𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐌𝐄

─ ❝ act xxviii ❞

⎡ act xxviii - real freedom ⎦

┊❝ You look... beautiful ❞┊

── USING her fork to mindlessly shift the food on her plate around, (Y/N) sat silently across from her father at the dining table. He rarely ever ate with her, so she sat stiffly in her chair, unsure of how to act and too nervous to properly eat. It was enough to leave her stomach twisting into knots while her hands became slick with slight sweat.

It was as if she were being tested.

She hated such a feeling.

After swallowing down as much of the food as she could that was tasteless to her due to her nerves, she excused herself from the table to wash and load her plate in the dishwasher. However, it was only when she was about to leave did she stop.

"Father," she spoke, lingering on the first step of the stairs, her back facing him.

"Yes?" He spoke, not even bothering to look up.

"I'm going to be spending the rest of the night in my room studying, so please don't bother me," she continued, hoping her voice wouldn't waver as she plowed forward. "I'll also be going to bed early after that, so you won't see me again. Good night."

"Fine, good night," he muttered, waving her words away with his hand as he stared at his phone.

(Y/N) hesitated a moment longer.

Ultimately, however, she knew that her father didn't care enough to actually have any interest in what she was doing on a Friday night since he hardly ever asked in the first place. Letting out a small sigh as she ascended the stairs, she closed the door to her room before packing everything she needed in her school's backpack. Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she opened her window and crawled outside before carefully hanging down from the roof. She was on the second floor, but the distance wasn't hard to cover, and as she landed on the grassy floor, she smiled upon her plan actually working.

Running to her car that she had parked a little ways down the street, something her father hadn't noticed since she had arrived home after him, she began her drive to Kira's and Alina's house.

Her heart thrummed in anticipation.

Not only that, but adrenaline still buzzed in her veins from what she had just pulled.

She let out a slow breath.

She was there, in that moment, gone.

It was...

Freeing.

Pulling into the driveway of her friends' house, (Y/N) tried to calm herself down as she nervously waited after ringing the doorbell. When the door opened, she couldn't even get a single word in before she was ushered inside and up into the bathroom where Kira and Alina worked on her. Raiding her backpack for her dress and jewelry, along with whatever makeup she had brought like foundation and powder, they first stripped her down to have her tug on the dress before sitting her down so they could apply their skills.

(Y/N)'s eyes were kept closed during the entire process—for her reveal to be a 'surprise,' as Kira and Alina called it.

Trying hard not to shift in her chair as a slightly damp sponge was wiped along her skin with lotion, primer, and foundation, as a brush swept along the highlights and contours of her face, and as brushes and pens lined her eyebrows and eyes, she was finally allowed to see. Looking in the mirror, she was stunned by her reflection.

She looked like herself.

At the same time, she also didn't.

All the same, when peering into the mirror to meet her own (E/C) gaze, she felt pretty for the first time in so long.

"Wow..." Kira blinked as she back away, a smile on her face. "Even I'm impressed with myself."

Alina smiled gently.

"But we're not done yet!" Kira continued with a fierce look of determination as she grabbed a brush and what looked to be the exact type of hair product needed for (Y/N)'s type of hair, something that made her eyes soften with both happiness and gratitude. "We still need to get your hair done! Not to mention, we still haven't put any jewelry on you, so you're not going anywhere yet! Haha!"

Stuck within Alina's and Kira's hold, (Y/N) was only finally unveiled to Sawyer and Shariah downstairs when the twins finally both agreed she was ready.

Their reactions spoke volumes.

Shariah's eyes had widened before her entire expression lit up with joy as she exclaimed, "Wow, (Y/N)! No, seriously... wow. You were already super cute and pretty before, but, now... you just look so great." Turning to the twins behind (Y/N), she flashed them a thumbs up whilst commenting, "Good work, you two."

"Naturally," Kira smirked.

"Thanks, babe," Aline smiled happily.

"But now we have to go get ready, so we'll be right back!" Kira spouted before dragging Alina back off upstairs to their rooms.

(Y/N) chuckled softly before turning back to Shariah and Sawyer. Shariah had already turned back to setting up what looked to be a snack table, but then there was Sawyer. He was still staring at her, watching her, his entire expression one of bafflement and almost bashful embarrassment. In hindsight, he looked utterly dumbfounded.

"That suit looks good on you," she commented when approaching him. "I think we picked a good one."

"Yeah..." he trailed off, his eyes flicking away from her own to trail down her dress with a small smile, finding it quite nice how she had chosen the one that he himself had been looking at and considering. "And I was right... you really are amazing in that dress, (Y/N). You look... beautiful."

"Thank you..." she murmured softly whilst keeping her stare pinned to the floor.

Everyone keeps complimenting me...

It's weird, but...

I like it.

"So, is everything ready?" She questioned, wanting to divert the topic of conversation away from her looks and onto something else. "The decorations and everything look amazing. Also, where are the twins' parents? I don't see them...?"

"Ah, they already turned in for the evening," Shariah answered. "They celebrated earlier with Alina and Kira, so they aren't too interested in a party with a bunch of teenagers."

"That makes sense," she laughed.

After a couple more minutes of the three chatting and setting up, Alina and Kira descended from their rooms in maroon-colored choli tops and lehenga skirts, both garments bedazzled in a stunning way that accentuated their glowing complexion. Golden bangles, earrings, and necklaces shone from their wrists, necks, and ears, further highlighting their beauty as now eighteen year olds.

(Y/N) felt pride.

Happiness.

Warmth.

She was where she wanted to be.              

__________________________________

To be continued...