Chapter 3
Marlene felt stupid stressing over meeting this girl. Truly idiotic. Obviously she didn’t have a crush, she didn’t even know the girl! Dorcas. Dorcas Meadowes. Dorcas Meadowes who was Pandora’s very dear friend. Dorcas Meadowes who Marlene would be meeting this afternoon for lunch.
Marlene cursed as she looked at the clock and realized her spiraling made her lose track of time. She had ten minutes to get out the door and she was still standing in front of the mirror in underwear and a bra.
“Know what?” Marlene rushed to her closet, grabbing one of her many X Ray Spex shirts and a pair of fishnet tights (which she had cut to shreds to make a top). She quickly threw on the fishnets and shirt, before realizing she preferred a black bra much more. Undressing, changing, dressing once more. Marlene grabbed black shorts and threw them on with her black Docs, grabbing her keys off her nightstand, and running out the door.
“You’re late.”
“By five minutes! She isn’t even here yet!”
Pandora huffed, crossing her arms.
“Still! That’s no way to make a good impression!”
Marlene smirked. “Who said I want to make a good impression?”
Pandora raised her eyebrows, giving Marlene a look that said she saw right through her.
“Says the eyeliner, black lip, and sword earrings.”
“That’s just part of my mysterious, misunderstood, bad girl persona!” Marlene waved her hand out, her fingers rushing through…hair? She flushed, turning to see whose hair her rings were tangled in.
“Hey,” Dorcas Meadowes said with a scowl. Her arms were crossed and she was looking at Marlene’s hand that was caught in her braids.
“Shit!” Marlene shouted, reaching out with her other hand to untangle her rings. “Tha-That was…” Dorcas raised her eyebrows. Marlene grinned nervously, scratching her neck.
“That was my bad.”
“Yeah.” Dorcas smirked. “So you’re this famous Marlene Mckinnon?”
“And uh- you’re the pretty girl in my crowd every night.”
Dorcas’ smirk dropped into something much more nervous.
“Yes…well I have to see my favorite designer don’t I?” As she spoke, she turned to face Pandora. Pandora who had that stupid grin on her face.
“Dora!”
“Cas.”
Dorcas walked forward and offered a hug, which Pandora took.
“You’re late,” She whispered over Dorcas’ shoulder.
“I had to pick out my outfit.” She stepped back, spinning around to show off her outfit. A flowing green top and black, short, pencil skirt. Black sheer tights and heels that matched the green of her top. And silver rings that Marlene couldn’t take her eyes off of.
“Stunning as always, but I know it comes naturally and with minimal effort,”
“I’m just talented like that,” Dorcas shrugged with a smile and hands tucked behind her back.
“So why are you late?!”
Dorcas stared and smiled at her, before turning to Marlene.
“Should we go find a table?”
Marlene chuckled and nodded her head.
The lunch went by so quickly, Dorcas could feel her head spinning. Marlene was…well she was hilarious. And a bit odd. Pandora had made her try whatever dessert she had been eating, and Marlene immediately spat it out. Her face scrunched and lips pursed.
Midway through the lunch, she made Pandora switch seats with her. She didn’t put up a fuss, and swapped seats with Marlene, who started wearing sunglasses after switching spots with Pandora.
Dorcas wanted to know why. But she saw why Pandora and Marlene got along so well, they were both a bit…weird. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made her curious.
Well Dorcas knows how the old saying “curiosity killed the cat” goes, and knowing that satisfaction brought the cat back, she decided to ask Pandora about the strange girl when they were alone.
Pandora stretched over Regulus’ couch, before curling up into a ball. Dorcas sat beside her, curling up to look at her face.
“Pandora?” She hummed in response. “Wasn’t it a bit weird how she switched seats with you? And wore sunglasses inside?” Dorcas asked. Pandora shook her head no.
“Sun,” She murmured, clenching her hand into a knuckle, then stretching her fingers back out to say it was bright.
“Couldn’t she just squint?”
“Hurts her,” Pandora said, mumbling in a way where Dorcas could barely hear her. “She’s like me.”
When Dorcas questioned her furthered, Pandora just grunted and waved her away.