think pink.

4 T-Birds

The next morning felt earlier than the one previous. 

I bounced the powder buff across my face and started pulling out my rag rollers as my mother stood in the doorway of my bathroom.

"I didn't lay you out any clothes for today, honey, so you'll have to do that," she told me as she pulled a pair of pumps onto her feet.

I nodded opening a nearby drawer to pull out some more makeup.

"Keep it fresh, Kathryn. You're too pretty to cover up your beauty with harsh lines." She pushed my hair behind my ears and ran her fingers over my cheek.

I internally rolled my eyes.

"Okay, mama. You've got to get going don't you?" I asked. She leaned over the sink to look into the mirror. She ran a finger over her cupid's bow to fix her lipstick.

"Yes. I do." She gave me a tight hug. She smelt like Blue Waltz and talcum powder. "Have a good day!" She sounded as of she was reciting a rule more than giving her daughter a joyous message before she went off.

I eagerly went to pick out clothes for myself. Without even thinking, I had put on my favorite high waisted, cropped, black pants and a light top that cut down and showed my collarbones and shoulders. I went back into the bathroom before I realized the nature of my outfit is what my mother would label 'not the way a proper lady should dress'. 

I applied my makeup the way I wanted it to look, dark mascara with a thick coat of lipstick, and instead of pinning my hair neatly like my mother had the day before, I let it fall down my back, high and wide. In that time, I devised a plan that reminded me a bit of June's skirt-changing routine. I would have to make my mother believe I was the perfect version of myself that she had depicted in her head. 

For her sake, I grabbed a cardigan before heading out the door.

Pulling into Rydell, I pulled into a spot before digging through my bag for my lipstick. I sat up in my leather-coated seat and pulled down the overhead mirror. I saw Frenchy and the rest of the girls walking from their parked car, across from me, that I assumed they carpooled in daily. I snapped the lit up mirror closed and went for the handle of my door when I was met with an eyesight full of leather. 

I froze stalk still as I stared at the group of boys about a hundred feet over. T Birds.

About half of them noticed me immediately and gave me looks as if to signal something was wrong, their wide eyes looking at my car then back at me. One of them hit another on the shoulder knocking a cigarette out of his hand. 

"Kathryn!" A high-pitched voice I remembered as Frenchy's approached to my left, interrupting my line of sight.

I tucked my lips into a thin line of a smile.

"Don't let those boys get to you," she said, pulling a black handkerchief from around her neck and shaking it out in their direction.

I stepped out of the car when she looked me up and down.

"What is it?" I asked. I looked down at my legs before my eyes met hers.

"Oh, nothing! You look great."

She gave me a comforting smile before motioning me to walk with her. I tossed my hair over my shoulder and gave the boys a smile.

Maybe I could learn to be myself here.