CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE : TIME PARTY

"What's all this?" I asked as soon as I stepped into Stacey's room, which was basked in what I could only term a massive, eye-bleeding state of disarray. Clothes were scattered in every corner, shoes piled high on the bed, and a large artillery-like box was filled with what I was desperately hoping wasn't...

"Makeup!" Stacey squealed, dancing up to her vanity table. I heaved. Oh, cruds. "And clothes and shoes, everything you need for the perfect party night out!"

"I have clothes, Stacey…"

"Oh, Mira dear, believe me, you do NOT. I wouldn't let you be caught DEAD in those. I mean, retro-emo much?"

"Retro-emo's a nice style."

She held my shoulders with a solemn expression. "No, Mira, they are not." She waved at her wardrobe. "But this is." She pranced through the room, pulling this and pushing that. "Now, watch me transform you from old, snaggy dresser to the hottest girl in town tonight." She danced and winked. "Believe me, it's about time."

"Stacey, you really don't have to…"

"Oh, I do! It is an ESSENTIAL necessity, detrimental to your imminent survival for the rest of the year. Without it"—she leaned close, eyes bulging and cheeks popping—"fashion will be DOOOOMED!!" She did a little jump, pulling me down to her table. "Now, let's get started, shall we?"

Apparently, 'let's get started' was actually a three-hour torturous journey of moussing, washing, spraying, tanning, and even waxing—something I'd NEVER done before. After an hour rotating through Stacey's party clothes that were a tad too big, she picked the fifth dress: a strapless, slightly skimpy, clingy black dress, thigh-high with sequins that shimmered in the light. I squeezed and shuffled into it, tugging at the stretchy length and trying to make it a little bit longer. Stacey watched me, laughing.

"What are you doing, silly thing? You look great, Mira. Stunning." She pulled me to the mirror, holding my stiff shoulders and peeking at my reflection. I slammed my eyes shut, dreading to leave them open. "I mean, look at you. You're SO unrecognizable from before. Open your eyes, for God's sake, Mira."

I did.

And I gasped.

She was so right. More right than I had a right to believe. I looked completely… different. My usually infuriatingly unruly curls were held up in a huge bun, with two strands of my hair popping down the sides in long curls, too. And God, what had she done with my eyes? They seemed more... violet than dark blue. My lips were rounder and plusher than I'd ever imagined. My already too-long lashes were smooth and puckered up, no doubt from the eye-blinding mascara session that'd nearly taken an entire hour. My usually boring face was a shade of… sculpted perfection. My cheeks were soft and pink, and my skin smooth and nearly flawless but for the little mole on my cheek that was barely visible now. I twirled softly, beaming in surprise. Stacey grinned so wide her teeth, all 32 of them, popped.

"I told you, huh? I am the queen of makeovers," she bowed, "and your official fairy godmother. Only in a pretty dress and a Lambo for a carriage."

"Stacey, this is… amazing," I gushed, patting my face. "I look…"

"Captivating? Stunning?" She leaned in. "Bee-dazzling?"

"All of everything you just said." I frowned, tugging at the waistline of my dress that hugged me so closely, giving me curves I never even knew I had. "It's just that… the dress is way too short…"

"Oh, shut it, dearie!" she said, all hard and stern. "Have you seen what I'm wearing? What everyone will be wearing? Maybe you won't say that." She tapped my cheek, her voice soft and cheery again. "Now quit whining and change into these." She tossed a two-inch-high set of dark matching platforms at me, squealing. "They're going to fit you so well. I can feel it in my BONNNNES!"

"Mira…"

"Quit whining!" she yelled, tugging me to a chair. "Relax and put them on. I'll be in the shower." She did a weird dance and skipped off, grabbing a towel off the rack. I watched her leave and let out an exasperated breath, muttering the words she'd been too excited to hear.

"I've never worn heels before."