Mean Girls Missing

19

May 16

7:27 pm

Stephanie

Arnie appeared three minutes early for our date. That was three minutes too soon. I had hoped he would have half a mind to not show up at all. One day he would be ashamed to show his face around.

I had been banking on his firm arrival at seven thirty. When the locks started jingling, I was still smearing lip gloss over my lips while Sammi searched through the jewelry for earrings that would match my outfit.

I watched him come into view behind me. He stared at me through the mirror. I snapped silver earrings in. They were dangly and looked like seashells at the end. Sam tried to smile at me but it didn't take away any of my anxiety. He was holding a paper bag against his chest.

"Sorry, Arnie. I was struggling with my eye shadow and it took longer than I thought."

He held his hand out to silence me. "No worries. I'm early. You still have time."

Sammi tossed her head over her shoulder and awarded him a Grammy-nomination worthy smile. "Good evening, Arnie."

"Nice to see you, Samantha. How has your day been?"

"Oh, it's been great. We played some Uno and I made four-cheese mac and cheese for lunch."

"Glad to hear it," he said earnestly. I finished touching up my makeup in the mirror before turning to him. "Are you ready, my darling?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Which was never.

Sammi put her hand on my shoulder. "It'll be fun, Steph." She was still under character. We both knew this was going to be anything but fun, but she couldn't exactly tell me not to be miserable in front of him. "What lip gloss is that? The color looks so good on you."

"Umm, Nars I think. Whatever bottle is on the counter." I responded.

She picked up the bottle and flipped it to view the bottom. Her eyes widened as she read the name.

"What color is it?" Arnie questioned.

"Uh, well, the color is called Orgasm. It's the cutest bubblegum pink. You can really pull it off, Steph." Sam smiled reassuringly. I couldn't even form one back. The word orgasm was ricocheting off the walls of my brain. I'm sure Arnie focused on that, too.

We stepped into the private room. My dress tickled my legs as I walked. Well, it wasn't technically a dress. It was a romper but because the legs were so long it was kind of a jumpsuit. It was ruby red, covered with a baby pink floral pattern, and it had a halter strap that looped across my neck. It was a scoop neckline so if Sammi had worn this, boobs would've been flying out all over the place. It was just me. I had about an inch or two of cleavage peeking through. Nothing like Sammi. The dress still had the Nordstrom tag swinging from the seam. A bit low class for my taste, but who was I to complain?

Arnie had me sit at the table across from him. I complied. The table could hide how bad my legs were shaking.

"I got you a gift," Arnie held the paper bag out to me. He must've read the confusion on my face because he continued talking. "I figured you'd recognize the shopping bag so I switched the packaging."

"Ahh," I responded as I took the bag in my hands. "Would you like me to open it now?"

"Yes, my darling."

I reached blindly into the paper bag. Part of me was terrified about the contents. What if he was playing a sick trick and gifted me a gun or something? And then made me shoot myself for his pleasure. I couldn't put it past him. He beat the shit out of my sister. What would stop him from forcing me to kill myself?