Page 36 of Unexpectedly Falling
KINSLEY: I have so many questions
NESSA: Questions later—right now I need you to tell me what to wear
KINSLEY: Probably a step up from what you normally wear
NESSA: I wear spandex
NESSA: Athletic shorts if I have to leave the house
KINSLEY: Right. And it’s pretty obvious unless you’re at an event so if you’re worried about her roasting you for trying too hard—jean shorts and a cute T-shirt
NESSA: You’re sure that’s enough?
KINSLEY: On anyone else I’d say no
NESSA: I don’t know if I should be offended by that
KINSLEY: I mean you could but it doesn’t make it any less true
NESSA: Fine. Okay, I’m going to go change
KINSLEY: And use your real smile not your work smile
Staring at the message, I’m hit with the worst kind of unease. It’s not the first time that I’ve felt discouraged about having to be two different people inside myself, but being in Blackstone Falls it somehow feels…worse.
Maybe it’s the lack of anonymity here that has me wanting so badly to just beme.I have to be on all the time here. Walking down the street in Nashville, I can smile and take pictures if someone asks and then move on. Being the hometown team makes the players on the Tennessee Tornadoes more apt to being recognized than in other places.
But we’re generally still not being mobbed going out for coffee or a walk down the street.
But here, even though I haven’t done too much venturing, it still feelspersonal.Talking to these people takes so much more out of me. I want to make a good impression, if for no other reason than the fact that even though I’m leaving, this is Jensen’s home and I want to be respectful of the people who live here.
Pulling myself from my musings, I grab a pair of jean shorts, frayed at the bottom but otherwise intact and free of holes, and a dark blue Tornadoes shirt and take a picture to send to Kinsley.
KINSLEY: Just because I told you a T-shirt doesn’t mean it should have our logo on it
KINSLEY: Seriously what is wrong with you?
NESSA: What? I don’t own a bunch of cute shit
KINSLEY: Obviously
KINSLEY: Find something else
Riffling through my drawer,I find a white shirt from an event we did at Smoke when it opened in Nashville and throw it on.
NESSA: What about this?
KINSLEY: Better
KINSLEY: But when we get home we’re going to have to update your wardrobe
NESSA: I have nice things
KINSLEY: Just because they occupy your closet WITH the tags still on doesn’t qualify as you having nice things.
NESSA: You don’t have to be so mean
KINSLEY: I wouldn’t be your best friend if I wasn’t
