ROWAN.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
I laugh at Rina as she runs around my bedroom screaming like a banshee at what I told her.
“Oh, this is amazing!” She continues. “Finally! Rowan is going to get laid!”
“Rina!” I scream in surprise, while Lisa collapses onto my bed in laughter.
“You got that part right,” she says as she catches her breath.
“You, shut up. You are not helpful,” I say before turning to Rina. “And will you stop running around and screaming like a banshee? You are giving me a headache and you might also wake up everyone else.”
She comes to a halt and sticks her tongue at me before joining us in the bed.
“What happened then?” She asks.
“Well,” I say before clearing my throat. “We kissed.”
“Again?!” She exclaims with a delighted smile
“Yes.”
“Damn, girl,” Lisa intones. “Three kisses in one hour. Rina might have a point about you getting laid.”
“I will hit you,” I tell her deadpan.
She raises her hands in mock surrender before mimicking zipping her mouth and throwing away the key.
“And it wasn’t him who initiated the kiss this time,” I continue with a shy smile. “It was me.”
Lisa, the minx, lets out a whoop of laughter as she stumbles off the bed in a bud to avoid my flying fist while Rina just smiles really, really wide.
Like a demented Cheshire cat.
“Why are you smiling at me like that?” I ask warily.
“Because I am happy for you,” she answers.
“That is not a happy smile,” I retort. “that is a “I am planning on doing something really weird, but I have to pretend to be sane so that you don’t figure it out and run” smile. What is it?”
“Nonsense. You are finally coming out of your hermit shell and tasting the wonders of romance. What won’t I be happy for you? And also, my smiles are beautiful and not whatever demented image you have in your head.”
“I am still waiting,” I say, not buying her act one bit.
“There is no mad plan!” She exclaims. After a few seconds of me staying at her unimpressed she finally gives in. “”It’s just, since you two have decided to give this relationship a go- you have decided that right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. So since you two have decided that, I was thinking that maybe a little… -date?- is in order?”
“A date huh?”
“Yeah. Just… just hear em out, okay! If you two try to get to know each other here, in the settlement, the only part of you he is going to see is you in relation to the coalition. But, a date outside, in a romantic setting will give… the right… ambiance for you two to open up to each other. Discovering things about yourselves. It doesn’t have to be something crazy. It could be a….”
“Movie,” I supply.
“Yes! I think there is a romantic comedy being shown in the cinema. Uh, what is its name? The…”
“The gem of Eislediston?”
“Yes! Wait- how did you know that?” She asks with a suspicious smile. “You rarely concern yourself with the outside word if it doesn’t affect the settlement.”
I get off with a mock haughty sniff as I answer. “I know about it because we had already picked the film. Together. After we finished kissing.”
“Really, yay! Well what are you waiting for?!” She exclaims as she rushes to her feet. “Today is the last day of the movie being shown! Let’s get you something to wear!”
A couple of hours later with erratic, maddened behavior by Rina, sarcastic commentary from Lisa and me being my realistic self, I manage to get dressed.
“I look ridiculous,” I say as I stare at my reflection in the mirror.
“Nonsense. You look like a classy woman going for a movie date,” Rina retorts
I am dressed in a purple Pancho net sweater, with a white camisole inside it, a baby blue jeans with suede ankle boots.
My hair is done up in a ponytail with ringlets curls and I am wearing very, very light but obviously makeup.
Not the flashy kind of dressing but still, it’s not my usual go to.
I am even surprised I had all these in my closet.
“I don’t remember buying these clothes,” I remark.
“That is because you didn’t,” Lisa says. “Rina did. She bought similar ones for me too. It is her failed attempt in making us more feminine.”
“Not sos failed now, is it?” Rina snarks at her as she rummages in my jewelry box.
“What are you looking for?” I ask.
“Earrings,” she says as she stands up with a defeated sigh. “We need to upgrade your jewelry, they are all shitty.”
“What do you mean? They are great!”
“Sure. If you are an old grandma. What do you have against fashion?” She asks as she walks out. “I will be back.”
“My jewelry is perfect, right?” I ask as I turn to Lisa.
“Don’t ask me. I am comfortable in sweats.”
I snort at her before turning back to the mirror.
“Do you think I look okay? Bright colors aren’t really my thing.”
“I think… you look happy. I am glad.”
“Really?” I ask, turning to her.
“Yes. And you deserve it. You of all people do. Now,” she says as she gets off the ground and walks up to me to place her hands on my shoulders. “Make sure to have fun. Just focus on yourselves, we will handle the settlement. Okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I agree with a mock salute.
“I am back!” Rina’s voice sounds before she appears in the doorway. “And I brought jewelry.”
In her hands are different sizes and types of jewelry that gives me a mild heart palpitation.
“Wow,” Lisa murmurs quietly beside me. “Good luck.”
“Am I supposed to wear all that?” I ask in worry.
“Don’t be silly, just a few.”
A few minutes later, I have a pair of silver dangling earrings on and a diamond studded bracelet.
“How do I look?” I ask taking one last twirl.
“Like a star.”
“Go get him girl.”