“Oh, crap, you’re right,” she said, looking at the clock. “Sit down.” She pushed me onto the chair in front of the vanity. Her fingers began to tug and separate my hair. “Mara, you have such pretty hair and you just let it go to waste. It’s such a shame.” She clucked her tongue. I rolled my eyes.
She twisted my hair into an elegant braid then turned me in the chair to face her. So she could dab some makeup onto my face. Hopefully, she wasn’t going overboard. She swiped some gloss across my lips and stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Lovely. You look amazing.”
She then turned me to face the mirror.
My skin glowed and my hazel eyes looked greener thanks to some shadow she had brushed across my lids. My lips looked fuller than normal and my skin glowed. I looked like some kind of exotic creature. Dani could work wonders.
I started to stand but she pushed me back down. “Ugh, look at your brows. When’s the last time you waxed them? Where’s my tweezers?” she muttered, fiddling with the vanity’s drawer. She finally found the shiny silver object and held it up triumphantly. “A-ha!”
“Dani,” I whined, squirming, “please, no.”
“Hold still,” she commanded, snapping the tweezers like a crab’s pinchers. She held me in the chair with one hand and began to pluck my brows.
“Ow!” I cried when she pinched a bit of skin.
“Sorry.” She giggled so I knew she wasn’t sorry at all. “If you only kept your eyebrows waxed you wouldn’t be in this situation.”
She finished plucking my brows and we switched places. Dani already looked immaculate. Her black hair flowed down her back in pretty waves. Her dark skin looked flawless but glowed with a strawberry-scented shimmery lotion. Her pale pink tank top was flowy and stood out against her white shorts. Her feet were encased in golden flats. Like always, her makeup was perfect.
“Do you think this top looks good?” she asked, plucking at the bottom of it.
“Dani, you look perfect.” I sighed, knowing this could go on for hours with her. Once, she’d spent so long changing her clothes we ended up missing a birthday party entirely. “Like always. It’s sickening,” I joked.
Dani smiled at my compliment. She disappeared into her closet and returned with a sparkling gold shrug.
“Here,” she said, handing it to me. “Wear this over your shirt. It’ll dress you up a bit. Oh, and these.” She picked up a pair of shoes from the floor. I could never decide if it was a good thing or a bad thing that we wore the same size clothes and shoes.
I pulled the three-quarter-sleeved cardigan on and slipped out of my Converse and into her gladiator-style shoes.
She smiled at me. “That is so much better.”
I rolled my eyes; I didn’t see how a change of shoes and shrug could make my outfit much better.
She grabbed my hand. “Come on, let’s go.” She dragged me from the room. I realized it was starting to get dark. “Bye, Mom,” she called and pulled me out the door before her mom could question our destination.
Once in her car she backed out of the driveway so fast that I was surprised she didn’t take out the mailbox and my dad’s truck with it.
“Now, Mara,” she began, pointing her finger as she drove. “I really hope you’re nice to Eli tonight. That boy has it bad for you.”
I shrugged my shoulders and squirmed. “I like Eli. I do. He’s a nice guy but I just don’t feel that way about him. I don’t think it’s right to lead him on.”
Dani sighed dramatically. “Mara,” she said my name like a mother scolding an unruly child. “Just give him some summer lovin’. He’s going away to college and you’re going to stay here. You’ll never see him again.”
I laughed. “Dani, I love you but you’ve got some twisted logic.”
She smiled at me. “I hate seeing you alone.”
“I’m not alone,” I defended. “I have you and I have my dad.”
“Really, Mara? You don’t ever picture yourself with a guy?”
I started to say no but then the image of the boy at graduation invaded my mind. His dark hair, those gray eyes, lean hips, and those lips.
“I do,” I finally answered, “but I don’t want to waste my time with someone I don’t have feelings for. Doesn’t that make any sense to you?”
“Yeah, I guess. But—” She bit her lip and glanced at me.
“But you want to track down Ian and spend your time with him. I’ll be fine Dani. You’re not the only person in the world that I know.”
She gave me a sympathetic smile and said, “I’m such a lousy friend.”
“Yes, you are,” I laughed. “Lord only knows why I hang out with you.”
She laughed and playfully punched my arm. She flicked a piece of hair from her eye and said, “You know you love me.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Sometimes, I’m not so sure about that,” I jested.
She smacked my arm.
“Eyes on the road,” I commanded.
“Yes, Mother,” she mocked.
The party was already packed. Music thundered, and the fiery sparks of a bonfire could be seen. Recent high school grads and some college students stood around, drinking from red plastic cups.
The moon reflected off the lake making the water glow white. Looking up at the sky I was certain that I could see every star.
“Mara, you’re so weird,” said Dani, grabbing my hand. “Who stands around looking at the sky?”
“I do,” I defended.
She huffed and let go of my hand.
“I’m going to find Ian,” she said. “Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I replied.
She turned to walk away. “Wait,” she blurted, turning back. She had that pleading look on her face. “Can you please, pretty please, be the designated driver?” She gave me puppy dog eyes and pouty lips.
“Dani, I don’t drink. I’m always the designated driver.”
She smiled and started to leave again.
“Keys?” I called after her.
She tossed them to me. After a few drinks, Dani tended to forget that she couldn’t drive. I had learned a while ago to make sure she didn’t have access to them.
I stuffed the keys into my pocket and walked down to the lake. Everyone was dancing, laughing, and having a good time. I hated it. I didn’t know why I always let Dani drag me to these things, especially when I knew I’d inevitably be ditched.
Actually, I did know why. I was worried about what might happen to her if I wasn’t around.
I plopped down in the grass and watched the water ripple. I instantly felt calmer. Looking at the water, the stars, and the moon, it was easy to drown out the party.
I noticed a swing set and made my way over, plopping in the seat. My legs propelled me up and I felt like a little kid again, going to the park and having my dad push me, as I giggled and screamed, “Higher!”
“Hey,” said someone, taking the swing next to mine.
“Hi, Eli,” I mumbled.
Of course he found me. This must be a record.
“Dani said I might find you out here,” he supplied when he caught my tone.
Curse that girl.
I didn’t mean to be overly rude to the guy, it wasn’t his fault that he liked me, but man, shouldn’t he have gotten the message by now? I’d never done anything to lead him on.
“Do you need something?” I asked. I tried and failed to keep the edge from my voice.
He sighed. “I just wanted to see you.”
“Here I am.”
Eli looked at the ground and I watched his feet drag little pieces of grass. “Why don’t you like me?”