Page 93 of Resurgent

“There she is,” Matt says, smiling softly as he steps fully into the bathroom with me before wrapping me in a hug.

We stay like that for a moment before a wet, warm liquid hits my cheek. Looking up into my best friends face, I’m shocked when I see tears slowly gliding down his cheeks.

“I never thought I’d see you look at yourself like that again,” Matt chokes out, tears gently falling. “Gods, it’s the most beautiful thing.”

“I was just appreciating Sasha’s hard work,” I say, trying to dodge the compliment while I wipe his face dry with my thumbs.

“Your hair, I believe, after hearing rumors of escaped psych ward patients running the halls in dresses,” he teases as he spins me back around to look at my reflection once more. “But your face is all you.”

For the first time since walking in here, I truly take in Sasha’s makeup spell…or lack thereof.

A pinch of blush, a light dusting of eyeshadow, a glossy lip, and mascara, that’s it. No fancy contouring or flashy colors. Just a few little things to accentuate my features.

Now it’s my turn for tears to well in my eyes, but Matt, always more observant, is already passing me a tissue to dab them away.

“If they fall and mess with Sasha’s magic, neither of us will live to hear our fake tracks announced.”

“And they say men can’t be taught,” Sasha coos from Matt’s recently vacated spot. “But this is magic, Mattey-boy. And I account for everything, including you messing with my muse right before her date is set to arrive.”

“Her date? Your date?” He asks, eyes whipping from Sasha to me.

"Not a date date—" I begin

"It's Theo!” Sasha squeals, doing a little happy dance. "After their little moment in his room earlier, she wanted him to come.”

Matt’s temporarily consumed by a coughing fit as I laugh.

Sasha looks confused for a minute before rolling her eyes and throwing her hands in the air in defeat.

“The Twisted Twins, folks. From mushy-gushy to smutty-mutty in point five seconds!”

“Seriously? You didn’t hear it as you were saying it?” Emily asks, laughing at Sasha through the mirror.

“Not all of our minds live in the gutters,” Sasha says primly, before cracking a smile. “Or maybe that was exactly how I meant it…”

“You’re making things worse,” I mutter, watching Matt’s nostrils flare just a little.

A firm knock sounds at the door, and everything stops.

“Oh. My. Gods. It’s time!” Sasha gasps like it’s Antonio on the other side of that door, but he'd already broke it to her last weekend that he wouldn't be able to make it tonight.

“It’s just Theo,” I say, already heading for the door. “We’re just friends, no one make this weird.”

“Lee—” Matt starts.

Too late.

Theo's entire expression transforms the moment he sees me. Eyes going wide, he lets out a breath so heavy, you'd think he’d been holding it from the time I left his room.

“Hey,” he says, a giant grin spreading across his face as his gaze drifts over me from head to toe.

“Hi.” I offer him a small smile. “Sorry, we—"

Matt's suddenly at my side, silent and staring at Theo in the calm and measuring way he’s perfected to let people know just how much he dislikes them.

Theo straightens almost imperceptibly. He tries to hide it, but I catch it—and so does my best friend.

"Give us a second," Matt says, before swinging the door shut—inches from Theo's face—and aggressively turning the lock.