Marigolds

THREE

"No, for the tenth time, Kyrah. I'm not going." I say and I continue to type on my computer. I had an essay due in three days, and I wasn't about to go to some stupid party and not remember anything the next day.

"Girl, it's just one party. One. I promise you once you go to this one I won't ask again." I turn to look at her, she looked serious. I couldn't understand what the hype was over these parties. You go, get drunk, have sex with a random stranger and then go home just to wake up and not remember anything. It was pointless.

"Look, I'm sure you have other people you can go with. I'm just not for it." She narrows her eyes, studying me.

"Look if it's about Kendrell then he won't even be-"

"It isn't about Kendrell." I snapped, although I knew it partially was about him. I didn't want to see him and make a fool of myself again. "I never been to a party, ever. I don't know what to do or how to act. I'll just be embarrassing myself."

Her eyes soften for a moment and she grabs my hands and pull me away from my laptop. "I understand that too well, I was like that in my freshman year. But Imani, you have to take risks sometimes. You about to graduate soon, and as much as you don't want to hear it, you ain't been doing shit but sitting in here. Life is not easy and I know you're scared, but it's time for you to break out of that shell you've been hiding in for so long."

"I know." I sigh, "I'm just afraid. Everybody either knows me as the little girl with the metal mouth, or the know it all who doesn't focus on anything but school. I don't want to do this by myself."

"And you won't." She reassures. "I'll be there for you every step of the way, and I'll make sure my friends look out for you too. You're a sweetheart, Imani. And I know you're capable of having just a bit of fun." She nudges me playfully and I laugh.

"Alright fine.." I smile and her eyes light up in excitement. "I'll go. But the moment I feel like something is wrong, I'm getting up outta there." But she wasn't paying attention anymore, she was too busy rummaging through her closet.

"We gotta find you something nice to wear. I know you like your clothes but girl, you can't come to one of Malik Togota's parties dressed like his grandma." I frown, I personally didn't see anything wrong with my clothes, but she looked so excited I didn't want to ruin her fun.

"Try this on real quick." She tosses me two pieces of cloth. It was a leather two piece outfit. The top almost resembling a bralette and the pants had small chains dangling from the pockets. I look at her with a bewildered expression on my face.

"This?" She shrugs.

"It's the only decent looking outfit I have that shows a moderate amount of skin. Unless you want to show more skin?" I immediately rushed to the bathroom, clothes in hand. I could hear her cackling outside the door.

"That's what I thought."

I roll my eyes as I shrug out of the clothes I had on. I stare at my body in the mirror. I had always thought my body wasn't much to look at, but looking in the mirror made me realize I had nice shape for a girl my age, I wasn't necessarily skinny, but I wasn't incredibly thick either. It was the perfect balance.

I put the top on, trying to adjust it so there wouldn't be too much showing, but to no avail. The top itself had made my boobs pop, and I immediately knew that it was a extra small. I was a C cup at best, so my boobs shouldn't have appeared to be too big, but the longer that I stared at myself, the more I had grew fond of the top.

The hardest part was getting myself into the pants. My legs slid through easily, but the moment I pulled them up, they were stuck.

"Damn, Kyrah." I mutter to myself.

After jumping a few times to make the pants fit, I zipped them up and turned to face myself in the mirror.

Damn.

It was definitely something I wasn't used to. The pants had hugged my curves so well, I was beginning to think that this wasn't actually me. The outfit itself had outlined my hourglass frame and I suddenly felt proud that I kept my body in good shape.

"Alright, I'm coming in." I could hear the knob turn and a small gasp fills my ear as Kyrah stares at me with wide eyes.

"Girl, I knew you had an ass under all them clothes! You look good. You're for sure wearing this." I could feel myself grow hot as she scanned my body from top to bottom.

"You really think so?"

"Hell yeah. You honestly pull this off better than I ever could. We got your outfit down, now we gotta focus on your hair and makeup."

"Makeup?"

She nods, "Yeah, it won't be too much though. Your natural face is beautiful and those freckles? Sheesh. I'm just gonna shape up your eyebrows a little, add some lashes, and apply some gloss. Nothing major."

"It won't look right because of my glasses though." She scoffs.

"The glasses won't be a problem, but if it makes you feel better, I can put in contacts for you."

"Why are you being so nice to me? You don't even know me like that." I ask her, and she turns to me, a puzzled look on her face before she chuckles.

"You're one of my homegirls, why wouldn't I be nice to you? I want you to get out and have fun, shit, maybe you'll meet somebody even better than Kendrell angry ass." I shake my head and smile at her words. Kyrah was a chill person, she was popular, but never really took it to heart, if she wanted to be friends with someone, she would, regardless of what or where they came from.

"Thanks, Ky. I appreciate it." She grins, noticing the flustered expression on my face.

"It's no problem. Now bring ya ass, we got about two hours before we gotta be at this party and with all this fucking hair you got, " She ruffles my hair and I let out a loud laugh. "This shit gone take awhile."

I think things were about to change for the better. After all, I think I deserved a little change.