Page 16 of Panic-Button
“The first thing you’ll do is take off that ratty brown sweater.”
I glanced down at the comfortable cloth covering my arm. “How did you….”
“And put some damn sandals on your feet. Sneakers are not date material.”
What was wrong with sneakers? Sure, they were a little run down, but they looked fine with my leggings.
“Marnie?”
“What?”
“Are you wearing leggings?”
“No.” I lied, and not well.
“Oh my god! Put some jeans on.”
Why should I?“Who cares what I’m wearing?”
“Who cares?” The exasperation in her tone vibrated through my ear. “Okay, where are you going?”
“Just to a party,” I answered.
It wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t even an actual date. Brian was more of an excuse to go somewhere I normally wouldn’t. So it didn’t matter how I looked.
Trina’s next words made me rethink that.
“Do you want to stick out like a sore thumb?”
Hmm…
I fingered the small vial I had tucked in my pocket. Standing out might be a tad counter-productive.
“All right.” I sighed. “Tell me what to wear.”
When Trina hung up to video call me, I learned three things: never ask someone like her for fashion advice unless trying on five hundred different outfits was the goal, mascara was a pain in the ass to put on, and my roommate had way too much make-up.
Given that she had a bright pink comforter on her bed with stuffed animals pilled near the pillows, I shouldn’t be surprised. My side of the room was much more organized and simple. I brought what I needed and nothing more. The only touch of home I had was the quilt grandma made me and a family picture on the bedside table.
“Oh, Marnie.” I swear a tear rolled down Trina’s cheeks as she clapped her hands together. “You look perfect.”
“I feel ridiculous.” These jeans were too tight, and the white tank top she made me put on barely reached the top of my ass. “Can I at least put my hair up?”
“No.” Trina snaked her hands through the air, adding, “You have to let it flow down your back.”
Whatever.
I pushed my glasses up my nose and said, “Can I go now? I’m late.”
“That depends. How late are you?”
Oh my god. My eyes slowly rolled as I lifted a finger to hang up. “Goodbye, Trina.”
“You better call and tell me how it went.” That was the last thing I heard before ending the call.
Brian wanted to meet me at my dorm. That was too personal. So we agreed to meet at the party. The football team’s house was clear across campus. It wasn’t that long of a walk, but it was an eternity when I had to come up with small talk.
Don’t get Brian wrong, he seemed like a decent guy, but I had a hard enough time hanging out with Ashleigh. Who, for the most part, did all the talking.
