“Why do you two have to be so sickening sweet,” Gabby teased, beside me, wrinkling her nose. “Be nice to us people who don’t have a boyfriend who worships the ground we walk on.”
Guilt swept over me. I was grateful for the three people sitting by me. They had made my move easier than I could have ever imagined. The guilt was soon replaced with fear. I was scared of losing them and their friendship. I had already started to bond with everyone, especially Gabby.
"You need to have some fun," Gabby whispered, pulling me into her for a side hug. "You deserve to get out a little." My mom's voice filled my thoughts. You've got to move on.
I groaned, they both were right. "I'll go," I worked out slowly, before adding. "But I am not dressing up."
“Oh yes you are,” Gabby squealed, displaying a wide grin. “I have the best idea EVER! Us three,” she pointed to herself, then me before over to Cora, "are going to go as the Power Puff Girls. It's going to be perfect,” she told us, singing out the last word. Crap. Where was the remote of retraction so I could rewind my agreement to go?
Lane snapped his fingers and pointed to Gabby. “That is a great idea.” He looked over at his girlfriend with a sly smile. “You would look sexy as shit as a little power girl, baby.”
Cora, clearly not amused, glared over at him with irritation. "It’s Power Puff Girl, genius. How can you say I would look sexy as one when you don’t even know who the hell the Power Puff Girls are? You just think it’s a great idea because you don’t want to match me this year.”
He let out a loud sigh. “Man,” he groaned out. “I really don’t want to go as Bam Bam.” Bam Bam? I could only have guessed Cora wanted to be Pebbles. “You know I will do it if you really want me to, but I think you would enjoy dressing up with your girls more.”
I watched their exchange as nausea swirled around in my stomach. I hated myself for being jealous of them. I was a selfish person to be resentful of my friends' happiness. I just wanted it back. I wanted a connection like that with someone, like I had with Tanner. I wished I could dress up as a witch for Halloween and create some resurrection spell to bring him back from the dead. Unfortunately, my life was not some paranormal romance.
“Okay then it’s settled,” Gabby confirmed, not giving Cora time to argue. "We shall go shopping after school for our costumes! This is going to be awesome!"
WE SEARCHED high and low for our costumes but couldn't find anything. "Let's just make them ourselves," Gabby said, while we were waiting for our smoothies. We were deciding whether or not to find something else. “I mean, it can’t be that hard. We just need to find some cute matching dresses in pink, green and blue. Plus, a bow for me.” She pointed to her auburn hair before giving the guy at the register our order.
“God,” Cora moaned, grabbing three straws from the bin beside her. “Why can’t I be the one with the bow?”
“Nope,” Gabby answered, swiping a few napkins. "You are blonde, therefore you are Bubbles. Bubbles doesn't have a bow, she has-"
Cora's hand went up, cutting Gabby off. "I know," she groaned. "Bubbles has freaking pigtails. I am going to have to wear blow job handles in my hair." The acne-ridden kid making our smoothies stopped the blender and gave us a creepy smile.
"Creeper alert," Gabby muttered at him and his attention suddenly turned back to the blender to finish our drinks before handing them to us. Gabby looped our arms together and we made our way through the crowded mall. "Alright my fave chicas, let's go find us some costumes to kick ass in!"
"I JUST want to say this real quick," Cora squealed, pausing the music that had been playing in her bedroom for the past two hours. "We are some sexy crime fighters." I forced out a smile and finished buckling the belt that wrapped around my torso.
We finally found some short, matching dresses at a small boutique I had never heard of. I pulled down the hem of my green dress in an attempt to calm down my nerves. I was certain I would be having a major freak out before the night ended.
My heart thudded against my chest as I stared into the mirror in front of me. I had sat down and let the two have their way with me. Leaving my hair down, they straightened it, making it appear longer. I was just happy I didn't have to sport a pigtail or bow. Cora did my makeup, giving me dark, smoky eyes.
"Screw you, Blossom and your ridiculous pigtails," Cora whined, glaring at them in the mirror. "I am going to get so much shit for these stupid things." She pulled on one, making a disgusted face. "He's seriously going to be begging me for a blowjob all damn night."
"I thought you weren't a fan of that?" Gabby asked, walking by her and flicking a ponytail.
"I'm not. Hence the part where he is going to annoy the living shit out of me because he loves it." She smeared some gloss on her lips and smacked her lips together. "We should probably get going, though. We are already late."