Shadows Of Desire

Chapter 10

the day of the event

Leandra Moreno

I'm barely awake before I hear my mothers yells downstairs. "Leandra! We don't have all day!" her voice pierces through the walls.

Before I can even open my eyes, my mom barges in my room, the sound of her heels clicking furiously. An entire stage crew worth of stylists follow behind her.

"You're still in bed? Dios mio, are you determined to embarass me? Where is Marco? Why is everything so difficult with you!"

This woman needs a hobby.

I roll my eyes, groaning as I swing my pillow over my head. Zura, nestles herself in the crook of my arm, completely undisturbed by the madness. 

"I'm awake..I'm awake." I mutter, my voice muffled by the pillow.

"¡No tienes tiempo para esto! You should have been up an hour ago" my mother snaps. "You have to shower, your hair is a....disaster! And, we still need to adjust the dress."
[spanish translation: "You don't have time for this!"]

I roll my eyes beneath the pillow. Why is she so dramatic? "Mama, it's barely noon, we have HOURS until the event. I can walk in there with a trash bag and still look better than everyone there."

My mother stopped mid-pace and I can feel her eyes burning into my soul. "You can't afford to look...average! You are a Moreno for Gods-sake, you hear me?"

I toss the pillow to the side, my patience holding on by one singular thread. I drag myself out of bed and stand tall. I glare at the floor-to-cieling mirror across the room. They were slight dark circles around my eyes and my hair was...let's not get into that.

"Shower, and don't..baptize yourself there or something! 10 minutes, that's all you get." My mother demands, glaring at me.

"10 minutes? I need atleast 30-" I try to protest but she cuts me off with a 'do as I say' glare that I know all too well.

I let out a heavy sigh before storming into the bathroom, closing the door with more force than necessary. 

Leandra, it's not even that big of a deal.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, practicing my signature fake smile for everything. Reality comes crashing down as I realize I'm gonna actually have to talk with arrogant bastards who only care about themselves and their legacy, included but not limited to my mother, of course.

I enter the shower,  humming rhythmnically as the hot water cascades down my body. The steam envelopes me, sort of like a shield from everything that's happening outside. I wash my hair and condition it before rinsing it off and hopping out. I look at the time and see that I took well over 10 minutes.

I wrap a soft towel around, grabbing another to subtly dry my hair. I open the door and it's like a fucking warzone. My vanity was turned into a damn beauty salon, cords everywhere, makeup stacked and my closet.

"Leandra! Stop acting as if we have all day! Tenemos mucho trabajo por hacer, ¡date prisa!" My mom yells, she was acting as if this were the Met Gala or something, it's a damn charity event.
[spanish translation: "We have so much work to get done, hurry!"]

One of the stylists, a pretty girl with short brown hair, ushers me to the table. They argue amongst themselves over what hairstyle they should do. "We should go for a chic but classy 90s look." One of them says but they all groan in dissaproval. "No! A brazillian blowout would look..amazing!"

I pray that she's joking...right?

"Oh my god, Sarah, are you stupid? This is the event of the year, not a....Jamaican grill or something."