Invisible

Chapter Five

My heart was pounding. I couldn’t let my mom find out about this… She’d flip out and make it so much worse…

She smiled at me, still not picking up on my terror. “Oh hi, Ryan!!”

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. My mom held out the phone for me to take. I grabbed it and held the phone to my ear, smiling widely.

Ryan Griffin is one of my best friends in the world. We’ve known each other since… Well, forever, really! I love him to death, he’s like my older brother.

“Happy birthday to you!” Ryan sung out before I even got the chance to say anything. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Lily! Haaaaaaaaappy birthday to you!!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you Ryan,”

“No problem Lils.” Gahh, I could hear the smile in his voice. Then it got serious. “What happened to you at school today?! I heard about it and the next thing I knew, you weren’t there!! I was worried about you…”

“Ryan, school isn’t even over yet…” I said, looking over at the clock on the wall. It read 1:07 o’clock. “How are you calling me?!”

“I have lunch right now, I’m allowed to have my phone out.” He said this like it was the most obvious thing in the world. It kind of was… I have lunch with him. Suddenly, I realized something.

“Ryan!!” I nearly yelled into the earpiece, but then I lowered my voice to a hiss. “Don’t let anybody hear you talking to me!! Didn’t you get that text?!”

“Lily…”

“Ryan!!”

“Do you honestly think I care?!” I swear, he just rolled his eyes. I could hear it. “You’re my best friend; I’m not going to listen to some idiot who wants to ruin your life.”

I let out a sigh of relief. That’s two people on my side. “Thank you Ryan. It means a lot.”

“No problem Lils.” He sounded sincere. I thought I detected a hint of worry in his voice… I brushed it off. “Love ya!”

“Love ya too.” I smiled. “Now, go eat that prison food!!”

He laughed. “Bye Lily.”

“Bye Ryan.” I hung the phone back on the receiver.

Walking back over to my family and Matt, I smiled as I realized I wasn’t alone in this. I still have Matt and Ryan.

“Lillllllyyy!!” Sarah wailed, banging her fat little fists on the box she had lugged over a minute ago. “Open your presents!!!”

I laughed and tore open the box. I was confused when I saw what was inside.

Before me sat a large, metal suitcase-y looking thing. I sent my mother a look that said ‘What the fudge is this?!’ She simply laughed.

“Open it!” She trilled.

I pulled on the little snaps that held the whole thing together and pulled open the lid. I gasped. It was a huge case filled with every colour, length, and texture of wig imaginable, along with a few bald caps. I smiled up at my mother. “It’s perfect.”

“Wait Sissy!! There’s more!!” Sarah said, lugging over a small but large present.

This one contained another silver tool-box type thing. Not even bothering to ask, I pulled open the snaps. This one had every colour eye-shadow, lipstick, blush, foundation, and eyeliner that was ever made. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little… But still!! There’s a lot here!! There’s even a bunch of different types of fake eyelashes!!!!

“For your plays.” My mother explained. “So you can really get into the character.” I beamed at her; this was all too perfect.

“Thank you, Mom.” I mumbled, hugging her. She smelled like French vanilla and honey. I recognized it as the perfume I bought her for Christmas.

“It was nothing LilyPad.” She said, patting my back.

“Lily, open this one now!!” Sarah wailed, holding up a small stack of rectangular boxes tied together with a silver bow.

Pulling the bow and paper off, I unveiled three sets of colored contacts. One pair of blue, one brown, and one beautiful grey-green. I smiled. I could be anybody I wanted to be now!! I opened the make up case and put the contacts inside.

“This is amazing!!” I beamed.

“Now, go be somebody else!!” Matt laughed. He didn’t have to tell me twice. I grinned and picked up my new make up case and pulled on the handle of the wig case, pleased to find that it had wheel. I walked into my bedroom, smiling.

Of course I needed a new outfit. It only made sense. Going over to my closet, I picked a zebra-print mini skirt that I only wore once in my life and a hot pink camisole. Changing into them, I also put on a black padded bra, just for effect. I glanced at myself in the mirror and I had to fight back a laugh. I looked like a hooker. And I wasn’t even done yet.

I put on t a thick layer of my natural color foundation, followed by a loose powder that gave me a warm glow. I brushed on some pale pink blush to my cheekbones, smiling widely as I did so.

Hot pink eye shadow smothered my eyelids, going all the way up to my eyebrows. I looked ridiculous. I think I might be having too much fun with this… Jet black eyeliner lined my eyes, going out and giving me a cat-eye type look. I glued on thick, fluffy eyelashes, followed by a sweep of mascara. I coated my lips in the same color pink as my eyes, followed by a high shine gloss.

I swept my long golden hair up into a bald cap and nearly died laughing when I saw my reflection. A bald hooker!! Isn’t that something?? I put on a long, black wig that nearly reached my belly button. At this point I looked nothing like myself…

Now for the finishing touch. I took out the blue pair of contacts. It took me a while to get the damned things in, but eventually I got it. I stepped back and admired myself in the mirror. I looked nothing like myself. It was kind of scary. I grinned.

Shoving my feet into some sky high black heels and grabbing my phone from the dresser, I walked back into the living room. Matt and Sarah were having an animated discussion about their favorite cartoon character. Mom was watching them, a smile on her face. I cleared my throat to let them know I was there. One by one they turned their heads.

“Well? How do I look?” I asked, smiling.

Matt’s mouth dropped open, forming a perfect little ‘o’. My mom gasped. Sarah screamed.

“Lily?!” Sarah screeched, eyes wide. “Is that you?! STRANGER DANGER!!!”

“It’s me Sarah.” I laughed, picking her up and giving her an Eskimo kiss. “I just look different.”

She wiggled out of my arms and ran over to Matt, who pulled her up in his lap. I, feeling strangely confident, sauntered over to in front of the couch and did a slow turn, palms at shoulder level and facing the ceiling, making sure to wiggle my hips. Matt wolf-whistled.

The thick layer of foundation covered my blush nicely.

I sat back down on the couch and started opening my presents. The rest were mainly clothes and jewelry. Occasionally I found a pack of tie dye hidden amongst the clothes.  

I was in the middle of pulling a cute purple sundress out from a box when my phone buzzed.

“Matt, could you see who that is for me please?” I asked absentmindedly, picking up another box. I felt his hand brush across my bare thigh as he got the phone.

“Uhhmmm… Lils?” Matt sounded unsure. Suddenly my brain was filled with all these worried of who it could be and what it could say. “I think you should see this…”

I took my phone, shaking slightly. It was from Kaylee. Actually, It was a picture message from Kaylee. The caption read “Recognize me?”

The picture was of Matt and Kaylee kissing. She didn’t have on a shirt, only a bra, and he was bare-chested as well… They looked like they were trying to suck each others faces off…

I knew my good mood wasn’t going to last long…