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"Melanie, are you still alive in there?"
My roommate Willow's voice is muffled through the bathroom door.
“Barely,” I call back, trying to tame a rebellious curl that insists on pointing due north.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m having a minor battle with my hair."
Eliza’s voice chimes in. “Need reinforcements?”
I sigh. "Affirmative."
The word escapes me just as the door swings open, revealing both Eliza and Willow, their grins infectious.
“Have no fear, the beauty calvary is here!” Willow declares, clapping her hands together.
It's Friday night, and I'm in the bathroom getting ready for my date with Jake.
As I look at myself in the mirror, I can't help but feel grateful for these two amazing friends who have been by my side through thick and thin. They've seen me at my worst and still love me unconditionally.
Willow rushes over to the makeup counter and starts rummaging through my products.
"Okay, we need to make you look like a total bombshell tonight," she says with determination in her voice.
Eliza, meanwhile, steps into the small battlefield of eyeshadows and brushes scattered across the countertop. She picks up a bobby pin and expertly maneuvers it into my hair, securing the loose strands.
"Thanks, girlie.” I smile at her reflection in the mirror, her own dark curls framing her face like she's some sort of undercover goddess posing as a grad student. "You always know how to make things work."
"Willow has the magic touch with mascara, though." Eliza winks at our other roommate, who is already unscrewing the tube, armed and ready.
"Prepare to be amazed," Willow announces, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she stands on tiptoe to reach my lashes.
I look upwards, trusting Willow with my fragile lash dreams.
A few seconds later, she steps back, admiring her handiwork. “Perfect. Jake won't know what hit him."
"Hopefully, it's Cupid's arrow and not just shock at my overdone eyelashes," I snort, finally allowing myself to meet my own gaze in the mirror.
Eliza whistles. "Melanie Watts, you're going to knock his socks off."
"Figuratively and literally," Willow adds with a wink.
My heart swells with affection for my two best friends, and I pull both of them into a hug. "Thanks, guys."
"Okay, enough sappy stuff." Willow giggles as she claps her hands together. “We don’t want Melanie to be late for her very first date with a celebrity.”
I laugh. “Jake is just a guy."
Willow snorts. “Sure, 'just a guy' who happens to have his own Wikipedia page.”
"Speaking of crushes..." I shoot back, darting a glance at Eliza, whose attention is suddenly very focused on the hem of my dress. "How's it going with Mister 'I-Have-A-Permanent-Frown-Line-For-A-Mouth' boss of yours?"
Eliza's cheeks flush a deeper shade than her lipstick. "He's not... I don't... We're not talking about me!"
Before we can delve any deeper into Eliza's love life, or lack thereof, there's a knock on the door. A flutter kicks up in my stomach, spreading its wings like a hummingbird caught in my ribs.
"Deep breaths," I whisper to myself, then stride over to the door, trying to look as composed as possible. My hand hovers, hesitates, then twists the knob.
