The Mute Luna

Chapter 8: Getting Ready

“Carter,” A voice said. Someone shook her lightly. “Carter, wake up.” It was Joey, most likely grinning like an i***t at her massively bad bedhead. Carter stifled a groan. She knew why he was waking her. Tonight was the night of the ball. The entire day, Carter would have to try on her dress and begin to bathe again, put on makeup and do her hair on her own. She had never worn makeup much or wore dresses or put her hair up in fancy ways. What would she do? Joey probably couldn't help her with that stuff anyway. But then what would she do? Tonight would be one of the most important nights to look beautiful. How could she pull it off?

The stress had gotten to her. Carter's eyes flew open. Her eyes moved around the living room since she had slept on the couch last night. She sat up, grabbing her nearby white board. “Cart, what are you-” Joey started. 

'Joey, I can't get ready for the ball by myself tonight!' She wrote frantically. She was so nervous her hands were shaking. But Joey just cracked a smile at her.

“Don't worry, Cart. I thought about it last night while I was out.” He explained. He offered her a hand up and she took it. He walked her over to her bedroom door. “I got it all figured out.” He said as he opened her door. Carter stifled a gasp. 

Her room had been transformed. Makeup, flat and curling irons, brushes and accessories like necklaces and bracelets covered  the desk. The bathroom in her room had been stocked with towels, all kinds of soaps and creams. The bed was covered by several pairs of shoes, both heels and flats. Carter's dress, covered by a colored plastic bag, hung in the closet. 

Carter turned to Joey in disbelief. Joey grinned and spoke. “Last night, I went to the banquet and sat down. Well, the guys are kept away from the girls but I found out that there were some girls who had volunteered to help other girls with getting ready. I knew I'd be no help and you aren't good at that stuff, so I asked if one of the girls could come help you out. A girl named Dawn was more than glad. She dropped this stuff off while you were sleeping last night. She's going to be here in a few minutes to help you get ready.”

Carter was so relieved and thankful that she threw herself into her best friend's arms and hugged him as tight as she could. When she was done she wrote thank you several times on her white board. 

Joey only laughed. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Joey grinned and rushed over to the door. 

A young girl stepped in. Her long black hair reached her waist, her skin pale like snow. Her eyes were a shocking green. She was surely seventeen but she was small, almost as small as Carter. She wore black torn jeans, a black shirt and converse. Rubber bracelets with pictures of bands, quotes and the words ‘The Black Veil Brides’ covered her wrists. 

Wow. Carter thought. She didn't know what she had expected but this was not it. 

The girl smiled. “Hey guys. Hey, Joey.” she gave him a fist bump. He smiled. 

She looked at carter. “Hey, you must be Carter. I'm Dawn Flower. Call me Dawn. I'm sure we'll be awesome friends.” She stuck out her hand and Carter shook it, smiling. 

This girl was not what Carter thought she would be but she seemed really cool and nice. Maybe they could be friends. The thought made Carter want to laugh, though she hadn't in so many years. Another friend? It was shocking enough that the girl already came. 

“Well, I guess we should get to work.” Dawn sighed. “We have seven hours I think until the ball but we're probably going to need all the time we can get.”

She grabbed Carter's wrist and went ahead, pulling Carter into her room, where all the beauty supplies were. 

“I'll see you in seven hours then.” Joey said grinning. Carter sent him a glare but the door had shut. 

All in all, Dawn certainly did use all the time she had, right down to the minute. Once she took out her phone and turned on some loud rock and roll music, she got right to work.

She turned on the bath and filled the tub with hot water and many types of creams.  She had Carter soak in the thick creams for half an hour while Dawn washed her own hair, then switched with Carter. 

Once both of them had skin like satin from soaking and their hair was freshly washed, Dawn helped Carter put several hair products in, blow dried her hair then flat ironed it. 

Dawn also made Carter wax her arms, underarms and legs until her skin was tinted pink. Dawn then had her relax for a few minutes while Dawn put her hair in a large fancy bun with a crown of emeralds from her parents. 

While Carter relaxed, Dawn talked. “You probably didn't expect me to be like this, right?” Carter smiled sheepishly and nodded. 

Dawn laughed. “I can see why. No one would expect a punk girl with no friends to show up at a ball to find her true love like Cinderella. But my parents made me. Joey told me about your pack, by the way. Mine is actually like an hour away from yours. I think my dad knew yours once. And your mom.”

Carter froze and stared at Dawn. Her mother? Dawn's parents had known the evil woman who left her father and her? The woman who had caused Carter to go mute? Carter didn't know whether to be shocked or angry or sad. Maybe all three.

But Carter didn't say anything, no pun intended. She just grabbed her white board and wrote a simple sentence: 'You have no friends?'

The punk rock girl looked at Carter's message, still wearing her rubber bracelets. She looked at the floor. “Yeah, well, no one in my pack really likes me. They don't get my style or loud music. They say I'm good for nothing and only cause trouble. I mean I've played some pranks and been in fights but never anything really bad. Everyone looks at me like I'm a freak. I just don't fit in. You know, my parents are worried my mate will take one look at me and reject me. They actually said that.” She added looking at Carter again. “My dad said he had been stupid enough to hope that he'd have a child who wouldn't be alone. I came here the next day. I know for sure, though, that if my mate doesn't reject me, I'll choose so that we can live with his pack. Maybe they'll accept me that way. Maybe I'll finally fit in you know.” She looked at Carter as if she was embarrassed. “Pretty stupid, huh?”

A part of Carter's heart broke. This girl was like her. This girl understood the pain of not fitting in and being rejected. At least when Carter grew up, she had Joey and her father. Dawn didn't have anyone. Well, not anymore. 

Carter stood up and held her white board out to show her a message. 'I'm a mute with only one friend, one parent and everyone acts like I'm a freak too. I haven't spoken since I was tiny. I'm sure my mate will reject me. And then, I'll return home. But I'll go home with another friend and so will you. I promise.'

Dawn smiled and took the marker. 'Thank you.' She wrote with a smile.

“Now, come on,” Dawn said out loud. “It's time for the dress.”