Saturday finally arrives. My stomach’s full of butterflies. I haven’t heard from Oliver since our big fight. It hurts to breathe.
Mid-morning, JuneBug comes over, clapping her hands. “Alright! defunkify and beautify! Hair and nails coming up!”
When she’s finished, I’m in awe. “JuneBug. You’re like a hair magician. I can’t believe it. This looks amazing!”
JuneBug drops the brush. “Thank you, thank you very much.”
I give her a nudge. “Who knew you were such a girlie girl?”
“Shut it, Katie. I’m a tough motha, and don’t you evah forget it.”
I laugh out loud. “Don’t worry. I could never.”
I sit here and stare in the mirror. I look down at my nails, and then back at my hair and make-up. I can hear my sincere FCA Senior leader, Lake, talking right now, “God don’t care what color nails you got, what clothes you wear, or what car you drive, He only cares if you’re right with Him.”
She was right on the money; but I’m enjoying all the girlie stuff just the same. And maybe the actions are trivial, but these moments of friendship are great memories.
Israel’s art pops in my head. “Hey. I’ve got something to show you.”
“Let’s go.”
“It’s at the shoppe.” We go in all our girlie girl glory down to the cupcake shoppe. JuneBug and I run upstairs to the upper room. JuneBug’s eyes bout pop out her head when she sees my portraits. “Shiiittt, girl. When were you gonna tell me about all this?”
“Um, I don’t know. I couldn’t find a way to say it without like sounding full of myself. I mean, it’s me, but it isn’t me, you know? And it’s Israel’s handiwork. I’m just like his Muse or whatever, in a totally nonsexual way. I’m not even sure how I feel about it still.”
JuneBug laughs. “Well, you got more self-restraint than I do. Damn. If a man lookin’ fine as Israel painted a portrait of me that looked like this, I’d be all over his junk in a hot minute.” I laugh. I can’t help it.
“JuneBug, you’re all kinds of crazy.” We walk around the room, discussing where we want to put everything and how the best set up will work. We’re getting ready to go, and JuneBug stops.
“Katie. Check this one out.” She stares hard at the one facing the window. I go over. It’s like a self-portrait of Israel, but it screams darkness and rage. There’s a murderous glint to his eyes.
“Wow. Creepy.” I shiver as I stare at it. “I’ve never seen that side of him, and I don’t want to. That must’ve been after his soul-sucking woman left him.”
JuneBug and I stand here a minute longer and she shivers. “Yep. He looks like a guy off a vampire book cover—blood-thirsty, hot killer kind of creepy.”
I smack her arm. “Don’t ruin my sweet Israel for me.”
She laughs. “Katie, you really are a dreamer! Come on, It’s go Time. Let’s go score some Hotties!”