Our Life Together

Chapter Thirty Eight

Astra looks up from her magazine and over at Emily. "Did Elena Crims invite you to her party?" Astra asks. Emily nods and reaches into her bag. She pulls out a folded white paper.

"Yep. We going?" Emily asks. Astra nods and closes her magazine.

"Yeah. I was going to start getting ready. What are you going to wear?" Astra asks. Emily shrugs and looks in the mirror at her hair that is styled in a fishtail braid. She tucks a few strands of hair in and then turns back around.

"Do you think my hair looks okay?" she asks. I look between them confused.

"I hate to interrupt, but what is going on?" I ask. They both look over at me. Astra picks up the white paper and hands it to me. I unfold it to see a fancy, gold script. I skim over it, comprehending that it was pretty much an average teenage party that has no chaperones and plenty of "refreshments."

"A girl at school is having a party. You're welcome to come," Astra quickly explains before throwing open her closet door. Inside, there is a mess bigger than her bedroom floor. She digs around for a minute and pulls out a strapless dress with a turquoise bust and a black skirt.

"Nah. The last thing I need are pictures of the future queen at that type of party floating around. Do you know how long it would take to replace those with something good?" I ask. Astra shakes her head.

"My best guess is about nine months and a painful birth process," Emily suggests. I nod and point at her.

"Yeah! If someone pulls out a camera I might end up having to have a child to make up for tonight," I tell Astra. She rolls her eyes playfully and shakes her head.

"Ah, the things you do to stay on the country's good side," she says. I laugh.

"Says the girl who suggested that I make murder legal when I'm queen," I reply. She shrugs and walks over to the mirror. She runs her hands through her hair, holding her head at an angle to get the best view.

"Yeah, well, it's always a good idea," she says. I roll my eyes and reposition myself in my chair.

"Are you sure you can't stay home tonight? I saw where that vampire werewolf trilogy is having a movie marathon tonight and we could always just stay here and watch it," I suggest. Emily shakes her head and rubs a lip gloss wand across her lips.

"Nah. Anyone who is anyone has to go to Elena's parties. They're like legendary," Emily says. I roll my eyes and put my hands behind my head.

"Please stay home with your little old cousin?" I ask. Emily shakes her head.

"No. We're going," she says in a bit sharper voice. It shocks both me and Astra. Our heads jerk over to her instead of the random spots they were staring at in the room.

"Gees, you never get to see much of me. I just figured you would want to stay here," I say. Emily shakes her head and puts the lip gloss back in her head.

"We see you all the time, Celia. We've been together for the last like three weeks straight," Emily mumbles. I try my hardest to keep from rolling my eyes.

"I'm gonna go in the other room. I need to go ask my mom something," Astra mumbles as she slides out the room. She closes the door behind her quietly and it sounds like she tiptoes down the hallway.

"Well, I just figured it would be good for me to come see you guys," I say. Emily shrugs.

"Well, you've seen us long enough. Why don't you go back home?" Emily says in a much more hostile voice than necessary. I sigh.

"We've already gone over this. Flynn and I just need space," I say. Emily looks in the mirror and her reflection's eyes roll. She holds up the mascara brush and runs it through her eyelashes.