Whispers

Chapter Five : Six Months Later

"Just a little more, Charlie!" Hailey held Charlie down on the low stool with a hand while trying desperately to apply a final coat of lip gloss.Heaving an enormous sigh, Charlie obediently pouted for Hailey to slide the gloss wand across her lower lip."Now smack" Hailey said, stepping back to look at Charlie. They had spent the last three hours getting ready.
"Happy?" Charlie asked as she made a huge show of smacking her lips to spread the gloss.
"Very!" Hailey smiled as she dabbed on perfume on her wrists and behind her ears.
"I don't get it. Why did you have to dress me up so much for Noah graduation party?" Charlie got up, wobbling slightly on the 4-inch heels she had on.
"You are going to show Aiden what he is missing." Hailey replied.
"Show Aiden what he has been missing? Lady, are you blind? Have you seen the girls he usually dates? They are small, petite and have more blonde hair than brains!" Charlie cried, incredulously.Hailey threw her a look.
"I'm blonde and short." She said, dryly."You know what I mean!" Charlie waved her hands around. "Besides, I've told you a million times...I am over that stupid crush I had on him. He looks at me like the annoying girl he has to put up with because he is best friends with her brother!""Please!" Hailey waved a dismissive hand. "We both know you aren't anywhere near over him and if Aiden does think that, which I know for a fact that he doesn't, then go out there and show him that other guys can have you, while he is wasting his chance."
"Hailey, honey...look at me! I'm just a few inches shorter than he is and he is almost 6'3! I'm a giant, Hailey! Guys like Aiden like their girls to be short and out of a Barbie box. You could spend an hour just trying to stuff my hair in!" she reached up to touch her wild curls.
While Hailey's hair fell in waves, hers seemed to bounce around everywhere. They were soft and would spring back like a coil when pulled.
Hailey gave her a murderous look. "Touch that hair and I'll cut your hand off!"
Growling in frustration, she flounced down on a chair. "Hailey, I-"Just then there was a nock on the door. "Hey girls? You in there?" Dave's voice came floating through. Hailey threw one last look at Charlie before walking up to open the door, to let Dave in.He let out a low whistle when he saw them. "Don't you look pretty!" He smiled as Hailey twirled for him.
"Charlotte Maria Parker. Is that you?" he asked, his eyes widened dramatically in mock surprise. "Never thought I'd live to see the day you wear a dress." He grinned cheekily.
Charlie groaned and buried her head in her hands.Dave took hold of her arm and pulled her up. "Honey, you look beautiful." He said. "You both do."
Hailey looked at her self in the mirror as they made their way downstairs. The soft champagne dress she wore fell just a few inches above her knee and she wore matching heels. Small diamond droplets, her mother's, hung from her ears and she wore a thin gold chain on her neck. Her hair fell loosely, curled from her first attempt with the curling iron and she had no make up on, except just a streak of gloss. Charlie however wore a bright red one shoulder dress that clinched at her waist and then fell in soft chiffon cascade to her knees. The dress made her raven hair look stark black against it and her black heels made her look even taller. Her lashes looked extra long, curtsey of the mascara wand, and her lips were almost bright red. They both looked stunning."Now you promise to call if you guys need anything?" Dave asked as he opened the front door. Marianne was already in the car and sent them both a kiss when she saw them."Yes dad, we will." Charlie said, kissing his cheek, rubbing away the smear of lip gloss. "We are lucky that Hailey's dad and Melissa are out of town. Her dad didn't seem to mind us using their home for Noah's surprise party."Hailey smiled wryly. "Lucky us." She said.It couldn't have been at a better time for them to decide that they wanted to go on a 15 day cruise and God bless them, take Lacey with them. Noah's 18th birthday was on Monday and what better way to celebrate it in a big way than combine it with his graduation party. Class Valedictorian and star athlete, Hailey thought proudly. Aiden would be bringing him over to her house and he, Aiden, Charlie and Hailey were supposed to go out for dinner at a fancy dinner,but little did he know, about half the school would be waiting to surprise him."Well, their loss is our gain, Hails. I'm so glad you could stay the whole couple of weeks with us."' Dave smiled."Thanks for having me over, as always" Hailey grinned at Dave's retreating back. As their car rolled out of the driveway, Hailey turned to Charlie ."Charlie, have I ever lied to you?" she asked. Charlie shook her head."Then trust me when I tell you that you look beautiful and guys are going to be falling all over you after this. If Aiden doesn't seem to get the hint, then you are better off without him. Okay?"
Charlie smiled.
"Okay."Hailey nodded. "Good now help me take the cake over to my house."