CHEEKS FLUSH WITH CRIMSON, lips parting slow. something sitting in her throat, something beating like a drum inside her head—beneath caged ribs. hand lifts all too quick, tucking dark strands behind her ear as she swallows, the edges of her lips beginning to twitch upwards into something small. pretty. it feels... foreign. as though, not made for her. always something else, but never... pretty. cheryl was the pretty one, that much jodie is sure of. but maybe she does feel pretty too, or maybe she’s only thinking she does because cheryl said it to her. surely she must mean it. “ i—really? you think i’m... thank you. ” she wasn’t sure how to accept something, she knows she’s supposed to. that’s what nathan and cole taught her, manners. (well, to a degree, not like she followed) “ i—i think you’re pretty too... and i’m not just saying that because you said i am. i mean, i am... but i’m not saying it because... ” she’s rambling, something tight in her stomach as she lifts her hand to scratch the back of her neck. nervous. she was nervous. “ you’re pretty too, you just gave me the opportunity to tell you that’s all. ”