I’ll be there.
“You should wear this.” Rue holds up my black jumpsuit, still on the hanger. “You could draw some whiskers on your face with eyeliner and go as a cat. Plus, you’ll look hot.”
I grin and take it from her. “Thanks. I forgot I had this.” And she happens to be right—it’s very flattering on me. I gesture to her white dress with wings and the halo headband atop her curly bob. “You look great, by the way. An angel. So cute.”
She grins. “Thanks. Now go, get dressed.”
I go to the bathroom and put the outfit on. It’s tight, hugging me like a second skin, but still comfortable. I love the way the high-quality satin feels against my skin.
I use eyeliner to make whiskers around my nose like Rue suggested, and I twist the front sections of my braids into two buns for ears, leaving the rest down. Rue helps me apply false lashes when I holler at her from the bathroom, and I do the same for her. When we’re ready, I take a mirror selfie of us and post it to social media. “I can’t remember the last time I got ready with a friend like this,” I tell her.
She tilts her head. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, but it’s really nice.” No need to tell her the woes of being homeschooled in a small town. Of having only a handful of friends, if that. Of not having a reason to dress up like this, because there are no school dances when home is your school.
She smiles, making her dimples show. “It is nice. Just wish Mabel and Meredith could be here, too.”
My spirits deflate a little at the mention of Mabel. While Rue stuffs her makeup back into her bag, I send Mabel a quick message:
Me
Miss you.
She responds instantly.
Mabel
Me too :( hope this nonsense is over soon.
Me
Same here.
Beau knocks on the door. “Hurry up.”
I swing the door open, and he takes in our appearance. “Where are you guys going?”
“The theater party,” I tell him. “Didn’t you read Little Birdie? The whole drama club is invited.”Except me,I don’t add.
“No, I don’t read that stupid gossip column. It’s not even accurate half the time.”
Rue laughs at his bluntness. “True that.”
“Alright.” I head for the front door. “We gotta go.”
“You look nice.” Beau wrinkles his nose, an after-affect of complimenting me. “Try not to be a headline tonight.”
I give him a thumbs up. “You bet.”
Rue and I get in my car, and thankfully, she takes the place of my GPS as she tells me how to get to Meredith and Mabel’s house.
“Dot?” She turns the music down.
“Yeah?”
“You know what your brother said? About Little Birdie being inaccurate half the time?”
“Yeah.” Something about her tone makes me feel uneasy. “Why?”
