Page 27 of Beach B!tch
11
Brinley
Esa was just putting my make-up on when Bailey walked through the door to my apartment with a covered dress hung over her arm. She didn't want to do the big reveal until my make-up was finished. Esa explained that she needed to see the dress to know what shades of make-up to use, at which point, Bailey got offended and said she knew how these things were done. The two of them argued for ten minutes, their voices rising until Esa rolled her eyes and turned her back on Bailey. Apparently, that was her signal for giving up. Bailey smiled at her turned back.
Throughout their exchange I sat there watching them, sorting out in my head why I wasn't scared. In the past, whenever people fought, I got that horrible pit in my stomach, wondering how bad it would get. In my experience, raised voices always ended in physical assault. With Esa and Bailey, I knew they loved each other and would never resort to hitting or saying something that couldn't be taken back. What would have been a stressful scene a few years ago was merely entertaining now. I was proud of myself for identifying the differences and handling the situation without anxiety.
Right before Bailey was going to show us the dress, there was a knock on my front door. I looked at the girls in confusion, as I wasn't expecting anyone, and it was way too early for Dean to be here to pick me up.
"I'll get it!" Esa rushed over to open the door.
A freight train of energy barreled its way into my apartment.
"Ladies! I'm here to make sure you're all doing right by my Brinley-girl. You young girls tend to go for a more 'natural' look with make-up. Lord knows you need to lay it on a little heavy for a date, so I brought some of my stuff to help out." Shasta blew in the living room with a big suitcase hauled on wheels behind her. She wheeled it right up to my chair and threw her arms around my neck, leaving my speechless.
"I like what you've done here, Esa, but I think she could use a bit more on the eyes and the lips, don't you think?" Shasta grabbed my chin and turned my face left and right, examining every inch.
"Well, I don't know. Brinley's not a big make-up person, so a softer look is probably best," Esa responded, defending herself.
Shasta spun around and unzipped her suitcase, tossing back the top to reveal what was inside.
If I was speechless before, I had gone permanently mute at seeing the contents.
She had at least five plastic trays all stacked on top of each other. Little compartments held various lipsticks, eye shadows, concealers, lip liners, bronzers, and even eyelashes that clumped together to look like spiders infesting her giant make-up collection. She grabbed a bag jammed in the side of the suitcase and unzipped it, rummaging around until she found the brush she was looking for.
"Aha! Here it is! Let's add a pop of this sparkly blue shadow. You'll love it, I just know it!" Shasta was in her element, surrounded by her bright make-up, but the thought of any of it on my own face made me nauseous. I had to find my voice, and fast.
"Oh, Shasta. I'm so glad you're here. You know, I just don't have time to keep working on my make-up though. Perhaps you could do my make-up another time? Maybe help me with my dress?" I glanced over at Bailey, a silent apology on my face.
Shasta went from deflated to super excited again at the prospect of helping dress me up. "You bet! I've got all sorts of fashion tips!"
Bailey groaned, but covered it up as a cough when Shasta's head whipped over to her.
"Okay, so now that we're all here and the make-up is complete, I'd like to present...the dress!" Bailey lifted the plastic cover and stood back, hands clasped together under her chin, eagerly awaiting my reaction.
I swear my heart stopped for a second when I laid eyes on that dress.
It was a short, deep red dress with a lacy top half that tucked in at the waist and flared out in the skirt. It was sleeveless and feminine and quite possibly, the prettiest dress I'd ever worn.
"Bailey..." I breathed. "If I'd gone to prom, this is the exact dress I would have wished to wear. No ridiculous sequins or frills...no offense Shasta. Just a beautiful, comfortable, girly dress. I love it!"
Silence stretched out: me in my reverence to the dress, the other girls agape at my admission.
"Oh no, no, no, no, no. Did you just say you didn't go to prom?" Bailey looked positively devastated on my behalf.
"See? This is why we need the sparkly eyeshadow! She needs the whole experience, the whole enchilada." Shasta was back to hands on hips and Esa's face was turning an interesting shade of red.
I needed to step in and calm everyone down. "Okay, ladies, look. I love the make-up, I love the dress. Time is ticking and what I need from my Beach Squad is some reassurance and advice, not arguing. Please?"
Shasta was the first to grab me up into a hug. "I'm sorry, honey. Why don't you get in your dress and we'll have a little pow-wow, huh?"
Bailey and Esa looked relieved that their beautifying efforts wouldn't be messed with. They joined the hug, then set to getting me in that gorgeous dress. After I got the approval from all three that I was good to go and there was nothing more to do but pace the apartment practicing in my heels, and of course, freaking out, they sat me down on the couch.
Shasta, being the oldest and therefore the wisest, took the floor first. "Brinley-girl. First of all, I want you to remember what an intelligent, independent, worthy woman you are. You deserve to have fun tonight. You deserve to have a man treat you right. You are enough, just the way you are. Do you understand me?"
"I do. I think I really do," I whispered back.
"Remember, you're goofy. And we love that about you. Dean will too. Just be you and relax, okay?" Esa added, patting my back.
