Dusk

Three

"That's what you're wearing?" A screech flooded my ears.

Vera had outdone herself. Her face was a model of an angel. If you squinted hard enough, you could faintly see the halo above her head. She was dressed top to bottom in an orange romper. It was very stylish and looked good on her. I told her so. She flustered a bit before saying.

"Nyla! No girl. What the heck is that! Your leather outfit is flattering, but this is why you have me as your bestie!"

I groaned. This. This is why I didn't go to any of her parties this summer, because she would insist to dress me up. Like what she was doing right now.
I stood at the entrance of her bedroom while she flung clothes left and right. She emerged from her closet holding a pile.

"Okay, three options, go." Vera shoved me into the connected bathroom. I didn't even bother resisting. I was used to it. Let's see. She had put in a black dress, black blouse with tight jeans, and a bright yellow funky shirt. I hovered my hand above the jeans when I looked at the black dress. Maybe I should wear the dress this time. This is after all, a hot Nick I was going out with. I grabbed the dress and put it on. I hated that I loved the way the dress felt on me. I tore my eyes off the mirror and walked back into the bedroom where Vera was arranging makeup at her desk. She turned.

"Nyla! I was hoping, wait, no actually I was praying that you would pick the dress! All these years I've always thrown a dress in and you never pick it!" She inhaled a breath to which I spoke, "Say one more thing about me wearing a dress and off it goes!"

Vera smiled. "Well wearing the dress didn't change the Nyla I know. Come on, let's get you prettiered up. I have nothing against your bare look, but if you're wearing the dress, we need to go all out!"

I almost made my usual jab at her, but she was right, I'm wearing a dress, and besides, I was kinda curious what I would look at with makeup.

"Sure, go for it," I said.

"Nyla, come on, I get that makeup is scary and no one knows what you, wait... What? Did you say yes?"

I shrugged with a half grin.

Vera started to grab makeup brushes and whatnot. Then she pulled out a container that hadn't even been opened.

"I bought this a while ago, hoping that one day you'll change your mind about makeup and want to try it out. We have different skin types, my stuff wouldn't look good on you. And it looks like today's the day!" Vera squealed excitedly.

An hour later, my face felt slightly heavier. My eyelids were especially heavy. Mascara was not light on my eyeballs. Vera twirled me around to the mirror on her desk.

"Ta-da! Nyla is officially a princess!"

I stared at the girl looking back. It looked like me, but like a goddess version me. My hair has been straightened for school, but this was like a supermodel straightened. Mascara pointed out my long eyelashes and the skin concealer hid all of my blemish.

"Wow." I said. "just, wow!"

Vera leaned over to me. "You don't realize how lucky you are. All you need is mascara and a few fillings here and there and you're gorgeous."
I turned to her, "Thank you for being my bestie. I'm sorry I didn't go to your parties this summer."

Vera nodded. "It's okay. I know you were dealing with some crap yourself, I was just trying to get you to open up to me."

We hugged. Vera's phone pinged. She looked at her phone, "We better get downstairs, the boys are waiting for us."

Vera walked out of her room before she rushed back in. "Do I look okay?"

"Are you kidding? You had to ask? You're a freaking angel."