The Path of Roses 🥀

CHAPTER TEN (PART 2)

Word Count: 1,776

Still Friday, July 30th, 2004

After an eternity, I was finally done with my chores of sweeping, mopping, and taking out the trash. It was almost 11:30 and I thought about chillaxing before getting ready to hang with Jordan. 

Ding!

I grabbed my phone and saw a text from Jordan.

Jordan: If you don't mind, can we meet a little bit earlier, like noonish? Something important came up and I can't be late.

Me: Ok. I'll be there in 20 mins. I promise.

I had no idea why exactly we needed to meet earlier, but it made me more excited to see him. I started getting dressed for our little coffee date.

"Coffee date?" My mind exclaimed. "It's not a date Victoria. Get that out of your head!"

I decided to listen to my conscience. I seriously have no idea why I was thinking of this as a date. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment from even thinking of a ridiculous thing.

As I stood in front of my closet, I couldn't decide what to wear. Jordan already saw me wear too many clothes with ripped jeans and flannel shirts.

"I should wear something nice," I decided. I flung some shirts, overalls, and dresses out of their hangers until I found a simple lacy black tank top to go with denim shorts and Doc Martens.

Since I was combing my hair more often now, it looked nice, long, and straight. I'm not a makeup expert (I've never even used makeup before), but I convinced myself to apply a little bit of lipstick. It wasn't as hard as I expected, but it felt weird to see my lips look like I drank some cherry Kool Aid.

I stuffed some money down my pocket and heard another Ding!

Jordan: Thanks Victoria. You're the best.

I placed my phone in my back pocket and left my room. I tried sneaking out the front door without Nicole hearing the door creak or my boots squeaking.

"Where are you going?" Nicole asked, sitting on the couch, watching her all-time favorite movie: Clueless.

Damn it. 

For a moment, I was tempted to keep using the "just-gonna-hang-out-with-Destiny" excuse again, but I couldn't. Besides confiding with her, I why the hell should I lie about hanging out with Jordan? It's not like we're dating.

"I'm going to hang out with a friend."

"You look too nice to just 'hang out'." Nicole analyzed, using air quotes again.

 I gulped. She was right. My bright lipstick gave it away.

"Is this friend really 'just a friend'?" She asked.

"Absolutely." I nodded firmly. 

"Then you can't go." Nicole says bluntly.

"What the fuck?" My mouth opened in shock. "Why not?"

"Language!" Nicole scolded. I rolled my eyes. I could care less about my vulgar tongue when she's secretly a sailor mouth too.

"Why can't I go?" I asked.

"Because you say that you're just gonna hang out, but you look like a wannabe model for Teen Vogue! And for as long as I've known you Victoria, you have never dressed somewhat nice in your life."

Damn. I felt her brutality.

"And not only have you been going out so many times since we moved, you keep lying about who you're really seeing." She added.