Nothing seemed to shatter the happy feeling Alice nurtured that evening, not Evan's glowering silence, nor her mother's continued irritation with the neighbor. Alice floated in a soft cocoon of joy, and, for the first time ever, actually felt pretty.
Really pretty.
She examined herself in the mirror that night, after checking out some makeup tutorials online and, with unskilled hands, managed to apply some mascara and a little eye shadow she'd had for ages. Lip gloss added a sheen to her mouth. She liked the effect so much she smiled at herself.
Whether her good mood kept her safe or he was simply lost in his own world, Evan didn't say or do anything to follow through on his threats. And now her confidence had returned, growing by the hour, Alice even managed to smile at her mother at b
