Page 68 of Running from Drac
My mother’s eyes dart away when I look at her. She knows I don’t want her here. But like always, why would she miss a day of pampering? Especially, if someone else is footing the bill.
Reluctantly, I follow Pippa into the building, where she flounces in like she owns the place. All eyes are on us as we walk up to the desk, maybe because Pippa’s friends are being a little too loud, or maybe it’s because I look like a homeless chick who just rolled out of a box sitting behind a gas station.
A cheery girl works the front desk, but I can see past the painted smile, and perfect rows of teeth. This girl is everything but cheery on the inside. “Welcome to Luxury Spa and Resort. My name is Everette, how can I help you?”
“We’re here to celebrate the ending of an era. One of us is getting married, her death sentence sealed.”
“Pippa,” I mutter before she cuts me off.
“Nice to see you again, Everette.” Everette’s overly nice to Pippa. They definitely know each other because the two chatter away as she gleefully takes Pippa’s credit card, swiping it eagerly as she pays for five spa packages.
“Thank you for having us,” I say, butting into their conversation. “I really appreciate it.”
The girl snubs me completely until Pippa says, “She’s the bride.”
She looks me up and down. “Yeah, she definitely needs a spa day. Maybe even a makeover.” She paints back on that fake smile. “Thank you for choosing us for your pampering pleasure. Tula will be your guide for today, enjoy your stay.” She hands Pippa back her credit card and waves over a womanstanding nearby with a clipboard. Tula looks eerily similar to Everette. It’s kind of creepy. Both have long brown hair, the same dead eyed stare in their grayish green eyes, and a smile that’s way too perfect. It’s possible they’re robots because they even walk the same.
The two girls Pippa dragged along, snicker, before handing the girl their cards, paying for their own packages. It’s only then that I remember their names. Devony and Katie Lyn. The two biggest bitches of our senior class. At least Pippa was nice enough to pay for my mom and Mallory. Though the free spa day is probably the only reason, my mother showed up.
The entire place looks like a walking laboratory. Every employee dons the same white smock with a silver filigree embossed on the pocket. There aren’t any male employees that I can see, at least not up front, and all the women look the same. It’s like the Stepford Wives made a home here. Nothing but slicked back brown ponytails, and all fake smiles with perfect teeth. Each of them has on minimal makeup that barely accentuates their perfect features. It’s like there’s a code for people instead of clothing, because unless you are a female with long brown hair, plastic smiles, and shitty customer service skills, you can’t work here.
“Congratulations on the upcoming wedding. You booked the full package. To start off your day you’ll be relaxing in our exclusive clay bath, followed by a nice cleansing eucalyptus shower. After that, we have massages booked for all of you, and some optional seaweed facial cleanses. Lastly, we’ll be sending you to our salon where full makeovers have been booked. You will love Raul. He is the best there is.”
I shoot Pippa my famous ‘seriously-this-is-way-too-much-but-thank-you look’ and she nods in response before skipping after Tula.
“Which of you is the bride?” Tula asks over her shoulder.
I raise my hand.
She scans me up and down, grimacing when her eyes land on my sweats and T-shirt.It’s a relaxing day; I should have the right to relax in whatever clothes I want.
She glances over at Pippa, then whispers something in her ear.
Pippa nods, and gives me two thumbs up, whatever that means.
“Follow me,” Tula instructs as she leads us into a room that smells like moldy arm pits. I almost have to fight back the urge to vomit. “All spa guests are required to stay in the baths for exactly one hour. No more no less. You must wear a bathing suit for sanitary purposes, and I suggest not going underneath the clay.” She eyes me like I am some kind of heathen, rolling her eyes when I grin and hold up my two-piece bikini, letting her know I’m ready.
“Once out of the bath we ask that you carefully make your way to our eucalyptus shower. Allow the fresh scent of eucalyptus take you to another place as our hot water cleanses your body of any toxins that may have seeped out of your skin during the clay bath. After you’re clean, please put on these robes, but make sure to fully rinse your bodies of all clay before putting them on. They are yours to keep after you are done as part of the package.” She heads over to a cabinet and pulls out seven robes, handing one to each of us. The fabric is the softest thing I’ve ever felt, and I find myself caressing it with my cheek, which makes her roll her eyes again. “Dressing rooms are over there. When you are done here, I will take you to our massage parlor where the best masseuses in Reno will roll out those stress kinks and aches.”
“Thank you, Tula,” Pippa says sweetly.
Both Poppy and Mallory stay quiet until Tula makes her exit, both squealing in unison.
“This is so cool,” Mallory squeaks. She grabs her swimsuit and takes one of the first rooms. “I feel so rich right now.”
“This is too much, Pippa.”
“No, it’s not! This is your bachelorette party! We are doing this right. You only get married once.”
The baths, despite the smell, are actually quite relaxing. I find myself practically falling asleep even though I have clay clinging to every part of me, even the parts that the bathing suit should be covering.
Pippa’s excessively chattering to Devony and Katie Lyn, sort of ignoring me. My mother has been eerily silent. She hasn’t even acknowledged me yet. Which is rude and rather weird. I expected at least a hug hello or something.
“So, are you excited about the wedding?” Devony asks, but from her tone, I can tell she’s being sarcastic.
I’m just thankful we each have a separate tub to lie in. Though I kind of feel left out. Mallory and Poppy are discussing some book they both are currently reading, my mother is off in her own world, which leaves me Pippa and the two bitches to talk about the wedding.
“Nervous actually. I wasn’t expecting it to happen this fast. But Eddie doesn’t want to wait any longer.”
