Chapter 3

Fear is only in our minds

Taking over all the time

Fear is only in our minds

But it's taking over all the time.

-Evanescence-

***

#Jean's POV

"Shower's done, mama K. Now what next?" I ask Kylen while sitting on my swivel chair.

I love this chair. I can move around the room faster while I sit on it. It is so much easier when you have a lot of work that needs to be done but are too tired to get your bottom up. It has a soft pad on the headrest and a thick cushion to sit on. It's so comfortable you wouldn't feel like your bottom crumpled after sitting for hours.

That's the main reason I bought it. Smart girl, that is me. 

"Oh no, you're not sitting on that chair." Kylen starts, "I know how you love that chair, but it's not going to help me get your make-up done. You don't want to look like you just got punched in the face before being dragged and slayed by some samurai in the rain, do you?" She explains more when I'm about to protest.

I roll my eyes. She is so over the line sometimes.

"No samurai is going to come to punch nor slay me over, K. What will the guy get over that?" I look over to Beth who giggles softly, and I feel myself start to grin.

"That's not what I mean, J." Kyle shoots a glare at me, "Just sit here. You already agreed to go so, you need to follow the rules." That doesn't sound good.

"And what rules we're talking about here?" I tilt my head curiously. I don't remember talking about any rules. 

"You, as the birthday girl, need to do what we're telling you to do and wear what we choose; no refusal is allowed. As in return, we will provide all the things you need for the day." She says smugly, sounds too proud to make me uncomfortable in turn. 

What is this dreadful feeling? It sounds like she's trying to make me do something troublesome. 

"I don't remember agreeing to all those things." I squint my eyes accusingly at her. Do I skip time when we talk about rules?

"You said you'd go, so that's enough to seal the deal. And you," She turns her glare to Beth, who starts to laugh out loud, "You should be helping me out here. We need a lot of hands to do some miracle to this young lady over here and we only have a little time left."

Wow. Thanks for the kind words, Kylen. I glare at her. How unsightly ugly am I really?

Where's the love and support I talk about before? 

"Yes, ma'am." Beth gives a salute and starts rummaging over her make-up bag.

I shoot a disbeliving look at Beth. Really, Beth?

Ugh. Whatever.

"Are you going to put all of that to my face?" Looking at the big bag of makeup wearily, I suddenly have an urge to draw back and cancel tonight's plan.

I'm the sunscreen and lipgloss kind of girl. It's not that I hate makeup, and I don't say that it's bad either. I just don't have the time and money to do it.

Make-up and dressing up sounds like luxury items to me. I'll choose books over make-up anytime. Kylen's the one who always pushes me and offers to get me one, but I always say no. Why bother to buy one if you have no time to use one? It's wasteful on so many levels. 

Beth looks at me apologetically. Kylen just hums a song suspiciously with her back to me. What exactly is inside that big duffel bag?

I squint my eyes to try to sneak a peek inside, but without my glasses, I can only obtain a few blurry images. How unfortunate. 

"Let's just get this over with." I say with a defeat. Might as well get it started. No use to cry over spilled milk. 

Fun now sounds so far away.

***

"How much longer do we need to finish? It's been decades." I mumble moodily, annoyed that they don't even let me open my eyes to witness what they've been doing. 

After the ice breaks and the mountain moves, I found the courage to voice my annoyance again. It feels like a thousand years have passed and I start to get a neck cram.

Really, what's the deal here? It's not like I'm going to walk down the red carpet or something. I was just going to... okay, I don't even know where. We will go there, sit cozily and vibing happily. Why so much effort?

I just don't understand. Where are we going to hang out? 

"Shut up. Just a little bit more. And it's not even an hour has passed, smartass." Kylen answers distractedly while doing my hair.

"Really?" It sure feels like a very long time ago to me.

Before I can muster another complaint, Beth comes up to me with a loose long-sleeve turtleneck blouse full of sequins, It's practically shining; my eyebrows shoot to the roof. Okay. It's alright, I guess.

Then, as if not quite satisfied with my reaction, she turns it around so I can see the back side. My eyes widen with foreboding feeling slithered up my spine. 

"Wow." I breathe out. I sound fascinated. No, I am dazzled. I'm too shocked to say anything. Those sparkling things sure are blinding me. I mean, is that wearable? Doesn't look like one to me.

It's a beautiful blouse, honestly. It's a turtleneck with long sleeves, cute. The cuffs filled with small beads that scattered randomly; they sparkled under the light; awesome. But from the middle down, it's made of sheer that falls down nicely. Everything's fine until this part. 

