“You are so cool, and you know the coolest people.” That smile of hers widened, reaching her eyes, which seemed even greener.
“I wish.” I smirked.
If I had been cool, maybe I would have had a great day too.
Aria had been with me for a good three hours, and she’d had a great time indeed. We’d talked, eaten pizza, tried on my new clothes, and gotten lost in makeup, and now we were up in my room practicing how to contour. In the background I hadWhen Harry Met Sallyplaying on the TV with the volume low.
I’d had enough to distract me, but I was crumbling inside because of my meeting with Sally. I was worrying about tomorrow and wasn’t sure what to do.
I’d never worked with anyone who took such an intense dislike toward me, never, and not the way she had. It was like everything I said was the wrong thing.
“You are, Brooke, and I really appreciate you hanging out with me today, and everything you’ve given me. I’d have to work all my life to afford half that stuff.” Aria nodded.
Gratitude filled her eyes, and she actually looked like she might cry when she glanced over at the massive bag of clothes and makeup. I hadn’t realized how much I’d bought until we started going through it all. There were a lot of outfits I’d gotten just because purchases, and wouldn’t get use out of.
Well, those just-because purchases made one sixteen-year-old very happy.
“It was a pleasure.” I lowered myself to sit opposite her and looked her over.
I’d done her makeup to look like Amanda Seyfried at the previous year’s Academy Awards. We’d looked online for ideas, and that was what she’d wanted. The look was very youthful but striking with neutral and smoky shades. Aria looked like she was ready for the red carpet herself. She glanced at her reflection in the dressing table mirror and smiled.
“I wish I could look like this for prom.” She lifted her shoulders and ran her hands through her hair.
“Seems like you’re in luck—your wish is my command. I’ll do your makeup for you.” I’d taken a liking to her. I supposed as bad as the morning had been for me and as much as I wished I could get Sally out of my head, Aria had provided some distraction. Her presence stopped me from going crazy.
“Oh my gosh, really? Would you?”
I nodded and smiled, crossing my legs then hugging my knees to my chest. “I love doing makeup, and it’ll be cool to fix you up for the prom. Think of me as your fairy godmother.”
Again, she looked like she might cry. “I’m so grateful. Thank you.” She glanced at herself again and her expression shifted, becoming sad. “I wish I could look like this forever, but my dad would probably freak out if he saw me like this.”
God, I hadn’t thought of that—but she was sixteen, going on seventeen.
“Your dad doesn’t like makeup?”
“My dad doesn’t like anything. Think overdramatic psycho.”
I couldn’t resist the laugh that escaped my lips. “Really, he can’t be that bad. Most dads get all weird about their daughters wearing makeup. Just tell him it was practice for prom.”
“Brooke, I think if I left things up to him, I wouldn’t even go to prom. He’s just unbearable at the moment, and every day it gets worse. I’m actually grounded, but he’s working late so I was able to come over here.”
“God, I don’t want to get you in more trouble.” I really didn’t. The Johnsons had been so nice to me, and I didn’t want to upset them.
“No. I actually don’t care anymore. If I was wrong, I’d admit my error, but I’m not, so that means I’ll do whatever I want. You wouldn’t believe what he did just last week.”
“What did he do?” I pulled in a breath and shuffled so my knees were to the side of me.
“He sent the cops to look for me when I didn’t come home on time.”
My jaw dropped. Thatwasdramatic. “Really?” Mr. Johnson didn’t look like the overdramatic type. He seemed so cool and chilled out. Really chilled out. So it was surprising to hear he’d done that.
“Yes, really. I understood that he was worried and he couldn’t reach me because my phone battery died, but that was over the top. Every Friday for months he’s worked late. I don’t like being cooped up in the house, so I thought I’d go hang out with my boyfriend, who he also freaked out about. We were at the ice cream parlor in town when the cops came in and took me away like I was some kind of criminal. I was so embarrassed.”
That sounded like a nightmare. “What did he say when you spoke to him?”
“We actually haven’t really talked about it properly yet. I’m too mad to talk, and I can’t stand arguing with him. I hate it so much. He never listens, and he just jumps on his own train of thought. It’s awful and I can’t wait to move out.”
Sounded like she really needed to offload the stuff that was on her mind.
