Shards of a Heart

Chapter 20

    Chapter 20 - Then

The Valentine's Day Dance was always on a saturday. The younger classmen got to sleep in, while the seniors got to school around 8. I am awake around that time, so I call Jade right away.

    "Hey." she answers, her voice not at all groggy, as though she's been up for hours.

    "Hey..." I reply back, clearing my throat quick. "You're coming over right? I won't look decent without your help,"

    "Sure thing Cee. I'll be there in seven minutes"

    "Wait! I'm not even-" I stop when I hear the buzzing of the phone signaling that she had hung up on me. I close my eyes and lay back down, but decide I should probably at least be up when she got here.

    Sure enough, in a little over seven minutes, Jade's brother's mini cooper pulls into the driveway. I was expecting her truck, so I question it as soon as she walks in.

    "Oh," she answers, a annoyed frown forming on her face. "My brother took it with him to the beach today. He 'wanted to make the date cooler' and he apparently can't do that with the little thing."

    I heard the stories of how her brother preferred her truck, but it wasn't his so he couldn't use it all the time. We always joke about how one day he's going to ruin his car so he has an excuse to use Jade's. Either that or kill her in her sleep.

    "Um okay go shower," Jade knocks me out of my day dream with a pointer finger. I roll my eyes, but follow her back to my room.

    I hear her mess around in the bathroom while I shower, then her voice cuts through the sound of the water hitting my head.

    "Cee? Get in your dress after you dry your hair then let me back in. I'm going to grab my dress from the car and get changed myself." before I can respond the door clicks shut. I turn off the water, relishing in the silence. I do what she told me to, then open the door.

    Jade's waiting, a big smile on her face. She pulls me out to my vanity and makes me sit, commenting about how good my dress looks.

    I don't really care, I just want to sleep.

    "Celia Joyce Gray!" I hear he gasp, and realize I must've just said that out loud.

    "Sorry," I apologize and she smiles, shaking her head and she waits for the iron to heat up. She pulls my hair up into a braided bun, curling a few loose end to frame my face. I notice that she's working quickly, but assume it's because the dance starts in less than two hours and she like to be early.

    "Hey, I have to go." She finally says when she finishes the touching up.

    "What why?"

    "I promised Payton that I'd do her hair for her..." She smiles and starts packing up her stuff. While I was in the shower she must have done her makeup. "I'll meet you there?"

    "Sure. Wait, does that mean I have to do my own makeup?"

    "Yes, Cee. Just do your normal simple.... Whatever you do and add glitter eyeshadow. I really have to go" She rushes out, he smile never fading. I laugh after her, but it turns into a stressed laugh when I look back at my face

    I don't even want to go to this dance, and now I have to go with me as my own makeup stylist? I should just hide my face under one of those masks they always use in the movies. For what was it? A masquerade ball? I wish they had those... then I'd be more willing because if I made fool of myself no one would know its me.

After about five tries to get my eyeliner right, and then waiting for Jade to text back to tell me what eyeshadow to use, I only have a little less than an hour before the dance starts. I groan, then decide to call Camdon. He doesn't answer.

    We had agreed just to meet at the dance since we were going as friends and because he had to be there early anyway to help with the art stuff. That's the perks of your aunt being a teacher.

    I carefully walk downstairs. Dad is at work. He had to take an extra day this week, but since he loves his job, he didn't really care. I set my phone of the table and stand back while it counts down to take picture. I then sit down on the couch and send it to him. He wanted to see me before I got home.

    I close my eyes and rest, the makeup feeling heavy on my eyes.

Don't ever stay up until 1am the day before you have to be somewhere early. Because, unfortunately for me. I actually fell asleep.
   
    My phone buzzing is what wakes me up. Thankfully I still look okay, and it's not quite 10 yet. That means I'll be a few minutes late, or if I'm lucky, right on time. I rush to the car, the buzzing just a text from my dad saying that I looked beautiful and he wishes he could see me.

    I play upbeat music to lighten my mood, dread washing over me as I get closer to the school. I never like dances, but I didn't think itd feel this unsettling. Nothing bad is going to happen today. Nothing, Celia Gray, nothing is going to happen.

• • • • • • •

Spoiler Alert: Cee is wrong!

What do you think is going to happen.

Oh gosh I start school in three days

Ugh.

Stay Gold

AJ♥️