Masquerade Page 10

  “I love it,” Lexa said. She smiled, shaking her head. “Learning new things about friends—especially stuff that not everyone knows—makes me feel like there’s a tighter bond.”

  Honor bobbed her head as if agreeing with her owner.

  “I agree. Completely. With that in mind, here’s something that everyone at school can see, but no one’s ever asked me about it. Only Ana and Brielle, my best friends at Yates.”

  I pressed my boot against Whisper’s side, giving her continuous gentle pressure. She responded exactly as I’d hoped, sidestepping toward Honor. Lexa’s eyes scanned my face, her own full of curiosity.

  “Every year,” I started, “I wear a Halloween shirt from October first until the end of the month. If I don’t wear a Halloween-themed shirt to school, I sleep in one. Then, after the month’s over, I pack them away until next year.”

  I cringed, closing an eye and peeking at Lex through the other. “Was that too weird for you? Are you going to drop me and become BFFs with Delia?”

  “Please. Don’t dis Delia,” Lexa said, grinning. “Every time she gets in trouble for talking on her cell in the hallways, texting during class, IMing at lunch—she always gets teary and says she forgot the rule.” She frowned. “But somehow, she’s still getting away with it, and this is her second year at Canterwood. I think I’ll keep you and not get between Delia and her iPhone best friend.”

  We giggled.

  “I like sharing stuff with you. I’m glad you don’t think I’m weird.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Drew lead Polo into the arena and adjust his left stirrup leather.

  “Everyone has something like that,” Lex said. “I don’t think you’re weird at all. Maybe after our lesson I can come over and you can show me the shirts you brought.”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Cool! Want to trot the horses around the arena wall?”

  With a nod from me, we asked our horses for a faster pace. We were halfway across the arena before something hit me.

  “Hey,” I said to Lex. “What’s your thing?”

  Lexa got a teasing grin on her face. “I’ll tell you. Someday!”

  “Lexaaa!”

  She cued Honor to canter, kicking up dirt behind them. She laughed as Honor dashed away from Whisper and me.

  “Oh, not happening! You’re not getting away that easy!”

  I let out the reins, and Whisper and I charged after Honor, chasing her across the arena. I barely noticed that Clare, Cole, and Drew had stopped their horses and were watching us, laughing.

  “C’mon, guys!” I called, motioning to them. “It’s reverse tag and Lexa’s it!”

  Within seconds, we were all laughing and engaged in tag. The game melted away the stress of the day, and everyone was having fun. Cole let out a whoop when he tagged Lexa.

  “Drew’s it!” Cole said.

  My eyes centered on Drew. I was determined to be the one to tag him.

  Showered and sitting at my desk, I picked up my phone. There was thing I had to do before I started homework.

  I opened BlackBerry Messenger.

  Lauren:

  I had a lot of fun playing tag! I hope you don’t feel bad that I tagged you. Twice.

  I sent the message to Drew, put my phone on my desk, and started pulling books from my bag. I was going to be up a long time tonight. Teachers had announced that midterms were next month—right before Thanksgiving break. It was already mid-October, and I knew there was no such thing as starting too early on prepping for a test at Canterwood. I’d have to find more time to add study time. I paged through my calendar, looking at everything I had going on this week.

  Riding every day.

  Glee club practice.

  Meeting Cole outside of class to work on our assigned Lumière costume.

  The list continued with smaller things like quizzes in different classes and a couple of essays due. I peered over my shoulder, and Khloe was bent over her math book, erasing furiously on her paper. Take a breath, I told myself. If you stress, you’ll get sick. Then nothing will get done. One thing at a time.

  The first thing that I needed was a cup of tea. I stood, putting my phone in my hoodie pocket, and slid my feet into gray fuzzy slippers.

  “I’m going to make tea,” I said. “Want anything from the common room?”

  Khloe looked up, and she had that intense Khloe Kinsella I’m studying so hard my brain might melt look.

  “I’ll be your best friend until death do us part if you grab me a Diet Coke,” Khloe said.

  I smiled. “As long as it’s until death do us part.”

  HALLWAY OF HORROR. KIND OF.

