breathe! I want some of those appetizers you promised me would be there! How am I supposed to eat and drink and move?”
“Good grief, you are such a big baby. I don’t why I put up with you. Pull up your big girl nappy and stop whining. Really. Take it off while we work on your hair and face.”
I grumble through the whole hair process as well, making Emme threaten me with a curling iron. After that, she applies enough make-up to glamour up an entire circus and when she leaves to make us iced tea, I wipe almost all of it off. I leave a thin line of dark eyeliner and the mascara which make my eyes look huge when I look in the mirror, and the first layer of powder. Oh, and the gloss on my lips which is a light shimmery pink color and doesn’t taste half bad.
I put the hated dress back on and step back to analyze my appearance. I don’t look like a girl anymore, and the reflection looking back at me is one I’ve never seen. No one has ever seen this half girl, half woman before. I can’t help wondering what people will think. I can’t help wishing I could hide behind my jeans and T-shirt and cap, as well.
“Alrighty, luv,” Emme steps back and admires her work. “That’ll do. Now all you have to do is walk home in those heels and then try to look like you haven’t been walking at all when this Luke picks you up.”
“Oh fabulous,” I grumble. “Give me back my clothes and I’ll carry these instruments of torture in a sack.” I gesture to the heels which are already pinching my feet.
She bundles up my clothes and fancy shoes for me and gives me a kiss on the cheek as I go through the door. “Emme,” I pause, my hand on the doorframe. “Do you think we’ll travel together? I don’t want to leave you too. We’ve both been here a long while. It’s time – I can practically feel it.”
“Feel it?” Emme frowns. “I never feel a thing.”
“It’s just a restlessness, that’s all. Like things are fading away but moving faster at the same time. I can’t hardly sleep and I feel like I only have a few moments left in this time before I disappear altogether, you know?”
“Not really,” she laughs. “You really are a drama queen tonight, Sonnet. But you’re right, we’ve both been here long enough and I expect us to move on soon. Nothing to be afraid of though, luv. It’s not exactly our first rodeo!” She winks. Emme’s American expressions spoken in her British accent always make me laugh. “Now get a move on. I want to hear all about tonight first thing tomorrow! You’re working in the morning?” I nod. “I’ll come by then first thing. Well, not first thing, but before noon, alright?”
“Alright,” I sigh, hefting my sack over my shoulder and starting down the stairs. “Do I look as ridiculous as I think I do?” I glance down at my sneakers which don’t exactly go with my red dress.
“Absolutely!” Ever cheery Emme. “Now get out of here!”
Chapter Twelve
Coming home to my half empty house is just as terrible as I knew it would be. The television is switched off since there’s no Matthias or Harry to watch it. Will and Meli’s room is empty, with the door standing open. My dad is nowhere to be found, as is Prue, which means they’re manning the food cart somewhere. If they’re smart, they’ll be on the same block as the art show, but my embarrassment of them keeps me from wishing it. It isn’t as if I’d change them, but they are a hard pill to swallow at times. And Prue would probably demand I take off this tight dress and wash my face. I hope we don’t run into them, Luke and me.
I’m feeling nervous for what amounts to my very first date of sorts. Then I feel out of sorts for feeling nervous, because really, what do I have to be nervous about anyway? Luke is older than I, a man of the world really, who knows what I am and knows there is no hope of a future, and is only taking me out as a farewell of sorts anyway. Because he feels sorry for me; a Lost little child practically, who has never even emailed someone…much less bungee jumped or flown.