“Short and sweet then.”
“That’s all you need with Eli,” I assure her. Listen to me.
What am I doing?
Lauren wrinkles her nose and lowers her voice. “He’s kind of cute, though, don’t you think?”
“He’s really cute,” I stress. Not a lie either. The boy is hot, but definitely not for me. I’m in love with someone else. “So tall too.”
“Taller than his brother.”
“And Eli’s a great kisser.”
Lauren’s eyes go wide with surprise. “You really did kiss him?”
I give a short nod, but say nothing. Let her imagination run wild. It makes the story that much more interesting.
“How do you catch all of these elusive hot guys, Amanda? I don’t get it.”
“I don’t get it either,” I say with a soft laugh. Her other friends approach and she shoots me a look that tells me to be quiet.
So I am. I don’t reveal her interest in Eli, and she’s not mean to me, so I guess we’ve come to some sort of truce.
“Going to the carnival tonight?” I ask them as I’m handing over their change.
“You know it,” Lauren says with an arrogant little smile. “We’re running a kissing booth.”
Figures. “A kissing booth during Halloween? Isn’t that more appropriate for Valentine’s Day?”
“Kissing is appropriate year-round. Besides, we’re dressing up as sexy witches. It’ll be fun!”
They grab their yogurt and leave the shop in a whirlwind of whispered words and not so discreet giggles.
“I hate those girls,” Blake says the moment they’re gone.
“Have they been mean to you?”
“Nah. They don’t even know I exist. They’re just so self-absorbed.”
He’s right. I think we all become self-absorbed. It’s like we can’t help it. We’re in our own little world, surrounded by our friends and family and interests, and after a while, we don’t even notice anyone else.
“They’re not so bad if you know how to deal with them.” I smile at Blake. “Maybe I can give you lessons on how to deal with bitchy cheerleaders.”
He cracks a smile. First one I’ve seen from him all day. “Sounds like a plan. Though I’d rather you give me a lesson on how to talk to Kyla.”
Now we’re talking. I rub my hands together greedily. “I need more details first before I can start teaching. You ready to talk?”
“Not really.” Blake swallows hard. “But I can try.”
“That’s all I can ask for.”
“You need to hurry,” I tell Liv as she carefully attaches fake lashes we decided to go with after all to my right eye. “We have to be out there soon.”
“Shush, I’m almost done.” I already have fake eyelashes on my left eye and my lids feel extra heavy. “You are going to look so amazing. I hope Tuttle dies a little inside when he sees you.”
I snort. “He won’t even be here tonight. He’s not social, remember.”
“True. He should be here, though. Let’s make sure and take lots of photos tonight and plaster them all over Snapchat. You are the sexiest witch ever.” She steps back and beams.
“I don’t even know if he follows me.” Lies. He does follow me. The #cuddlewithTuttle memory still lingers.
Still hurts.
“Ugh, he makes me nuts. Forget him.” Livvy is still smiling at me. “You look amazing.”
“So do you.”
She bats her false eyelashes. “Why thank you, my spooky witch friend.”
I turn to look at myself in the mirror and I have to admit, I look pretty damn good. Even better than the trial run on Thursday night, and we were pretty smokin’ hot and spooky then too. My makeup is on point—scary without being hideous. My hair is parted in the middle and flowing past my shoulders, straightened to perfection with Livvy’s extra-hot straightener. I’m still a little self-conscious about the low neckline on this costume, but screw it. I’m performing tonight. I get to be someone else for a little while.
May as well enjoy it.
Livvy grabs my shoulders from behind and leans down so she’s in the mirror with me too. Our gazes meet in the reflection. “We look so freaking great! We better head over to the caf before Elaine kicks our asses.”
We leave the auditorium where we got ready, via the back exit, which is also the long way, since we don’t want anyone to see us in costume. It’s not quite five o’clock, but the quad is already full of people milling about. And there’s a decent-sized line to get into the haunted house.