Reverse-Harem Cafe!

XL. Night of the Dance

"Thanks for coming over to do my hair mom." I tilt my head slightly upward towards my mom as she gently curls the rest of my hair, letting it fall into waves rather than spirals.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world honey." My mom chuckles, "Plus I'm glad I brought some food. Your refrigerator barely has anything in it! I hope you're not starving yourself."

"Well it wouldn't empty if I could actually cook. Besides, I always have instant ramen in the pantry." I proudly establish my independence.

Although I can't see her, I sense her rolling her eyes behind me. "Does your friend still come over to make food for you?", she asks, braiding a few strands of uncurled hair across the back of my head.

"Ulrich? Yeah he comes over occasionally." I reply, thinking of all the times I'd complain about not having food, and him freaking out and running over with groceries.

"He'd make a good husband, don't you think?" my mom teases.

"Yeah he wou– WAIT WHA!? H-husband?!" I sputter, "More like another mom."

She chuckles from behind me as she pins the braid into the hair on the side on my hair. "Well, all finished! Have a look." She twirls my chair around until I am facing my reflection in my large dresser mirror.

With wide eyes, I carefully inspected the my updo, noticing the delicate curls connected by a single braid wrapping around the back of my head. It's perfect.

"I love it! Thanks mo-"

DIING DONNNGGG

My exclamation is cut off abruptly by the sound of the door bell.

"Well looks like the man of the hour has arrived. You better not keep him waiting." My mom grins.

"Oh crap! I don't even have my dress on!" I panic and rush to my closet to retrieve the garment. I quickly pull it over me and straighten out any major wrinkles. I definitely wasn't expecting to buy a mocha colored dress but for some reason I was drawn to its coffee-like quality. It started in thick straps on my shoulders, connecting into a sweet heart neckline and flowed down to my knees. It shimmered every time it caught the light. From a small box on the floor of the closet, I pull out a pair of chocolate-colored, lace up heels and slip them on. I turn around for a last minute approval. My mom smiles at me while comfortably crossing her arms. "You look beautiful hun."

"Thanks mom!" I reply gratefully as I throw a bunch of necessary and unnecessary things into a small purse and sling it over my shoulder. I carefully descend the stairs to the ground floor of my building and finally, take a deep breadth before opening the door to meet my friend.

I have to blink twice at Ulrich's appearance, never having seen him dress so formally before. He's wearing a classic black suit with a white dress shirt and a green tie. His normally spiked up hair is slicked back with gel. His cheeks flush pink when he sees me and he stiffens up.

"H-hey," he stutters when we're no more than a few feet apart, "you...look..." He seems to have the rest of the sentence stuck in his throat.

"What is it?" I ask curiously, amused at his embarrassment to be around his own best friend.

"You...you just look beautiful." He murmurs with a slight sideways gaze.

I chuckle, "Thanks, you look pretty handsome yourself." From over Ulrich's shoulders I can see his Blue Camry parked at the side of the curb.

"W-we'll we should get going then." Ulrich laughs nervously while extending an arm out to escort me. I smile and put my arm around his.

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