Meet Me At the Swing Set

Chapter 6

An extra long chapter for y'all!!

"Hello Catalina." My father smiled, spreading out his arms. My skin crawled at the thought of him putting his hands on me, but I hugged him regardless.

"Did Elizabeth behave this time?" he asked, and I nodded, lowering my eyes to the floor. "How are your grades?" he asked. "All As." I mumbled, keeping my hands in front of me. "That's my good girl." He said proudly, and loosened his tie. "I'm going to freshen up so we can go to the exhibition. I better see both of you ready once I change into my suit."

I silently nod, and step aside so he could pass. "Suck up." Snickered Beth, and I turned to look at her. I couldn't muster the energy to shoot back a retort at her. "Get in the dress. I asked Samantha to put it on your bed. I altered it for your frame. If you want makeup on you, you can come to my room."

I pushed her out of the way, and did not look back at her, as I walked up the stairs, and in my room. I opened the door to my closet, and looked at the dress I made for the occasion. It had been some time since I sewed dresses myself, but I was hoping it turned out well. And boy it did.

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I turned around slowly, loving how my pale pink dress hugged the dips and curves of my body. There was a clearing of a throat behind me, and I looked towards the door, where Beth stood, wearing her dress. "Why did you make me a short skirt?" she demanded. I shrugged, secretly gloating. "You look hot in short skirts."

She rolled her eyes and came in. I gestured to the dressing table, and smiled when she sat down. "I chose this blue because it will go with your hair. I want you to look nice, so just do what I say, okay?

She nodded, and I blended eyeshadow from the palate, and did her makeup for her. Her hair hung in that sad pathetic way that it always did, and I frowned as I played with her short strands, thinking of what to do with it.

In the end, I curled out her hair around her face in elegant small curls. "Twirl for me." I say, and she smiles at The Hunger Games reference, before getting up and spinning around, laughing deliriously.

"Do you want to wear heels?' I ask, and she immediately shakes her head. "That's okay. I have a whole wardrobe of sandals in there. Go pick a pair." She nodded, and disappeared in my closet.

I looked at the elegant white watch on my wrist, and slipped on my silver heels. My foot had healed enough for me to be able to wear heels, but it still hurt a little. Unfortunately, there was no way I wouldn't be able to not wear heels to a formal event like this. I was just too used to the feeling of wearing heels.

I looked at myself in the mirror, looking at the foundation over all the imperfections on my face, the smoky eye, and the metallic silver eyeliner over my upper eyelids. My lips were painted a mixture of brown and pink, and I puckered them out and fixed my lipstick, even though it really didn't need any fixing. My long hair was cascading down my shoulders, fixed up in a wave with the help of a curler, and a long necklace hung around my neck, ending at my navel. The cold metal bit at my warm skin.

"Let's go?" Said Beth, and I looked at her choice of footwear with a nod. Simple black strap sandals clasped around her feet delicately, and she looked at herself in the mirror before walking out. I couldn't help but notice how thin she looked. The dress seemed to sag on her a little.

"Beth, is the dress too big for you?" I asked, scrunching up my eyebrows. She just shook her head. "Let's go. Let's just get this over with."

I sigh and nod, before following after her. I grabbed the matching clutch I had bought for myself, and hoped that tonight will be better than all the other stupid formal events.