  I OPENED THE DOOR, CLOSING IT QUIETLY behind me, and stared down the hallway. The Halloween decorations always made me feel better, no matter how stressed I was. Christina had to have spent hours and hours on the decorations. Stringy spider webbing draped just below the ceiling from one side of the hallway to the other. Black and purple plastic spiders sat in the webs.

  Hairy bats that looked a little too real hung from random spots. Every bat had its wings in a different position. Eeek! I shivered and looked down. Fake or not, those bats looked ready to take off and zoom through the hallway.

  Along the walls, foil cutouts of ghosts, witches, and pumpkins caught the light. Christina had taped cardboard pumpkins next to each door with our names written on them.

  I stepped up to the hallway table along the wall, close to Christina’s office. The decorated table was one of my favorite parts of the dorm. A giant glass jar of candy corn was next to a battery-operated grinning pumpkin. It smiled—missing a tooth—and next to it were beautiful gourds and real mini pumpkins. The entire table was covered in black, orange, and yellow confetti. A few ears of Indian corn were secured on the wall above the table.

  Christina’s office doorway was draped in teeny LED orange lights, which also decorated the common room. The lights, wrapped around the banister to the second floor, added a soft glow to the hallway.

  I stepped into the empty common room. It was rare for no one else to be here, and I loved being alone in the comfy, spacious room. The couches and recliners had Halloween pillows—a friendly ghost, a black cat, a few pumpkins, and several square pillows with vampires or zombies stitched on them.

  The windows had clings, just like the ones at the stable. I could stare at everything for hours! I opened the cabinet and got my teakettle. I filled it with water and turned on the stove. While I waited for the water to boil, I checked out the Halloween mug collection, trying to determine if there was one that I hadn’t used yet.

  Aha!

  I reached behind a ghost mug and picked up a black mug with a set of vampire fangs painted on it.

  Christina had also stocked the common room drawers with orange and black plasticware, plates, and napkins. Plastic Halloween cups filled one cabinet. Along the counter, jars held candy corn, a mismatch of candy like I got when I used to go trick-or-treating, caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, and tiny round sugar cookies with orange frosting and black bat sprinkles.

  I opened the jar of candy corn and reached inside. My phone vibrated in my jacket pocket.

  I jumped, sucking in a fast breath. Geeze, Lauren! You scared yourself with silly decorations, you nerd, I thought as I fished out my phone. At least no one else had been witness to my silly scare.

  It was a new BBM.

  Drew:

  Aw, it’s sweet that u would feel bad 4 tagging me. But, if I remember correctly, I got you *3* times. Did u 4get abt that?

  I typed back right away.

  Lauren:

  What?! 3x? Nooo. U got me 2x. Once when u had Cole help u corner me & then when u tagged me at the end. Did u srsly think I’d 4get being tagged? *smug smile*

  Immediately, Drew is typing a message appeared on my phone.

  Drew:

  Oh, LT. Srry, but ur smug smile is abt 2 be gooone. I got u when Clare cut u off, u tried 2 back up, & didn’t know I was behind u. Ring an
y bells? *smug smile*

  Oh, shoot! He was right. I’d completely forgotten about that tag. Ugggh. Now I had to fess up to remembering it.

  Lauren:

  *hides face behind pillow* U r right. I *did* 4get abt that tag. That’s what I get 4 sending a “la, la, la—I beat you!” BBM. *bows 2 u*

  I turned off the teakettle just as it started to whistle and left the kitchen. I’d get my tea in a minute. With a pumpkin pillow behind my back, I settled into the couch.

  Drew:

  LOL. I’ll 4give u & 4get all abt the msg.

  Lauren:

  Thanks, D. That was only a TINY bit embarrassing.

  Drew:

  I sent my BBM before I finished the next sentence! Meant 2 add I’ll 4get abt it on ONE condition.

  I grabbed one of the fleece Halloween-themed throws and pulled it over my legs.

  Lauren:

  What condition . . . ?

  I couldn’t imagine what Drew was going to ask me. It felt like forever before Drew’s message appeared.

  Drew:

  Go out with me.

  I grinned, wiggling my toes with excitement.

  Lauren:

  That’s a horrible, mean condition.;) Can’t I do ur English hmwk 4 the wk? Or muck Polo’s stall 4 a month?

