True Friends & Hard Times (Emblem 3)

Chapter 9

Alise never gets dressed up. She just wasn't that kind of girl. So when I seen her like this, it was shocking. She had on a short, purple dress with black heals, and was wearing a long silver necklace and had diamond earrings in. Her hair was bumped, and curled. She had her make-up done full out. Her face was completely clear and smooth. She had on a light purple eye shadow. Her mascara made her eyeshadow pop, and she had on clear, shinny lipgloss. She spun around to show me the whole do, "like?" "Yes.", I answered, smiling. I went into my walk in closest, and got dressed. I put on a short, tight, hot pink dress. I put on my black stilettos, and looked in the mirror. I put on some plain black bracelets, and slipped on my diamond necklace and earrings my daddy got me last year for Christmas. I already did my hair and make up. my hair was down, and i curled it. but not big curls, it was like, the cute wavy curls. And my makeup was done full out. I glanced once more in the mirror, and walked out to show Alise. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped. "And you said I looked hot?", she asked, smiling. "You do.", I laughed. "No, girl. THAT'S hot.", she complimented me. "Thanks.", I giggled. Maggie walked in, and stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh em gee. You two are totally gorgeous.", she gasped. We replied with thanks, and laughs. "Ready to go and pick out your outfit?", I asked maggie. "Sure. But there's no way in a million years I'm going to look as amazing as y'all.", she told us. "Awh , stop that.", I blushed. "Too sweet.", Alise told her.

We went down stairs and hugged our moms good bye. Of course they had to take pictures of us though, so good thing we went down a little early. As soon as they were done, we got our things and headed out to my car. We arrived at Maggie's and hurried to her room. "Should I wear a dress or skirt?", she asked us. "Dress.", I answered. "Dress.", Alise agreed. Maggie was searching through her closet and pulled out a purple one. I knew what Alise was thinking so I beat her to it. "No. You don't wanna match Alise. They boys will think it's weird.", I told her. Then she pulled out a yellow one. "You wanna look like a banana?", I joked. Alise and Maggie laughed. Then she pulled out a green one. "Now your talking.", Alise laughed, telling her. She quickly put it on and handed me back my clothes she borrowed. "What color shoes? Silver or black?", she asked. "Um with a green dress? Definitely black.", I told her. She slipped on her heels and touched up her make up. We all took pictures together, but made sure not to post them. We wanted to surprise the guys by looking this hot. We left and arrived at the house at the exact time we told the boys. They all ran out "perfect timing.", Drew said, kissing me. "Wow Nicole. You look drop dead gorgeous.", he told me. "Aw thanks drew.", I told him. "Ready?", he asked. "As I'll ever be.", I responded. "Don't worry. It's fine.", he said, before kissing me again. Keaton and Wesley had already escorted Alise and Maggie out, and were waiting by the door for me and Drew. We followed up behind them and we all entered at the same time. Mrs. Stromberg made her rounds, hugging and introducing herself to Alise, Maggie, and finally made it to me.

"And last but certainly not least. You must be Nicole. I have heard so much about you. Drew is hung up all over your little self. Even Keaton and Wesley say how happy they are he found you. I am too honey.", she told me, giving me a big hug and kissing my cheek. "Thank you so much Mrs. Stromberg. I've been waiting to meet you for awhile now.", I smiled hugging her back. "Who's hungry?", she asked us all. Everyone responded automatically. "I cooked baked chicken, potatoes, and macaroni. Assuming its something easy everyone should like.", she told us. We all commented something letting her know we did. "This is delicious.", I commented on the food. "I agree.", Maggie said. "Alise?", I called her. "Oh sorry. This is so good I can't quit eating.", she said. This caused us all to laugh. "Member when my dad cooked this and we kept eating all the potatoes?", I laughed. "Oh gosh. What a night.", she laughed also.

