and curling irons, and then her dresser was topped with various bottles, from hair spray to perfume.
“You guys have been busy,” I said.
They turned to me from where they stood around another table—the snack and drink stand.
Zara took my garment bag from me. “Finally. What took you so long?”
“Helping Ryde bring up popcorn.”
She rolled her eyes. “He has legs.”
“And apparently a poor memory. He called me Garlic.”
Jordan cracked up. “That’s a cute nickname for his beautiful fan.”
I rolled my eyes while Rory tossed a bit of a pretzel at Jordan. “Oh, hush,” Rory said.
Laughing, I went to join them. “What’s the spread look like?”
“Amazing,” Callie said.
Upon further inspection, there was everything from fresh fruits to bottled drinks and even a small chocolate fountain. “Can we get ready at your house every time, Zara?” I asked, going for a chocolate-covered strawberry.
“Of course,” she said, grinning. “Eat, drink, and get called the wrong name by vanilla-personality movie stars all in one convenient location.”
I laughed and shook my head.
“Is that your dress?” Callie asked, nodding toward the garment bag in Zara’s hands.
I nodded.
“Let’s see what we’re working with,” Zara said. She carefully unzipped it and held it out. “I bet this green is beautiful on you.”
“You don’t think it’s too leprechauny?” I asked.
Rory laughed. “Is that a technical term?”
I rolled my eyes.
“No,” Jordan said. “That color’s going to look great on your skin.”
“Thank you.” I smiled and went to look at their dresses, each hanging along a bar in Zara’s closet. Careful not to get chocolate on any of them, I took in the beautiful materials and colors. “We’re going to look so good.”
“Amen,” Zara said, wiping off her hands. “Now who wants to get their hair done first? It’s been too long since Rory’s makeover.”
Nervously, I raised my hand. At the excited look on Zara’s face, I wondered, what on earth had I gotten myself into?
Sixty-Seven
Zara ran a brush through my curly hair, gentle on the tangles. Brushing curly hair was basically the kiss of death, but I knew she wouldn’t let me leave the house looking a mess. I just had to be patient and wait.
When she finished brushing it out, she wrapped large rollers around small sections. “I never noticed how long your hair was,” she said. “The curls make it seem so much shorter.”
“Hashtag curly hair probs,” Jordan said from the makeup stand. The other three had begun applying makeup and were in the early stages, just like me.
“Truth,” I said.
Zara continued her methodical work until every part of my hair was up and pinned to a roller.
I lifted my hand and pretended to primp the rollers. “Am I ready to go to the ball?”
Zara snorted. “Definitely.” She picked up a pretzel from her snack plate and crunched on it for a moment. “Did you bring makeup?”
I nodded.
“Let me see what you have.”
We walked to the other side of the room, and I pulled my small makeup bag from the bottom of my garment bag where it rested with my heels.
“This is good stuff,” Zara said, picking through the makeup. “Do your parents have it at the store?”
I shook my head. “My mom special orders it.”
“Nice. Why don’t you sit in the chair and let me do your makeup while your curls set?”
I shrugged. “As long as I can eat some more of that chocolate later, I’m good.”
Laughing, she spread the makeup over the curling station and got to work. Her strokes over my face were much more methodical than anything I’d done on my own, and she broke out eyeshadow colors I’d never been brave or skilled enough to try on my own.
I tried to let myself relax and have fun. After all, who did I have to impress other than myself? Maybe there were some perks to going solo.
For the last step, she helped me apply false eyelashes. I’d never done it before, but when I looked in the mirror, I gasped.
“This isn’t me,” I said. “No way.” Even with the rollers in, I could see how Zara had accentuated each of my features—from my full cheeks to the finer point of my chin. The eyelashes made my eyes pop that much more, and smoky green and bronze shadow brought out the color in my green eyes. “This is amazing.”
Zara grinned proudly from behind me. “I think I earned myself some chocolate.”
“Girl, you earned yourself the whole dang fountain.”
Seeing us in the mirror, the other girls came over, their hair looking stunning.
“Oh my gosh,” Callie gushed. “You