her hybrid in park, and they got out and walked into Hop’s Heaven.
Zaina led the way up to the bar, “Hi!” she said brightly to the bartender behind the bar. They wore their hair in a long red braid and had arm sleeve tattoos.
Nicole recognized that one sleeve was made up of Pokémon characters and the other looked like it was all Marvel heroes. “Nice tattoos,” she said. “I like the Bulbasaur.”
The bartender nodded. “Thanks,” they said. “What can I get you?”
“What’s a Bobasar?”
Nicole rolled her eyes dramatically, “That’s a Bulbasaur. It’s a Pokémon character. It’s the one that looks like some kind of frog or turtle with spots and has like a sack on its back.”
Zaina looked at the bartender’s arm. “Okay, I see that. Since when do you know Pokémon characters?”
“I know too many things that are popular with small children. The kids at school love all things Pokémon, and after fifteen years, I’ve picked up a few things.”
“That makes sense, ” Zaina said and then added. “While you were talking kids' toys, I found out we need to go outside for the trivia night. That’s where it takes place and apparently, there’s a hot chef selling a-mazing food and we have to try the German potato bites.” Zaina gestured over her shoulder. “Or at least that’s what that lady over there told me.”
Nicole’s stomach flip flopped; it was time to put up or shut up as they say. Panicked, she clutched Zaina’s hand. “I don’t think I can do this!” she hissed.
Zaina took Nicole’s other hand and looked her in the eyes. “You look stunning. You said he’s a decent guy, right?”
Nicole nodded.
“Why wouldn’t he want to go out with you again if you approached him? He’d be crazy not to! You are going to walk up to him, and he is going to be stunned into silence by your beauty.Then you are going to ask him out and he is just going to nod his head and say anytime, anywhere. You’ve got this!”
“I’ve got this,” Nicole squared her shoulders.
“It’s going to be fun!”
“It’s not going to be fun.”
Zaina wrapped her arm around her friend, “It will be if you let it.”
