Page 42 of Stuck with You

“I know, but I’d been planning my makeup for months…”

Zoey had been showing me her ideas for ages, and I hated to think of all her effort going to waste. “Maybe there will be another event you can wear your prom look for?”

She let out a little gasp, and the usual enthusiasm returned to her voice as she replied. “That’s it! Well, sort of. I’ll do a tutorial of the look to put up on YouTube. That way all my hard work won’t be for nothing.”

“Your followers will love that,” I said with a smile. The people who watched her videos all genuinely seemed to love Zoey’s authentic content. I was sure there were plenty of viewers out there who’d also had their proms canceled and could relate.

“Okay, now I’m excited. Maybe all is not lost, after all.”

“Maybe,” I agreed. It sure felt like we were losing a lot these days though. I might not have been as sad about prom being called off as Zoey was, but it was yet another thing we were missing out on because of the pandemic. It was probably silly, but the part I found hardest was the thought that my parents would never see me all dressed up for prom.

“How are you feeling today?” Zoey’s tone was gentle, and I sometimes wondered if she could read my mind. I’d called and told her about my parents’ news last night, and she helped me talk through my feelings about it. As much as my best friend was flighty and fun, she was also amazing at being supportive when I needed her.

“I’m still worried about my parents, but I know there’s nothing I can do about their situation.”

“I wish I could fix this for you or at least just give you a massive hug,” she replied. “The prom being canceled doesn’t seem all that important in comparison.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s a big deal that prom is canceled, and I can’t believe we’re never going to hang out at school ever again.”

“I know,” Zoey agreed. She sounded as hopeless as I felt. We couldn’t let these speed bumps upend our lives though. We had to make the best of it.

“Okay, I spent all of yesterday feeling mopey and sad, and I don’t want either of us to go through that today,” I said. “I think you should go do your tutorial. That way, I can watch it and try it out for myself.”

Zoey started clapping. “Yes, finally!” she squealed. “If I’d known it was going to take enforced lockdown to get you to try my makeup looks, I would have thrown you in a room and locked you in there way before now.”

I chuckled. “Well, I need a lockdown hobby, and it’s probably time I used some of that makeup you’re always giving me.” She pretty much handed me a new product every week. It was lucky the stuff she gave me was sent to her for free by makeup companies, or I would have felt really bad for never using it.

“Yeah, it is!” she exclaimed. “Okay, I’m going to start filming right now. Yay, I can’t wait.” She hung up the phone without waiting for a goodbye.

I laughed under my breath and put down my phone. “Bye, Zo.”

* * *

To my surprise,I actually followed through on my promise and attempted Zoey’s makeup tutorial. This was what lockdown did to you—you got so bored you were willing to give just about anything a try. Plus, having spent all day yesterday watching a documentary, I wasn’t sure I could handle another day in front of a screen.

I didn’t have my best friend’s ability with a makeup brush, but I was quite pleased with the look when I was finally done. I was sitting on the floor by the large mirror in my room, and I smiled at my reflection. Zoey had called her makeup tutorialProm, Midnight Glam—and the name seemed to fit the look she’d created to a tee. My cheeks had a subtle highlight on them and the mascara framing my eyes made them pop. A dusting of glittery, deep-navy eye shadow really completed the look. If it weren’t for the pajamas I was wearing, I would have genuinely appeared ready for prom.

I sighed as I took in my outfit. It would have been nice to change into something that complimented my makeup so I could send Zoey a pic. I didn’t have anything even slightly appropriate with me though. I hadn’t packed one nice dress when I’d come to the Moores’ house. Aiden had rushed me so much that my daily dress code was now a mismatch of the random sweats and loungewear I’d thrown in my suitcase at the last minute. I really needed some more clothes, especially now it looked like I’d be here for a while.

With that in mind, I went to find Aiden. I didn’t bother searching for Jade because I knew she was at the hospital today, as always. I approached Aiden’s bedroom door cautiously, my stomach fluttering with apprehension. I’d only entered his bedroom once, and the last time had ended disastrously. I wasn’t sure I was ready to go in there again so soon.

It didn’t help that he’d been so kind to me yesterday. He’d gone out of his way to support me when I’d been struggling to cope with the news about my parents, and I didn’t know how to feel about it. I was beginning to see a sweeter side to him. For so long, I’d thought he was nothing more than a player, but there was definitely more to Aiden than I’d given him credit for, and it left me feeling confused.

As I stood outside his door, I almost decided to turn around and walk back to my room. Aiden the flirt was easy enough to deal with. But this kinder version of Aiden was an unknown quantity. As I glanced down at my old sweatpants, I knew I couldn’t hesitate any longer. I needed proper clothing if I was going to be staying here. So, with a long, drawn-out sigh, I knocked.

Aiden responded immediately. “Yeah?”

I was too nervous to enter, so I spoke through the closed door. “Um, it’s Clary. I wanted to ask you a favor.”

The door opened suddenly, and I flinched with surprise. Aiden stood there shirtless, yet again. He’d been wearing one while we watched Netflix together yesterday, but it seemed to be a rare occurrence in this house. I had to wonder if he was always topless because he was too hot or if he did it to simply annoy me. I wouldn’t have been at all surprised if it were the latter.

His expression was gentle at first, but it quickly changed as his gaze landed on my face. “A favor?” He gave me a wolfish smile. I’d briefly forgotten I was wearing makeup, and the way he was looking at me made me uncomfortable. I wished I’d scrubbed it off before coming to find him because the last thing I wanted was for Aiden to think I’d put it on for him.

I could at least be grateful he wasn’t staring at me with concern in his eyes. I wasn’t sure I could handle Aiden being kind to me right now. I needed things to go back to normal between us, and I needed to remember why I couldn’t stand him. I’d been softening toward him lately, which was something that needed to stop. Aiden was a player, and I refused to be taken in by his charms like every other girl at school.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. I need to get some extra clothing, and I wanted to see if you could give me a ride home.”

His lips twisted in a thoughtful pout, and a calculating look entered his eyes. “I mean, I could, but you live so far away.”

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