Zoey 101: You Must Of Had A Broken Heart ☑

Chapter 8

She opened the middle drawer of her vanity that displayed every shade of lipstick and nail polish on the market, and took out a comb and pair of professional shears. She invited me to sit as she laid a towel on the floor to capture the clippings, and attaching another around my shoulders. “No one’s going to recognize you tonight.”

That wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Lola drew the comb through my hair and clipped portions of it up. I felt the weight begin to fall and decided it was best to keep my eyes shut and let her concentrate – or to keep me from panicking as more hair fell to the floor. Lola sung along with the music as she combed, clipped, and cut. Before I knew it, she plugged in the hair dryer and ran it over a round brush as she styled my hair.

“Keep your eyes closed,” Lola instructed as she spread eye shadow along my lids with her cool fingers.

“Lola, please don’t make me look ridiculous,” I pleaded.

“I’m barely putting any on. I promise.” The bristles of a brush streaked across my cheeks. “What do you think? Zo, open your eyes!” she demanded impatiently.

I slowly opened my eyes to view the transformation. My dirty blonde hair gently rested beneath my shoulders, and layers of curles softened made me look like a totally new person. I found myself smiling.

“I like it,” I admitted. She hadn’t put much make-up on, to my relief - just a slight shimmer on my lids and hint of pink to my cheeks, which wouldn’t be needed if I was anywhere near Chase.

“Here,” Lola said handing me a tube of lip gloss and mascara. “I thought it would be easier if you put these on yourself. I’m going to get ready in the bathroom, I’ll be right back.”

While Lola was drying and styling her hair, I sat on one of the beds and flipped through the latest women’s magazine with articles on how to be more aggressive and the fastest way to lose ten pounds. When she glided back into the room, she radiated with loose curls of shiny brown hair and just enough makeup to show off her pouty red lips. It deflated me a little.

“What’s wrong?” Lola asked, reacting to my sunken shoulders.

“Are you sure you want me to go with you? I don’t want it to be awkward for you having me tagging along when I know everyone will want to talk to you.”

She scowled and threw a pillow at me. “Shut up. Of course I want you to go with me. Why should this be any different than any other day? If people talk to me, and I want to talk to them, I will. It’s never bothered you before.”

I looked at the floor, recognizing my nerves were getting the better of me – and it really had nothing to do with Lola’s popularity. “You’re right. Sorry, I’m just getting a little paranoid about going.”

“We’ll have fun, I promise.” Lola flashed the whites of her teeth from between her shiny red lips. She went back into her closet and threw something out in my direction. “This white scarf goes perfectly with that sweater, and it will keep you warm, so you won’t miss not having a jacket.”

“Thanks.” I grabbed the fuzzy scarf and wrapped it around my neck as I stood in front of the mirror. Lola was right - I did look different.

“This is going to be the best night,” Lola reassured me when we got into her car to drive to the school. She was so excited she could barely contain her energy, which made me smile. I made an effort to let go of the anxiety that’d been building. I could do this. I could be social. Okay, let’s not go that far. I would not be completely pathetic – that sounded better. Who was I kidding?

°°°°°

When we pulled in, the parking lot was filling with cars, and spectators were making their way to the ticket booth in a steady drove. A jolt of panic rushed through my body. I knew I was being ridiculous - this was only a high school football game - but I might as well have been walking to school naked. Lola jumped out of the car and yelled to a group of girls who were lost in a giggling conversation while heading toward the stadium.