Chapter 11, Sleepovers, Secrets, and Tonics: Parakara looked around Lakilily's house. It was quite nice. The furniture looked very expensive and well taken care of. The carpet and curtains were luxurious. The rug had a beautiful pattern. It made Parakara think of coloring book mandalas. One the rug was a young blue-green haired lakitu. She appeared to be eleven or twelve. Her hair was in twin tails. She was coloring in a coloring book while humming.
"That's my sister. Lakilisa." Lakilily said, Parakara nodded wondering how things would be like if she had a sister. Someone to talk to about how terrible their parents are. The young lakitu looked up and waved. She went back to coloring.
"She doesn't talk much. Come on. Lets paint your claws." Lakilily took Parakara to her room. The lakitu's room was stunning. There was a queen sized bed, the comforter had a tiger pattern on it. The headboard was orange and studded with topazes. On the edges on the headboard were lights blinking in different colors. Lily's rug was orange and made of a soft and fuzzy material. On her walls were paintings of different types of lilies. They were painted in bright colors. On the floor sat a pile of shoes of different styles and designs of every variety imaginable. In the corner of the room was an armchair decorated with red velvet with gold trimming. One would think the room belonged to a princess. On Lily's nightstand were three books: "Lanterns of Life", "Lanterns of Love", and "Lights of Illumination". In her closet were many orange punk styled outfits. At the foot of the bed was a large white cat, its tail swishing around.
"That's Bluey." Lily said.
"Why Bluey?" Parakara asked.
"Look at the eyes." She said to Parakara. The cat turned to Parakara the cat had such vibrant light blue eyes.
"Pretty." Parakara said.
"That's why we named him Bluey. Now sit down. I'll get the nail polish." Lakilily gestured for Parakara to sit down. The paratroopa sits and the lakitu looked through her closet for nail polish. Bluey got off the bed purred against Parakara. Parakara smiled and pets him. After several minutes Lakilily found some polish and came over to where Parakara was sitting. She placed a towel in front of them. She asked Parakara to hold out her hand, and Lakilily started painting her claws with a base coat.
"Wait until they dry. I'll do it again. I like putting on a base coat twice. It think it makes them last longer." Lakilily said.
"Okay." Parakara said, Lily just smiles at her. "So what happened at school?" The paratroopa asked the lakitu.
"You mean how I got homeschooled?"
"Yeah."
"This koopa named Katrina. Literally on our last class, she would do anything to pick on me. From throwing stuff at me. Getting the other kids to make fun of me. Causing me to get detention for everything. So eventually, I confronted her, which only caused her to get mad and try to start a physical fight with me. It wasn't hard to beat her though. She couldn't take my spinies. What's worse was that I was friends with this toad and she would stand by watch me get bullied because she was friends with her as well and was afraid to stand up to her." Lily explained. She started applying the second coat.
"What did this toad look like?"
"Blonde hair, blue eyes, wore light purple." Lakilily answered, Parakara was quiet as she listened to the lakitu. Once the second coat dried, lakilily took out a light blue nail polish and started to paint her claws. Parakara watched carefully.
"It's cute." Parakara said after a few minutes of silence. Lakilily stopped.
"Wait until you see the design." The lakitu smiled. She finished painting her claws and and waited for the coat to dry. After a bit of time, Lakilily began working on the nail polish second coat. The nails looked even more blue. "There. Now we wait again." The lakitu finished.
"What was the toad's name?" Parakara asked.
"Her name was Toaderiel. She never even bothered to visit me when I did end up getting pulled." Lakilily said.
"Maybe she didn't know you lived in Flower Fields?"
"No she knew. We would have sleepovers sometimes. We would complain about school. Sometimes about what classes we liked. Talk about guys, clothes, different types of bands. What songs we listen to. Anything. She loved music."
"Did she like your parent's music?"
"She's more of a classical kind of girl. But she liked listening to some of their songs...and then one day we realized that we liked each other. Like, actually like each other."
"Do you still?" Parakara asked. Lily shook her head.
"I love Louie now." Lakilily admitted smiling softly. She gets green paint and a thinner brush and began painting carefully.
"I've missed you," The paratroopa said suddenly.