We all finished eating and thanked Mrs. Stromberg. "No problem girls. Hope to see y'all soon. I'm going bathe. Goodnight.", she told us. And we all yelled goodnight and thank you's to her. "Told you it wouldn't be so bad.", Drew teased. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for tonight.", I told him, before him leaning In to kiss me. "Wanna stay awhile?", he asked. "I was hoping you'd ask me that. But I don't wana stay in these clothes.", I told him. "Come with me.", and I followed him up the stairs. We reached his room and he handed me a pair of his sweats and and a t shirt. "Might be big, but just get comfortable.", he told me, pointing to his bathroom. I peed, changed, and freshened up before going back out. "You look so cute in my clothes boo.", he smiled at me. I blushed, crawling in bed with him. We cuddled and watched movies, talking and laughing like we'd been seeing each other for months. Although its only been a week, I felt so close to him already. We had a connection, and I wondered if he felt it too. It started getting late, so I told him I should go. "Yeah. Your right. Wouldn't want to do anything to get your mom to dislike me.", he teased. "I don't think that's possible.", I laughed at him. "I'm going get Maggie and Alise.", I told him. I went to get Alise first. I knocked and they called me in. "Sorry babes. Time to go.", I pouted, teasingly. "Aw okay.", Keaton said. "I'll give you a minute.", I said, walking out. I waited in the hall and It wasn't long before Alise walked out. "No Keaton?", I asked. "We said our goodbyes already. It's late, he's going shower.", she said. We walked down the hall to get Maggie, knocking on Wesley's door. No one answered. We knocked again, and still no answer. We slowly opened the door, to see them passionately making out on his bed. Alise coughed to tell them we were there. They quickly detached, revealing that Wesley was massaging her boob. "Slut.", Alise whispered to me. "We'll be out in the hall.", I told maggie. "Me and Keaton haven't even done nothing like that yet, and they've only been 'seeing each other' for what, two days?.", she said, disgusted. "Shh. I know Alise. But she's right there. Keep it quiet.", I told her. "Wait, your actually taking my side this time?", she asked, shocked. "I always do, secretly.", I said. "But this is different, and she shouldn't be going this fast.", I finished. "Ya think?", she mumbled.

We ended up drifting down stairs and waiting for Maggie for almost ten minutes before she finally arrived. "Sorry you guys had to see that.", she apologized. Neither of us answered her. We got in my car and quietly drove to Maggie's house. We pulled in her driveway, but she didn't get out of the car. I turned to her, "are you going or what?" She just looked at me, with a straight face. "After we talk.", she finally replied. "Well this could take awhile.", Alise replied, turning off the car. "Why are you upset about this? It's my body.", she told Me. "Your right. It's none of my damn business. But I'm sorry I care about my friend more than that, to want better for her. This is the second day you've seen Wesley. And I know for a fact if I wouldn't have barged in on you, you would've slept with him. On your second date. Does that not sound wrong to you Maggie?", I asked, my tone pissed. "It does. And your right.", she sadly said. "About?", I asked. "All of it. I'm glad you guys came in to stop it before it ended up being that". "Maggie. Me and you haven't been on a very good page, but this sure topped it.", Alise turned around saying. "We're just looking out for you.", I mumbled to maggie. She began to cry. "Why are you crying you slut?", Alise yelled at her. "Alise! Enough!", I yelled back. She quietly turned around, and just sat there. "Why you crying Maggie?", I asked her, somewhat nicely. "I am a slut. I don't have the prettiest face like y'all, or the fittest body. Guys only want me for one thing, only because I give it to them. I don't wana be this way. Help me.", she sobbed. "Maggie, we will help you. We're your friends. Now please get out of the car. I'm not trying to be mean, but we all need a good nights rest, and we'll be here in the morning to pick you up. We'll go to the beach and discuss all of this. We will help you, I promise.", I said, looking straight into her eyes. "Really?", she lightened up a bit. "I said I promise. And I never purposely break promises.", I replied. She gathered her stuff, and quietly got out, sobbing the entire time. "Don't even say anything.", I told Alise, staring blankly out the window. "Save it for tomorrow?", she asked, as I shook my head yes.