Pyrophobia

Arsonphobia -3-

Chapter Three

Someone gently knocked on my door, waking me up from my evening nap. I haven’t gone to school for the past two days, and I was beginning to gain my strength back and wanting to show everyone I wasn’t as weak as they thought. The door slowly opened and Toni and Courtney walked in. I was surprised to see Courtney, but then again… Toni found a new friend.

“I hope you don’t mind, I brought Court with me…” Toni said, walking into the room and looking at me sadly. Sure, Toni tried to call me but I never wanted to talk, so my parents always said I would call her back.

“I tried calling, but I decided I would just drop by and see if you still wanted to come with us tonight?” She looked worried. I looked at the time, it was six, and I already ate dinner. I blew out a big breath before sitting up in my bed and walking towards my closet. I turned around and gave Toni a look I hope she would understand. She looked at me with wide eyes and a big smile. I grabbed the ugliest shirt I had, held it in front of my body, and looked at her confused.

“Oh right, I’ll help.” She insisted, finally getting my message. Courtney just stood by my door, looking uncomfortable. Toni was going through my closet, tossing things aside and holding a couple shirts in her hand.

“Courtney, you can sit down if you want.” I tried to be nice; I wasn’t sure what exactly to say.

“Court, want to do her hair?” Toni asked, going through my pants. Courtney looked at me scared. I smiled and nodded my head at her that it was okay.

“I have a flat iron in my bathroom, bottom drawer.” Her face seemed to light up as she quickly walked to my bathroom. I could hear her opening the drawer and taking it out, before coming back into my room and plugging it in.

“Just be careful to kind of let my hair cool down in the back of my head before you drop it.” She nodded her head, looking unsure again.

“It’ll be fine.” I reassured her. I sat down in the chair and looked at Toni who was gathering options together and looking at them intently. Courtney was twisting the hair straightener in my hair, making it curly. I tried watching her, learning how to do that, but I couldn’t quite understand. Instead of asking her, I just kept quiet.

“This is going to be so cool; no one is going to expect you to be there.” Toni said, smiling at herself. I nodded my head slightly and let Courtney finish my hair.

By the time she was done, my hair hung loosely around my face in curls. It was cute, something I wasn’t used to.

“I like your room, Mel.” Courtney informed me. I took a look around. My light purple walls made the stick on yellow butterflies stand out against my walls. My soft yellow bed was in the middle of my room, window behind it. My closet was to the right of my bed, as well as the bathroom. I smiled at her and shook my head.

“I found it! Go change, and then we can go… were going to be fashionably late!” I looked at the clock; it was now eight-thirty.  I grabbed the clothes and walked into the bathroom. I had on a pair of dark wash jeans, which showed off my curves. I had on a white lacy undershirt with a floral long sleeved shirt, and a leather jacket, that hugged my body comfortably. I had a pair of black flats on my feet and I looked at myself in the mirror. Would people recognize me?

I went out of my bathroom slowly and looked up at a surprised Courtney and a teary eyed Toni. “You look seriously amazing, Mel.” Toni mumbled, closing her mouth. I looked up at them, so thankful. I ran up to Toni and hugged her; she hugged me back after the initial shock. I let go of her and walked over to Courtney.

“Thank you, Court.” I whispered, bringing her into a hug. She tensed at the contact before relaxing and gently hugged me back. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this pretty as I do now. It was strange really, I felt almost happy… almost.