Born to Perform

Chapter 7

I would just like to say that I hope I don't offend anyone with my Italian translation in the chapter :( I don't speak a word of Italian and so what I have written is what Google translate churned out for me so I'm very sorry if it is completely wrong! Hope you enjoy this super-long chapter and I'm dedicating this to my best friend for her birthday :) Love you baby! Happy reading!           -Selena xxx

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I put down the phone and rummage through my wardrobe again. I can’t see anything even remotely ‘stunning’, just my usual safe, comfy cardis and dresses. I understand what Cassie and Sienna mean that I need to look different but I just don’t know how I can when all I own is the wardrobe of a seventy-year-old woman. 

I suddenly hear the doorbell ring. ‘Oh god’, I think to myself, ‘It’s going to be Sienna and Cassie on my doorstep isn’t it…’ I open the door and am immediately pushed out of the way as Sienna marches up to my bedroom. Cassie steps in holding a little canvas bag and looking apologetic.

“She gets a bit pushy when she’s on a mission,” she admits. I laugh as Sienna appears at the top of the stairs holding my hair straighteners. 

“I told you she’d have some!” she announces triumphantly. I look at them quizzically and Cassie winks at me. 

“Come upstairs,” she says as she leads me to my room, “We have the perfect look for you!”

For the next hour, Cassie and Sienna take it turns to plait my hair and put make-up on me. Then they open the ‘mystery bag’ and reveal a small bundle of clothes. I can’t quite make out where one item ends and another begins but Sienna starts thrusting clothes at me and telling me to put them on. I pull on a white jumper, maroon skirt, and some opaque black tights. Finally, Cassie positions a yellow beret on my head and spins me round to look in the mirror. 

Now, I have to say that I have never felt that I was particularly pretty in my life - I always tried to compensate with my performing talent - but for the first time, I look amazing. The fishtail plait makes my hair look a glossy deep brown and the skirt highlights my slim waist. I actually look like I have curves. I can’t help bursting into squeals and giggles for the second time today and hug my friends. 

“You guys are amazing!” I say, jumping around with excitement, “I’ve never looked this good in my whole life!”

“Consider us your new personal stylists,” Sienna announces and they do a perfectly synchronised high-five. 

I then see the clock on my wall and realise, with a horrible lurching feeling, that I am late for my date. And, yes, that rhymes but don’t let it distract from the seriousness of the situation. I can’t be late, it has to be perfect. I tell Sienna and Cassie, who gasp and start clucking like motherly hens about giving me a lift and not forgetting to re-apply lipgloss, then I grab my phone and dash out the front door to meet the boy of my dreams. 

*****

The coffee shop is buzzing with the general chit-chat of customers and the humming of the machines. I spot Sam sitting at a table near the back, quickly order a vanilla latte and make my way over to him. 

“I’m so sorry I’m late! I hope you haven’t been waiting-” I start to apologise but he cuts me off as he looks at my new outfit. 

“Wow, you look amazing…” he breathes, then suddenly realises he has a girlfriend, “I mean, that’s a nice… um, a really nice… skirt…” I laugh at his awkwardness and he laughs too. My makeover has given me a new confidence and I feel so charming and funny. I sit down opposite him and try to slow my breathing after I practically sprinted here as fast as my shoes would allow me.