39: Wish Me Luck

Avery treats the dress as if it’s a baby. She hangs it gently in her walk-in closet before she joins me on the couch. “I think we should continue with our movie night. What were we on when I passed out?”

“I think it was the fourth or fifth Freddy...maybe...I can’t remember.”

“How about we watch one of my favorites instead.” She relaxes on one end of the couch as she brings up Scream. “Classic.” She chimes.

We end watching Scream and it’s three sequels before Avery’s tipsiness wears off and she becomes overly tired. A large yawn stretches her mouth open and I’m glad she’s the first one to crack. For a minute there I thought she was going to have us pull an all-nighter.

“We should go,” I stretch out on the couch pushing her off, “to bed. It’s my turn to sleep on the couch.” With the blanket that’s folded over the arm, I wrap myself up and close my eyes.

Her couch is way harder than mine. It feels as if I’m practically sleeping on the floor. I toss and turn all night trying to find the perfect spot.

Morning or should I say afternoon comes too quickly. It feels as if I just closed my eyes and with just a little peek when rolling over I’m abruptly awoken but the brightest sunshine ever.

I keep as quiet as I can as I wander around Avery’s place. I find a coffee cup and turn on the Keurig. There’s a small internal debate I have with myself about making something to eat or not. I check the time again, two forty seven. What time did we fall asleep?

My hand slides down the length of my face with regret, so much regret. And today holds no hope for my miserable attitude to get better. Today may be one of the worst days out of them all.

It takes Avery another hour to come shuffling out of her room. Her hair is an even bigger rat’s nest than it was when she slept on my couch. She at least changed out of her dress and put on some pjs. I glance down at myself, suddenly self conscious, to view my wrinkled clothes.

“Breakfast.” Avery states.

I correct her, “or lunch...late lunch.”

“Ugh,” she groans, “the day after sucks.”

I hold back as much of my laughter as I can. The day after for a lot of things sucks. Drinking is only one of many. My mind flashes to Gabriel. It may not be the day after, but it surely feels like it and it sucks, big time.

We just stick with coffee for breakfast...lunch...whatever you want to call it. My stomach is too knotted to actually digest food anyways.

We stay in and I can tell the anxiousness that Avery tries to keep hidden. She’s eager for the gala or eager to get rid of me. Time seems to speed up, favoring her over me. I look at the clock for what feels like one minute and then the next noticing that several have already passed.

The hours between when I woke up and the gala is fast approaching. The sun had been high in the sky, streaming in through her windows and now the sun is setting, an orange glow of the sunset tinting everything.

“How long will it take you to get ready? How long will it take you to get there?” Avery is full of questions. One after another rolls out of her mouth.

“Not too long.” I had gotten a text from Gretchen about it and actual invitations had been delivered to the shop while I was hard at work on the crystals a couple of days ago. I had only briefly glanced at them before never turning an eye to them again.

Maybe I needed to take one? Maybe I won’t be able to enter the gala without the invite? If only.

Prolonging as much time as I possibly can, I decide that I should get ready. If I blow it off Gretchen will have my head.

It’s almost as if I’m getting dressed for my own funeral. I unzip the body bag, I mean the dress bag. I put it close to my body ready to step into it only to hold it out at arms length. A deep breath, a heave ho, I muster up what little courage I have and put it on. The weight of all the layers of fabric weigh me down.

I stand in front of Avery’s full length mirror and see a stranger. Who is this girl that’s more vampire than witch? Who is she trying to fool? Herself or someone else?

Avery creeps up behind me, nearly scaring me to the point of passing out as she squeals with joy. “You look amazing.” She says completely oblivious of my terror.

“I can’t wear this.” I look in the mirror once more, the disdain still on my face. It was one thing wearing it for Gabriel, another thing to wear to rub it in his face, but it’s a whole other thing to actually go through with it.

Avery dashes out of the room, I can hear her rummage through several drawers talking to herself. There’s a mischievous smile on her face she returns. “Well, they never said that it had to be the same exact dress.” She snaps a pair of scissors in the air, a crazed look on her face.

Alterations. I guess it could work.

