Mine’s a beautiful violet plum in the softest silkiest material – holding it against my cheek is like hugging a cloud.
“Get stripping girls,” Kiara gabs excitedly, kicking off her heels.
I hang the purple dress on a hook and remove my boots and jeans. Then I get rid of my sweater.
“Oh, my word, this thing is exactly my size. How did he know?” Kiara is already squeezed into her bottle-green dress.
“Wow, bitch, you look good,” I say. Lucinda stops to also look at Kiara.
“Real good,” she says, pushing those glasses into place again. She’s standing in her unbuttoned shirt with pink cotton underwear, sporting a boyish figure … a little flat at the top with square hips, but at least she’s got length, just an inch or so shorter than Kiara.
Kiara turns a few times, looking at herself in the mirror. The mermaid dress has a see-through lace top, perfectly showing off all the luscious curves of her model-like body.
Lucinda quickly slips off her shirt, as if she’s shy, and gets into her wine-red A-line halterneck dress with long sleeves. Just like Kiara, she looks her best. The man knows what he’s doing.
Lucinda wipes her hands softly down her sides while staring at her reflection.
“I think we found ourselves some dresses,” she murmurs.
Kiara struts up and down the length of the mirror.
“Now all I need is a date,” she laughs. “And shoes.” I roll my eyes – she’s got hundreds of pairs of shoes.
“You could always ask one of the dickheads.” I throw the purple cloth over my head and let it fall into place. Staring at the image in the mirror I softly suck in my breath – it’s as if it was made especially for me. It fits like a glove, in a good way … a really really good way. Lucinda is right, I found my dress.
“Who wants to go to a dance with one of their frickin crazy cousins,” Kiara scolds with an inhumane snort. Yeah, she’s probably right. I wouldn’t want to go with one of them. I pull the straps over my shoulders.
“Let me get that.” Kiara lace-up my dress at the back – then steps away and whistles.
The bodycon cut with a cowl neckline hugs my slim figure and flatters my curves with silver lace inserts on the sides of my hips. Thin spaghetti straps loop over my shoulders to crisscross over the open back and a slit runs all the way up my left leg to stop just before being indecent – only just. I frickin love it.
“Damn, girl. Now that’s what I call dope,” Kiara hisses. “Snatch on some silver heels and you’re going to break more than a few nuts.” I glare at her through the mirror.
“What? Just saying as I see it.”
“She’s right, your boyfriend’s eyes are going to fall out,” Lucinda adds.
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I confess and she pulls a queer face, a strange bode in her eyes. Did I say something wrong?
“Well … she has an asshole on standby and a stalker …” Kiara bids. “But I’ll bet my left pinkie fingernail that she’s going to get hitched to some hunky badboy soon.” Lucinda’s eyebrows almost disappear into her hairline and for a moment I’m scared she might attack us or something – still boding that eerie look in her eyes.
“I swear you’re sniffing coke when I’m not looking,” I scold my friend.
“That’s rude,” she pouts. “And you know you wish I’m right.” Maybe I do a little … especially after that dance.
“Girls, can I come in?” the man asks from the other side of the curtain.
“Yes,” Kiara says while pulling the curtain open.
“O, la-la! You all look DE-VINE,” the man squeaks, putting down the basket in his hand.
“I picked out some extras to go with the dresses,” he points at the basket, “if you want to have a look.” He walks out and closes the curtain behind him. What a strange man.
“Holy fuck,” Kiara swears while unpacking the basket. She holds up a pair of golden heels in her size, red for Lucinda – and some dainty silver wedges in mine.
“I ask again, how the hell does he know?” Apart from the shoes, he also added jewelry, handbags, and lipsticks all a perfect fit to finish off our outfits.
“That’s one man with very good taste,” Kiara says impressed. “Maybe I should ask him to be my date,” she titters.
We pay for everything and walk through the mall to where we’ve parked. My phone lets out a farting sound to alert me of a message.
Stalker D: Nice dress.
Arg! I hate this guy.
“Want to grab some food and drinks at the club?” I ask, not in the mood to go home. But I am in the mood for alcohol. And the only place I can get in without showing my ID is my brothers’ club.
“Sure, I’m not in a hurry,” Lucinda eagerly agrees.
“Got a date, but I’ll see you at home.” Kiara swings into her car with a little wave and drives off. How does she do that? Casual dating?
“How’s your brother doing?” Lucinda asks out of the blue. I’m surprised she even knows I have a brother.
“Oh, he’ll live.” And I’m not sure why but I add, “Broken boys don’t die easily.”
Date = 5 November
Place = San Francisco (Inferno)
POV – Melaena
A neon sign lights up above us. INFERNO. I drive around the building to the private parking area at the back. Inferno has three entrances … the front, for anybody … but being underage I can’t go in there. The club’s bouncers are extremely strict and thorough – even with me.
Then there’s the VIP entrance on the side. To get in there you need to be a somebody … and not just any somebody … one of the very special somebodies that are important enough to qualify for a special disk. Without the disk, you’ll have to wait in line like anybody else.
And then there’s the third entrance … the one I’m heading to know. This one requires another disk … the closed-circle one – for family and friends only. This disk opens a gate to a private underground parking area with a staircase leading straight to the VIP section on the second floor. The only area, except for the restaurant, where I’m allowed to go – yet.
I park the car and Lucinda’s eyes grow big with astonishment. “I’ve never been in this club?” She swipes back her glasses again and types a message on her phone before putting it back in her handbag. I realize I know nothing about the girl … how old she is … who she’s talking to that much … what she likes to do … we’re practically strangers who attend the same classes.