“Oh, I enjoyed talking to him, he’s a funny kid.”
“I didn’t know what to think or do when he asked about your picture. I know you don’t like showing your face.”
I touch the scars on my cheek. “To be honest, I’ve been hiding behind my scars and avoiding my life. Brittany gets on me about it all the time but I feel hideous and constantly made to feel like I am a monster.”
“Riley, you are beautiful inside and out. How are you going to find love? I bet that farm house gets lonely no one to talk to once Brittany goes home for the night? You need to live. We are about to turn twenty-five, and it’s the best time in our lives.” I start blinking my eyes trying to hold my tears at bay. “Oh, no, I didn’t mean to make you cry. Let’s take a selfie, we always feel better.” London forces me to show my scars in the picture. I look at it, and it doesn’t look that bad. London and I get busy finishing up the ballroom for the party. I told her that she needs to get her money back from the event planner as he wasn’t even there yet.
It took us about two hours to get everything handled then we head up to my room to change. With the extra money from Lance, I splurged on a dress for me and Brittany, this room, and ordered champagne for the three of us.
I take a few minutes to look at myself in the mirror. “Okay, Riley, it’s time to focus on living and not hiding, starting tonight.” I step out of the bathroom to hear whistles.
“Holy shit, Riley does have a body.”
Corinne, London, and Lance’s mom, says, “Turn around.” The emerald-green dress goes perfect with my red hair. The sales woman who sold me the dress told me that men wouldn’t be able to keep their hands off of me in this long, strapless, metallic, lace bodice and mesh skirt. The slit goes up to my thigh while it flows as I turn for Mrs. Aragon.
“Absolutely stunning.” Corinne pulls me into a hug. “So beautiful.” She kisses my cheek where the scars are and wipes my tears away.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“How are you wearing your hair?” Corinne asks. She owns a beauty salon and volunteered to do all of our hair.
“I don’t know. I always wear it sweeping to the left to cover my scars.”
“Do you trust me?” Corinne asks me, and to be honest I do, but I am scared shitless of what she has planned. I nod hesitantly, covering my cheek. “Yay!” She claps her hands.
London sits me in a chair away from all the mirrors. Corinne is humming a Christmas song in my ear. I can’t hear what it is through the beating of my heart in ears. My cell phone vibrates on the table next to the bed and Brittany hands it to me while drinking her champagne. I open the message and laugh.
“Hi-yahh” is written on the bottom of the picture drawn by Devin of the Ninja Turtles. I show Corinne and she tears up at it.
“What’s the matter?” I ask her as she pulls and sprays my hair.
“It’s nice to see Devin talking to someone new. He is autistic and has his mood swings so it’s hard for Lance to have friends, but when it comes to female friends, Devin clings to because he wants a mother so bad. If you and Lance can’t remain friends, please don’t take it out on Devin.”
“Devin and Lance are two separate people. I adore the little guy already. As long as I can see Devin through you and London, then there isn’t a problem. I don’t know much about autism, but I am willing to learn.” Corinne squeezes my shoulders.
“That’s all this grandma needed to know.” Corinne sprays my hair some more, and I start coughing and waving my hands. “Ready?” I nod my head apprehensively.
London hands me the mirror. I take a deep breath, and with shaky hands, lift the mirror up to see myself. My red hair is in a messy chignon with twisted tiny ringlets. I stare at the hair and start to cry before running into the bathroom and slowly sliding down the bathroom door.
“Mom, what did we do?” London sounds almost childlike as she knocks on the door telling me to open up.
“London, we didn’t do anything. Riley has never felt beautiful before, and tonight, we made that happen. She saw herself for the first time and didn’t see the scars, she saw Riley. It’s a hard adjustment for someone. Riley, you need to come out so London can finish getting ready.” Corinne uses her mom voice to me, and I know from talking to London, you do as you are told or suffer the consequences. I stand up and splash water on my face trying to avoid getting it on my dress. I open the door and there stands Corinne with her arms wide open. She’s whispering reassurances in my ear as she rubs my back.
It was 9:15 PM and were running late since I had my little meltdown and wanting to stay in the room. In the elevator, we start to put on our masks. I opted for a half mask, slightly covering my cheeks and my nose. It’s white with jewels around the edge and my eyes. My hands are shaking because I feel so exposed, but London and Corinne grab my hands before walking into the ballroom.
Lance - 9