Empire High Elite (Empire High #2) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,88
down past my shoulders. I wasn’t used to wearing much makeup. I looked all grown up. I blinked fast, making sure my tears wouldn’t fall. Everyone always said I looked like my mom. But it was almost like I was staring at her reflection.
Justin was the most talented person I had ever met. I wanted him to do my makeup every day. I felt closer to my mom than I had in months. I didn’t know whether to cry or try to hug the mirror. But then my eyes settled on the crown on top of my head that sparkled with crystals.
“I…I can’t wear this,” I said.
“What do you mean?” Kennedy pulled the mirror back. “You look just like that picture of your mom that you had on your nightstand back at Uncle Jim’s. You look beautiful. You’re going to make Matt lose his mind.”
“It’s not that.” I shook my head and turned to Justin. “You did a fantastic job, but you have to take the crown out of my hair.”
“Why? Honey, you look fabulous. When you step into the room everyone will be looking at you.”
“Isabella’s homecoming queen,” I said. “She’s supposed to be the only one wearing a crown. She’ll kill me if I go like this.”
Justin laughed. “Well, maybe you should have won,” he said. “That’ll show that nasty bitch. Maybe it’ll teach her some manners.”
He almost made me laugh. Not because it was super hilarious, but because Rob had said something so similar about Isabella before. Was it possible that Rob was gay? What am I even thinking about? I need this crown off my head! “I’m a sophomore, I couldn’t have won. Please just take it out.” I lifted up my hand but Justin smacked it away.
“You’re a masterpiece,” he said. “A vision. And you will not ruin my work. Now let’s get you girls in your dresses before you give me a coronary.” He sashayed off toward our dresses. It seemed like the angrier I made him, the more his hips swayed.
“Really, Brooklyn,” Kennedy said. “Screw Isabella. She literally destroyed every piece of clothing you’ve ever owned. And then had her demon dog pee on everything. And then tried to blame it on me. She deserves to be knocked down a level.”
“I know that. But I’m just scared of what she’ll do when it happens.”
“Nothing to be scared of. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
“Not when I come home.” God, did I just refer to this horror house as my home?
“Maybe we can convince your dad to let us have a sleepover. Come on, don’t worry. Tonight is supposed to be fun,” she added before standing and walking over to Justin.
Isabella was going to kill me. I didn’t dare glance in the mirror again. Maybe if I pretended the crown wasn’t there, it would magically disappear. Just like Justin had magically made me look exactly like my mom.
Kennedy and I both changed. She didn’t seem at all concerned that Justin didn’t leave the room. I covered my chest awkwardly as I pulled on my dress. He walked over as I tried to reach around my back to pull the zipper up myself.
“I’ve got it,” he said and pulled it into place. “It fits you perfectly. And vintage is all the rage. You’re absolutely slaying this look.”
I looked down at my mother’s dress. Maybe it wasn’t magic that had made me look like her. Maybe I was just growing up.
“Twirl for me,” Justin said.
I pictured my mom twirling me around as we danced in the kitchen together and smiled. I turned in a circle and the dress flared up around me. It really was perfect. I felt like Cinderella.
“What in the hell?” Justin asked. “Oh my God, no. Just. No.”
“What?” I asked.
“Your shoes.” He lifted up the hem of my dress and stared at my Keds in horror. “You need to change them this instant.”
“But I can’t leave them here unattended. Isabella’s trying to ruin everything I own. Besides, I think they look kinda cool with the dress.”
“No,” he said with zero sass. He was all business.
“But, Justin…”
“No. Absolutely not. No one wears a crown with sneakers.”
“Isabella destroyed all her shoes,” Kennedy said. “She doesn’t have any other ones to wear.”
“Don’t you have like millions of dollars?” Justin asked. “I’m already late for my next appointment but I’ll literally go buy you a pair right now if the tip is right. And any tip is right because this is literally a fashion emergency.”