Miracle

Pt. 7

"This one's too short, this one's too long, and this one here is just too... revealing! And this one makes me look like a nun, Cherry! What am I going to do?" Lily wailed hopelessly into her phone, her voice carrying over the three-way video call on her phone between her two best friends Cherry and Emily, watched her frantic closet raid unfold. They were the kind of friends Lily, a self-proclaimed loner, treasured: Cherry, her outrageous hype-man and a drag queen with enough confidence to light up all of New York, and Emily, her steadfast best friend since their high school days working at Claire's.

At this moment, Lily was wrestling with a mountain of discarded clothes, convinced she had absolutely nothing to wear for her "dinner" later – well, technically not a date, but her heart still fluttered like it was.

"Honey, how many times do I have to tell you? Take a breath," Cherry said, his voice calm amidst her chaos. "Your energy is stressing me out right now. Try on that red one. It makes your ass look good." He gestured emphatically at a dress hanging on the closet door. Lily, with her generous curves, often struggled to see what her friends praised. Cherry, however, saw a body many would kill for.
"Yeah, that red one!" Emily chimed in, pulling her long, curly red hair into a high ponytail. "That color always looks incredible against your mocha-chocolate skin."

Lily swiftly shed the pink dress she was wearing, letting it drop to the floor. She grabbed the red one Cherry and Emily had championed. Years of friendship meant undressing in front of them was as comfortable as breathing; Cherry was gay, and Emily had seen her in various states of undress countless times.
"Sooo, are you gonna sleep with this guy tonight or what?" Cherry quipped, his gaze assessing her. "I mean, the white lingerie you're wearing right now is a nice color on you."

Lily glanced down at the matching set she had on. Emily gasped, scandalized. "Of course she's not! Lily is classy. She wouldn't sleep with him on the first dinner!" Lily sighed, shaking her head. Honestly, she hadn't even thought that far ahead. "Emily's right," she confirmed. "I'm not going to sleep with him. It's just dinner, guys. Not even a date." Cherry merely raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

He didn't believe a word she was saying. If this man was as devastatingly sexy as Lily had described, then why not? That was Cherry's philosophy. Just then, Momo, Lily's fluffy orange cat, ambled across the growing piles of clothes on the floor, circling a few times before plopping down onto them for a nap. Emily cooed softly at the sight of the chubby feline "Yeah, okay, Lil, whatever you say," Cherry chuckled, a hint of playful disbelief in his voice. "If you want to play innocent, that's totally fine by me." He winked. Emily laughed, and Lily, despite herself, cracked a smile.

Lily slipped on the red dress, turning to check herself in the full-length mirror. She didn't really like the open back, but Emily was right – her brown skin truly did glow against the rich red. She was a curvy woman, with a generous bust and hips, a shape she often found frustrating because it always seemed to draw unwanted attention. Truth be told, she was incredibly nervous about dinner with Alex. He seemed like the perfect man: tall, handsome, witty. In her mind, he was undeniably out of her league.

She tugged the red dress off, tossing it onto the growing pile. "This isn't it either." Cherry, who had been idly picking at the pink nail polish on his thumb, looked up. "Alright, Miss Picky," he teased, his eyes scanning the back of her closet. "What else you got hiding in there?" Lily's gaze landed on a flash of rich color. She pulled out an emerald green dress. It was a little above the knee, with a sweetheart neckline and delicate spaghetti straps.

She slipped it on, smoothing it down over her body. Emily's eyes widened, and she clapped her hands, nodding enthusiastically. "That's the one, girl! Oh my god, yes!" This was enough to draw Cherry's full attention back. He rose from his casual slouch, his gaze fixed on Lily. "Baby, that's it! You have to wear that one tonight." It seemed the obvious choice to everyone. Lily smiled, a genuine feeling of relief washing over her. She had to agree; it looked really good on her. It showcased her curves beautifully, but in just the right way, not overtly revealing, but undeniably flattering.

"Hey Lil, I have to get going," Cherry said, checking his watch. "I have a drag show to perform at soon. Call me after your dinner! If you don't, I'll assume you're getting some and can't make it to the phone!" He laughed, blowing her a dramatic kiss before ending the call.
Emily gave a sad smile. "Sadly, girl, I have to go too. I really should get started on my lesson plans for my students tomorrow. Love you, baby! Text me tomorrow!" She waved before her screen went black. Lily sighed, a pang of loneliness. She understood they both had their own lives, their own responsibilities, but she wished her two cheerleaders could have stayed just a little bit longer.

Thirty minutes later, Lily was finally ready. She smiled, pleased with her reflection in the mirror. Her usually straight, shoulder-length hair now cascaded in soft curls around her shoulders, framing her face. She wore diamond stud earrings that caught the light, and on her feet, the sleek black eight-inch heels Cherry had given her for Christmas.

Lily settled onto the edge of her bed, carefully placing her phone, keys, lipstick, and credit card into her small purse. Momo leaped onto the bed beside her, purring. Lily absently petted the cat as she glanced up at the clock on her wall. It read 7:40 PM. A mix of anxiety and thrilling excitement twisted in her stomach. Suddenly, a soft but distinct knock sounded at her door. She hopped up, startling Momo, who shot off the bed.

Walking over to the door, purse clutched in her hand, she took a deep, steadying breath. Slowly, she pulled it open to reveal Alex. He leaned casually against the door frame, impeccably dressed, his perfect, straight teeth flashing in a confident smile.
"Hello, love," he purred, his eyes sparkling. "Ready for our date?"