Leopard Princess

Pucker Up Princess

POV: Chrissy

I am still lying in bed when I first wake up, so that I can actually get out of bed. I always like to lay for a few minutes to "let my brain" to wake up. I listen to music by the most awesome band ever, and I get a message from Bethany telling me to call her when I am "awake". She sent me in air quotes because she has delt with me before when I am not functioning.... she said I am not very functional and don't talk. After another song I decided to call her. "Hey what up Bethany?"

"Hey you are still in bed aren't you?" she asks. Dang how did she know?

"I don't think I can go. I need to clean today, and my mom needs me to help her out with something later," I tell her.

"Seriously? You are coming to my cousin's party! You also need to come up with a better excuse. I texted your mom and she said that you weren't going anywhere today."

"Well my cousin's birthday is this weekend, and I have to go to her house for her get together. I can't miss it."

"Don't even try that card either. Your mom told me that your uncle was sick with a cough and didn't want to get anybody else sick. I know your hand Riss. I can see your cards plain as day, but you will never see what I have up my sleeve."

"Oh no," I gulped a little nervously. She's going to make me...... FANCY!!!!!!

"Don't worry fancy isn't bad." (It was like she can read my mind) "So I will be over in an hour so we can swing from your chandelier becuase you know I'm all about that bass."

"Wow Beth, you are SOO weird, but I wouldn't want it any other way.... wait what did I just do? Oh no."

"Don't worry Riss. I won't sing until I can be with you in a little bit. We can play our playlist we created, and we can jam to some of the best songs out there."

"Fine! I will see you later then."

"LATERRRRRR!!"

Oh my gosh she we are so weird, but that is why we are friends. We are ALL types of crazy. Whoops I mean outta our mind lights. Well I might as well not get dressed. I will only have to change again anyway, so I go downstairs to my mom making waffles. "Good Morning honey here you go, and Beth will be here in about an hour," she smiles and winks because she already knows I talked to her. Bethany talked to her too. I can see her phone from across the counter and the conversation they had. It is always the same. She asks what I am doing before talking to me, but I like how she cares for me. We are always there for each other. She is there when I need a shoulder or advice or just someone that I can let anything on my mind not be on my mind anymore. I am the same for her.

"Ready for the party tonight?" she asks me.

"Ummmm I think so," I stammer. Of course I want to go, but I don't think I will know anyone there.

"Don't worry. I can see Bethany will help you have loads of fun!!!"

"Thanks mom! Love you!"

"Love you too Chrissy!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Who's ready to get... fancy!" she asks with the 'jazz hands'.

"I'm already fancy. You already know!" I answer her, "just hope you weren't driving in the fast lane."

"Ha well... maybe I was from L.A. to Toyko," she smiles and my mom looks at both of us as she shakes her head.

"What?" I ask my mom.

"Oh nothing, you guys are out of your minds everytime you two are together," she smiles and walks away.

"Outta our mi-i-i-i-inds outta our mi-i-i-i-inds!!!" both Beth and I shout as we race up the stairs. She left her dress here since we already planned to get ready at my house.

"Ok turn on those tunes girl! I want to hear the music!" Beth gives me a nod as I give her a 'troubled look'. "Ok I don't want treble I just want that bass."

"Alright let's get this room party started!!" I shout as I get walloped in the face with a pillow that nearly knocks me over. I take another pillow and hit her back. We run around as the music plays, and then a familiar voice comes on and reminds me of 'him', "Hey guys It's Kyle. I wrote the song, Plans, with the verse Jeremiah 29:11 in mi... and then I tried to skip it and then the song came on right after. I tried to skip THAT, but the acoustic version came on. I closed the playlist.

"Oh come on girl, what is wrong with that song?" Bethany looks at me with those concerned eyes.

"Come on that song reminds me of 'HIM' don't you see it?" I almost want to break down, but she gives me a hug then looks at me.

"Aren't you listening to the message, forget what it's about, who sings it, or whatever. God has a plan for you Chrissy. Remember the first time youv'e heard this? It started being everywhere, and He never wants you to forget it. Let's play a few rounds of your favorite game, and then we can get ready kk?"

"Fine, but you know I am going to win!" I mock her.

"Now that's my girl."

~~~~~~~~~~

She wins some, and I win some. We go at it for like an hour, and it is some of the most fun I've had with her. That verse... that guy... I just can't get him out of my head. Will he be there tonight? What if he is? What if I see him? Do I talk to him? Do I ignore him? Do I let him know that I care? Maybe he won't even be there tonight. He probably has 'plans with Julie' bleigh. She is so mean to me. In English I can't focus with her 'judging me'. It's almost like she acts like she hates me.

After we race a few more times, we decide to get ready. I wash my face, and Bethany insists that she does my makeup. Nobody has ever done it before for me, but I like the idea of it. She makes it so I am not looking in any mirror of any kind. Not even the window where I can catch a glimps of myself.

"Don't want to spoil the 'magic' now do we?" she winks, and we both laugh. After she is done she says, "Okay, now I will do your hair."

"Oh come on do we have to?" I whine.

"Come on, you look beautiful. Now we have to just add finishing touches to bring out that inner beauty."

She finishes and tells me to open my eyes. I open them to her holding a mirror in front of me. I sit there staring... is this really how I look? This can't be.

"Girl this is how the world looks at you WITHOUT makeup or fancy hair. Don't be so hard on yourself," she tells me with calmness, and I have no idea what to do or how to respond.

"ha..ha.. I guess modest is hottest," I weakly smile, want to cry, but don't want to ruin her work.

"What do you think I have been trying to tell you?"

"Then why am I wearing all of 'this'?" pointing to my face and hair.

"To make YOU realize it Christina Mckenzie Caramel. Everyone sees it, but you just needed a little boost to see it for yourself."

"You know I don't like it when you use my full name on me. It's not fair."

"Oh! And why is that? Cuz it's 'sweet'?" her eyebrow goes up.

"Ok can I do your's now?" I lightly shove her and we laugh.

"Go right ahead girl. I'm ready."

I finish hers and hand her the hand mirror. She is very happy. I thought she was 'never insecure', but I guess I couldn't have ever been more wrong. We all have something I guess. She just doesn't show it. I hide it, but only the true friends... or Bethany is the only one that can see it. I guess I'm not so alone after all. She hugs me, and the final step comes. Her favorite part of the whole 'operation'. The dress.

"Ready for this?" She asks as we stand there in our pretty dresses.

"I don't think we could have ever been more ready," I respond.

"Oh then I guess you don't want these?" she says holding high heels... that I would fall trying to put them on.

"Nope. I think I have a better idea," I look in my closet.

"Oh come on girl. No!"

"Oh yes. You got me this far, and now it's my turn," I respond back with her same tone.

I grab them as she heads out the door and down the stairs. I stay back for a few more seconds looking in the mirror.