Starlet

40. Angela and Aurora

Lindsay and I go over to the house at 1:30.

Collin shows up with a couple of his friends. Lindsay lets them into the house. She talks with the other boys and opens Collins' suit bag.

"Well, s**t that's a hard color to match."

"What is it?"

"Silver." She holds it up. "Use the castle dressmaker. Can we barrow this until tomorrow?"

"Yea ok."

One of the boys looks at her. "Will you go with me?"

"Of course. What are you wearing?"

"I'll go get it."

The other boy smiles. "So what are you 2 doing today?"

Lindsay looks at him. "Theater stuff."

"Here you go." The boy walks back in and hands it to her.

"Great. We'll give them back tomorrow before practice."

Collin puts his arm around me. "You'll be able to miss Friday?"

"Yea. 1 practice is fine."

Then Lindsay goes on a long-drawn-out speech about how she needs to be picked up early, so she can be shown off in her dress to the boy she's going with. I get bored and lean on Collin. Then I lay my head on him.

After that, I give up and get tired of her. I jump and yell, "OK. I'm sure he'll be there way early for you. What is your name?"

"Mario."

Lindsay smiles. "I like that."

I rub my eyes. "We'll have your outfits at the house tomorrow at 5. Stop by and pick them up."

"No 5:30. I have a meeting until 5."

"5:30."

Mario nods and Collin kisses my head. "We'll be there at 5:30. Have fun."

I give him a hug. "Thank you. I'll try. See you tomorrow."

They leave and Lindsay looks at me. "So what are we actually doing?"

"We're going to figure out what they're doing."

She smirks. "I like it."

We get a box. Then we turn into other girls. We make ourselves somewhat alike. We have the same hair color. Then we put on human dresses with sandals. It is so weird looking like someone else.

"We're good. We look like sisters. I'm Angela and your Aurora. We just moved here and won't go to school until next year. You look kind of young for that though."

"Well, you'll go to school next year."

"Sounds good."

We walk all over the market and don't see them. I know they aren't in the library. We finally find them in the park. There are a bunch of boys playing a game of some kind. There are girls cheering for them and the girl he was kissing that day is here. But he doesn't seem to be acknowledging any of them. None of the boys do. They're just playing their game.

We sit down on a bench and feed some birds. Then Dipak and Marcus walk by. I think me and Thora hold completely still and watch them walk by. They turn and look at us at the same time.

Dipak smiles. "Ice cream sandwiches for the girl who spills first."

We jump up and start screaming at him and pointing to the game. They crack up laughing.

Marcus smiles. "Sit back down. You're alright. At least you're outside. Bring them some ice cream sandwiches."

"Yes sir."

"I see." Dipak smiles. "If there's no trust, there's no relationship. Even if it was a dating relationship or friendship."

"I know. I'm seeing. Then the birds came. They're fun to feed."

"Alright. Make sure you're back for dinner."

"Ok."

We watch them play the game for a while. Then our ice cream shows up. We eat that and stand up.

"Oh, look now."

The girl has her arm around Collin. "Why did he even bother asking me?"

"I think he does like you. Maybe she won't leave him alone. I mean, he's not doing anything. He actually looks like he's trying to get away from her."

A couple of the boys that were playing come walking over to us. "Do I have ice cream on my face?"

"No. Me?"

"No. You're good."

We smile at them. "Do you girls go to school here?"

Thora starts talking, and I watch that girl kiss Collin. Then she says something to him and walks away. He surely wasn't trying to get away from that. I sit on the bench and stare at the ground. I wonder why he really asked me. It seems like he already has a girlfriend and it's not me.

"HEY. This is my sister Aurora. Are you alright?"

"I think too much sun, maybe. I'm a little warm."

"Let's go get some water and find some shade. It was nice meeting you."

"There's a shaded area over here. I'll get some water for the 2 of you."

1 of the boys goes after the water and the other walks with us. We sit down in a gazebo and relax. Then Collin, Mario, and his other friend come in.

