Midnight

Lets play dress up

"No." I said crossing my arms across my chest.    

"What do you mean no?" Conner asked me in the most condescending tone.

"I'm not going to that party, non the less wearing, THAT." I gulped, eyeing the dress Conner had laid out on my bed for me. "Come on, back me up here Chase." I turned to our other best friend, who was sprawled on my couch playing  Dark Souls on my PlayStation.

"Sorry babycakes, your not going to win this battle." He spoke without removing his eyes from the TV screen. I let out a loud grunt.

"Can we please just stay in tonight and watch Netflix in our sweatpants while gorging ourselves?" Conner gave me a look that said it all, loud and clear. No.

"We have our whole life times to do that Hunter. It's your first night back and we have to show you off to the town." Conner's smile grew as he placed his arm around my shoulders. "Don't you want to show everyone how much you've changed." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Show them how hot you got!" I chuckled at how proud he sounded. "Come on! Don't you want to rub it in their smug little faces. All the kids that put you threw hell when we were younger. Don't you want to prove them wrong." I tensed up slightly, but as I saw the gleam in his eyes, I knew he was right. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Why are you always right." I spoke in a muffled voice as my best friend hugged me back, my cheek mushed against his chest.

"Nah, your just always wrong." He spoke with a smile. I quickly pushed myself away from him and hit him.

"Way to ruin a moment." I rolled my eyes and picked up the nude body con dress. "I have serious question though." I paused. "What the fuck kind of underwear am I suppose to wear with this shit?" Chase looked up from his game for the first time in forever while Conner laughed.

"Ideally, no bra and nice underwear, preferably a thong." Chase's eyes went wide causing Conner and I to roll our eyes. "But honestly whatever you feel comfortable in honey." Conner continued. I nodded.

"Now get your asses out of here while I get ready." I opened my bedroom door and tried to shoo them out.

"Nah, I think I want to stay." Chase spoke giving me a look of fake innocents. Before I could even protest Conner had already shut off the TV and started to tug Chase out of the room by his ear. "Jesus Christ, I was joking, let me go you dick head." He groaned as they exited the room. I chucked and slammed the door.

I sat at my vanity and started my regular base makeup, contour, blush and all. I kept my eye makeup pretty simple just a nice nude base and winged eyeliner. To complete the look, I applied my highlight and mascara. I lightly curled my hair and picked up the dress. It seemed too small to fit a human past the age of 10. I quickly slipped it on along with a pair of nude pumps. It was simple but a look non the less. I glanced at myself in the mirror, the dress hugged every curve in my body. I won't lie to you I felt a little self conscious. Ever sense I was young I was taught to hate my body. I feel like every little girl was.

Conner's words echoed in my head. I had to show them I've changed, sure. But most importantly I had to show MYSELF, I've changed. Prove to myself that I've moved on for the better. Suddenly I was doing this for me. Not anyone else. The old me would have called herself fat, taken the dress off and cried herself to bed. The OLD me... but the thing is I wasn't her anymore. So I stood their and asked myself. What would the new and improved Hunter do? I looked at my reflection for a second.

"You look beautiful." I spoke softly to myself. "You don't need anyone else to think or say it for you" I paused for a second. "You are beautiful Hunter." Tears weld up in my eyes. I refused to let myself cry. I mean my mascara cost me $18, so fuck that. I laughed at my own thoughts. Was it weird that I was talking to myself and laughing at my own jokes? Maybe. Did I give a flying fuck? No.

I layered on some clear lip gloss and grabbed my gold clutch. Making sure I had everything I needed I made my way out the bedroom door and down the stairs. The sound of my heels echoed behind me give me a weird boost of confidence.

"Finally what took you so l—" Chase began as he turned around to face me. His eyes roamed my body, making me lightly blush. "Wow." He finally uttered.

"What?" I laughed nervously.

"You look like a different person." A smile creeped up on my face.

"That is the objective, my good man." I said gently.

"I knew you'd look hot as fuck in that. How am I such a genius?!" Conner declared as he entered the living room.

"Why do I feel like you love vicariously through me?" I joked.

"That's cuz I do hun. If I had that body of yours I'd flaunt it non stop." Conner said. When Conner says things like that, he's 100% not joking, which makes the complement all the better.

"Okay let's get out of here before Holden comes home and kicks my ass for being in this." I made my way towards the door.

"Uh, Hunter?" My head whipped around at Chase's voice.

"Mhm..."

"We may or may not have not completely told the truth about the party...." He said nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

"What? Are you saying I did all of this for nothing?" I asked slightly angry.

"No no, their is a party that we are in fact attending." Conner clarified. I let out and breath of relief. "But... you should probably know that Cole is the host of this shindig.