  Drew:

  Lolol. U can do all of those—thank u for being so generous, Lauren. Date’s a nonnegotiable, tho. Think u can put up with me 4 a few hours?

  I loved this. Bantering with Drew was so easy and fun. He kept me on my toes. Drew always had a smart comeback when we teased each other, and he never took it too far. We both teased each other just enough and never in a mean way.

  Lauren:

  *loud sigh* I mean, I GUESS I could stomach hanging out w u. Anything in mind?

  Drew:

  Cool. There r a ton of Halloween flicks playing on Fri night. U interested in seeing 1?

  I dropped my teasing.

  Lauren:

  OMG, yes! I go to see a Halloween movie every year w my friends. Going w u sounds rlly fun.

  Drew:

  No way! I always go with my friends 2. But I’d rather go with you this year.

  I smiled, my fingers hitting the wrong buttons as I tried to type fast while being so excited.

  Lauren:

  That’s rlly sweet. I can’t wait. What kind of movies r u into? Superscary? Psycho-thriller? Ones that try 2 b so scary that r actually silly?

  Drew:

  Bloody, crazy-scary Halloween movies rlly aren’t my thing. That’s lame, I know. I like the ones with teens who can’t act—like We’re Always Watching.

  Lauren:

  Hey, that’s not lame, Drew. Srsly. I don’t like violent movies either. Not a fan of having 2 sleep w the lights on 4 nights aftr seeing a movie. I ♥ Watching. Seen it a bunch of times & it’s my kind of movie, 2.

  Drew:

  U r a rlly cool girl, L. I’ve never told any1 but a couple of my friends abt my scary movie thing. I always make up an excuse if some1 asks me 2 see a rlly creepy movie.

  Lauren:

  I’d never make fun of u 4 not *liking* something. Srry u feel uncomfortable telling ppl who ask u 2 go.

  Drew:

  Well, *giant sigh,* I didn’t want to see a supergross movie—Bones & Blood—at my old school. The guys started teasing me, and I ignored it. Whatever. Then they thought it was the best idea ever 2 try & scare me 4 days b4 Halloween. That’s why I rlly don’t tell any1.

  I wished Drew was here. I wanted to hug him and make him a cup of tea.

  Lauren:

  That’s awful! I’m so, so srry. Those ppl were losers w nothing better 2 do. U can watch—or not—any movie U want. Thanks 4 trusting me & telling me abt that. I won’t tell any1.

  Drew:

  I know u won’t.

  Lauren:

  I’ll share something w u that not many ppl know, if u want.

  Drew:

  Tell me.

  Lauren:

  Every year, my sister & I watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It’s my #1 fave Halloween movie.

  Drew:

  R u kidding?

  Oh, no. I shouldn’t have told him that! Now he thought I was the biggest dork and—

  Drew:

  That’s MY favorite movie! I’ve watched it on TV every yr since I could remember.

  Wheeew!

  Lauren:

  That’s so neat that we both love that movie. Maybe we can watch it on TV or something, if you want.

  Drew:

  For sure.

  We chatted for a few more minutes before both having to sign off to tackle homework.

  I made my tea, grabbed a soda for Khlo, and started to go back to my room. My phone vibrated again. I smiled, putting down the drinks. Drew must have had one more thing to say.

  I opened BBM. It wasn’t Drew. It was Ana.

  Ana:

  Hey, Laur. Can u talk tonite?

  I glanced at the clock, biting my lip.

  Lauren:

  So sorry, A. I am BURIED under hmwk & can’t. Tmrw?

  Ana:

  Okay. Call me 2mrw when u can. GL w ur hmwk.

  Lauren:

  Everything okay, tho? U okay?

  Ana:

  Totally!! Everything’s fine—just wanted to chat. Love u!

  Lauren:

  Oh, good. Okay! Xxx

  Soon I was absorbed in homework, fighting to keep myself from thinking about Friday. By the time I’d finished my homework, I could barely keep my eyes open as I washed my face the lazy way with an Olay face towelette and fell into bed.

  PARFAIT SHIRT

  I RAN MY FINGERS THROUGH MY NEWLY straightened hair, courtesy of one Khloe Kinsella.

