The next few weeks progressively got better, with Nooshy going up to the fourth floor less and less. Porsha, Ash and Meena decided to have a girls outing, half because they wanted to pry, and half because they felt guilty about wanting to pry(well, Porsha didn't really, she just wanted a mani-pedi).
Rosita and Nooshy agreed, but Rosita had a suspicion that they were up to something. Call it Mother's Intuition if you will, and she pulled them aside to ask.
"Why are we really going out?"
"What are you talking about?" Meena smiled at her, the picture of innocence.
"I mean, what is it that you guys are trying to do?" "I don't know what you're talking about!" Porsha declared, the acting lessons she was taking paying off.
"We just wanna hang out, us girls. Especially after what happened to Noosh." Ash added.
The answer was so reasonable that Rosita almost felt silly for being skeptical. Almost. Being a mother, she was very good at reading people, and she knew enough from her own kids to tell when someone was up to no good. The glances that the three gave each other made her sure of it.
"So, what can i do for you ladies?"
"5 mani-pedis please." Porsha said.
"Whoa, whoa, hold on there, Porsh. I was promised an ice cream smoothie with extra chocolate, not people doing things to my hands and feet." Nooshy stood, arms crossed.
"Well, too bad!" Porsha replied cheerfully.
"You want that ice cream, don't you? I'll throw in some other sweets to seal the deal."
Nooshy considered her options.
"Are you scared?" Ash teased.
"What? No, of course not! Girly stuff just isn't my thing."
"What, you wanna look pretty for the set, don't you?" Meena gave a knowing smile.
Nooshy felt her face heat up when she thought about just who would see her. Weirdly enough(well, to her at least), the idea was slightly appealing.
'God why am I thinking like that? Why do I care?' She immediately blamed Andy for everything, although she knew deep down that he had nothing to do with it.
The warm bubbly feelings that had been churning inside her ever since that horrible day…..was she really going to admit it to her self?
'Nope! Uh uh, it's just all the pressure getting to you. You definitely don't have weird feelings for your best friend! Got that? You just need to relax.'
Relaxation and treats for her to be practically woman-handled, or nothing at all?
"You're paying." She said after a moment.
"Deal."
No one expected it to turn out the way it did. Once they were all seated, Ash came in with an ice breaker.
"So, nooshy, how are you liking the set life?"
"It's fine. Still getting use to the overly busy schedule. It's nothing like how my old one was, which was show up, look like a badass, and dance."
They all laughed as the manicurists came in. They had the group choose nail polishes, and then soaked their hands and feet. Watching the lady lift Meena's foot out of the water, Nooshy had a sudden realization.
"Wait, they're gonna scrub my feet?"
"Yeah, have you never had one before?"
"I, uh, no…?" This was said too late. The lady tending to to her raised the pumice stone to her foot. Hysterical peals of laughter burst out of her, ridiculously loud for the small and slender lynx.
"No, wait, stop!" She shrieked.
The cackling coming from her made the others look up.
"Come on, Nooshy. Live with it." Ash said dismissively.
"This reminds me of when Johnny was tickling her." Porsha snickered.
"What? Omigosh when did that happen?" Meena squealed in girlish delight.
"Guys, really?" Rosita scolded. They were interrupted by more screaming giggles.
"Hold…still!" Porsha had gotten up and was trying to hold her still. "I'm..gonna…tell…Johnny!"
She was struggling as Nooshy screamed "No! Don't do that!"
"Wait…why do you care so much?" Ash asked slyly.
"Ash!" Rosita chided.
"I'll never hear the end of it!" Nooshy moaned in response.
"Ack, just forget it!" She gasped. "I don't like anyone touching my feet!"
She had nearly kicked the lady in the face, and had caused the others to start giggling. Eventually they finished and Nooshy dragged them to the ice cream parlor.
"Volcano ice cream smoothie, extra chocolate." She ordered without hesitation.
Porsha was glancing at her phone, snickering the whole while.
"What are you doing?" Meena asked curiously.
"I never thought i'd see the day." Holding up her phone, they saw a picture of them all in robes, with towels on their heads.
"I swear, Porsha, if you send that to anyone, I will cause you physical and emotional pain!" Nooshy threatened.
"She's right! There is no way I want someone to see me like that!" Ash backed her up.
"Fine, fine." Porsha grumbled.
Of course, nothing ever happens the way you want it to, but it never happens the way you expect it to ether. So, the very next day, Porsha was running late.
"Ha! Finally I'm not the one who's late!" Nooshy crowed.
"Oh, shut up." Porsha growled.
"Guys!" Johnny came running in to the theater.
Unfortunately, he bumped into Porsha, who's phone went flying.
"What's up?" Nooshy snickered, watching Porsha crawl on the floor, desperate for her device.
"Here, Porsha, let me help!" Johnny said, ever the gentleman.
"Thank you." Porsha responded, eyeing Nooshy with annoyance.
Nooshy felt a little peck of jealousy at seeing him offer help. 'DAMNMIT NOOSHY HE HELPS EVERYONE. STOP DOING THAT TO YOURSELF!' She screamed internally.
"I found it!" Johnny called.
Picking up the phone, it suddenly clicked open to the picture from yesterday.
"Oh ho ho what's this?" He chuckled, holding up the picture.
"PORSHA ROSE CRYSTAL!" Nooshy screamed furiously.
"Oh no." Porsha gulped. She started to back up, and then launched into a full sprint.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" Nooshy chased her up and down the theater with Ash(who had heard) in tow.
Not my best, Ik. Thx to Designation M for the chapter idea!