Mario smiles. "I've never seen you 2 at school."

"We just moved here. We won't start until the next school year."

The other boy gives us water.

I smile. "Thank you sir."

"No problem. Are you feeling a little better?"

"A little. I was getting too warm in that sun."

Collins' other friend smirks. "It was my muscles. You don't have to lie." He shows off the muscles in his arms.

I laugh. That was kind of funny.

Thora nods. "Well now don't make me hot." They all crack up laughing.

He smiles at her. "Do you have a date for the dance Friday? I would like to take you."

"I didn't know there was a dance Friday. But I can't go. My dad would never allow it."

I smile. "Or give her money for a dress. He will not stop complaining about how much it costs to move. I am surprised he's still allowing us to eat at this point. Food is expensive too."

"Yea, he's not happy about all the money he spent. I think he spent double what he figured. But anyway. I would love to if I was able. But it's not going to happen right now."

"Maybe next time."

"I would like that."

Mario looks at the other 2. "Do you 2 have dates?"

1 shakes his head and the other nods.

Collin stretches. "You 2 better hurry the hell up. Friday isn't that far."

"Yea and who are you taking?"

"Whisp."

"I thought you 2 were done when she caught you messing around with Ava."

Mario laughs. "The man begged and pleaded on his knees for her to come back and go with him to the dance." They start laughing.

"No I didn't."

"Oh bullshit. Then he turns around and starts s**t up again with Ava. You're f*****g stupid man."

"I'm not starting anything with Ava. I don't even like her."

"You're a f*****g idiot."

"Why?"

"Because you're going to hurt someone you actually like for a whore."

"Ava is not a whore."

Half of them roll their eyes. Then the boy who gave me water says, "Hey, your best friends coming Collin."

"Shit."

I glance over and Leo's coming for us.

"Why does he hate you anyway?"

"He wants Whisp."

"It's 10 till 6. You all sitting here for dinner?"

Thora jumps up and pulls me up. "I didn't know it was that late."

"Thank you again for the water. I do feel better now."

"You're welcome. Go easy with the sun."

"I will." Thora pulls me up, and we go back to the house. Then we go to the castle to eat.

The next day, we get the dresses ordered at the dressmaker. I design a pretty dress. I absolutely love it. It's a black dress with a princess cut neckline. Then no sleeves. The bottom of it flows past my knees in the front and a few inches longer in the back. It'll be amazing with tall silver sparkly shoes. Then the top is all silver designs with clear gems that sparkle. Then the clear gems make a thick belt that kind of looks like it falls apart to the bottom of the dress. The sparkles are everywhere. I design a simple necklace, ankle bracelet, and ring that look good with it. They're silver with clear gems. I think it'll be pretty together.

We get the boys' clothes back to the house by 5:30, and they show up on time. Collin gets his from Lindsay and sits on the swing with me.

"You ok?"

"Yea. I got my dress designed. I hope you like it."

He stands up while he says, "Oh you could go naked, and I'd still like it."

I stop moving and stare at him in shock.

"Not what I meant. But still true. I meant, you could go in a human dress, and you'd still be beautiful. I'd still be lucky to take you."

I giggle. "Thank you."

He kisses my hand. "I saved that 1."

"Barely." I laugh so hard. Then he laughs. "Are you still practicing your aerial before the practices?"

"Yes. 3:30 to 4:30 like always."

"I'll try to stop there tomorrow. And so I don't forget. I will be here on Friday at 5:15. It doesn't start until 6, but we need enough time to walk over there and get in the door."

I smile at him. "I'll be ready at 5:15 Friday."

"Thank you baby." He leans over to kiss my head. I look up and kiss his lips. Then he smiles and gives me a real kiss.

We kiss a few times, then Lindsay comes out the door with Mario. "That's not how friends kiss. And I will see you on Friday at 4:30. You better not be late. I will hunt you down and cut off a foot or something."

I try not to laugh. Collin kisses my head and goes down the steps. "You have a good night."

"You too."