“You look gorgeous.” Natti started her own makeup while Wanda admired herself. “Maybe even gorgeous enough to attract a certain someone’s eye.”
Wanda blushed, and Natti’s heart stilled. She looked over at Wanda again, thinking this time of Seth and her together. It was infuriating enough when she witnessed the other girls lining up for him at school. To picture Wanda among them, it felt more like a betrayal of their friendship.
Get a grip! She pushed aside her jealousy. Seth is just a jerk. Granted, a jerk that apparently makes women feel all warm, fuzzy, and tipsy . . . She swallowed hard. But still just a jerk. And Wanda deserves this. She deserves to feel special.
Ignoring her aching heart, Natti applied her eye liner, purple shadow, purple tinted mascara, and British Red lipstick. She pulled her hair back into a knot at the base of her neck. She looked herself over and then at Wanda.
“I think we’re ready.”
Natti and Wanda raced each other down the stairs. Her father was waiting on the first floor in his maroon bathrobe, ready to turn in for an early night. Chuckling to herself, Natti wasn’t completely surprise by the awkward sight considering Alexander had pulled another one of his late-night editing sessions with his latest manuscript last night. Once her father had gotten into a rhythm, there was no way to pull him from his laptop, no matter how hard Natti tried. Now it was clear his eyes could hardly stay open. At least until her father caught sight of Natti’s and Wanda’s outfits. Then his eyes went really wide and a wary smile tugged at his lips.
“Well, now. With how you two look, I’m not sure I should let you walk out the door,” he teased. “Boys might get the wrong idea.”
Natti grabbed her denim jacket and her bag from the banister and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t worry, Dad. We can handle any ruffians if we need to.” She chuckled when she pulled out pepper spray from her pocket.
“If any trouble arises or you two need a ride, you call me,” Alexander said pointedly.
“Just as we agreed. We should be fine, though. Lions Gate Drive isn’t that far.”
“Still, you call me if you need anything.” Her father yawned, looking at his watch. “Just don’t stay out too late. It’s still a school night, and you need your sleep.”
Natti kissed her father again. “I know. Don’t wait up.”
***
Natti pulled her Mini Cooper behind a line of parked cars stretching from Q’s house. The car’s frame pulsed to the pounding beat of music that drifted from the large, two-storey building.
Natti’s eye wandered the chaos before them. Even in the distance, packed on the front lawn, she recognized several students from Setemple High School mixed in a crowd that might have been from the local colleges. Red Solo cups and a keg at hand. Inside the house, the first storey windows were pitch-black except for the brightly colored necklaces and lanterns dangling, bounding, and dancing. In one of the second level rooms, a shadow cast on drawn blinds revealed a girl peeling off her shirt while a boy’s figure kissed her neck. Natti’s mind instantly jumped to Seth, making her cheeks burn hot.
Concealing her emotions with indifference, she whipped around and grabbed her bag from the back. Natti pulled out two water bottles, each labeled with their names. She handed Wanda hers. Wanda stared at the purple ink inscribing her name.
“Right, keep this with you at all times,” Natti told her. “Even if you decide to have a bevvy, it’s always good to have water with you. You see, hangovers result from being dehydrated. This would lessen the effect. Also if you do decide on having a bevvy, make sure it isn’t open before you drink it and especially don’t accept open drinks from strangers. You never know what they slipped into it. And most importantly, since we came together, we leave together. No running off with any totties, okay?”
Wanda gave her a mischievous grin. “Whatever you say, Mother.”
Natti shoved Wanda in her seat, giggling. “Oh, shut it!” She placed the bag behind her seat and opened the door. “Let’s go have some fun.”
They stepped out of the car and rushed toward the front porch. The boys around the keg hooted and hollered when they slipped past. Many tried shoving full Solo cups into Natti’s and Wanda’s hands, which they politely passed. Finally breaking through, they made it to the front door. The house was physically vibrating.