Prompt: Value Me

Characters: Kitty & Unique

Words: 307

It's hard for Kitty to keep all her sarcasm in check when Unique gets in her range. The closer she gets, the more Kitty wants to say awful things to drive her away. Since Kitty is still trying to be wonderful, she settles on "hey," and waits while Unique sits down.

Unique raises a brow. "Hey," she returns and it sounds wary. She's never exactly sure when they're friends and when they're not. When Kitty doesn't respond, Unique takes out a tube of lipstick and a compact mirror and starts putting on her face.

Somehow, they're the first two in the choir room, and Kitty stares at Unique openly, her thoughts turning introspective and a little dark.

"You don't need to try so hard, you know?" Unique remarks softly.

"Oh, like you don't spend every day of your life trying too hard?" Kitty snaps and winces. That isn't what she meant to say. Unique isn't attacking her. Lately, though - ever since talking to Ryder - Kitty kind of expects it more.

"We both spend our days trying too hard, yeah. The difference is that I'm trying to be myself and you…well…you're denying yours…" Unique's tone is soft. Gentle. Nothing like the happy, sassy person she is during glee. Finally, she looks away from the mirror and meets Kitty's eyes. "It's okay to let go of the mean girl image. Like, what you did for Artie last week? That was sweet. And nothing bad happened because of it, right?"

"Not yet…" Kitty allows.

"And it's not gonna. Listen, I love you no matter which side of yourself you're showing. Just know you don't have to pretend to me."

"Well, good, because it's pretty hard to be phony around you," Kitty laughs and it sounds brittle. Forced.

But, she thinks, maybe it's just because she's out of practice.

The End.