Tight Knit by Allie Brennan

all for girls, and their short skirts, but sometimes it’s just ridiculous.
    “Could you maybe, get her to make us one?” 
    I laugh.
    “A hat? I’m not her agent, ladies. Ask her yourself.” 
    I step around them but Blonde grabs my arm. The one with the scars. 
    I yank it from her grip harder than I mean to. 
    Her perfectly manicured eyebrows are straight up and the glittery shadow she’s wearing make her eyes appear huge and wide. 
    “I’m sorry.” The girl still has her hand out. I try to brush it off and force a smile.
    “It’s cool. But seriously, Talia’s cool. Just go talk to her.” 
    I’m backing away. I hope they can’t hear my heart because it’s all I can hear. 
    The girls exchange another look. Confusion.
    “I haven’t seen her talk to anyone but you since the start of school.” 
    I start to laugh but stop myself when I realize she’s serious.
    “No one?”
    “She’s kind of a loner. I don’t think she likes people. Well, Janna I guess, but they’re fighting I think.” She looks to her friends for confirmation, but I don’t give a shit about the last part. 
    ~
    Talia is waiting outside her house when I pull up in Gram’s car. I figured she wouldn’t be interested in another ride on the motorbike. I get out and walk around the car. 
    She smiles, her lips glossy and pink. Other than that she wears no makeup. Her hair’s braided down the side under a grey hat with a thick knitted band. Her bangs are tucked in making her eyes that much bluer against her pale skin. I scan her body. I like how she fills out her jeans and off the shoulder sweater in all the right places. Her belt cinchs the wool sweater at her waist and she holds a long coat in her arms. 
    When my eyes reach hers again, her cheeks are flushed and she won’t look directly at me. She’s nervous and is biting at her shiny bottom lip. Suddenly, I want that lip in my mouth. The feeling startles me, and I have to push down the thoughts that start to pop into my head. 
    We’re friends. Just friends.
    “So we’re going to a get together tonight,” I say casually and open the door for her. Her blue eyes hold mine and I can hear her breathing speed up. 
    “What does that mean?”
    I laugh. She totally doesn’t trust me. Not that I blame her. “It’s small, so no need to hyperventilate.” 
    Talia glares. 
    Shit. I forgot about the anxiety thing. 
    I walk around to the driver side and as I get closer my heart starts to beat faster. I have no idea why I’m taking her with me. I have no idea why I want her to be there with me. 
    But it feels right for her to be with me. I feel like she’ll understand. But I’m still nervous. No, not nervous. Terrified. 
    Why am I dragging her into this? I can’t even do right by Gram.
    ~
     “So you never told me what you meant by get together?” Talia asks as she turns, watching me drive. My heart pounds, I’m making a mistake. Why would I ever think she would be okay with this?
    “You’ll see.” 
    She opens her mouth to say something so I reach over and pat her leg. I snatch my hand back. What a grandma thing to do.
    “You’ll see when we get there. Tell me a story or something. We have a few minutes to kill.”
    I look at her fully this time. She is definitely attractive. Her thick arched eyebrows are scrunched together. I’m guessing she’s deciding whether to push me or not. I grip the steering wheel tighter. I’m flip-flopping between excitement, dread and guilt. I still don’t know why I am bringing her. Hell, I don’t know why I need to do this in the first place.
    “Tell you a story about what?” she asks.
    I relax a little and smile at her. 
    “About you, Hat Girl. About how you became Hat Girl.” 
    “I didn’t realize I had become Hat Girl.” She says it so seriously that I laugh. Loudly. 
    “Oh come on, Talia. Everyone at school calls you Hat Girl. I actually got ambushed today by a trio of hairspray and glitter asking if I could get