"Missed you too, Parakara." Said the lakitu happily.
"What happened when you realized that you liked Toaderiel?"
"She told me that she did want to date me, but was afraid of her friends. I told her to stop being friends with them because they were toxic. That seemed to make her upset." Lily explained.
"But did she agree?"
"Yes. She was still scared to hang out with me though."
"And then?"
"Then...a few days later...she started talking to me a lot less." Lily sighed and got some light pink nail polish and started making flower petals. "Apparently her friends found out that she liked me, and they threatened her that they'll tell her parents; and she was afraid of that."
"Were your parents happy that you liked Toaderiel?"
"My mom was ecstatic about it. My dad is fine with it."
"What happened after her friends found out?"
"She did something that caused her to go to the hospital...hey do you like tonics?" Lily asked changing the subject.
"I never drank one..."
"You're missing out! Let me get you one! I'm going to finish the petals first." Lakilily continued to design Parakara's claws until the last one was done. Parakara smiled at her hand.
"They look like primroses." She said.
"You told me that your middle name is "Primrose"." Lakilily said with a smile. "I did mine similarly." The lakitu showed the paratroopa her claws. They were painted black with orange lilies.
"How did you do that?" Asked Parakara.
"Patience. Lot's of patience." She answered.
"You should run your own nail salon."
"I thought about that. But part of me wants to be a musician like my parents. I'm sure they want that as well...but..."
"But what?"
"Oh I forgot the top coat! I also need to make the drinks! Put your claws out again." Lakilily said. Parakara holds out her claws. Lakilily got the top coat and painted over the nail design. "It adds gloss to it." She waits for it to dry and then got a glittery top coat. "And the second coat will add some sparkles!" The lakitu finished off the paratroopa's claws. "Wait until the coat dries and then wash your hands. I'll get the drinks ready. The bathroom is on the left." The lakitu left. When her claws dried, Parakara got up to wash her hands. She remembered the mushroom she had in her pocket. She takes it out and throws it in the trash. Afterwards she went back into her bedroom to wait. Bluey purred against the paratroopa. Parakara smiled and holds him. Bluey closed his eyes and rests against Parakara. Soon enough Bluey fell asleep in her lap.
Lakilily went into the kitchen. She opens the fridge. There were many different kinds of fruits, vegetables, meat, breads, sauces, and a variety of desserts. The fridge also contained an array of cans, bottles of milk, and juice. The lakitu took out some honey syrup, berries, lemons, limes and a bottle of peach schnapps. She blended the ingredients making two spiked tasty tonics. She went back to the bedroom and handed one tonic to Parakara who was watching TV while sitting on the rug.
"Here you go!" Said Lakilily handing her friend the drink.
Parakara gave her friend a smile before taking a sip from her glass. "This is good! It tastes fruity."
"I told you they're good." She smiled as she takes a sip. "I can make you another, if you want more. There's a blender full."
"Really?" Parakara said. Lily nodded smiling she got up and came back with the blender. The two sat there drinking their tonics in companionable silence. Eventually Lakilily moved closer to Parakara. They talked about various things. Their families. Their favorite things to do. When they were younger. They then heard knocking on the door.
"The boys are here!" Lakilily got under her bed and pulled out a box. "Put in a horror movie. I'll get the door." The lakitu left to answer, Parakara looked through the box feeling a bit hazy. She picks out a movie. Lakilily came back with three male lakitus. Parakara noticed one of them had beautiful scales. They had more of a golden color and were glittering. His hair was beautiful too. It was curly and matched the color of his scales. He had gorgeous brown eyes as well. Lakilily smiled and placed her arms around him.
"Don't stare too hard. He's Louie." She said.
"Hi Kara. Lily told me about you." He smiled timidly.
"Hello." Said the paratroopa in a soft tone.
"He's shy." Lily said. Parakara nodded.
"And this is Lakileon." Lily points at the red haired lakitu. "And Lakiluka." Lily pointed at the blue haired lakitu. Leon's hair was in a mohawk, while Luka's was in a single spike. Both boys were dressed in a similar style to Lily. Leon was wearing red punk style clothing, while Luka's was blue. Louie however was in a light blue sweater vest and jeans.
