AGAIN

Chapter Six

(Flashback continued...)

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You look fine, Dale.

No.

You look great!

Ha! There you go...

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-C-E

I tried convincing myself in front of a full length mirror that I didn't look terrible. I rummaged my closet for some cowboy outfit and ended up with plaid button up long sleeves, blue jeans, and a cowboy hat.

Who would've thought I had brought with me the cowboy hat I wore during our high school play?

Well, lucky me.

I braided my hair in two sets and let them hung in front of my shoulders.

"What in the world--?!" Max yelled all of a sudden and my soul almost left my body.

I didn't turn around, feeling too embarrassed. I heard her close the door and knew her expression was indescribable.

"Howdy? Where'd you park your horse?" She joked, her amused grin reflecting on the mirror.

I finally turned around to present myself to her, forcing a smile.

"I'm not that terrible, am I?" I asked.

Max shrugged. "Okay... Do you really want to hear my opinion?"

I nodded, wishing she could just lie but obviously it wouldn't happen.

"Well-- " She paused, probably searching for words that would somehow lessen the offense. "Before I tell you how horrifying you are, why don't you spill first the reason behind that costume?"

She didn't even realize she just told me her heartbreaking opinion. I really did look terrible.

"Uhm... I'm going to a party?" My answer sounded like a question.

Max's eyes widened in a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Like that? Who goes to a party wearing-- wearing that?! And how come you got invited to a party in the first place? No offense, but you merely have friends."

"Cou-- " I almost said her name but then I remembered how Max wanted to murder that girl.

I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell her that I'd be going to Courtney's party. She might think I betrayed her. She and Jet treated me as their friend even though I was completely different from them. Max was one of my very very few friends in college and I don't want to lose her.

Max raised an eyebrow and stared at me suspiciously.

"Ha-ha..." I laughed nervously, adjusting the hat on my head. "I-- I just joined a club. You know, the theatre club, the club that plays on a theatre like Romeo and Juliet. Their club... I mean, our club is throwing a party for new members like me and it has this sort of theme. Cute, isn't it? I'm not really good at acting but I always dreamt on playing Juliet's role and to be kissed by a frog that will turn out to be Romeo. Ha-ha." I rambled.

I hoped she would just believe me.

Max let out a sigh before standing up from the bed. She walked towards me with a serious expression on her face, making me feel uneasy.

Shit. She knows I'm lying.

Without warning, she grabbed the bottom sides of my shirt using both her hands, making me wince. She, then, unfastened the last two buttons and pulled the shirt up from my waist, revealing my tiny navel.