Paper Thin

• 97: Blue Dress •

Melody

After a shower, I dried off and put on some makeup. A smoky eye seemed appropriate for a night out, so I had a little fun with it and then used a nude lip colour to lighten the look. I took my flat iron and went to work on my hair until it was pin straight, then stood in front of my closet deciding on what to wear. It felt like an eternity before I made up my mind; too fat for this, too tall for that...but I chose a lacy, navy blue dress that hugged my body. I then found a silver pair of heels and put them on. I looked at myself in the mirror and shrugged.

As good as it's going to get, I thought. I quickly headed downstairs before I lost my nerve and changed my mind on what I was wearing again. As I got to the foot of the stairs, I noticed Mia lounging on the couch. She looked up from the television as she saw me, her eyes raking my body with an expression on her face that I couldn't quite read.

"Are you going to a party?" she asked.

"Yes," I said hesitantly.

"Is that what you're wearing?" Mia scrunched her nose up,

"Yeah. Is it too much?" I asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

"Well..." she started. The doorbell then rang, cutting whatever she was planning on saying short. I sucked in a breath and opened the door, to see Carson there. He smiled at me brightly.

"Hi beautiful," he said. I felt my nose wrinkle in rejection of the compliment, despite my cheeks heating up. He chuckled softly at my reaction before asking, "ready to go?"

"Yes, let me just get my jacket," I said reaching into the closet by the door.

"By the way, Harvey and Emma asked for a ride, so they're in the car," Carson added.

"Wait! You have Harvey Fuller in that car too?" Mia asked suddenly from the couch. I pulled on my coat and turned around to face her.

"Yeah," I answered dryly.

"I am quaking. Whoa. You might actually not be a complete loser," Mia said. Carson opened his mouth to say something, but I held up a hand and stopped him. I couldn't be bothered to get into it with my annoying stepsister.

"I guess not," I said quietly before turning my back to her and opening the front door. Carson followed behind me and closed the door once we were outside.

"You really shouldn't let her talk to you like that," he said. I shrugged and began walking towards the car.

"It's whatever," I replied, fidgeting with the skirt of my dress.

What was wrong with it? Was it too short? Did it fit too tight?

"It's not 'whatever'. You should stand up for yourself," Carson said as we stopped outside of his car.

"I don't have the energy to always be fighting with her," I replied. "Besides, if that gets her through the day, then it's not a big deal." Carson sighed and kissed me on the forehead before opening the car door for me.

"Hey girl hey!" Emma squealed as I got inside the vehicle. Carson closed the door for me and then walked around to his side.

"Hey!" I said as brightly as I could manage. I glanced back at Emma and Harvey in the back. They each had a hand in between them, intertwined by their fingers. I bit back a smile.

"Ready to get lit?" Harvey asked as Carson slid into the driver's seat. Carson smirked and buckled himself in.

"Ah, the desperate cries of a teenage alcoholic," Carson replied, dramatically, making Emma, Harvey and I laugh in response.