Red Stars

Chapter 6: The Sinclair House.

As soon as Ms. Ruie opened the door, I stepped inside and put my college bag on the mirror console at my right. It's hard to walk 6 miles with a laptop and a whole outfit at the same time.

"Would you missies like those rose-infused margaritas today?" she asked.

"Think I can use one. Yes please, ma'am."

Ms. Ruie was an old woman, well into her sixties. She had grey hair which were always tied up in a bun. Her hair also showed a streak of pink-dyed strands which were Anna's doing — with consent, of course. Ms. Ruie was generally a very cheerful woman who had worked in the Sinclair House ever since Mr. Arthur Sinclair was a child. She was more of a motherly figure to Anna than Mrs. Arthur had ever been.

I took my phone out of my bag and headed upstairs through the fancy Victorian-style staircase. I knocked at the door of Anna's bedroom and she instantly opened the door.

"Kitty Katty love, here you come!" she squealed as she grabbed my hand and took me inside.

Now, in an alternate version of reality, I'd have thought, what did I miss? What is this young lady so happy about? But I knew my best friend enough in this version of my reality to know that she always felt more excited for my important days than I did. Does Dave have such a real one by his side? I wondered.

"Okay so first thing's first: should I play Meghan or Demi?"

"Um... " I tried to decide but thankfully, she read my confused mind.

"We're going with Meghan," she said, turning on her massive sound system. She took a minute to browse through her playlist until she found her go-to track— Dear Future Husband. "This sounds perfect."

As I sat down on her couch and began to enjoy the music, carefully avoiding the thoughts about what's to come, Ms. Ruie came in with the margaritas. She put the glasses on a marble tabletop next to the premium sound system and passed me a soft smile before leaving.

"Hey Kat, what's the time?" asked Anna.

"5:20," I replied after checking my phone.

"Nah I'm asking about the date, missy," she clarified with a subtle smile.

"Oh. Um, he said he'd be there at seven."

"Alright listen here," she said as she handed me my glass of margarita, "rule number two: never show up on the date at the exact time decided for the date lest the guy perceives you as too eager. You don't really wanna give off that impression on a first date, so make it about twenty minutes late."

I took a sip of Ms. Ruie's special rose margarita and sensed a feeling of refreshment overcome me.

"I must ask, where do these rules keep popping up from?" I chuckled.

Anna rolled her eyes and gave me a smile. Looking at her in that moment, I once again realised how beautiful she really was. Her big hazel eyes were so full of depth and sincerity, regardless of all her silly rules about dating. I wondered if she realised how proud I was to have her as my best-friend.

"Okay so we're gonna start with prepping your skin a bit," she said, "Here's how it's gonna go: cleanser, sheet mask, dancing to the music, some make-up, the outfit — and lastly, wine with Mr. Lieutenant Guy."

I grinned nervously. The reality of it was starting to hit me now. I was really having a date with Dave? I had experienced a lot of stuff in my life, felt a lot of feelings. But this felt new. This felt different. And dangerously enough, this felt like love.

.....