“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.”
Kennedy grabbed his arm. “Her mom got her those. I think they’re cute, Brooklyn. It’s very rockstar of you.”
“You think?” I lifted the skirt of my dress and looked down at my Keds.
Justin looked horrified but then he pinched his face and looked away. “Very rockstar,” he agreed.
I knew he was just saying it to be polite, but I appreciated it none the less.
He clapped his hands to end the discussion. “No matter how sweaty you get dancing, don’t wipe your face. Blot it. It’s all about the blotting, ladies. Your makeup and hair should have no problem lasting through midnight.”
Midnight? It was the last Cinderella coincidence I could take. “Justin, you’re like my fairy godmother.”
“Did you just call me a fairy?” He put his hand on his hip. “Do you have any idea how offensive that is?”
“Oh…I…I didn’t mean…”
He laughed and leaned in to hug me. “I’m just kidding. Knock ‘em dead tonight. And call me before your next event. I’ll bring an even bigger tiara.” He winked at me as he let me out of his embrace. “I gotta run. I can’t believe you two made me late! I’m never late!” He grabbed his boxes of beauty products and hurried out the door.
“I freaking love him,” Kennedy said.
I laughed. “I’m 99% sure he’s gay.”
“Why only 99%? Girl, he’s definitely gay. There’s not a doubt in my mind. Trust me, I don’t want to date him. I don’t want to date anyone for a long time. I just meant that he’s the coolest person ever.”
“He really is.”
“But if he was straight, I’d marry him in a heartbeat. I love being pampered like this. That was so much fun. When can we do it again?”
I laughed. “Hopefully soon. I feel like we’re in one of those makeover shows.”
“Queer Eye for the Straight Teenager,” Kennedy said.
“We should pitch that idea to Justin.”
“We really should. I’m going to run to the bathroom real quick and then we can go?”