Along for the ride

Chapter 12

I honestly felt amazing today.

We walked around the mall, licking out ice cream cones.

"He totally likes you!" Danielle gushed, nudging my arm.

"Maybe?" I smiled.

"You could be my sister in law," Valorie added, pointing her spoon at me.

I rolled my eyes, "Let's not take it that far. But that doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"Mitchell's party's tonight," Danielle told us, as we existed the mall.

"I know, I'm excited. Her parties are the best!" I threw the remainder of my cone away in a near by trash can.

"I wonder who's going to be our ride home," Valorie shook her head, "I'm not staying over at Chelle's after what happened last time."

The last time Michelle had thrown a party, we all got incredibly wasted. No one was in the condition to drive, so we had to crash at the party.

So many couples walked in on us, half naked and with no shame. Guys tried to do things with me and Valorie and the boys woke up in very odd places.

I shrugged, "Not me. I did it for Jace's party."

"I'll just make Rhyan drive us, or something."

We all agreed.

Once we got home, we all decided to get ready at Danielle's house.

She has enough clothes to dress the entire state of Minnesota. Her walk in closest revealed dresses, skits, blouses and any other dressing attire you could think of.

Her parents were both CEOs of a company in the city. They worked all the time, so they were rarely home.

Danielle and her little brother had the masion to themselves most of the time.

"The party starts around 9, so we have a few hours to get ready. We should be there around 9:15ish."

The girls nodded in agreement, including Sophia, who had shortly showed up.

We all began doing our hair and make up while Sophia wandered in Danielle's walk in closest.

"Dani," Sophia called.

"Coming!" She set her wand down, and scurried off to help Sophia.

I continued to run the straightener over each curl, watching the steam.

"I hear this party's gonna be big. It might just top last years." Valorie said, staring conversation.

"Ooo."

There was an awkward silence for a few moments before she spoke again.

"So um, Danielle told me about Jake." She confessed, quickly.

I found another curl and pressed the flat iron on it.

"What about him?"

I knew exactly what she was going to say. I just didn't want to believe it.

"I didn't think he would be that big if a jerk," she whispered, honestly.

I looked at her through the mirror and shrugged, "I don't care."

I care.

She sighed, setting her top down on the bed. I saw her open her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

She walked over to me, and placed both hands on my shoulders.

"Look in the mirror," she ordered.

I did as I was told, giving her a strange look.

"Do you see what I see?"

"Uh, two girls getting ready for the biggest party of the year?" I guessed, shaking my head.

I really wish I knew where she was going with this.

"Wrong. I see a beautiful girl with natural curls that bring out her bright brown eyes. I see a girl with flawless skin that needs no fixing, with perfectly structured cheek bones. I see a girl that has a smile that stops the hearts of millions. A smile that is contagious. It's impossible to look at her and no smile."

She smiled, pressing the side of her head against mine.

"Most importantly I see a girl who's inner beauty makes her the most amazing girl on the planet. If a dumbass guy from California wants to miss out on all of this?" She scoffed, "He's obviously stupid. You're quite a catch, Gabbie."

I smiled at my best friend through the mirror.

I took time to actually look at the girl with the curly hair and breathtaking smile. She looked gorgeous. Tall. Confident.

Like she could take on the world and anyone in it.

That girl in the mirror is me. I'm that girl.