"I'll get the popcorn." Lily left leaving Parakara with the three boys. Parakara felt slightly awkward and uncomfortable. But after taking a few more sips of her drink, she relaxed a little.
"So you live in Flower Fields Parakara?" Leon asked.
"I don't. I live in Toad Town."
"How are you friends with Lily?" Luka asked.
"I known her when I was little."
"Oh right, she told me that you stopped bigger lakitus from hurting her with magic?" Louie said.
"You're a paratroopa and you can use magic? That is awesome!" Leon said.
"Yeah, I'm half magikoopa." Normally Parakara wasn't always very comfortable talking with people. She wasn't used to just sitting down and talking with anyone. Especially if it's about her being a hybrid. But somehow she found herself talking to these three boys. And after a little while her cheeks hurt from all the smiling and giggling.
"You're a hybrid as well? Louie here is half amazy dayzee." Luka said.
"That's why I said he has a killer voice. Literally and figuratively." Lakilily said coming back with the popcorn. "Sing something Louie."
"No, no...I'll sing nothing."
"Come on, you can't say that! You have to! I told Kara that she has to hear you sing sometime. What could be a better time than this? Sing one song." Lakilily pleads, Parakara watched as Louie sighed.
"All right. Here goes..." He sang softly, "...there once was a boy, who used to play with a girl...and then, she died...there is a place that I wish we could reach...yeah...yeah...yeah...my love is sweet, I don't know whether you'll ever find me, cause...it's a long road ahead... I never thought I'd see the day..."
Parakara watched in amazement. Louie's voice sounded really nice. It was more than just nice. He had an amazing voice. It was calming and melodious.
"...and I think, someday...I'll be where you are..." Louie stops singing.
"See? What did I tell you?" Lakilily smiled.
"It was good. More than good actually."
"You should hear him when he sings loudly. No one messes with him because they know his singing can seriously injure them." Leon said.
"Yeah...we all know what happened to you, Lee...you're just lucky that it wasn't worse." Luka joked.
"Shut up Luka." He said.
Parakara looked at the friends. Listening to the conversation.
"The movie! let's play it." Lakilily puts in on. The movie started. The sound effects were really loud, especially with all the explosions. At some point a reptilian and kraken like creature came out of the water and started destroying the harbor. All five koopas eats the popcorn while watching. Parakara and Lakilily enjoyed their drinks. The creature grew angry. A lot of sailors were trapped in the harbor by the creature's power. Some sailors came on deck looking for help and trying to kill the creature in hopes to free themselves and the rest of the crew. The creature threw one overboard and wrapped it's tentacles around the boat then squeezed it tight. It began shaking it killing the rest of the crew. The teenage koopas were mesmerized by the movie. Parakara found herself feeling bad for the creature for some reason. It sounded like it was in pain. Oh maybe that was how it roared. Soon the ship was completely crushed, and the creature swam back to the bottom of the ocean. Parakara felt an uncomfortable sensation all over her body.
"I'll be back you guys." She gets up.
"Where are you going? Are you okay?" Lakilily asked.
"No. I feel strange." Parakara left, she headed toward the bathroom to throw up. She felt her nose and mouth burning. She wondered if the fish she ate with her uncle was undercooked. She needed to check on him! She tried getting up, but felt all wobbly. Her legs didn't respond. She sat back down and placed her head against the toilet. She felt too sick to move. Lakilily knocked on the bathroom door.
"Kara?" She sounded worried. "Are you all right in there?"
Parakara gets sick again. She felt tears forming inside her eyes from the burning. She couldn't stop them from falling. She covered her face with her hands crying hard, she sobbed. She didn't know why she was feeling upset.
"Kara...Can I come in?" Lakilily asked again knocking on the door the second time. Parakara kept crying her eyes out, refusing to answer. She coughed and gagged but nothing came up. Lakilily opened the door slowly holding a glass of water.
She placed the glass in front of her friend. Parakara finally took the glass and drank some of it quietly.
"I'm sorry…It looks like I added too much schnapps." She said. Parakara didn't respond, she just continued to cry. She felt like her stomach was turning upside down and her chest tightened. She leaned over the toilet and puked again. Lakilily holds her hair back.
