In Your Corner | ✓

Thirty-Two

"Are you sure that it's okay I'm coming?"

Anandi lets out a loud groan, smacking her palm down on the floor of the bathroom, where she's sitting crossed legged in front of the mirror, meticulously applying her make-up. "I swear if you ask that question one more time, MJ, I'm going to ruin all the work I've just put into making your hair look gorgeous."

Snorting back my laughter, I turn from my position of being perched on the edge of the bath tub so that I can take in the sight of our beautiful but very worried friend. "Yes, of course, it's okay that you're coming. Reuben specifically said we should bring you."

MJ, whose auburn hair has been pulled up into a really fancy do by Anandi, worries her lip between her teeth. "So long as you're sure."

Anandi meets my eyes through the mirror, sighing. "You've literally been invited by the host, MJ. Stop fretting over it and show us your outfit options, all right?"

The three of us are squished into our bathroom, all trying to get ready for Reuben's big 21stbirthday bash. He comes from money, so has rented out an apparently really fancy venue in downtown Vancouver for the night.

Despite being pretty much just a house party, the invitation specified that it's a black-tie event and all of us have spent the last couple of days running around like headless chickens, trying to find acceptable outfits for it.

Although she's currently dressed in a ratty old t-shirt and pyjama shorts while she does her make-up, Anandi has pulled out all the stops with a stunning off-the-shoulder fitted white dress, that shows off her curves in all the right places. She found it a few days ago at the mall and decided she just had to have it.

MJ has two options, both of which obviously look stunning. She's struggling to choose between a classy black jumpsuit and a beautiful green floor-length shimmery dress.

In the end, we decide on the green dress, because matches her eyes, accentuating the jade.

I accompanied Anandi on her shopping trip a few days ago and she pretty much bullied me into buying a form-fitting red dress that stops just a couple of inches above my knees. In fairness, I fell in love with it the minute I tried it on, but Anandi had to put a fair shift in to actually get me into the changing room, given that it's a little pricier than I'd usually go for.

I keep my face fairly natural, but swipe on some bright red lipstick to go with the dress.

"I'm actually so excited for this," Anandi announces once she's finished with her make-up. "I can't remember the last time that we all went out together like this."

It has been a while since we had a big night out. After the five girls came forward as part of the investigation, Josh and I got swept up into providing statements, attending and testifying at a hearing that found both of the guys guilty and just trying to deal with the aftermath of everything. Our ever-supportive friends put their efforts into being there for us and somehow, we didn't all have as much time to go on nights out, especially as the workload for the semester began to pile up and up.

Now, it's the beginning of March, and we've decided it's only right to make a big deal out of Reuben's birthday.

"Me too," I agree, surveying myself one more time in the mirror, to check that I don't have a hair out of place. That would be kind of hard, given that my pin straight hair always falls flat anyway, with no volume. At least it means that my hair is rarely messy.

"I think I'm just excited to see everyone's outfits," Anandi continues her barrage as she exits the bathroom, with me hot on her heels. "Everyone always looks amazing for these kinds of events and I'm here for it."