Five Steps | Chaelisa

Chapter 27

Lisa's POV

I toss my eyeliner back in my makeup bag and lean back to inspect my face in the bathroom mirror one last time, exhaling slowly as I wrap my fingers around the cool porcelain sink. I bounce my leg up and down as I stare at my reflection, turning my head left and right and left again, my fingers running through my hair, trying to get it to fall just right.

Am I... nervous?

"It's roller-skating, Lisa. How hard could it be?" I snort and pluck my phone off the counter. The screen lights up with a text from Roseanne, letting me know she's waiting outside.

I grab my wallet and keys from my bedroom and head down the stairs, slipping my arms into my faded-blue denim jacket along the way. I stop short when I push open the door to see Roseanne leaning against her car. She's wearing the high-waisted Levi's jeans and formfitting white T-shirt we bought together, along with a black- and-yellow checkered flannel that's tied tastefully around her waist. Her long blonde hair lightly catches the breeze like we're smack in the middle of a movie instead of standing on one of the grossest streets in Pittsburgh.

I open my mouth to say something, but her eyes catch me off guard, a thin layer of mascara and eyeliner making the dark brown stand out in a way I've never noticed before.

I don't think I've ever seen her wearing makeup.

"Shit," she says, pushing off the car and looking down at her outfit, her brow furrowing. "Did I screw it up?" She tugs at the shirt tied around her waist. "It's the flannel, isn't it? I knew I should've just worn a button-down instead...."

"No. You just... look... you look... really pretty," I manage to get out, looking at the way the jeans accentuate the curve of her hips.

Roseanne's hips, I remind myself, and pull my eyes quickly away.

Her head swings up in surprise. I clear my throat, hurriedly course-correcting. "You know, like, objectively, of course. That's what Suzy will say anyway."

"Oh," she says. The both of us just stare at each other.

Say something, Lisa. Why am I so tongue-tied? Who am I?

I scratch my neck and point at the car door. "We should..."

"Right! Yeah." She fumbles with her keys and unlocks the car door with a beep before she pulls it open and motions for me to get inside.

"So chivalrous," I tease as I slide past her.

She rolls her eyes, but the tension breaks like I hoped. "Honestly, Lisa, get in before I slam the door on you."

We both laugh as she jogs around the front and gets into the driver's seat. The radio hums to life as we pull off down the road. The drive to the roller-skating rink takes us on a scenic view of Pittsburgh, the city skyline illuminated in the golden light of the setting sun.

It's no Philly, but... it's actually kind of nice. Beautiful, even, this city I've escaped to. I crane my neck to gaze out the car window at it until it fades from view, the highway taking its place.

"Conversation topics," I say as we drive. "What are you thinking?"

Roseanne shrugs, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. "Right. I've got a bunch. I was thinking I'd start by asking her about bio class. Follow it up with some rugby talk. Maybe just... see how her day is going?"

"Yes," I say, nodding. "But especially that last one. People love to talk about themselves."

Roseanne shoots me a look, one of her eyebrows rising. "Tell me about it."