Avery always had an eye for fashion and just because she’s an intern for one of the biggest fashionista around doesn’t mean she can’t steal the spotlight once in a while. A part of me loved the idea of cutting up the dress, while another part thought that it would never be cut up enough.

“Chop it up.” I say as I close my eyes and let her do with it as she sees fit. A big slice of me hopes that she botches it up and the dress becomes totally ruined, but Avery is quite talented and has never messed up on her masterpieces.

It doesn’t take long for her to chop most of the length off making the dress lighter. My legs break out in goosebumps from being exposed to the cool air in the room. The front of the dress is now short, really short and the back remains long. As long as my ass is covered, I’ll more than grateful.

Pleased with herself she stands to her feet, a smile on her face. She opens her mouth just about to speak, but she snaps it shut and rushes about the room digging through drawers once again. “Put these on.” Something flies in my face.

“Seriou-”

“Shush. Now.” She demands.

With my head to floor, I do as I’m told. I put on the black sheer nylons and the heels that soon follow. “I’m not su-”

“You are going to knock ‘em dead.”

“Most of them are already dead.”

“Even better.” She cheers, clearly having more fun with all this than I am.

“Well, you’re always welcome back here when you’re done being social.”

“Thanks, but you have work tomorrow and I’ll be fine at home.” I glance at the clock once more. “I should get going.” The most terrible words I’ve said in a while.

Going. I’d rather go to Hell. But who knows I still might end up going there.

Avery, being completely obsessed with Uber, ordered a ride for me while I was getting ready. Depending on how you look at it, sadly or thankfully, we only have a few minutes before a car pulls into her driveway.

I could sit here all night and divulge demizen secrets to Avery or I could go face them head on. “Duty calls.” I say before giving her a hug of gratitude. I only glance back once to wave before I hop in the back of the car.

The driver makes small talk, all questions about where I’m going and what’s the occasion. The older woman is clearly intrigued by having an unusual passenger. Before I can say some nonsense answer she dives into some story about a different passenger she had in the past.

Her voice and the story fall into the buzz of background noise to the thoughts in my head. With each block of getting closer, my heart rams against my ribcage. One final turn has us on the street of the gala. Cars line each side of the road. The driver immediately intrigued.

I wasn’t sure she’d be able to find the place, but maybe a lot of other guests had human drivers bring them and they dropped some of the wards. Every opportunity I’ve had so far hasn’t gone wrong, everything regrettably is going right. So right, that it’s only been ten minutes of being in the car before being dropped off at the door.

The woman twists around to look at me. “Here’s my card,” she hands me a business card. “Just call when you’re ready to be picked up.”

I don’t grab the small piece of paper right away. “Oh, I can find another-”

“Just in case.” She gives me a genuine smile and continues to hold out the card until I take. “Have fun.”

That’s my cue to leave. I slip the card into my purse before opening the door. “I don’t think having fun is on the agenda.” I say before quickly exiting the car. I don’t give her a chance to reply before slamming the door shut.

I stand outside the ritzy looking hotel building. To the human population it isn’t quite open for customers yet, just business conventions or private parties. Humans can be so stupid and beileve anything they’re told sometimes.

Demizens flood in and out of the doors. Some just arriving, some getting air and some leaving by force. I approach the doors with caution. Why am I nervous? I can only wish to be turned away. But being turned away isn’t going to happen, because a friendly familiar face guards the door.

“Icky?” I say on an exhale of breath.

“Hazel, you look amazing tonight.”

“I for sure thought you would be here with Gretchen.”

“Well, work is first, but she promised me a dance later.” A sweet, shy smile reaches his face and his cheeks blush just slightest.

“Any chance you’ll throw me out? I could pay you.” I tease.

“Wouldn’t dream of it. Plus, Gretchen would kill the both of us.”

“Thought I’d try.” I give him a nod before taking a step forward.

His deep voice slows my pace. “She’s looking for you by the way.”

“Wish me luck.” I say under my breath as I step inside.

The gala. The place to be. Or not.

A beautiful building showcases the luxurious side of demizens and they’re wealth, their glory. What you don’t see at first are the lurking wolves, thirsty vampires and conniving demons. The only ones that look the least threatening are the witches, but sometimes looks can be deceiving.