“Lots of research and some practice,” she laughed.
“Well, you out did yourself,” I told her honestly.
“Thanks! You look great, lets just add a little makeup,” she said, taking out her large palette. I never wore makeup, so I didn’t have a clue what she was doing or what she was going on about as she tried to explain, I just nodded and smiled going along with it. It felt fun to get dressed up and be pampered like this, it made me wish I had sisters who liked me and I could do this with too, I was so thankful I had June back in my life.
“Put on the dress and then look in the mirror, I want you to get the full effect,” she ordered, not letting me peek in the mirror to see what she had done with my face. My face felt slightly heavier but not much. I was so curious what she’d done, after applying all sorts of products. I did as she asked and took my hanging dress off the hook and slipped into the silky-smooth material. Once in my dress, June passed me a pair of dangly earring to put on and then turned me to look in the mirror. I didn’t recognize the person I saw staring at me, she looked older, much more elegant and beautiful. She looked a lot like my mom. I felt my eyes began to water and fought the tears.
“Don’t cry! I just finished your makeup!” June ordered, smiling widely. “You look incredible, Mick,” she gushed.
“Thank you so much, June!” I said, squeezing her in a tight hug.
“Anytime, I had a blast girl!” she said and I knew she meant it. June headed back to her house to get James and the family. I walked out of my room, bringing only a small clutch June had lent me, that contained my phone, some gum and a lipstick for me to reapply during the night, as June explained would most likely be necessary. I went down the stairs to wait for James. Gert, Reggie, Paix and Alyssa all came down as well, to send off Gert, who was leaving in a limo. James was taking us in his car and that was perfect to me. Gert wore a shiny light blue dress that matched her eyes, it hugged her entire body and had cut-outs on her ribs, it was very daring and very her. Her hair was down but wasn’t straight as it usually was, she had it cascading in loose waves and her makeup was dark and smoky, making her look fierce. She looked beautiful. The girls all eyed me up and down, as if not recognizing me.
“You look beautiful Gert,” I told her, speaking first.
“Thanks, you too,” she acknowledged, surprising me. We hadn’t really interacted at all since I got back from Spring Break and we had our little argument. She had been doing a good job of avoiding me and had even stopped bothering me so much. I don’t know if it was because of what I said or if it was because our time together was coming to an end, but I was thankful.
“Thank you,” I said, meaning it. Dad came down, his eyes tearing up as he took me in.
“You look beautiful Honey,” he said looking at me, “You both do,” he added to Gert but didn’t take his eyes off me. “You look just like your mother,” he said, making me want to tear up as well, she had been beautiful and I had always wished I looked more like her. I took this as the highest of compliments.
“Thanks dad,” I said, feeling all emotional. A car horn honked breaking us from the moment.
“That’s my ride,” Gert announced.
“Let’s just get a picture,” Alyssa said, pulling out her phone. Gert smiled and posed by the door and then the girls all followed her out. I had kind of wanted to get one of us together but didn’t say anything as they went out, just happy none of her friends in the limo came into the house. Gert was going with Cody to the prom, I found it very fitting because they were the two most annoying people in our grade. Once Gert had left, Reggie, Paix, and Alyssa came back in but didn’t bother waiting around for me to leave, they all fled in different directions.
“Have fun tonight, you look really nice,” Paix said sweetly and part of me was actually going to miss her, she was the least of all the evils.
“Thanks Paix.” I smiled as she headed to her room. James knocked on the door and dad opened it, letting him, June, Mr. and Mrs. Kirk all in. I watched James and his expression as he took me in. His eyes widened and mouth dropped but no words came out, he was utterly speechless which was just the reaction I was going for.
“Mickey! You look wonderful, my dear!” Mrs. Kirk cried out.
“You look lovely,” Mr. Kirk added, smiling as well. Only James remained silent, frozen in his place.
“James, doesn’t she just look stunning?” Mrs. Kirk asked, when he continued to remain silent.
“Y-yes, yes she does,” he stuttered out, “You look incredibly beautiful,” he got out finally, his eyes still locked on me. I smiled even wider under his mesmerized gaze.
“Let’s get some pictures of the two of you together,” dad said, excited.
“Yes, we must!” James’s mom agreed. James came to me and stood beside me, taking my hand in his as camera flashes went off.
“James, look at me!” his mom ordered and I turned my head to find him looking down at me smiling, I smiled back at him and then looked back at our parents and their trigger happy fingers.
“Perfect,” his mom announced. After they had gotten
