Slow It Down

Part 16

Over 500 views!! You guys are amazing, thank you so much for the support and I'm so glad to have people enjoy this story. As a little gift, also to make up for me kinda slacking with the updates, I present to you an extra long chapter! This one is slightly more than double the length of my usual chapters, so you can hopefully have a good reading session.

Please enjoy it, and please read the warning if you are easily triggered by certain topics! I don't want to give away what the topic is because I don't want to spoil the chapter, but here is a list of the warning topics and if ANY trigger you, read at your own discretion!!

WARNING: POSSIBLE THEME(S) OF ABUSE, ALCOHOL, BULLYING, DEPRESSION (DARK THOUGHTS), FIGHTING, PARTYING, SEX, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL ASSAULT, SUICIDE, TOXIC RELATIONSHIP(S), VIOLENCE

Have an amazing weekend :)

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"You look amazing!" Nat exclaimed as we both stood in front of my mirror that stretched all the way to the floor. I was very grateful to not have to go into the bathroom and not be able to see anything below my rib cage in that tiny mirror.

I briskly turned to the side as I gazed over every inch, and I was admittedly surprised to be looking at myself. Since I had such a short amount of time to get ready, I had simply used mousse in my damp hair that gave me loose waves. I was wearing light washed, high waisted jeans that hugged me until they loosened up and slightly flared out from my knees to my ankles.

I put on an adorable, loose fit crop top that was a forest green sweater material. The front of it was ruched with strings that hung in front that I was able to tighten and tie to adjust the length of the shirt. I appreciated it being a crop top, while also being able to keep me warm from the chilly fall weather.

To keep my outfit comfortable, I wore simple white sneakers that were almost hidden under the flare of my jeans anyways.

My makeup was done with a light, natural look. I could appreciate how natural it looked, while also having everything popping out in a way. The contour, the highlighter, my lashes and eyebrows, and my favorite part which was the sparkly, clear lip gloss I had put on.

Giving a final look, I turned to Nat and could see she was pleased with the outcome as well. I was practically her Barbie doll for the last hour, after all. I gave her a tense smile, my nerves starting to get to me.

"Okay, now I'm nervous." I admitted as Nat leaned forward and grabbed my hands.

"You have zero reason to be. It's not like Nate is a complete stranger, and he's already seen you drunk. Plus, you guys have hung out alone multiple times now." She tried to reassure me, and it only helped the slightest bit.

"I'm only eighteen, I don't plan on getting drunk again anytime soon. If ever, for that matter." I closed my eyes in an attempt to push the memory of being reunited with Jackson out of my head. Why on Earth did whatever God or fate want that to happen; to torture me some more?

"We'll see about that." Nat rolled her eyes with a cocky smirk on her face. That just made my bullheaded self even more stubborn. Before I could argue my point any further, she decided to open my bedroom door and usher me out.

"I'm gonna get going before your date shows up. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything, okay?" She asked me as she was bent over putting her shoes on.

Her long locks of hair cascaded around her face, nearly touching her feet, and hiding her from the world like a curtain. I mentally wished I could simply hide behind a curtain from everything that happened in the past twelve hours.