“Cara, I’m going to throw the most grand of high school parties,” Sky said as she lined up each cookie and cans of soda in precise rows.
“I’m sure you are,” I said sarcastically.
“I’m forgetting something!” she piped up. “What is it?”
It was the night of Sky’s junior class party. She said it was going to be huge and that everyone would come, including the nerds and the populars. Everyone.
“I know what! Let’s go and get you ready,” she said.
“What?” I said. I thought I was ready.
She picked up her phone.
“I need the best makeup and hair person you can find, Gordo,” she said into her diamond encrusted iPhone.
“Sky, I can’t let you—-”
“Shut up, Cara! Let’s go get ready,” she commanded with a wicked smile.
I followed her up the grand stairs of the Holloway residence. Never in a million years did I think we would be hanging out together. Sky already had my outfit selected and a full makeup and hair look to go with it.
“AlRIGHT PEOPLE! WE HAVE ONE HOUR TO MAKE US LOOK AMAZING. GET ON IT!” she yelled as the makeup and hair artists started transforming us into works of art.
Sky stood by the makeup artist as she did my makeup, and when she was done Sky’s mouth dropped open.
“Oh my gosh! Cara, you look amazing.”
She pushed me towards the mirror. I looked in the mirror to see a perfect face looking back at me. Not a flaw, and it was so weird to see my face sculpted by professional makeup. She handed me a red, short dress. I looked back at her with concern.
“Trust me here,” she said.
I changed into the dress and she handed me a pair of nude heels to complete the look.
“Oh my”
“Gosh.”
I looked in the mirror to see a completely different person looking back at me. This was not Cara Evans, at least not the Cara Evans I looked at every morning.
“Wow,” I said touching my straight and silky chocolate brown hair. The black eyeliner enhanced my eyes and my skin appeared to glow. The red dress accentuated curves I didn’t even know I had and the nude shoes made my legs appear to go on forever!
“Let’s go down. Everyone will be arriving soon,” Sky said.
“Whatever you say, Sky,” I muttered under my breath.
I guess everyone was wrong about Sky Holloway. She was mean and cut throat, but she did have a good side to her.
“Cara!” She cut me out of my thoughts with the snap of her fingers.
“Oh, sorry,” I said.
She raised her eyebrows as I once again started daydreaming with my new look as the star. She grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the door. I felt like a movie star on the red carpet.
“Act normal, Cara,” she said.
Together, we greeted each guest as they walked in. The funny thing was that most of the guests weren’t even juniors. They looked to be seniors and freshmen in college, except for one. Courtney. Her six inch heels made her way taller than me as she stood at least six feet tall in them. When she walked in, a warrior look came over Sky’s face.
“Hello, Courtney. I wasn’t aware I invited you,” Sky said with a teacher like tone.
I pretended to turn around to cough, but I burst out laughing.
Connor walked in behind her.
“Well.. Um. Connor!” Courtney retorted.
Connor said nothing.
“Sorry, Courtney. No sophomores are allowed at my party, please leave.” Sky said.
“Shooo... out now,” Sky said, pushing her out the door.
She really was the meanest person I knew, but her meanness came into play sometimes.
“THIS has YOUR name written all over it,” she yelled back at me as she was pushed out.
Connor took this chance to pull me aside into a private alcove.
“Sorry,” I said to him.
“We’re not dating, Cara. Don’t worry about it,” he said flashing THE smile. That smile that originally drew my attention to him.
“Connor, one question,” I said.
“Shoot.”
“Why in the world would you ever associate with her after what she did in the lunch room awhile ago?” I said blatantly.
He seemed to be searching his mind for a response.
“She won’t leave me alone,” he said frankly.
I laughed.
“What’s funny, Evans?” he asked.
“Connor, you have to be the nicest person ever because I could never put up with her,” I said.
“Cara, that’s so mean!” he laughed.
“She poured water on me,” I stated.
“Let’s go outside,” I said as I looked outside to see Luke, Blake, Eli, and Annie sitting by the fire.
Thank goodness Annie was here.
“Cara and Connor together again. Interesting,” Eli said as we walked down the stairs.
“You can’t blame me for talking with the prettiest girl in the room, Eli,” he said.
“Cara!” Annie said running towards me. “You look stunning. Really!”
“Thank goodness you came, Annie.” I said.
I sat down beside her around the roaring fire. I looked to see each of my friends’ faces lit up from the fire. The party was crazy inside, but it was comfortable here with all my friends. Comfortable and peaceful.
“I can’t believe junior year is almost over. Before we know it, we’ll all be going away to college,” Luke said wistfully.
We all sat in silence to ponder his observation.
“I know. It’s weird, isn’t it?” I said.
Blake looked over at me.
“We’ve been through a lot this year,” he said.
“I’ll never forget when I first met Cara,” Connor said with a smile.
“That was the most embarrassing first day ever. I thought you were going to make fun of me,” I said, remembering the moment.
“I remember he came up to me and said you were the girl he wanted to date. He was so smitten for you, Cara. And he still is for that matter,” Luke confessed.
Connor’s face turned a bright shade of red.
“That’s so cute,” Annie said.
“Cara, I’ve never fully apologized to you and to show my sincerity I am going to do it now in front of everybody. I’m sorry for stealing your first kiss. It should have been Connor’s, but most importantly it was yours to give. I had no right to take it,” Blake said.
No one knew about that except for Blake, Connor, and Luke.
“What?” Annie said.
“It’s okay Blake, thanks for the apology.” I said. I widened my eyes towards Annie signalling we would talk about it later.
After the party, Connor insisted on driving me home. I knew he wanted to talk.
“Cara, I’ve really missed having you around. I’m sorry for breaking up with you because I was fearful. I just want to tell you I can’t get my mind off of you,” he said as he cut on his black BMW. The engine purred as I looked him into the eyes.
“I’ve missed you too, Connor. I’ve missed you more than you could know. I trust you,” I said.
He pulled me into a hug, which turned into a kiss.
“Will you be mine?” he said in a higher voice to imitate some cheesy Valentine’s day line.
“Yes!” I said.
He kissed me again, and we drove off into the night.
THE END!