Burning Sky

Chapter 16

"You look amazing."

Katie was staring at Sora with wide eyes. Sora was standing in front of her mirror scrutinizing her own reflection, unsure if she was making the right choice. "I don't know," Sora voiced her doubts.

Katie was sitting on Sora's bed dressed in a sleeveless button up shirt with a sparkly collar tucked inside a black high waisted skirt. Katie had arrived over an hour ago with one of her own dresses slung over her arm. She had come prepared to help Sora look her best.

Sora turned and twirled, eyeing Katie's dress that she was now wearing. She remembered it being longer and more comfortable looking on Katie. On Sora, the dress skimmed the middle of her things and was a touch too tight. It was a simple strapless dress with white and dark green horizontal stripes and a flouncy ruffle adorning the elastic bust line. A thin, grey leather belt clinched just beneath her chest.

"You look amazing," repeated Katie as she moved behind Sora, primping and pulling the dress into place. In the mirror, Katie's head barely reached Sora's shoulder. Sora took another long look in the mirror, still unsure of herself.

"What if something happens and we need to go all MacGyver at the party?" she asked, hoping she could get away with wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

"Oh come on. What could possibly go wrong?" Katie stared at her, eyebrows lifted.

"I don't know." Sora pulled the end of the dress, hoping that it would somehow stretch an inch or two. Truth was she did look great, but it was too much. She didn't want anyone to think she was trying too hard. Her classmates never saw her in dressed like this. Who am I kidding? She thought in surrender, I don't want Drake to think I am trying to impress him.

She shot Katie an apologetic look. "Can't do it, sorry." She took the dress off and tossed it on her bed. She walked to her closet and picked a dark grey sleeveless shirt that was almost as long as the dress she had just taken off. She pulled the shirt over her head, and then tossed her hair back. A bright yellow Nirvana smile logo adorned the front giving it just a splash of color.

Katie stalked into the closet and pulled out some dark skinny jeans and Sora's biker boots. "There you go," she said tossing them at her, while Sora just stood there in surprise. "If you are going to wear that shirt, the least you can do is bring the rocker look to the next level." She smiled smugly and sat back on the bed crossing her legs. Sora grinned and wriggled into the skinny jeans.

"Don't you want something more comfortable?" she asked eyeing Katie's shoes.

"Don't worry about me," Katie gave her a shrug as she sidled over to Sora with her makeup bag in hand. "I can run in ballet flats," she remarked. "Time for the makeup," she said. Sora decided to keep her mouth shut and let Katie work her magic. Her friend was right. She could totally rock this look.

After a few more minutes, they were both ready and waiting by the front door for Mo and Drake to show up. They both had their jackets on, a black leather one for Sora and a light blue cashmere one for Katie.

While they waited, Sora studied the face of her friend. "You look a little too happy," she commented eventually, carefully picking her words.

"Well, you know, I've never been to one of Ben's parties." She looked excited and a bit nervous, which made Sora smile. "Do you think we should have bought him a gift?"

"We are not even invited," Sora snorted, and then raised her eyebrows realizing the reason for Katie's excitement. "Don't even think about it. I don't even consider him a human being. You are too good for him," she stated firmly, and before Katie could reply the bell rang. Sora opened the door to find Drake and Mo on her front step. They were both wearing everyday clothes.