AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I exhaled in a huff and ignored her last statement because Mia had been missing out for far too long. “Listen, I already committed to this game. How about, if you go with me, I’ll watch any movie of your choice, with or without Ethan, and I get no say.”
Mia narrowed her eyes. “Even one with subtitles?”
I fought the urge to grimace. Subtitles were the worst, and she knew how much I hated them. “Even with subtitles.”
“Black and white film?”
I pressed my lips together and slowly nodded, though it was painful. I loved my sister, I reminded myself. “Sure,” I choked out.
“Even one that’s based on the book where I complain the entire time about how different it is?”
Oh, lord. Those were the worst. “Yes, even that,” I ground out.
“Okay, fine. I’ll go.”
I jumped in place and yelped with joy. “But first, let me do your hair.”
Mia reached a hand up to her head and felt the fiery locks piled into a messy bun with a pencil stuck through it. “What’s wrong with my hair?”
“Well, nothing per se. It’s just . . . it just gives off a . . . it’s been a rough day at work kind of vibe.”
Mia shot me a look to kill, and I held my hands up in surrender. “Okay, then. No hair. But what about your clothes? Can you at least wear something cute?”
Mia glanced down at her leggings and oversized t-shirt, complete with a giant image of Einstein’s head. “What’s wrong with this? We’re going to a baseball game, not a fashion show.”
“Grrr. Why do you have to make everything so difficult,” I said, walking toward her closet. “It might not be a fashion show, but kids from school will be there.”
“Still don’t care.”
“And boys. Cute boys. Some in baseball uniforms.” I glanced back to see Mia looking at me like I was stupid.
“I don’t need to meet a boy, so if that’s your plan—”
“It wouldn’t kill you to try and look cute, ya know. To put yourself out there, even if just foryourself.”
“What’s the point?” Mia headed to her bed where she flopped down, already sounding bored with the topic of conversation. “Even if I agreed with anything you’re saying, sitting next to you, I’ll look like Cinderella’s ugly stepsister.”
“That issonot true,” I said, shoving an outfit toward her. “You turn heads all the time. You just don’t notice, probably because you don’t try.”
Mia scoffed. “I’m the Danny DeVito to your Arnold Schwarzenegger from Twins.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“Ella, I’ve been known as Carrot Top most of my life. I’m short, have freckles on my nose and cheeks, very little boobage, and my skin is the same shade as clotted cream.”
“Eww.” I wrinkled my nose. “Did you have to say ‘clotted?’”
“Whatever.” She waved me off. “The point is, trying seems useless, and besides, this is who I am. Why bother pretending I’m something I’m not?IfI want a boyfriend, he’ll like me as I am. Just like Ethan.”
“Except Ethan isn’t your boyfriend, though.”
At that, she clenched her jaw so hard, I feared her teeth might crack.
“Listen, you just need to act the part, and boys will flock to you.” I whipped out a tube of bright pink lipstick from my pocket. “Confidence is everything.”
Mia sighed but allowed me to apply a thin layer of color to her lips. “But I already told you. I don’t need–”
“A boyfriend. I know.”Good thing I knew what was best for her.
