Closer Than Your Shadow

When The Party's Over

November 28th 9:29 p.m
Gotham
My apartment

My lashes were finally spread out with a cat eye that took me three times to get right. My lips and cheeks were pink and my legs were shaved. The only thing missing was Annaliese's dress.

I was still surprised she'd given it to me for free. There wasn't anything free in this town. There were always favors and debts to pay.

I learned that the hard way.

I shook my head, I should stop thinking everyone has an ulterior motive. Lenny would tell me to just let her be kind.

I figured my normal bright blue purse wouldn't look right with a lavender dress, so I climbed into my jacket closet to reach for a small handbag I stuffed onto the shelf a while ago. I knocked into a box and a few books fell out. I cursed then picked them up. When I was piling them back in the box I realized my old yearbooks were hidden in the bottom.

My parents always got me a yearbook even though I never asked for one. I grabbed the one from 8th grade off the pile and tossed it aside, then my hands settled on top of the one with a blue cover. 7th grade.

A more memorable year.

I flipped a few dozen pages before I got to the G's. I skimmed over the pictures before I found his picture again. His background was different than everyone else's, a simple white sheet. His hair was lighter, a little closer cropped but his messy brown strands still covered his forehead. His eyes were the same, brown and deep. He had a slight lift to his lips, but his eyes creased like he was trying to hard to give a genuine full-face grin but just couldn't hack it.

He was miserable. The whole time he was in school he looked past people. Everyone should've understood why. He just lost his parents, but death and grief isn't something kids know how to navigate.

Kids are rude and honest. Even to a fault.

I turned a few more pages until I got to the N's, and I found my chubby little face immediately.

My hair was tied back per my moms request and I stared into the camera as if to say kill me now.

I closed the book and placed everything back into the closet before I found the handbag. I only had two pairs of heels, one was strappy and silver, the other black and slip on. I chose the silver ones and I must've been 6 foot now. I forgot how tall they made me.

I rushed around spritzing perfume, fixing my curled hair, and getting my bag put together. I ended up leaving 5 minutes late so I was bolting down the street.

I tried not to focus on the stares I got while walking, or the whistles. I just hugged my arms to keep warm as I jogged down the street. It wasn't windy out, but the sun was going down behind the skyscrapers a few blocks away so the chill was setting in.

I finally got to Lindsay's place, and she swung the door open with a big smile. She was wearing the red dress that cost more than my rent. She ushered me in and stared as I walked past her.

"What's up?" I greeted.

"You're like a whole different person." She put her hands out to me and I rolled my eyes and took them.

"Why are you acting like I got a makeover? I do my makeup all the time."

"It's the dress! I think I can count the number of times you wore a dress on one hand."

"I wear dresses all the time"

"No, you do not." I slapped her arm and we walked into the living room. Her house was green, really green. I bet there were enough plants in here to cure Gotham'a air pollution.