Off With His Head

01. Understatement of the Year

"So are you coming tonight or not?" Naomi applies yet another layer of mascara onto her eyelashes. I think it might be her third.

The smell of berries and vanilla fills my room from Naomi's signature perfume. In the background the television blares out a pop song that I'm doing my best to block out. It's annoyingly catchy.

"Nay, I told you I can't tonight. I have a date," I repeat for what feels like the hundredth time. Though, it's probably only the second.

"Not with that Henry dude again," she groans. Screwing the cap back on her mascara wand, she picks up a shade of dark red lipstick, assessing her reflection before putting it on.

"Yes with that Henry dude again. I told you, I really like this guy."

She raises her perfectly plucked eyebrows at me. Her round hazel eyes, heavily rimmed with liner, take in my outfit. "And that's what you're wearing?"

I flinch as though she has slapped me. I had put a lot of thought into what I was wearing tonight, eventually deciding on ankle boots and skinny jeans. I paired them with a dark red top that almost hides the fact that I have absolutely nothing going on in the chest area. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"At least put on some make up." She smooths down her short gold dress that doesn't leave much to the imagination and shakes back her honey blonde hair, smiling at her reflection with her crimson lips.

"I will as soon as you stop hogging the mirror. Remind me why you couldn't get ready in your room again?"

"Yours has better lighting." She zips up her make up bag and steps back from the mirror, finally allowing me to go near it. "But are you seriously giving up the party of the year to go on a yet another date with Henry? Isn't it bad enough that you're not going home for the holidays because of him?"

College had let out two days ago, and while Naomi lives here in Spencer's Creek, my home town is two hours away in Willowville. I had originally planned to go home for the six week break, but when I found out my parents weren't going to be there, I didn't see the point.

Having more time to spend with Henry is just a wonderful perk.

"According to you, every party is the party of the year. And I told you before; I'm not going home because my parents are travelling for work." Again. It seems like they're always away. I can't remember the last time I saw them.

Not that I'm bitter about it or anything.

"This one actually is," she ignores the comment about my absentee parents and latches onto what I said about the party. "Everyone's finished finals, schools closed and it's going to be packed with hot guys. I need my wing girl. Besides, I still think that Henry character is a little sketchy."

I sigh as I brush through my reddish brown hair, wishing yet again that it had some sort of volume instead of just being boring and flat. I could take the time to curl it, but it usually just ends up sagging within ten minutes anyway.

"He is not sketchy," I insist.

"Okay so tell me this, why is a guy who is that good looking still single? Have you thought of that?"

Actually I have.

I've spent far too much time thinking about it. I still can't come up with an answer. "Nay, I like him. Can't you be happy for me?"

"Ah sweetie," she walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. "I would be if I really believed he was good for you. See you in the morning!" And with that she releases me and goes over to my closet. She pulls my leather jacket out, slipping it onto her slender shoulders, before waving goodbye and heading out the front door.