Mimeomia

16 | frenemy

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

FRENEMY

( — a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry. )

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

          IRONICALLY, MICHAELA HAS NOTHING TO WEAR. It's Friday, marking the beginning of New York Fashion Week, and she's standing in her underwear in front of her closet, damp hair wrapped in a towel. She feels awfully melodramatic as she does so, pouting, as she can't decide on a single outfit, but it's not like she's meeting Brie Larson.

          The problem is that there's always the possibility she'll, in fact, meet Brie Larson, and she wants to look her best if that eventually becomes true. She thinks she can handle Sarah Jessica Parker just fine, but Brie is on a whole new level.

          Her phone buzzes, but she ignores it, knowing it's Jillian sending her plenty of photos of all the possible outfits she wants to wear tonight. If Michaela's closet is big, then Jillian is one of the most impressive she has seen in her whole life—and she is Yvonne Tate's daughter. It's not like Jillian actually needs advice, having a great sense of style, and she's allowed to get there late, but Michaela has a date.

           The usual voice gnawing at the back of her brain sounds like her classmates from first or second grade, mocking her for going out with someone, but this is a completely different situation. They're not going on a date—they're each other's date, which doesn't necessarily bring a relationship into the equation, especially when Michaela is still trying to mend things with him.

          Granted, she wasn't the only one of them who screwed things up throughout the years, even if high school seems to have been an eternity ago, but it's not like time ever slows down, especially in New York City. It's easier to own up to her mistakes than to force Lennox to do the same—though she's certain he'll do it at his own rhythm instead of following her around like a lost puppy—but she's not giving up hope.

          The one thing they can't do tonight, besides looking like a couple, as paparazzi will be there, following celebrities, and she definitely doesn't want to turn into a drama magnet—with Lincoln being there, rumors might spark up—is wearing matching clothes. Lennox likes red and blue and pairing those colors with black, gray, or white, so she's better off wearing light colors or dressing in grayscale.

          She chooses the latter. It's what she looks better in, anyway, besides pastels, and no one ever wears pastels to any fashion weeks. They either dress in black or in extremely bright colors—like Viola Davis' dress for the 2017 Emmys—and Michaela is trying to fly past the radar and enjoy her night without running into any trouble.

          Unfortunately, she can't help but wonder whether Lincoln will be there or not and, if yes, if he'll be alone or if he'll also have a date. While he told her his commitment was only to his job, things might have changed since then and, for all she knows, he might bring a friend along.

          A female friend.

          Disgruntled, Michaela slides a black skirt up her legs and zips it up, appreciating how it fits tightly against her hips, but still leaves enough space for her to move. With almost half of her outfit being ready, she finally allows herself to take a few seconds to relax and reply to Jillian's texts, putting on a long-sleeved cropped sweater.

          She's bound to trip and fall with these heels on. She just knows it's a recipe for disaster, but she hates being the shortest one. With Jillian here, she can't be the shortest under normal circumstances, but Jillian also happens to be a big fan of six-inch heels, meaning Michaela too has resorted to using that tactic to appear taller.