Page 5 of Screw Christmas
Once done with my make-up, I gave myself a thorough examination in the mirror from all angles. The smokey grays and pinks on my eyelids highlighted my dark chocolate eyes perfectly.
Getting up from the stool, I stripped down and shimmied my way into the dress. After some struggling with the back zipper of my dress, I succeeded in getting it up. The bodice hugged my ample breasts and the skirt fell to just below my knees.
Walking to the mirror, I did a little twirl the skirt swirling around my legs. Laughing, I fluffed up my dark-brown hair and gave myself one final inspection. Normally, I opted for jeans and graphic tees with minimal make-up. This was a completely different look for me. I could barely believe it was me in the reflection.
Taking a deep breath in, I slowly exhaled and smiled, I couldn’t remember ever looking this sexy. I knew confidence was key, if I didn’t have confidence in myself then I was done for straight out of the gate. One of the things those bitches he normally dated had was confidence, though one would argue that it was more arrogance than confidence, but I digress.
Leaving my bedroom, I listened for voices. It was a Friday night, and our parents were gone for the weekend, but you never knew. They claimed they’d be back Sunday for us to have one last family supper before they drove him to college a couple of hours away Monday morning. If this went as planned then a success on my mission would be bitter-sweet, but we could do the long-distance thing and he’d be home every other weekend, at least that’s what he said anyhow.
It was silent aside from the sound of the television coming from the living room. Gathering all the courage I could muster I hustled my way down the flight of stairs and to the main floor. At the base of the stairs, I veered left and into the living room. I had a whole plan and speech prepared before I’d left the bedroom, but just seeing him lounging on the sofa in grey sweatpants and having my heart flutter in my chest made me forget every word I’d been rehearsing over the past week.
He didn’t notice me at first in the entrance to the living room which was to the left of him; he was fixated on the television screen across the room. Not allowing myself the chance to second guess the plan, I entered the room and waited for him to look up and give me a once-over before I flopped down beside him.
“Wow.” He smiled as he shifted on the sofa to look at me straight on. “You look great. Where are you headed?”
A frown creased my brow as I pretended to play dumb. “Thank you, but I’m not going anywhere. Just thought that I’d come down and watch some T.V. with you.” I shrugged flashing him a timid smile. “With it being your last weekend home for a while.”
“Oh. I see. There’s nothing much on.”
I flipped a lock of hair over my shoulder. “You’re not going out tonight?”
“Maybe later.” Picking up his phone, he flipped it open and looked at the screen and then shrugged. There were no missed calls. “Just waiting for a call back.”
I was tempted to ask if it was a girl he was waiting on, it generally was, but I didn’t want him thinking of other women right now. Just me. If this turned out the way I hoped, then other girls would be a non-issue anyhow.
Bracing an elbow at the back of the sofa, I placed my cheek against my hand and tried to get myself into a flattering position as I looked up at him through my lashes. “Are you going to miss being home at all?”
He turned his attention to me fully and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah. Of course. But I think it’s a good decision. Time to get out on my own and experience life – you know.”
“I get that.”
Damn, my heart was beating in my chest so rapidly it felt as though it was going to explode through my chest, either that or I was on the verge of having a heart attack. Or maybe I’d just puke. Geez, this was horrible and damned scary, the anxiety over what I was about to do almost strong enough to make me change my mind on my plan. I just had to get this over with. Just like a band-aid. Off with one swift pull and be done with the pain or be the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
“Will you miss me?” I blurted.
He looked at me, not answering, his mouth slightly agape for a moment. “Well, of course. I enjoy hanging out with ya. You’re a cool girl.”
Hearing the ‘of course’ was all the encouragement I needed. Leaning into him, I placed my palm against his cheek and brushed my lips across his. I hesitated, waiting for him to react and pull me into his arms like I’d seen so many times in the rom-coms I loved to devour on television. But he didn’t. His body became stiff, his lips not kissing me back.
Before I could move away and reevaluate the situation, his phone rang.
Pulling back from me, he accepted the call.
I didn’t want to be nosy, but I couldn’t help myself. Leaning forward I looked onto the flashing screen I caught sight of the name. Tvhere was an immediate feeling of my heart being crushed. It was that bitch, Katie. He didn’t even get a chance to say hello when she began to speak. I couldn’t hear her perfectly but could hear her well enough to get the jest of that she was saying.
Katie: Hey cutie. Are your parents gone yet? And is Maya home? I’m not coming over if she is. Gawd, I can’t stand her.
Dylan: Katie, Hey…
Giving me a nervous look, he leapt from the sofa attempting to put distance between me and him. In his haste he accidently hit the speaker button so her next words were as clear as day despite him being across the room from me.
Katie: The crush she has on you is pathetic. She’s pathetic. Like a lost puppy or something. Like you’d ever want her. Maybe if she lost a hundred pounds.
Her cackling seemed to echo throughout the room. My entire body jerked backwards as if I’d been slapped. Did he think I was pathetic? My eyes began to water as I stared up at him, too horrified to move.
Dylan: I’ll call you right back.
He hung up the phone without waiting for her reply and raked a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. “Look, Maya…” He groaned. “I’m not sure what’s going on right now, but--”