The reason to not like it? Well, it's bloody red. But the best part? It has a split right in the middle, with a measly string to tie it up. It's enough to freak me out. So, as beautiful as it is, I won't wear them. Not on my free will.

"Told you she'll love it." Kylen speaks smugly.

"Well, I won't say I love it, though." I want to say more but hold it after I see the look on Beth's face.

Beth looks like she would go panicked, and I don't have the heart to hurt her. I appreciate her works, but can it be a bit more conservative? It must be Kylen's doing that makes it so... immodest? Too much skin exposure to my liking.

"What? It's long sleeves and not a skimpy shit. And it's shining red!" Kylen practically shoves the shirt to my face, like I need to see closer to like it. And since when do I like red? She's the one who likes red, not me.

"It's a see-through, and got a hole in them!" I argue stubbornly, "Also, are you trying to get me to catch pneumonia? It's January for Godsakes!" I look at the back of the shirt drive my point. The splits start from the neck, until only a little inch from my rear. It'll be a miracle if I don't flash my boobies bobbity to the world by the end of the night. 

"Oh, come on!" Kylen snaps. "You are 21, J. Show a little skin is understandable. Stop being Miss Prim and Proper for a night. You wear shorts when you run every morning, so what's the big deal in wearing a shirt with a little split in them?" She argues back fervently. 

She makes it sounds like I run half naked with only shorts on. No. It's a hoodie and a short that reached my knees, can it compared to this blouse? 

"Small split that will practically show all my back! Only my boobies covered; thanks for considering that by the way." Sarcasm drips from my words like honey.

"Think of that as my generosity, J." She smirks, "Now just put that on and we will be ready to go." She says while giving me my pants and shoes for the night.

She commands like a general preparing her soldier to go to war. Apparently, I'm the soldier that'll die on that war, from pneumonia nonetheless.

A pair of black leather pants and a pair of laced-up black ankle boots with 5-inch heels. As if I need another boost to my height. Well, at least the pants cover my rear, or I'm going to scream bloody murder. 

After I change clothes, I couln't stop the chills that spread from the back to my head. I feel like I shouldn't move too much or I would be on the news tomorrow for promoting nudish in the city. That would be ironic. 

"Goodness..." I groan grumpily, "What's with you and holes?" 

"You and hotness, baby." She winks at me and pushes me to the front of the full-length mirror near the front door.

Okay. Take a deep breath.

I talk myself into this, having fun and living my life. I need to start to act on it. I open my eyes slowly to see how this outfit actually looks on me. And what I see in the mirror left me baffled. Is that really me? 

Man, I still can't believe it. I could look this good? My brown eyes look much lighter with a cat eye's eyeliner. My cheeks blush in pink and my lips in deep red. Then I realized this is the ultimate power of make up. 

Wow. Kylen really has a talent in this thing; I need to gave her some credits. After staring at myself a little more and memorizing this look in my mind, I walk back the short walk to my bedroom. Kylen and Beth already changed their outfits too.

"Let's just put your hair up in a bun like you usually do, J." Kylen starts to push me to sit back again before I can utter a word.

We are not done yet? 

"This will show your backside in perfect view." She explains more when I look at her questioningly, "They can see but can't touch it. Believe me, that'll do wonders to guys." She sounds more and more funny. I'm not sold for that reason, Lady. 

As if. 

"You don't need to convince me, Kyl. I have no choice whatsoever. Remember the rules you were talking about earlier?" I remind her with an attitude, "Beside, you know I don't like to attract attention." I bite my lips to stop myself from saying anything more. I don't want to remember something painful from the past tonight.

Yes, I'm a freak for not liking attention from other people, not even a guy I like. I'm polite and yet distant. Some people call me cold and arrogant. I don't trust people easily. I'm not letting anyone near me over the line I draw, except these two people. 

"I'm sorry, Jane. I promise I will stick to your waist all night long!" She hugs me, and Beth coming to give me double hugs.

"Me too. You'll need to slice me if you want to get free!" Beth just really has the best moment to make me cry. I love these girls.

"Now cut the crying pit, we don't want to ruin your makeup. My masterpiece." Kylen says proudly.

"Yes, ma'am." Now I'm the one who gives the salute. Kylen and Beth laugh out loud.

"Let's go rock the world, baby!" Kyle shouts cheekily. I just shake my head and start to walk to my door after putting my phone inside my purse. Locking the door, I wish myself good luck.

I really need a bucket full of luck and bravery tonight.