Cardinal

Chapter 34

"Do I really need to wear this? This is so revealing, Jules. What about underwear and a bra?" I groan to Julie, who was all but rolling her eyes at me. Today was supposed to be the famed gifted ball, gala, whatever. It was a pain and I didn't want to be there. 

I was supposed to be "ethereal" but I just looked like a nervous mess. Not ethereal at all. Julie and Alaina were over at the McMansion and were supposed to be getting ready with me but they were just gossiping and giggling, not listening to anything I was saying. My anxiety was bubbling up to a point where I just wanted to rip everything off and convince everyone to stay with me here. 

"Can someone please help me?" I begged the two girls in my room who could care less about my concerns. I'd been complaining for the past few hours and at this point, they were completely ignoring anything I was saying like you would a toddler. 

"Can't we all just skip this thing?" Alaina groans as she gets up from her position in my bed. "I don't want to socialize at all." She falls dramatically back to my bed. 

"Yes, why can't we just skip this?" I almost wanted to stomp my feet with how annoying the gala was. Never mind the annoying people that would be there. 

Not only did I have to meet every one of my links' families but the potential magistrate members might be in the crowd as well-including the mole. Plus, all the important people will be in attendance, including that suspicious guy David and the rest of the black diamonds as well. 

"Don't wear a bra and wear a thong. Didn't we buy you a bunch the last time we went to the mall? And to answer your question, we absolutely cannot skip. All of our parents will be there and don't you remember, your attendance is completely compulsory. Emphasizing the compulsory part on Lilac." Julie explains and I heave a big sigh in response. 

"Besides, don't you want to see their faces when they see you in this? This is Prada, babe." Julie walks to where I was, my hair flying all over the place-her version of walking which was something close to teleporting, really. She says Prada like it's supposed to mean something to me. 

Turning to the mirror, I examined my reflection. I looked like a mess. The dress was beautiful but I wasn't doing the dress any justice. At least, I had slimmed out some since participating in merc training but my face...ugh. The blush-colored dress had a corseted bustier that seamlessly transitioned into a soft tulle and silk combination which just kissed the floor. The high slit on the side made me feel exposed but Julie had convinced me that this was part of the appeal of the dress. Ugh, I just wanted to sleep. The thing I loved most about this dress was the embroidered gold little specks which made it glitter and shine every time I moved. I was all about glitter and shiny and sparkly things. 

"We'll curl your hair into these little ringlets and do a minimal dewy look for your face? What do you think, Lay?" She gathers Alaina's attention as she does her makeup on the floor. 

"Oh, yeah! You might even get laid tonight," She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively to which I roll my eyes. Yeah, sure, let me just go ahead and have sex with them right past the abandonment issues that the guys seem to all have combined with the fact I was a virgin. I don't know how many times I have to reassure them but I'll do it all my life if it means staying by their sides. 

"La, la, la, la. Do NOT talk to me about sex. I don't even want to think about my brother and you get into. " Julie shivers and covers her ears as her face contorts into a disgusted look. I could only laugh at her discomfort. 

Sighing, I let the girls fuss over my hair and makeup before we had to go down and everybody else downstairs.

"Okay, okay, look in the mirror. You are definitely going to be a head-turner tonight." Alaina fusses over me as she sprays hairspray all over my hair. I walk over to the mirror and barely recognize myself. They've done a great job of making me look presentable. My hair was half-up, the strands kept up by a gold clip that matched the gold specks of my dress. Strands framed my face in little ringlets. My face looked like there wasn't any makeup but the shiny glossy lips and the blush on my cheeks said otherwise.