The Squad

image: Meta Ai

Tracy could not account for her unusual withdrawal after the picnic with the squad. As she sat before her dresser, absentmindedly performing her skincare routine for the night, her mind was a jumble of conflicting thoughts.

Danielle sat on Tracy's king-sized bed a few meters behind, studying her keenly. And as though finally finding the right words, she dumped the novel in her hands and spoke up.

“You're okay?”

Tracy could not utter a word. She was equally alarmed at her sour mood and the fact that she couldn't help it. Her gaze shifted to Danielle.

“Sometimes I feel so odd for being the loudest among us. Can't I be a little calm and collected, maybe like Louisa?”

Danielle breathed, patiently watching Tracy speak. Tracy spoke further, her eyes still on the mirror before her.

“And with Louisa's long stare at me today, I could swear she thought I was too loquacious.”

Danielle alighted from the bed and walked to Tracy. She wrapped her hand around Tracy's neck and whispered, her eyes meeting Tracy's in the mirror.

“On the contrary, Louisa needs that version of you that you're detesting right now. She's been through a lately, and your lively presence lightens her whenever we're out. Forget how she stares at you; she sometimes wants to act all crazy, but her reserved nature is always a barrier.”

Tracy turned to her friend, giving her a knowing look. She hesitated; everything was beginning to make sense.

**

Deep down, Tracy wanted to throw her cheerful personality away and act calm, at least for the first time. She inhaled, hoping it worked. Her friends were on their way and the garden was set for a time out with the squad.

One last glance at her reflection in the long rectangular mirror, she smiled at the way her peach-coloured V-neck top matched her skin. Her jeans, light blue, gave her outfit a top-notch look.

Soon, Tracy, Louisa, Danielle, and Sammie were in the garden in Tracy's parent's spacious house, looking all radiant. Tracy began by maintaining composure, stealing the attention of her friends who suddenly noticed how dull the atmosphere was. But as the game session, a truth-and-dare intensified, Tracy forgot how to be calm. She caught herself laughing hard at what she made her friends do.

Something felt different today — and one by one, they began to notice — Louisa's unusual cheerfulness. If she had won a ticket to Dubai, they couldn't wait to share in her joy.

The trio exchanged obvious looks that got Louisa laughing. She knew what was up, they were suddenly wondering why she'd been too quiet all along.

As they paused to catch their breaths, Tracy withdrew again. Three pairs of curious eyes turned in her direction. That got her surprised.

“Tracy, what's up with you switching mood every five seconds?” Sammie spoke first.

“I just feel I'm too sanguine. Kind of makes me awkward at times, okay?” Tracy rushed the words.

They all gathered around her, each person speaking after another. “You shouldn't be. It isn't your fault that you give life anywhere you go. ”

“Don't try to change your personality; we love you this way.”

They afterwards returned to the mat, awaiting Tracy's next announcement.

Louisa's soft voice interrupted.

“I've always been worried about finding the right place for my intern. But now, it seems my new fear is if I can make the most of it. My supervisor stresses the daylight out of me. I feel she was sent by hell to wreck my career.”

She smiled weakly, a tear falling off her eye. Her friends understood her. Louisa, a final-year anatomist, knew what it meant to have one's internship at the worst firm. She wished she could share some experiences now, but she knew she'd have to reserve some good lectures for later.

She gazed at her dear friend and a new wave of emotion gushed through her. Squeezing Louisa's fingers slowly, she whispered. “You'll be fine.”

And immediately, her mood switched, as she jumped up, startling the girls who had to hold their dear chests from jumping out.

“Let's go skipping!”

Taken aback, they all sent her a long, weird stare. She laughed at their zombic stares.

“I know we're grown and stuff, but hey, it doesn't bite.”

Each girl grabbed her skipping rope and the game began. They were to keep counting until one person got tired and lost the game. That sounded like fun to Louisa.

Three... four minutes, the ladies began to wear out. Since it was a game, no one was willing to wear the loser tag. Louisa was already practising how to feign a faint when the buzzing sound of her phone came to her rescue. She crashed to the ground, laughing and tearing up at the same time.

The girls paused, too; obviously, the game was not as easy as they pictured.

Louisa squealed at the ID as she picked up the call. Breathlessly, she spoke.

“Hi... Mom.”

“Sweetheart, how are you?”

She gathered enough breath, laughing at her dramatic display.

“I'm fine. I'm out with my friends.”

“Okay...” her mother's tone changed, a mixture of joy and curiosity.

“Are you okay?”

“Mom, we were in a game session before your call came in. I'm only trying to catch my breath.”

Her mother couldn't hold her laughter.

“Someone is finally coming out of her shell.”

She heard her father say in the background. But then, her mother was quick to shush him, mumbling something else she didn't grab. She chuckled.

“So, we're on our way from the Airport. Hope to see you soon.” Her mother added and hung up.

Louisa immediately broke into a dance, singing in an obnoxious off-key note that got her friends cracking up. Now they didn't know who should bear the title of the life of the party. Sammie and Danielle nodded, giving each other a knowing look.

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