When The Time Comes To Light A Fire

Prologue: Summer Before 8th Grade“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” - Cyndi Lauper Minnie Mouse would get more attention in a bikini. Looking in her bedroom mirror, Vanessa tied the strings of her new bathing suit around her neck, wishing her mom had let her buy the one she'd really wanted. She sighed at the red polka-dotted boy-short bottoms reflected back at her, remembering their conversation. “Vanessa Roberts, no thirteen year old girl has any business showing off her butt cheeks. I will not be spending money to have you looking like a street-walker.” “Oh my god, it's a swimming suit.” Vanessa's eyes rolled back in her head, hard. “Roll your eyes at me again, and you're liable to spend the summer in your room with no need for swimwear.” The tone in her voice wasn't playful, and Vanessa readjusted her expression. “Yes, Mom.” She put the beautiful purple suit with the bows back on the rack and stomped slightly to the dressing room. Her bedroom door opened, bringing her back to the present, and she glanced up in the mirror at her best friend. Courtney's dark curly hair looked wilder than normal, given the humidity, though she had tried to tame it with bobby pins into a high ponytail. Her friend assessed the bathing suit situation. “I don't know what you're complaining about. I think it's cute.” “Ugh, don't patronize me. I look like Minnie Mouse, and Brad James is never going to look twice at me.” “I thought you were hoping to run into Luke something-or-other?” “Yeah well, apparently he's with Elena now, so I set my sights elsewhere,” Vanessa admitted begrudgingly. Courtney's ensemble was much like her own; though her short muscular build filled it out very differently than Vanessa's more slender frame. Courtney just raised her eyebrow. “Whatever, let's just go.” They bounded down the stairs with their over-stuffed pool bags to let her mom know they were ready to leave. * * * The pool was crowded, but she supposed that was the point. The air smelled of chlorine and warm grass- it was effectively a run-of-the-mill Gem City summer. She and Courtney found a spot in the near-shade, and her eyes scoped out the boy situation. “I hope your mom will let me come back next summer too. Then I can almost pretend we'll be going to high school together,” Courtney mused with a frown. “My mom will let you come back anytime. She loves you. You don't talk back, so she might like you better than me,” she smiled. “And don't depress me. I wish we were going to high school together too. You don't think you guys will ever move back?” “I don't think so. I miss it though.” Vanessa sighed. Her other friends were fine, but she and Courtney had been through everything together since they were five. The Ross' moving had done a number on her. The thought of the two of them not cheering on the same team and obsessing over boys had a melancholy effect on her demeanor. She also wasn't sure who she was going to cheat off of in math. “Well, summers it is then, friend.” “Summers it is. So, where is this Brad character?” “Basketball court. Black shorts, blue t-shirt.” She flipped her long blond ponytail over her shoulder as if he could see her. “He's cute. But who is the other guy?” Vanessa had to smirk. “That would be Luke Miller.” “Things are making much more sense now.” “Stupid Elena.” “I don't know her, but I'll second that.” “Whatever, two more years and we'll be in high school, probably cheering varsity,” she added, giving Courtney a lazy fist bump at that prediction, “and most importantly, getting our licenses. I just wish we could skip freshman year. I want a car. I want boys to take me out on dates. I want to listen to my music as loud as I freaking want. And I want a super hot jealousy-causing boyfriend.” “I think I'd probably settle for a sort-of-cute mathlete at this point, but I like your ambition,” Courtney confessed, looking as she always did when she went into low-self-esteem mode. “Stop, you're adorable. Come on. Give me your perfect boyfriend checklist.” Vanessa plopped her sunglasses onto her face and prepared to mentally correct her friend's choices. “My what?” “Shut up, your checklist. Don't lie and say you don't have one. For example: tall, cute with a good smile, football player, preferably, because you know how I feel about the uniforms, smart enough to hold a real conversation, great sense of humor- not like 'oh he laughs at amusing jokes,' but like 'oh my god he is hilarious and my sides hurt from laughing.' ” Courtney was looking at her curiously, but she didn't care. “And I want a guy who can make me mad. Just a little bit.” “Um, ok? Everyone makes you mad. Except for me,” Courtney retorted with a smirk. “Ha, until now,” Vanessa replied. “No, you know what I mean, like a guy who's not afraid to argue. Someone strong.” She sipped her lemonade. “Your turn.” “I don't think I have quite the extensive list you are looking for, friend.” “I call bull. Tell me anyway.” Courtney made a Kermit-the-Frog face at her, but she knew she'd give in. “Fine. Also tall. Ummm nice?” “Nice?” “Well yeah, nice, like easy to be around. And likes to read.” “So you want to date a nice book-reader.” “Yep.” “You're hopeless.” “And I'm your best friend. What does that say about you?” “That I need to save you from yourself and make sure you don't date a librarian.” Courtney promptly threw a handful of ice from her cup of water at Vanessa and stuck out her tongue.