Testing The Waters

Chapter Seven

I think I'm about to have a panic attack. I've never had one before, but if I did, this is what I think it would feel like.

I tug on the bottom of the dress Claire picked out for me in a useless attempt to make it longer. The black, lace dress bought to fit Claire, hugs every one of my curves, barely reaching mid-thigh. I feel like I'm constantly torn between wanting to pull the non-existent material up to better cover my abundant cleavage or pull it down to prevent showing the world my damn underwear.

"I can't wear this," I say, complaining to Claire, who looks amazing in her short, blue dress and matching heels. "I'll sneeze the wrong way and be arrested for public indecency!"

"Shut it," Claire says, dismissively. "That dress is perfect for you. I just wish I had your curves to pull it off." Closing the tube of lip gloss she'd been applying to my lips, Claire takes a step back to examine her efforts. A wide smile breaks out across her face. "God Babs! You look..." She bites her lip. "Good!"

I raise an unenthusiastic eyebrow at her.

"I'm serious! Have a look!" Claire says, pointing to the mirror behind me.

I shake my head at her, but turn around.

What in the fairy loving godmother...

I look at my hair and wonder if Claire is secretly a sorcerer.

She actually did it. She tamed the beast.

My normal mop of chaotic, brown waves has somehow been perfectly straightened, making my long, dark hair fall gracefully down the center of my back. The makeup around my eyes is subtle but highlights them in a way that makes them look big and feminine. I look down at my lips and run my tongue along the bottom one, tasting strawberry sweetness. There is a light pink layer of gloss, making my lips look even fuller than normal. The whole look is... well, it's stunning. I shake my head disbelievingly at the familiar stranger staring back at me. I didn't know I could look like this, and I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it.

"Now, you just need the finishing touch," Clare states behind me. I turn and see she's holding up a pair of black heels.

My eyes widen as she hands them to me. "I can't wear these!"

Claire frowns. "Why not? They're your size."

"No, I mean, I don't think I can walk in these."

"Well you don't have much of a choice. What else are you going to wear? Your sneakers?"

The look I give her must tell her that's exactly what I was planning on wearing, and she growls at me.

"NO! Absolutely not. You cannot wear those ugly shoes with that!" She points at me, somehow offended. "That's like hanging a DaVinci at Burger King."

"Fine!" I grumble and bend down to slip the heels on. I stand up and walk around, trying to get use to them. They're not as bad as I thought they'd be, but I can tell my feet are going to be in utter agony by the end of the night. I eye my converse shoes longingly.

The doorbell rings, and Claire looks over at me. "You ready?"

I glare at her, shoving my phone in my bra. There's literally nowhere else for me to put it. I can't believe I let her talk me into this.

"Come on." Claire grabs my arm and pulls me out of her room and down the winding staircase that leads to a marbled entrance. I'm concentrating on not falling in these heels, so I don't see Dean and Joe by the front door.

"Whoa!" I hear Dean say first as I reach the last step. Both him and Joe are staring at me with wide eyes and open mouths. In normal circumstances, I'd probably find it funny. Mouths open, then closed, then open again. They look like a bunch of fishes that were just snatched from the water.