His Sun is in Scorpio

Chapter 5: Skinny Love

Phoenix shaped my taste in music since middle school. He had a knack for recommending songs that resonated with me, the songs always attuned to the vibes and emotions that spoke to my soul. I couldn't help but notice that his recommendations often revolved around themes of love, lust, or heartbreak—nothing else seemed to capture his attention. He'd always say "You should listen to this, I think you'd like it" and that became my favorite thing to hear. One song, in particular, held a special place in my heart: "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver. Phoenix told me that every time we spoke that song always came on, a detail I found rather romantic. It wasn't until much later that I discovered the true meaning behind the lyrics, which painted a different picture altogether.

Freshman Year - Winter Break

I met Lake at my cousin's quinceañera during Thanksgiving break, and our friendship sparked instantly after we shared a shot of vodka. From that moment on, we became inseparable. We FaceTimed every day and spent countless hours together after school. Lake was nonbinary, towering in height, with brown curly hair, and they resided with their mom and sister. Their relationship with their dad was strained; his absence in Lake's life fueled their resentment towards him. It was his loss, in my opinion, because Lake exuded genuine warmth and authenticity. Apart from Pretty, Lake quickly became one of my closest friends. We shared countless adventures and bonded deeply in a remarkably short span of time.

Over winter break, Lake reached out to me, expressing their desire to host a New Year's party. I was thrilled, as it would mark my first time celebrating a holiday with friends outside of my family circle.

Lake: Who should I invite?

Me: Obviously all your friends, anyone you know you'd feel comfortable being drunk around.

Lake: Ok but it's looking like it's going to be all girls.

Lake's assurance provided me with a comforting sense of relief, as I no longer had to concern myself about any boys being there. 

Day of the party

I allowed myself two hours to prepare before the party commenced. Lake texted the theme of their event: "Fancy Nightclub." I chuckled at the idea, already envisioning my outfit. I chose a short tight fitted dress, the sides were black and the front panel was made out of a nude mesh material overlaid with elegant black lace stripes. I deliberately purchased a size smaller than my usual; I could see the outline of my chest and where my belly button was located, I admired the way it accentuated my curves. While I wasn't entirely enamored with my body, I knew when to appreciate its assets. I considered myself fortunate to have inherited my mom's curvaceous figure, particularly her hips. Stepping out of my room to check my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I encountered my mom.

"You look like a freaking model! How is my daughter so beautiful?! Where are your shoes though? Do you have anything to match?" she says as she looks down at my feet. 

"Mmm not really, I was just going to wear sneakers since it's just close friends."

"No ma'am" says my mom while shaking her head, "Latinas always have to wear heels it accentuates the muscles on our legs" she opens her closet and looks around for a bit "here use these." she smiles. 

She hands me four inch silver gemmed heels. Grimacing at their height, I slipped them on, and like always my mom was right. To my surprise, not only did the shoes make my legs appear strong, but they also complemented the dress perfectly, leaving me feeling whole. I spun around before the mirror, a grin spreading across my face. Catching my joy, my mom giggled and disappeared from the room, returning moments later with a set of oversized silver hoop earrings.