Seeing Isn't Believing

Annabella POV

Midterms, what a horrible time of the year. Students are exhausted, undead slugs in the halls after cramming the whole night before, Dark circles under eyes become more profound, and the nerds are the most cheeyr of them all. 

Making my way from my locker, I glance at my phone and realize that mid-terms began in five minutes. I make my way to my first test, and plant my self in the closest desk to the door. I set my bag on the back of the chair, and pull out my pencil and calculator, more than ready for the first exam. 

The teacher walks in and the room goes quiet. Students turn towards the front of the room and listen to the instructions that we have heard 5 times before in the previous years. The tests are handed back and I nervously pull on my hair. I decided to keep it down today as something I can play with to keep my hands busy in between or during tests. I push the sleeves of my baby pink sweater up and focus, beginning my exam. 

~~~~~~

The bell rings, making me jump as I realize that the time to take the exam is over. I look down at my work. I was on the last question, but that wont mean I fail, just means I will automatically get that question wrong due to not being able to answer it. I hand my test forward and stand gathering my things. 

"You have ten minutes between exams, don't be late to your next exam or you will not be able to enter the room. Good luck students and happy winter break!" The teacher speaks loud enough for everyone to hear over the commotion of students making their way out of the room. 

I head to my next class, literature, and am beyond ready for it. I enter the room and sit down, grabbing my book out of my bag and reading for the exam. 

Time doesn't move as fast as it did for math, but was much easier. I finish my exam with minutes to spare, and stretch, smiling proud at my work. I begin to put my stuff away as the bell rings, signifying it was lunchtime and our hour break between exams. 

I make my way to the lunchroom, heading to the table we all sit at and wait for Ainsley. As I approach the table I notice the familiar face of the boy from detention, baffled by the fact he's in my group. I duck and sit down, hoping he didn't see me and am greeted by Ainsley. 

"Maaan, these exams are exhausting, I think I'm getting gray hairs." She says, as she fiddles with her makeup bag.

"You're dramatic as ever, Ains." I laugh and bite into my ham and cheese sandwich, a favorite of mine my mom makes just right. 

"Yeah and you're too smart. Anyways, I will be showing up at your house around 5 to get ready for the party. You are going right?" This party has been talked about all week by this table, if I don't go I will be the social outcast. 

"Yeah of course I'm going." I take another bite and drink some of my sweet tea. 

"Good. Be ready to get our girl rock on when I get there, I wanna be there by 8. I will text you when I'm on my way." She winks at me and applies some lip gloss. 

"Yeah yeah." We continue out lunch chatting, discussing our outfits tonight and what alcohol to bring, where we're gonna crash when we get too drunk. We're interrupted by the bell that alerts us all there are 10 minutes before next exams begin. I groan and stand up.

"I'll see you tonight girl." I wave and make my way to my next class, ready to get this over with. 

~~~~~~~~~ 

Finally, the final bell chimes and the entire school atmosphere changes. Studies are done, students are free for three weeks, and winter break has officially begun. While the hype is not as grand as end of the school year final bell, it's still intoxicating. 

I head to my locker and put all my school supplies inside and grab my jacket and car keys, my bag light on my shoulder as a reminder it's time for three weeks of freedom. I head out of the school, the file of students carefree and excited surround me on the way to the parking lot. I get in my car, and wait for the traffic of the after school rush to finish, and make my way home. 

Once home, I kick my shoes off and head up and into my room. The clock in the hall way shows that it's 4:30, meaning Ainsley would be here with in the next hour and I need to figure out what I'm gonna wear tonight. 

I head into my walk in closet and look through my clothes, realizing I suddenly have nothing cute. I grab one of my favorite heart shape topped maroon dresses that fit like a second layer of skin, my nude pantie hos and black heels that will match the black bow I will use to hold back the top half of my hair. I lay it all out on my bed and admire my choice, knowing it's a little scandalous for the temperature, I grab a shawl that will go over my shoulders that I am sure I will lose at some time tonight. 

A knock at my door jogs my attention and I quickly cover up the outfit with my blanket. My mom opens my door, dressed in her business suit, and smiles. 

"I will be out late tonight, please lock the house if you go out tonight. No parties, and I want you to report in at midnight. You understand?" She smiles and blows a kiss before I can answer and shuts the door behind her. 

I pull the blanket back off the clothes and smile again, knowing how good I will look tonight. I decide to hop in the shower with the remaining time I have before Ainsley gets here and shave.

As I walk back into my room, towel tied tightly around my chest, I grab my phone and notice a missed text from Ainsley reading 'c u soon betch' and smile, throwing my phone back onto my bed. 

I wrap my robe around my bare body and make my way downstairs just as Ainsley pulls into my drive way. I hear her music bumping from inside my house and shake my head, that girl is gonna blow her ears out before she's 30. I open my main door as she walks up, suitcase in hand holding her party outfit and make up, and a bottle of campaign. She walks in and gives me a hug and we both head up to my room. 

Once we're inside she throws her suitcase next to my laid out outfit and smiles, "you did good in your choice tonight, girl." She opens her suitcase and pulls out a black cocktail dress and a pair of bright red pumps. Her go-to signature outfit, of course. 

"I see you haven't decided to wear anything new." I smile as she glares back at me. 

"Gotta make an impression, this happens to be how I am remembered by an alcohol drowned night." She turns back to her outfit and clasps her hands together. "Alright, let's get down to business." She grabs the campaign and I grab the glasses, and our night of getting ready has began. 

We grab her make up and mine, and head to the master bathroom. The mirror is big enough that we can both use it at the same time. She plugs her phone into my portable speaker, and blasts 'Just got paid' by *NYSYNC and begins to move her hips to the music. 

We both sing along, happily applying make up and dancing to the music. Ainsley goes for a gray and black smoke eye and bright red lipstick look, while I settle for a more nude smokey eye and black eye liner wings, and my lips a soft shade of pink. 

As we finish up with our make up, I get my curler warmed up and she warms up her straighter, I have decided to pin half my hair back and curl the ends, she grabs the hair I can't reach and pins my black bow in. I curl the hair I left down, and smile at myself in the mirror. 

"You look stunning." She smiles as she straightens her own hair. 

"Not as stunning as you." I hug her and giggle, we walked back to the bedroom with linked arms.

I pull my robe off and pull my dress up, I turn and move my hair. "Can you zip me up?" Ainsley walks over and zips my dress up slowly. I turn to look at myself in the mirror and glow with how great it looks paired with my hair. My auburn curls fall just to my collarbone, accenting my face perfectly. My bangs are pulled back with the bow showing my widows peak at full light. "Wow" I whisper to myself softly, amazed at how much I glow tonight. 

Ainsley puts her dress on and we both pull our pantyhose up. I slide my heels on and she does her finishing touches of her make up. We look at each other in the mirror and smile. "We are party ready." Ainsley says and I nod in agreement.

Grabbing my black clutch and car keys, we head to the door and head out for our night full of intoxicated fun.