constellations [DISCONTINUED]

ursa minor

It's safe to say that, well, I was pretty damn nervous for Josie's party. I had spent about two hours taking stuff out of my closet, putting it back inside, taking it out again, choosing an outfit and then giving it up. By 3:30pm all my clothes were on the floor and I hadn't even showered yet.

By that time, I decided it was worthless choosing them before doing all the other steps, so I just got in the bathroom, took my pajamas off and stepped inside the shower. I tried taking the nervousness out of my mind, I scrubbed my scalp with shampoo the hardest I could to see if it helped, but in the end it just came back to the unsure thoughts of wether I would be able to behave properly, if I would screw everything up and have people go home and concentrate on not throwing up (not out of drinks, but out of nervousness).

When I was out of the shower I did something I had never done, and I put on a face mask and a robe, putting on my most exciting playlist on. It was playing "Fell in Love With a Girl", by The White Stripes. I danced with my whole heart, wobbly and with maybe two left feet, but at least having fun. I shook my arms and moved my head, my legs spinning around my room and...

"Anne!"

And... I fell. Damn it, Marilla.

"Ouch" I whispered "Uh... Yes?"

"The music's too loud, could you maybe turn it down a bit?"

"Sure! Okie dokie!" I cringed at my own response. 'Who even says that anymore?' I thought to myself.

I did what I was told to, and turned it down. I also stopped dancing, I had spent quite a lot of time on the shower, it was 4pm already and I still had to dry my whole hair — which was a lot, it went from the top of my head to the length of my hip, put on makeup and go meet Diana at her house before going.

I folded my clothes but did not put them back into place, after all I still had to decide what to wear and washed my face. I don't know why, but a small part of me thought that maybe, just maybe, the freckles would come off with the mask. They didn't. I blow dried my hair and before I could start to braid it, something told me not to, so I just let it loose, and it didn't look so bad.

I kept on the robe and went downstairs to eat something. It was almost five and I was starving. I walked to the kitchen to make some grilled cheese and Marilla was there.

"Hello, Anne."

"Hey, Marilla. Want some grilled cheese?"

"No, thank you. So, what are you getting ready for? Using the bathroom since three o'clock—"

"3:30, actually." I started making my sandwich, trying not to look at her. I don't know why it was making me nervous to talk to her about it.

"Any way, early shower, loud music, blow dryer..."

"Um, a get-together at Josie's."

"A get-together?"

"A party, actually."

Marilla hesitated. I don't think either of us knew how to deal with it.

"Well, that... That is great. That is great, Anne. Just be home by 10:30pm."

"Isn't that a little early? I was thinking midnight..?"

"Ha! No chance."

"Fine. 11:30pm."

"Eleven."

"11:15pm."

"Deal."

I took my grilled cheese, put it on the table and hugged Marilla tight.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

She laughed and hugged me back.

"Now go, eat your sandwich and get dressed!" She let me go "But remember you don't have to get too dressed up, there is no need for that!"

"Thanks, Marilla!"

I took my sandwich and ran to my room. A grilled cheese later, I laid my eyes upon the perfect outfit: platform sandals, bell bottom jeans and a led zeppelin shirt, with a leather belt. It was more dressed up than usual but nothing too out of my comfort zone. I thought I was kind of pretty.

And then, the hardest part: makeup. I didn't know how to do it if my life depended on it. Foundation always looked weird, eyeliner was not my thing and I'd never know what to do with my eyebrows.

Nevertheless, I tried. It didn't look so bad this time. I mean, the foundation wasn't great so the freckles looked like I had splashed something on my face and I just put some mascara and lipgloss. My eyebrows looked very ashy but whatever, I was doing my best, no one would even notice me anyways so it didn't matter.

A bit of perfume and a little more dancing in my room and I was ready.