The Skin Next To My Nail

“Happy birthday, dear Brianna, happy birthday to you.”

Eight girls. Eight identical smiles.

The song slowed to an end, but Charlotte stood up from her seat and did a final riff, stretching the word “you” longer than Brynn stretched my clothes with how fat she was.

Ugh. This was typical; Charlotte was always trying to show off.

Her Pandora charm bracelet clinked as every collectable charm gleamed. The thunder in the background, even letting the charms momentarily dazzle.

I wanted to dazzle too.

The rain hit hard against the walls of Brianna’s new house. The bay outside, blowing like crazy, ready to eat us alive. Sorry that was a stupid food metaphor, I’m just hungry as fuck.

I picked at the skin next to my nail. Fuck, I really was hungry, and the cake looked good. But no, being fat was being ugly. My stomach growled. I coughed loudly to mask the sound.

Brianna cheered at the riff as she cut the little cake into 8 perfect little pieces.

I had now perfected the skill of picking at my food so that it looked like I was eating, but so had all the other girls. We all pushed our slice around and started our shallow conversation.

“Oh my God,” Julia started. “Daph was being like so pick me today. Like God, she was like trying to get all the guys’ attention. I hate it when girls do that.”

Jules turned, looking for Peyton’s validation. Predictable bitch.

Cleo and I immediately made eye contact. We all knew Jules was the real pick me here.

“Yeah, totally.” I pushed at my slice. “I heard she’s going for Elijah or something.”

“Huhhh? What? I didn’t know that,” Jules said with hurt in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

Brianna immediately looked at me and smirked. She knew the game I was playing.

She. Knew. Jules. Wanted. Elijah.

I picked at the skin next to my nail.

“Yeah, Tammy, I think you’re right. I heard he was thinking to take her out next week,” Valentina added. I could feel her trying to make eye contact with me. I could see that she was proud of her attack on Jules. But a rule was that Val was just another weak bitch. Her only talent was searching for validation, but she wasn’t very good at that either. None of us liked her.

Jules just sat silently, death-staring Val, watching her apply her Dior Lip Oil. I swear her mom bought a new one for her every week. I bet Val’s a Rouge member at Sephora. Spoiled brat.

Thunder struck the windows of the second floor as I picked at the skin next to my nail.

“Guys, who cares about those stupid boys anyways, right?” Charlotte smiled, squeezing Jules’s hand, her smile tight. Charlotte hated Jules too, but as fake as we were, she was just faker.

Peyton cluelessly tapped at her phone, her signature paper-clip earrings decorating her ears.

Whatever. We all moved down to the couches, and on the coffee table sat eight perfectly wrapped gifts.

“Aw, you guys are so sweet, thank you,” Brianna said, plopping down into the beanbag.

“I called dibs during the drive over for Bri to open mine first!” Jules giggled.

Right, the drive over…Brianna lived in Sausalito, a place that required driving across the Golden Gate Bridge to get to from SF. Her parents had picked us up, but left for business trips.

The house had high ceilings, cobblestone driveway, large windows, and a gorgeous patio.

“You can open mine first, I don’t mind.” I suggested, picking at the skin next to my nail.

“Yeah, perfect. Thanks Tammy,” Brianna said, giving me a look of gratitude.

My gift didn’t really mean anything, I just bought stuff she wanted off her wishlist…

However, Brianna gingerly tore into my confetti wrapping paper, revealing a cake shaped Jellycat, a white fox sweat set, and a purple Laneige lip gloss. Purple was her favorite color.

I truly loved her, but I didn’t think the gift had much meaning to it.

Maybe that meant I didn’t deserve to love her. Fuck, maybe I should just shut up.

“Awww, thanks Tammy, this is so nice of you,” Brianna said, reaching to me for a hug. She applied the lip gloss, and shoved it in the pocket of her pink pajamas. She then opened the card I had written for her, enclosed in a glitter envelope, of course purple. She’s always loved glitter, and I could see her eyes glossing over.

Brianna quickly blinked away, oblivious that I’d noticed. None of the other girls cared; they tapped at their phones, twirled their hair, or pulled at split ends.

The gifts unwrapped one by one. 3 gifts in, Peyton’s phone lit up with a random call.

“Hey sorry Bri, I need to take this. Give me two mins,” Peyton said, heading downstairs.

“Yeah, no problem,” Brianna called back as Peyton disappeared.

“Wait, Bri,” Jules jumped in, “Sorry, but I need to use the bathroom for a second.”

Jules just disappeared down the stairs. Odd, the bathroom was just down the hall…

“Yeah, so, I also need to grab something,” Charlotte added.

“Well, why don’t we all take a break and rejoin in 15,” Brianna suggested, still smiling.

Everyone nodded and dispersed. I decided 15 minutes was plenty of time to go take a nap. I was dizzy, tired, and violently hungry. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d properly eaten, but I’ve learned hunger is easily slept off.

Now extremely lightheaded, with thunder flashing in the distance, I stumbled down the stairs into a random room. My mind went dark, but so was the room.

I woke up 10 minutes later, the room still dark. I sat up on the bed and picked at the skin next to my nails.

I went to use the bathroom, but I couldn’t find the sink tab, and the light wasn’t turning on. I swear I could hear Peyton giggling to a muffled male voice, but my brain was still fuzzy.

By the time I stumbled back down in my seat, everyone was already situated. 9 gifts sat quietly on the table.

“Sorry about the power outage.” Brianna said, wincing. “The rain is extremely strong.”

Only then did I realize it was dark…phone flashlights dimly lit the modern living room.

I checked my phone, it was on SOS. Fucking Sausilito.

“Where’s Peyton?” Jules asked, eyebrows morphed into worry.

“I heard her talking with that guy over the phone earlier. She probably lost track of time.” I suggested.

Everyone looked confused, but didn’t say anything, and Brianna continued on the gifts.

One by one, her wishlist got checked off, makeup, skincare, clothes, jewelry, nails.

Even Peyton’s gift got opened, but she hadn’t come up yet.

8 gifts later, one sat quietly to the side, thin. Oddly shaped, kind of flat, yet lumpy.

“Who’s gift is that?” Brianna asked, excitedly. No one answered.

Brianna tore into the gift, but she opened it, all the color in her face drained white.