Chasing Astrid Malone

15. PRE PROM PAMPERING

Saturday always means sleeping in. I woke up to the land line in my room ringing at 11:55 AM. I looked at the caller ID, Brenda.

"Hello."

"Hey A, I'm on my way over right now. We have so much to do to get ready!"

"B, it's only noon. Prom doesn't start till eight." I put the phone on speaker, so I could pull off the red dress from last night that I slept in.

"Oh my god A, are you just now waking up?"

"Yeah. It's Saturday. I need my beauty sleep don't I?" I pulled on some comfy plaid pajama shorts and a T-shirt.

"Well get up. I'm pulling in now and you need to shower. Come let me in first." She hung up the phone and I headed downstairs to let her in.

As soon as she saw me she lost it. "Astrid Malone! Look at your hair. Is that what you were doing yesterday instead of going to school? Even right out of bed it looks so good! Wait a second let me see those nails." She grabbed my hands and inspected my nails.

"My mom insisted on all of this." I waved my hand around my head.

"Well, she's not wrong. Look at you, you're a complete hottie. And once we're done today every guy in school is gonna wish they asked you to prom."

"Where's C? I thought she was coming with you?" Brenda rolled her eyes.

"Mrs. Swift decided last night that she wanted to take C to a salon today to get ready. Some type of mother-daughter bonding experience. She's meetings us here in the limo with what's-his-face at seven. But it's her loss because I hired a team to come here and get us ready."

"You did what? Doesn't that seem a bit excessive B?" I looked out the window and noticed Tristan's SUV was gone.

"What's the point in being a rich kid, whose parents don't care what you do, if you cant spoil yourself and your friends on their behalf?" She pushed past me and started putting her bags and dress down on the couch.

"Do you still talk to Cam Beck? He was absent yesterday too. I thought maybe you were sneaking around with him. Obviously, I was wrong because you were out with your mom."

My face always gives me away and I didn't want to lie to her. My silence caught her attention and she turned to look at me.

"You were with your mom, right? Why do you look like you're going to explode if you don't tell me something? What's up A?"

"I was with my mom because she decided to close the shop early and come home to spend time with me on my birthday. But before that, I was with Cameron. We went to the beach, but my mom texted and said she was coming home early so we had to rush home." Brenda's jaw dropped.

"That's not even half of it. I went to a party last night with Cameron." The blurry memories of last night replayed in my mind.

"Tell me everything! Spill lady! Wait, has he kissed you? Are you dating? Did you sleep with him? Why didn't I know till now?" I shook my head. I really didn't want to talk about Cameron, but I needed to tell her what happened last night.

We sat in the kitchen while I gave every detail over a bowl of fruity pebbles, it felt good to tell my best friend. She was rubbing my back as I fought back tears.

The doorbell rang

"They're here. We aren't finished with this conversation though." Brenda got up and walked to the door. Two women walked in and we're exchanging friendly greetings with Brenda.

"A, this is Jasmine and her friend Melody. this is my best friend Astrid." Jasmine was tall and thin, like a model.

Melody looked short in comparison but was probably my height. She had bright teal hair that was shaved on one side, and she looked naturally beautiful.

"Hello Astrid, my friend Melody will be taking care of you today. Don't worry you're in great hands, she's the best." Jasmines turned to Brenda, "where would you like us to set up?" Brenda walked them into the kitchen to put down their things.

We got started with facials and skincare routines. When Jasmine started on Brenda's nails, I watched as Melody pulled out a folding table and opened it up in my living room. A massage table, this is excessive.

Before I knew it, it was already five pm. I felt so relaxed and pampered. My hair had been sitting in curlers for the last hour, and it was time to start on our hair.

"You have such beautiful hair, Astrid, do you mind if I see your dress? I want to get a feel for what hairstyle will fit best with it." I went upstairs and took the dress from my closet and pulled it out.

Melody decided half up with lots of flowing curls would work best. I had to trust her since I really don't know anything about doing hair.

When she finished on my hair she showed me with a handheld mirror. I had no idea what a difference a hairstyle could make for your look. I felt like a princess.

Brenda went with an all down curly look. Just as we were about to start on makeup, my mom walked in the door. "Hi Ms. Malone, I hope you don't mind, I have a couple of friends over helping us get ready."

My mom looked over to me and started gushing "oh honey you look so beautiful. Of course, I don't mind its prom." She introduced herself to Jasmine and Melody, then went to the kitchen to grab some snacks and drinks.

Melody walked me through everything she was applying for my makeup and it was surprisingly lightweight. I didn't feel like I had a pound of makeup on my face, yet I felt more beautiful than I knew was possible.

Seeing my eyebrows cleaned up had me wondering why I haven't been doing that all along.

It was six-thirty and Brenda was thanking the girls and tipping them. My mom was busy taking close up pictures of my face when I noticed Jasmine pass Brenda a baggie with pills, she quickly put them in her purse and walked over to us.

I made a mental note to ask her about it when my mom wasn't around.
"Okay, girls it's time for dresses. Carly and her date will be here soon and we don't want to keep them waiting."

Brenda went into the bathroom on the first floor and I took my dress up to my room. Pulling out the underwear set my mom insisted was necessary to not show lines through my dress, I gently slid them on. I've never worn a thong before, and the fact that my mother bought it for me made it awkward.

The bra was strapless and backless. It stuck to me with clear stickers under my arms. I stepped into my dress and studied myself in the mirror.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Come in" I assumed it was Brenda, but Josh walked in smiling.

"Well look at you!" I rolled my eyes.

"What time did you get home last night?" I remembered he still wasn't there when Tristan carried me up to bed.

His eyes widened and he looked conflicted for a minute before speaking. "I got here just in time to break up the fight on the front lawn. Your lucky mom didn't wake up to that, but I assume by your face you didn't know." WHAT?

"I had to tell both our friends to leave." My mind was spinning.

This wasn't my favorite chapter, but it felt necessary to write. Vote and comment. I'm looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks for reading.