Page 35 of Meet Me at the Metro

“When I’m cold in my fucking grave! You’re out of your bloody mind!”

And maybe I was because the fact that I’m going out with Evie means there’s no telling what tomorrow night will have in store for me.

11

WATCHING YOU, WATCHING ME

E L L I E

It’s nearly impossible to recognize the contour of my body as I inspect my reflection in the dressing room mirror.

The palms of my hands smooth up the soft, velvet material of the royal blue dress, tightly clinging to the natural curves of my body. My fingers tug the dress’ thin spaghetti straps back up to my shoulders for the fifteenth time since I put on the bold garment. I shift side-to-side, judging and inspecting every angle of myself. The material stretches tight over my torso and ass, and my nerves tingle with surprise at how well it actually fits.

“Evie...this dress... I don’t know what to think about it.”

“Get your arse out here and let me see the damn thing on you!”

For a moment, I hesitate to answer that request, but knowing her, if I don’t do as she asks, she’ll probably just storm into my fitting room herself.

So, I pull back the cloth curtain shielding me and try to brush away my lingering insecurities as I step out to reveal the outfitsheso vehemently picked out for me.

“See what I mean? I think it might be a little too much.”

“Are you actually fucking kidding me?” Evie’s jaw drops as her eyes rake over the length of me. “You look so good, Ellie—so bloody good. Youhaveto buy it. I’m not giving you an option. That’s the one.”

Evie sports a completely different attire than I do: a black and white pantsuit hugging tight around her tiny framed body. She completes the look with a pair of black stilettos. The inky and chalky colors of the suit are so different from the rainbow palette I usually see her wearing, but somehow, she manages to make the neutral colors appear just as vibrant.

“Youlook so good,” I retort. As I look back down at my dress and compare it to her sleek and simple attire, I suddenly feel even more unsure than when I had initially put it on. “Are you sure mine looks okay? It’s not too much?”

“Too much? There’s no such thing.”

Evie would say that.

“Could you at least tell me what Harvey’s performing tonight?”I plead, hoping this girl isn’t tricking me into standing out at some casual attire event.

“Absolutely not. I swore to secrecy. He wants it to be a surprise, and I plan to keep it that way. Besides, me telling you isn’t going to change the fact that youwillbe buying that dress, and youwillbe wearing it tonight.”

“But Evie.” I begin to pace. “This dress is so out of my comfort zone. What if people think—”

“Let me stop you right there,” she interrupts, waving a reprimanding finger in front of my face. “First of all, who the hell cares what anyone thinks?Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.Haven’t you heard that saying before? Stop being afraid of what people will think. You look hot. And deep down, I know that you know you look hot, and that’s pretty much all that fucking matters. So buy the dress.”

I peer through the open curtain of my fitting room, inspecting myself in the full-body mirror once more. Somehow, after her little pep-talk, I’m starting to believe that my ass really is looking good in this dress. “Okay...fine. You’re right. I’ll buy the dress.”

“Hell, yes! People aren’t going to be able to take their eyes off you tonight, Ellie.”

“Oh God, don’t say that.” I blush as we return to our dressing rooms and continue our conversation through the walls. “That sounds like a nightmare.”

“A nightmare?!Isn’t having people stare at you what you’re literally going to school for? You literally sing and perform under bloody spotlights with a whole audience watching you.”

I laugh. “It’s not the same. It’s different on stage. People aren’t watchingmeup there,” I explain, peeling the sapphire fabric away from my body. “They’re watching a character.”

“Well then, maybe I should change my major.”

“So you can play a character? You already are one,” I tease.

“Yeah, but maybe I could play adifferent onethat isn’t a horny, outgoing bitch with a rubbish taste in men!” Evie’s boisterous cackle shakes the walls. “Now, let’s pay for our shit and get some food! With all the drinks we’ll have tonight, we’ll need all the carbohydrates we can get.”

I shimmy down the end of my short, bodycon dress as we step intoGullie’sand attempt to ignore my sudden regret about the outfit I chose tonight.

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