  “I love my hair, Khlo, thank you!” I said.

  “No prob!” Khloe turned off the flatiron and left it out to cool off.

  I turned on my lighted makeup mirror, so I could do a final makeup check. “Oh, KK, I pulled top options, and they’re hanging inside my closet at the right end, starting on a purple hanger. Mind going through those and helping me pick?”

  I looked into the mirror, adjusting it so I could see my roomie. She was nodding her head to the Top Forty pop songs that we had streaming from her laptop.

  “I would only be the most honored roommate in Hawthorne Hall to help you,” Khloe said. “Let’s see.”

  I stared at my reflection. Even though some girls in my classes used everything from foundation to eyeliner and heavy mascara, I was a fan of the natural look. I wanted to look as if I wasn’t wearing much makeup—like I just happened to have zero zits or red spots.

  Since it was date night, I’d added a few extra touches. A light dusting of shimmery gray eye shadow made my blue eyes look lighter. I’d dabbed off-white eye shadow from my Urban Decay palate into the corners of my eyes. It was one of my favorite EBTs: a little bit of white shadow made any eye look bigger. Also, it was my go-to when I’d been up too late the night before—it made me appear more awake in classes.

  I’d curled my eyelashes, then applied one coat of black mascara. Eyes—check.

  I used tinted moisturizer on my face. The ivory shade matched my skin tone and helped hide any blemishes. I squinted at the Enemy Pimple on my chin—I’d left it for last. It was a day old, and I’d been treating it with salicylic acid, which had reduced the size a little, but I still felt as if I had a red M&M on my chin.

  I grabbed my green concealer—another EBT. Green canceled out red, Brielle had taught me, and I always used green concealer on pimples before blending in my usual concealer. I used my foundation brush to apply a small amount of green concealer. The green was not hiding the red! This wasn’t the time for an EBT fail!

  “KK,” I moaned. “What if I can’t hide this monster zit? I look like I belong in the horror movie that Drew and I are going to see! My green concealer EBT isn’t working!”

  “Laur, so not true—you don’t look like a human who’s contracted a flesh-eating disease and i
s wiping out the entire world population!”

  “Khloe!”

  Khloe hurried over, pulling her desk chair with her, and sat across from me. She looked at me, smiling. “Lauren, you’re beautiful—that’s what Drew’s going to see. That zit is microscopic. But I know how you feel—it feels like it’s huge and the only thing people see when they look at you.”

  I nodded. “Exactly.”

  “I’d never lie to you. It’s not bad at all. Want me to do your concealer?”

  “Please.” I put down the brush, and Khloe got to work.

  “This will take two seconds, and then I’ll give you my final rec on a top,” Khloe said. “Then we can decide what to pair with it—accessories, pants or skirt, shoes.”

  “You’re the best.”

  “You know, I’ll totally take that this time because . . . voilà! Check it!” Khloe grinned at me.

  I looked in the mirror, closing one eye—afraid of what I’d see.

  I saw . . . nothing.

  I opened my other eye and looked closer. The pimple was gone.

  “Khloe! Oh, mon Dieu!” I grabbed her in a hug, and she laughed.

  “Not bad, huh? All of those hours doing stage makeup might have paid off just a tiny bit.”

  “Or a lot! You totally saved me from looking like I had a witch’s wart on my chin.”

  Khloe shook her head and stood. “C’mon. Let’s get you dressed, crazy girl.”

  All of the tops I’d narrowed down as options were spread on Khloe’s bed.

  “I’m stuck mainly between two,” I said. “That purple boatneck with silver stitching and the gray tank top with sequins that I could throw a black cardigan over.”

  Khloe was quiet for a moment. “I don’t think any of these work.”

  “What? Really? Um. Okay. I’ve got other tops.” I hurried over to my closet. “This one is pretty, right? The hunter green is a good color, and the capped sleeves are cute.”

  Khloe shook her head. “It’s not right for this date.”

  I trusted Khloe’s fashion advice a thousand percent. She was always honest, and it was why I trusted her so much—she’d never let me walk out the door looking silly.

  “Officially panicking now. You choose some tops!”

  “Think about this for a sec, Laur. What are you and Drew doing tonight?”