voice as she replied. “That’s it! Well, sort of. I’ll do a tutorial of the look to put up on YouTube. That way all my hard work won’t be for nothing.”
“Your followers will love that,” I said with a smile. The people who watched her videos all genuinely seemed to love Zoey’s authentic content. I was sure there were plenty of viewers out there who’d also had their proms canceled and could relate.
“Okay, now I’m excited. Maybe all is not lost, after all.”
“Maybe,” I agreed. It sure felt like we were losing a lot these days though. I might not have been as sad about prom being called off as Zoey was, but it was yet another thing we were missing out on because of the pandemic. It was probably silly, but the part I found hardest was the thought that my parents would never see me all dressed up for prom.
“How are you feeling today?” Zoey’s tone was gentle, and I sometimes wondered if she could read my mind. I’d called and told her about my parents’ news last night, and she helped me talk through my feelings about it. As much as my best friend was flighty and fun, she was also amazing at being supportive when I needed her.
“I’m still worried about my parents, but I know there’s nothing I can do about their situation.”
“I wish I could fix this for you or at least just give you a massive hug,” she replied. “The prom being canceled doesn’t seem all that important in comparison.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s a big deal that prom is canceled, and I can’t believe we’re never going to hang out at school ever again.”
“I know,” Zoey agreed. She sounded as hopeless as I felt. We couldn’t let these speed bumps upend our lives though. We had to make the best of it.
“Okay, I spent all of yesterday feeling mopey and sad, and I don’t want either of us to go through that today,” I said. “I think you should go do your tutorial. That way, I can watch it and try it out for myself.”
Zoey started clapping. “Yes, finally!” she squealed. “If I’d known it was going to take enforced lockdown to get you to try my makeup looks, I would have thrown you in a room and locked you in there way before now.”
I chuckled. “Well, I need a lockdown hobby, and it’s probably time I used some of that makeup you’re always giving me.” She pretty much handed me a new product every week. It was lucky the stuff she gave me was sent to her for free by makeup companies, or I would have felt really bad for never using it.
“Yeah, it is!” she exclaimed. “Okay, I’m going to start filming right now. Yay, I can’t wait.” She hung up the phone without waiting for a goodbye.
I laughed under my breath and put down my phone. “Bye, Zo.”
To my surprise, I actually followed through on my promise and attempted Zoey’s makeup tutorial. This was what lockdown did to you—you got so bored you were willing to give just about anything a try. Plus, having spent all day yesterday watching a documentary, I wasn’t sure I could handle another day in front of a screen.
I didn’t have my best friend’s ability with a makeup brush, but I was quite pleased with the look when I was finally done. I was sitting on the floor by the large mirror in my room, and I smiled at my reflection. Zoey had called her makeup tutorial Prom, Midnight Glam—and the name seemed to fit the look she’d created to a tee. My cheeks had a subtle highlight on them and the mascara framing my eyes made them pop. A dusting of glittery, deep-navy eye shadow really completed the look. If it weren’t for the pajamas I was wearing, I would have genuinely appeared ready for prom.
I sighed as I took in my outfit. It would have been nice to change into something that complimented my makeup so I could send Zoey a pic. I didn’t have anything even slightly appropriate with me though. I hadn’t packed one nice dress when I’d come to the Moores’ house. Aiden had rushed me so much that my daily dress code was now a mismatch of the random sweats and loungewear I’d thrown in my suitcase at the last minute. I really needed some more clothes, especially now it looked like I’d be here for a