The Ground Below

Chapter Fourteen

 Isabel comes into my room at five, accompanied by a tall blonde with stick straight hair. “This is Ina, Karter’s ex. Ina, this is Parker, Karter’s new love.”

“I’m not—,” I try to tell her, but she waves me off.

“Don’t worry, Parker. I dumped him. We are better off friends. It’s nice to meet you.” She sticks out her hand for me to shake.

Confuse, I stare at her. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Karter doesn’t want me, just so you know.”

“Whatever. Ina wanted to help you get dressed. It’s not really a formal event. It’s actually just a barbecue. Karter was worried you’d think it was a big cocktail party. He’s not very good at explaining things,” she laughs.

“Exactly, so let’s just find you a sun dress. And I’ll do your hair while Izzy does your makeup.”

Ina slides into my closet searching through every clothing item I brought to South Carolina. Isabel opens her makeup bag, taking out numerous cosmetics that I’ve never used a day in my life. My normal makeup routine included foundation, blush, and mascara. She had bronzer, highlighter, and some sort of spot magic. “If it’s not formal, why do I have to have all that done?”

Isabel looks at me like I said something so ignorant that even she couldn’t comprehend. “You have to look good for Karter, duh.”

“Karter doesn’t like me. We’re just friends, Izzy.”

“Think what you want to think, but I know you like him, too.” I didn’t want to impress Karter, or did I? I never did anything to impress anyone but myself. I wasn’t idiotic enough to think I could impress someone on my own, I just never cared. If they liked me, they liked me. If they didn’t, they didn’t. I’ve had way too much go down in my life to worry about what others wanted from me.

“Fine, doll me up. But, this is useless.”

“Oh, hush,” this time it was Ina commanding. “You’re going to blow his mind, especially in this dress.” She held up my white mini dress made of silk and lace that I had worn to my final recital. That was an eventful night.

I admonish the fact that this dress was no sundress. “Well, if you had an actual sundress then that plan would work, but you don’t. Do they not wear them in New York?”

“Um, I never paid attention. I guess I just never had use for a sundress.”

“Well, you’re going to have to invest in some if you’re going to live here. Amy’s parties are weekly, and it varies from cocktail, to bonfire. Is this her first party you’ve been to?”

“She hasn’t had any since I came here,” I inform her quietly.

She bites her lip studying me, “Okay, then you’ll have to start tonight. Amy is a socialite so expect social events. It’s her thing, and might become your thing. Don’t think about getting wasted, though, because she doesn’t allow alcohol.”

Wow. “No wonder Karter avoids them.”

“Exactly, plus all her snooty friends like to put him down. You’re lucky he’s going tonight.”

Lucky? Maybe, maybe not.

“Yeah,” Isabel agrees. “He never comes to them. Usually he stays at his place or goes out with his dumb ass friends.”

“Izzy,” Ina warns. “That’s not a nice thing to say about Buddy, and Joe. They’re idiots, but that’s still not nice.”

Isabel yawns pushing me into a chair in front of the vanity. By the time they were done with me, I was guaranteed not to recognize myself. I honestly don’t see how changing my looks to impress a guy is a good thing. We’ll see how this goes.