Sugar, We're Going Down Swinging

Chapter Fourteen

Steam swallowed me whole as I stepped out of the shower and into the tiny bathroom. I dried off my body, then wrapped up my hair. Brin had really treated us today at the mall. She’d paid for name brand dresses and shoes, Aerie underwear, jewelry, and a brand new makeup palette for us to share. I had ended up with coral-colored lace underwear, and a push-up bra the same color, that was delicate, and tripped in lace. I took off the tags and slipped it on, than put on my robe so I could sneak back into the bedroom.

Danielle’s iPod was docked and playing some rap song I’d never heard. Danielle was sitting at the vanity, and Brin, who was already made-up, hair stick straight and falling against her collar bones, in just her underwear, was working on curling Danielle’s hair. Danielle already had a bottle of Absolut on the vanity in front of her, and her hand shook a little as she put on pale pink lipstick. I dropped the robe by the door and went to help Danielle.

The three of us had been competing together for years and we had a system. Brin loved doing everyone’s hair, and makeup was my thing. We had our little systems and rituals, and they never failed us. Brin was a Nazi about every last hair being in place. I always supplied lipstick, and we always had to be wearing the exact same one. I hair sprayed my shoes. Brin kept us pumped. Danielle practically sewed hair pieces into her head. Brin made sure we were all warmed up properly, and I made sure the boys were always corralled and within sight. Danielle lectured you if you had fingernail polish on. We always listened to the same playlist when we got ready. We always did the same ritual backstage to get our nerves out. We held hands during awards. We never let each other down.

Brin said “Done,” to Danielle, and she got up to go get dressed. “Can you blow dry my hair?” I asked Brin, “Like you did for my solo at Nationals last year?” I added, tugging on the towel so it came lose and my wet hair tumbled out. Brin nodded excitedly, grinning, and I sat down. As I looked in the vanity mirror, a flood of memories engulfed me. My mom’s old perfume bottles and makeup brushes still sat below the mirror, and my eyes watered at the sight. I felt myself laying on the bed, watching my mother and Annie get ready for dinner with mine and Astley’s dads, arguing over pearls versus gold, sweet pea versus lavender.

Then, I was sitting in the chair, and my mom was curling my hair for no apparent reason. Lucy was two and laying on the bed, looking sunburnt but happy. An oldies station was playing in the background.  I was an awkward-as-hell thirteen year old with a weird six-pack and freaky flexibility, but I remember that Astley told me I looked pretty with curly hair, but beautiful with straight hair. So I almost always kept my hair straight, just for that comment.  Brin finished my hair as I did my makeup in champagnes and dark browns with a Terra-Cotta lipstick. By then, it was almost eight and time to get dressed.

Brin and Danielle were ready to go, just waiting for me. I walked over to the bed and unzipped the dress bag. I gently pulled the delicate thing off the hanger and unzipped the back, stepping into it and tugging it up over my arms and my shoulders. I tugged my hair out from beneath it as Brin zipped it up. It was unlike anything I owned or ever considered owning. It was made completely of black, delicate lace. It was long sleeved, with a wide scoop neck and a hemline that covered my butt and not much else. It was lined with nude fabric, giving the illusion of being able to see through the lace. Danielle had wanted hot pink heels, but I hadn’t found any at the mall in Victoria, so I found a pair of shiny nude pumps and was wearing them instead. I had opted out of jewelry, as well, so by the time my shoes were on, I was ready.

I sat on the bed after my shoes were on, and watched my two best friends get ready. I could never remember a time that Danielle didn’t look pretty. She was tan-skinned, her hair caramel-colored and streaked with blonde. She was tall and thin, with legs up to there, with eyes that were snow-on-the-mountain-blue, and when she fixed you with her wide-eyed stare, you  could feel that mountain snow trickle down your spine. Her dress was purple. The bodice was lose satin, with a heart cut-out on the back, and gathered at the waist with a jewel-encrusted band. It flared out into a short A-line skirt, in layers of sheer purple fabric. Her long legs disappeared into a pair of silver glittery pumps.