Tails (Transformations: Book 1)

20

"This still feels like a bad idea." Aria commented, as Freya did her hair for the party. She was wearing the same blue dress she had worn to the full moon parties, since she didn't own that many outfits for this kind of thing.

"It is a very good idea." Freya assured her, connecting two thin braids to a bun on the back of Aria's head. "You'll go out and have fun with Eric. Maybe you'll even make some new friends. Don't worry so much. Just be your usual, charming self and everything will be fine."

"I'm not that charming." Aria reached up and felt the style. It was unusual for her to do anything with her hair and it felt a little strange.

"Yes, you are." Freya gave her shoulders a squeeze and smiled. "You should really have more confidence."

"You keep saying that..." Aria sighed and looked at herself in a small mirror on the wall. "What if I can't find anything to talk to them about?"

"Then be quiet and listen." Freya suggested. "Everybody loves a good listener, right?"

"I suppose..." She sighed and dropped her hands to her sides. "I just don't want to make a fool of myself, you know?"

"You won't make a fool of yourself, I'm sure." Freya looked at her, for a moment, and kissed her cheek.

Aria pulled away, staring at her friend, in surprise. "Why did you do that?"

Freya grinned. "You looked so cute, I couldn't resist."

"That's weird." Aria told her, still staring.

"Alright, then, I wanted to take your mind off of your worries. Now, you are too busy being annoyed at me to be nervous about the party, right?" Freya acted as though that was perfectly reasonable.

"Still weird." Aria replied, looking away. "You're solution to me freaking out about the party is to freak me out about you being crazy."

Freya shrugged. "I didn't say it was a perfect solution." There was a buzz on their intercom. "Sounds like your date is here. You shouldn't keep him waiting."

Aria pressed the button to speak to him. "I'll be right down." She looked over her shoulder at Freya. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

"I'm sure. I am ready for a quiet night in." Freya smiled at her. "Now, quit stalling and get out there before he leaves."

Aria sighed at her, but obediently headed down to where Eric waited with his old Volkswagen. He held the door open for her, smiling brightly. "You look incredible."

"You don't look half-bad yourself." She replied. He was wearing a nice pair of jeans and a simple, button-up shirt. It was just casual enough for a high school party, but it looked good on him. "Sorry to drag you to this thing on such short notice."

He shook his head. "It's really no problem. I'm glad to spend time with you." In truth, he had stressed over what to wear and had called Adam to help him figure it out. He just didn't want Aria to think it had been a big deal. He figured it wouldn't seem cool to fret over what to wear to a high school party, especially since he was a college student. He closed the door behind her and climbed into the driver's seat. "It's really been too long since we did anything fun, right?"

"Right." She looked out the window, trying not to stress herself out, further. She generally avoided parties like the plague and realized she probably wouldn't be able to name most of the people at this one.

Eric was busy worrying about similar thoughts, so he didn't notice her fretting. "It will be fun to meet some of your school friends. You said some of them will be joining the protest, too, right?"