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I say nothing, though I want to laugh as I grab some of the shrimp and place them on a plate before walking to the refrigerator and snagging the last Dr. Pepper.
As I’m walking out of the room, I hear Creed say, “Bitch took the last one.” At his words, I don’t hold back my laughter. Instead, I rush back to my room.
I eat my food as I finish up some assigned reading for my American History course. Once I complete all my work, I move over to the closet and pull the dress down, placing it across my bed. I’ve still got a few hours before the party, but I got a message from my mom that someone would be here to do my hair and makeup shortly.
It isn’t long before my mom barges into my room with an eccentric man on her heels. “Adelya, meet Johnny. He’s here to help prepare you for tonight.”
I don’t bother telling her I don’t believe a new dress or hair and makeup will ever prepare me for the life she’s drug me into. Instead, I take Johnny in. He’s tall and well built. Doesn’t at all fit what I would expect a hairdresser/makeup artist to look like. Somehow, his looks put me at ease.
“Nice to meet you.” I tell him hesitantly.
After the introductions are out of the way, Johnny wastes no time ushering Mom out of the room so we can begin. He sits me down and curls my hair, adding volume to my normal straight locks. Once it’s curled how he wants it, he sweeps it up on both sides and places a clip on it.
The clip part itself is a large black rose with little crystals dangling off of thin chains that hang down my hair. Johnny weaves more crystals through the top.
“You’re a beautiful girl. I don’t plan to cover up that beauty with a ton of makeup.” He says.
I’m not used to hearing compliments like this one, so I can’t stop myself from shying away from his words. “That just won’t do, sweets. Hold your head up high. You’ll never survive this family or this world if you don’t gain a little confidence.”
As he places on my makeup with a sure and steady hand, I let his words tumble over and over in my mind. By the time he’s finished and I’m standing in my gown, I have some resolve. Johnny takes my hand and leads me to the floor-length mirror to see myself. Looking back is a stranger. Familiar, but so very different.
The girl that looks back at me isn’t the sad girl she was two years ago. She isn’t the bullied and broken mess that did whatever she had to do in order to survive. This girl is strong.
She’s confident. She can be whatever she wants to be in this new world she’s walked into. And right now, she wants to prove to everyone that she can belong.
“There she is.” Johnny says coming up behind me. “I knew you had it in you.”
I give him a small smile. “Thank you.”
“No, thanks needed. Believe it or not, I know what it’s like to be thrown into a new life you weren’t expecting. Give me your phone.” I hesitate for only a second before handing it over. “I’m going to give you my number. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Why would you offer that? You don’t know me.” I responded.
“I know enough. I mean it. Call me.” He grabs his tools and leaves after kissing me on the cheek.
The situation was weird as hell, but Johnny made me feel comfortable and beautiful. Looking in the mirror, I’d have to agree with him. I look good. I stare at myself for a few more minutes before I decide I’m ready to leave my room.
I can hear the laughter and tinkling of glasses downstairs when I open my door and make my way down the hall. I pause at the top, hanging onto the banister, and take in the party. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the whole town was here.
People fill the space, chatting and eating hor d’oeuvres. Champagne flows like water. The men talk about their latest business deals while the women gossip about their neighbors. Every person down there looks pretentious and as if they don't have a care in the world.
This is how the rich live, I think to myself. Seems boring to me. People should have better things to do with their time than get drunk while talking shit about others. Mom finally notices me and waves me her way. I comply and walk down the stairs.
She greets me at the bottom. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thank you. For the dress.”
“Oh.” She laughs. “Thank Creed. He offered to pick it up for you since I was so busy with the planning. That boy has good taste.”
She must be joking. I look at her but she looks serious and my mother has never been a good actor, so she’s telling me the truth. I nod in understanding. “Come. There are people you need to meet.”
* * *
Creed
The party started almost an hour ago, and it’s looking more and more like my little step-sister is going to skip out once again. Shame, really. Though I’m sure it will be fun to see my dad’s reaction to what he’ll see as a slight against him.
He’s already pissed that she’s working outside the home. Of course, he took the news as gracefully as a man like him could. God forbid his soon-to-be wife see the monster he truly is.
