Lexi sat around in class, somewhat bored, thinking about how, while having an overwhelming passion for fashion as of recently, she wasn’t entirely sure she fit in with the other girls in class. She was missing… something. “... What's that?” Lexi peered over Kiara’s shoulder. The flashing colors from whatever she was watching on her phone caught Lexi’s eyes, and with nothing else to do during their downtime, she figured she would try to take some interest in whatever she was up to. Explore her… and maybe by extension some of the other girl's interests a little bit.
“It's a boy band I like. Here, wanna listen?” Kiara handed her friend the earbud and Lexi popped it in. It was a very peppy tune, very… magnetic. The visuals were nice, a line up of conventionally attractive boys moved excitedly in tune with the song. She felt like she had heard it in passing in the past, of course. But she wasn't the target audience at the time, and didn't pay it much mind. But now? Even if some of the bands Kiara showed her were a touch outdated, Kiara and her were the target audience for it. It made sense that she took an interest in them. Lexi didn't have super strong feelings for it, but maybe she would look into it on her own later… for Kiara.
…
Lexi lay on her chest on her bed scrolling through her YouTube feed. It was filled with the music videos for countless songs by countless boy bands… because that was all she had been listening to for the past hour. Late to the scene, there was no shortage of groups for her to look into. For some reason, they had completely captured her attention. She suddenly wanted to know all about them. About each of the guys (some more than others,) about all of their songs, she wanted to see all of the videos, she could talk about them all day long. She was obsessed. This wasn’t just about relating to her friend anymore. Something about these guys dancing and singing “to her” filled her chest with an odd glee-like feeling, she didn’t know why, but it was very… new. Very exciting. A new feeling. New feelings hadn’t been uncommon since she changed… and it seemed like each time she experienced one she wanted to explore it further. Lexi rolled back and forth fighting herself over which of the two bands in popular rivalries she preferred. Each time making herself feel more and more connected with the one she would choose. Backstreet Boys… One Direction… SEVENTEEN… After a few moments, she got a text, and she knew what she wanted to do next.
…
“Thanks for coming!” Kiara showed up at Lexi’s house. She texted her saying she wanted to hang out and talk about what Kiara had shown her earlier that day. Kiara, overjoyed at Lexi’s sudden interest made her way straight over. “Of course!” They made their way into Lexi and Bea’s room and made themselves at home on the floor… Kiara started to gush over a bunch of videos she brought up, and although pretty closed off and shy about the topic at first, Lexi eventually let herself loose. There was something very special about being able to become one in talking about someone with something like this. It made Lexi really feel like they were true friends… that made her really happy. “Your side of the room is pretty… plain, don’t you think?” Kiara pointed out the blank walls and plane furniture… what little there was at least at least. They had pretty quickly thrown together Lexi’s side of the room after she changed and Karen had moved her in here. A bare wooden bedframe and white side table, with only splashes of colors being spread here and there from Lexi’s growing wardrobe. This contrasted with Bea’s side of the room, with her bed and all of her stuff being condensed over there screaming personality. “What do you say we fix it up a little bit?” And so, Lexi convinced “Mom” to take her to the mall with Kiara yet again.
“Okay, we’re going to go to this pop culture store on the other side.” Kiara began to lead Lexi. Lexi gave her a bit of an odd look. Up until now, that hadn’t particularly been her… “scene.” “Don’t give me that look, it might be cliche but we’re budding teens! We get to be cliche.” Sure enough, the store was filled to the room with shirts and merch. In all honesty, Lexi did find herself liking some of the skirts, shirts, and belts on display. Maybe she could incorporate them into her wardrobe as well… but that wasn’t why they were here. They were here for decor. None of it was large enough to stand out… but a calendar or poster might do the trick. “Here, we can get you this N-Sync poster.” Kiara pointed to it up on the wall. “Are you kidding? No, I’m getting that Backstreet Boys poster!” Kiara looked at Lexi as if she had been deeply betrayed. Playfully, of course, but she was shocked at what her friend had just said. “Are you seriously saying you like them over N-Sync? Are you that type of girl?!” Lexi had given it thought earlier and deliberated over it. But between the two… yeah! Just having her opinion challenged cemented it! “Of course! Are you crazy? They’re way better!” And a brief glint of “and they’re cuter!” crossed her mind, but Lexi pushed it away. She wasn’t like that… right? Regardless, she pridefully took a few poster scrolls over to the counter, bought them, and they made their way home. Laughing and arguing with each other along the way. Their interests were the same… but they were at war over it all the same.
Lexi let out a sigh of relief as she got home after dropping Kiara off at home and stuck adhesive tabs to the back of her posters. Seeing this physical representation of her new interest rolled out in front of her, she felt a certain childish glee. She knew it was stupid, but she reveled in it all the same. She decorated the side of her bed with a few posters, and Karen stuck her head in and smirked as she saw Lexi straighten out a One Direction poster above her.
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