Altogether unusual

One Brit a day...

'I like my men like I like my tea. Hot and British.'

This is the night I have been waiting for two months now. Two months in which my relationship with Jonathan hasn't changed that much. He has late nights, I have late cries. I miss him so very much. And he doesn't seem to find time to spend with me. I can see he is unhappy, reason for which I do not push anything on him anymore. I just let him decide. I haven't found the power to bring up the moving in together thing. He is not ready. And I for sure am not ready to be dismissed. I have enough problems trying to convince myself that this is important for him, that he has to succeed, that it doesn't matter we don't see each other that often. When he finds the time he comes running to me. That must count for something, doesn't it? I hope it does because it is my go to place when my sadness makes me think awful things. I must believe he wants me and that this difficult period will end sometime. And when it will, he will know how much I've been there for him.

So this night better be what it announced itself to be. Seven or eight months ago, Eve has been given the opportunity to organize a fashion event. It was supposed to be some sort of passing exam for her, so you wouldn't believe the crazy work she put into making everything perfect. Not only she has invited the most rich and known people in London, but she has a total of five transformations for random people. Well, not totally random. I am one of the transformations. It was Eve's idea. Again. She invited both myself and Jonathan, only that he doesn't know I'm going. We think it will be nice to make him a surprise. The party's theme is the 40's, so it will probably be the first time in my entire life when I'll be willingly dress another colour than black. And have my makeup and hair done professionally. Eve's orders. So I left work early and I went there to let those people, whoever they are, work on me. For all I care, they'll have to carve into me to make me look human, but I'd do more than that to have a great night with my boyfriend. To make every moment I spend with him count.

I think more and more about that while I am being prepared for the evening. Two hours have passed, and I swear I wanted to run a couple of dozen times so far. This is exhausting. How do women do this daily? Or maybe it's just taking so long because it's difficult to make me look human. I'd rather go with that.

"Oh. My. God! Clarisse, you look absolutely amazing!" Eve yells when I'm finally finished, with obvious pause between each word. I turn towards the mirror, curious now. The woman looking back at me is some kind of an unreal creature. I stare open mouthed, still unsure it is me who I see. My body clad in the most wonderful scarlet dress in the world. Dark blooded taffeta, I should say. It shows a nice, deep cleavage, the material just touching the shoulders subtly. The lush material flows full of lights and waves, hugging all the right curves, which I honestly didn't know I have, and stops right beneath my knees. I wear some expensive shoes with high heels which will be the death of me tonight. My face is absolutely impossible to recognize. My hair falls in dark curls, shiny as the devil's eyes. On top I have some rolls made, vintage fashion style. They actually look good on me. Then my eyes have been elongated with eyeliner, and the thick eyelashes make them look bigger somehow. My weird colour doesn't seem so weird anymore. The final detail is a bright red mouth. The person in the mirror finally closes her lips and smiles a little. My Dark Lord, what have they done to me?

When we get out from the back, Eve takes me to meet some people, talk to others, in other words mingle. Which she knows I hate, but I owe her big time. I think I had been introduced to thirty people when we finally arrive to yet another group of men with glasses of whisky in their hands. I am already tired.

"Gentleman, allow me to present you to my friend! These are Alvin, John, Ben and Jonathan!" She says, pleased with herself.

"Eve, you never introduced us to your friend. Who is this lovely creature?" Jonathan replies ogling me like I was at least a Picasso painting.