"Have you eat anything before you came?" She asked, Parakara doesn't answer her, she couldn't stop herself from sobbing.
"Do you need to go to the hospital or anything? Do you want me to call someone?"
"No..." was all Parakara managed to say before throwing up again. The lakitu kept holding her hair.
"I'm going to get you some medicine okay?"
"No...don't leave…" She whined.
"Don't worry it's right here." She opens the mirror and handed her the medicine. Parakara takes it washing it down with water. Lakilily stayed by Parakara. "I'm so sorry for making you feel this way. Is your stomach okay?" She asked.
"I feel disgusting." Parakara says, Lakilily gets a towel and wipes the paratroopa's forehead and mouth. Parakara felt herself starting to cry again.
"Shhh, it'll be okay. Everything will be fine. I won't do this again. I promise." The lakitu said feeling guilty. She didn't think alcohol was going to make her friend feel this bad. She hugs Parakara and whispers reassuring words into her ear until her friend finally calm down. After Parakara calmed down, and her stomach and head got more or less back to normal. The two sat there for what felt like forever. Parakara was still trembling. Then suddenly the bathroom door swings open and Lakilouie comes in. He looked shocked seeing Parakara so weak and vulnerable.
"What happened?"
"I told you and the guys to go home."
"Leon and Luka did go home. I came back. I felt like something was wrong."
"I think I gave Kara too much to drink."
"You think?" Louie asked.
"Okay, I did. Now she's really emotional."
Louie ran a hand through his hair. "I think we should call the hospital. This is not good for her health."
"I gave her medicine and she stopped throwing up." Lakilily responded.
"That doesn't mean she's feeling any better. We've got to call." Lakilouie said.
"I'm fine..." Parakara protested, but then coughed again.
"Lily. Come on...let's give her some space. Let me call."
"But-"
"Now."
"Louie. They're going to want to know why she was drinking."
"It's better than letting her get dehydrated and dying from poisoning. Just let me call the hospital."
"I got it under control Louie."
"Please."
"Everything is fine. Bring her something to eat, and get her some more water." Lakilily said. Louie clenched his fists. He knew he should call the hospital, yet he was also afraid of upsetting his girlfriend. He went to the kitchen and took out some leftover fish and warmed it up. He made some koopa tea as the fish reheated. After heating up the fish he placed crackers, berries, and cubed cheese beside it. He filled up a glass of water and headed back to the bathroom carrying the items.
"I made tea as well." He said flatly.
"This is why I love you so much Louie." Lakilily took the tea and gave it to Kara to drink.
"I know Lily." Louie said, watching his girlfriend help Parakara take small sips of the tea. Lily placed the cup down.
"Is it better?" She asked.
"Yea thanks." Parakara replied.
"Try eating something." Lily said giving the plate to her. Parakara nibbles on a cracker.
"There. Feel better?"
"A little bit." Parakara answered.
"Good. You scared me."
"Sorry."
"No, I should be. I'm just happy you aren't hurt." Lily said, Parakara stayed quiet. She was still feeling a bit sore. "Can you get pillows and a blanket Louie?" She asked her boyfriend. Lakilouie gets up and left. Lily told Kara about what happened during the movie.
"Is it bad that I'm glad the monster wasn't hurt?"
"No, I don't think so." Lily said.
"And the movie wasn't that scary. It was pretty nice actually."
"I'm happy you had fun." Lily got the towel again and wiped the paratroopa's face and patted her hair dry. "How are you feeling? You're sweating and stuff."
"Just feeling a little tired, my head hurts." Parakara said, she felt a bit nauseous as well.
"Hopefully Louie comes back with the pillows and blankets soon. You can stay here in case you feel sick again." She handed Parakara the glass of water to drink. "Drink all of it please." She said.
"Thanks..." She said. Lakilily's boyfriend returned shortly after and placed the stack of cushions and blankets down beside Parakara.
"Thank you babe." Lily said, Louie just nods.
"I guess we should let her rest now...we shouldn't keep her awake too long." Louie said looking at his girlfriend. Lakilily nodded and gets up.
"Let us know if you need anything." She said to her.
"Okay." Parakara responds, the two walked out together. Once they closed the door, the paratroopa laid down. She held her pillow close and began to fall asleep.
