Under the First Mistletoe

A Colorful Mistake

"All set?" Lizzie asked staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair had been cut, achieving a layered look instead of the boring hairstyle she had before. She had seen the effect of it, still with the black hair, and her hair framed her face that accented her very features, according to Ms. Dee and the other salon ladies. Then, Lizzie had asked for pink and green streaks in her hair.

She was wearing a dark red velvet dress, like the color of blood, for the rehearsal dinner. She had to resist the urge to laugh out loud. She looked horrendous, like she was going to a Halloween party instead of a wedding rehearsal.

Just a couple of hours ago, she had left Fair Hair with Lily, both of them sporting a wild hairdo. Lizzie bought them hats just to cover up their new hairdo, but she was relieved when they walked in the house unnoticed. They spent the next three hours in Lizzie's bedroom, preparing for the rehearsal dinner.

And now, they were going to show it to everyone. Even Jordan.

Oh, what is he going to think? Lizzie thought desperately. He'd probably think I'm so crazy! And ugly!

Behind her, sitting on her bed, Lily was eagerly brushing her rainbow-colored hair.

Lizzie chuckled. The girl loved her new hair! She said it was like coming from a fairytale story. Who would've thought a little girl would love rainbow-colored hair? Lily was practically squealing with delight when she first saw her reflection in the mirror.

Now, they were both dressed ready for the rehearsal dinner. Lizzie fumbled through her purse and took out a pair of earrings. She handed one to Lily who looked questioningly at her. "For your nose," she explained smiling.

Lily eyes grew wide. "I don't have a hole there!"

"You don't need to," Lizzie said as she fastened the earring-rather, nose-ring, on her nose. It hurt a bit at first but the pain left. "It's a clip-on," she said then she demonstrated to Lily exactly how to do it. "Okay?"

Lily wrinkled her nose. "It hurts."

"It does a little but it'll go away," Lizzie said in an assuring way. She glanced at her clock. 7:40. "Good. We're late."

"That's good?" Lily asked curiously. "Mom hates it whenever I get to school late."

"Well this time it's kind of different. We'refashionably late," Lizzie explained with a smile. She hoped Lily didn't see how nervous she was, or that she was suddenly regretting this idea. She wasn't the type of person who would do such a thing. The craziest thing she'd done so far in her life was to cut class. That was nothing compared to the things she heard other people do, or the pranks Matt and Mark did.

"We'll make a grand entrance so everyone will notice us," she added as an afterthought to Lily, who nodded, her eyebrows bunched together as though she was having a hard time understanding it all. Lizzie chuckled. "But your mom's right. You shouldn't be late in getting to school. Detention sucks," Lizzie said making a face. She counted out the seconds, expecting Nora's voice.

"What's the ten shun?" Lily suddenly asked.

Three…two…one…

"Miss Lizzie? Miss Lily? The rehearsal dinner is starting," Nora's voice came from behind the door.

"Coming," Lizzie called. Yup, they were late. "What did you just say?" she asked Lily.

Lily stood up from the bed and walked towards Lizzie. "I asked what the ten shun is? Is that like the Ten Commandments Jordan keeps telling me about?"

God, she's adorable! Lizzie thought with a smile. "You're so cute, you know that."

Lily looked up at her, her rainbow-hair flowing. "Why am I cute?"