(written by Michelle) Jess stared at herself in the mirror, the black dress she had on was a little too snug for her tastes. In fact, she didn't even know why she was wearing a dress, this was the first time she had worn a dress in like 20 years. Brushing her hair behind her ears, she went to go check on how Jade was fairing with the even snugger red dress. "Jade," Jess knocked, "Can I come in?" "Don't say I didn't warn you!!" was Jade's reply from behind the door. Jess stepped into her room and right onto a pile of clothes that Jade had been throwing around.
"What is going on in here, young lady?" Jess squeaked. "For one, you sound like my mother so stop it this instant, and two, I can't find my red shoes, have you seen them?" Jade said, tossing more dirty clothes out of her closet and onto Jess. "Will you stop for a second?" Jess asked, twirling one of the red shoes on her finger. "Where did you find it," Jade asked, strapping it to her right foot. "Beneath the pile of clothes I'm standing on. Honestly Jade, how do people not get lost in here. You think Kevin would have a heart attack, the neat freak he is." Jade stopped digging and stared at her best friend, she had said Kevin's name, Jade felt her heart skip several beats. "Oh please, don't tell me your heart is skipping beats. You're pathetic Jade," Jess said, reading the look in her friend's eye. "Pathetically in love," Jade said, holding the left shoe high above her head and dancing around lopsided.
After fastening her left shoe and taking a quick look in the mirror at herself, Jade looked to see how beautiful Jess had done herself up to be, unfortunately what she got was an unmake-uped, un-hair-done Jess. Sighing quite loudly and throwing Jess dirty looks, she grabbed her hand and threw her into the nearest chair. "You cannot go out looking like this in that dress," Jade said taking out her make-up bag and extremely large curling iron. "What's wrong with the way I look?" Jess asked, taking offense to Jade's remarks. "Jessie-pooh, if you want to stay and dance all night then be my guest and go out like this, but if you want to come back early, and I think you know what I mean, then sit back and relax cause I have about 5 minutes do work a miracle."
Jess closed her eyes, it was no use to argue with Jade over such matters, so she prayed that she wouldn't look like a street worker when Jade finished. A short time into this little session of Jade's the doorbell rang, followed by various shouts from the guys as two sets of feet pounded up the stairs. Jade got to the door just in time to block Kevin from ruining her surprise. "Not yet Kev, we're almost finished. Grab Brian and we'll be downstairs in one second," Jade shouted through the door. "But I want to see you now, it's been 2 hours, I miss you," Kevin protested. Jess pretended to stick her finger down her throat, all the while wondering if that was what she and Brian sounded like. "Kevin you sound like Nick, now grab your cousin and get downstairs now!!" There was some whispering outside of the hall between the two cousins and then the sounds of heavy feet as they pounded down the stairs.
"Wait till Brian sees you, you'll be lucky if you make it out of the house tonight," Jade said, finishing up with Jess's make-up. "I hope so," Jess said, thinking about the different reactions Brian could have. Jade stepped back from the mirror to allow Jess to look at her new self. Jess blinked a couple of times, no way was that person staring at her in the mirror, well, her. Jade had applied her make-up in a subtle way, you could barely tell she was wearing any, except for the fact that her blue eyes seemed larger and more alert. Jade had brought out all of Jess's best features, her lips looked more fuller, her lashes longer, and the strategically placed glitter made her shine. Her hair was simple but elegant, Jade had curled the top layer of her hair and allowed that to flow over the bottom layers. Jess hugged her best friend, "Thank you Jade, I feel like a princess." "Feel like that later, you have to make your grand entrance." Jade pulled Jess's hand, to the point where it felt like it was going to break, to the staircase.
Jade walked down it to the hoots and hollers of the fellas, and Kevin's glare. "Care to take a lady dancing," Jade whispered seductively into his ear. The look on his face was answer enough as Jade announced Jess, "Ladies... well, Gentlemen, may I present to you... Jessica!!!!" Jade screamed. Jess stood at the top of the stairs, the air draining out of her lungs as she took her first step onto the top step. Brian stood expectantly at the bottom of the stairs waiting for his lady, and when she came into focus he had to grip the banister tighter; she looked radiant. There were no hoots for Jess as she finished her little parade, the tears began to prick at her eyes. I knew no one would like it, what was I thinking? she asked herself.
Brian didn't even offer her his hand like she expected, nothing happened, everyone just stood there, staring. Seeing the sadness in Jess's eyes Jade spoke up, "So what does everyone think of Jessica?" she said, nudging Kevin. "Wow, um, geez, are you sure it's Jess, our Jess?" Jade rolled her eyes, Kevin was not helping the situation at all. "Bone, what do you think?" Jade hoped that AJ could salvage what was left of the evening. "I think," he said, slinking his way toward where Jess stood on the bottom step, "I think I've found heaven right here in O-town," he said, gently kissing her hand. Jade sighed and Jess looked relieved as the other guys, with the exception of Brian, came to life. Howie was next to greet her, then Nick, leaving Brian for last. "You've gone and done it now, Jessica," he said, taking her hand.
"W--what do you mean?" "I'm not going to be able to take my eyes off of you all night, not that I would want to anyways," he said, picking her from the bottom step and twirling her around so that she was level with him, "You look beautiful tonight." "Thank you. I love you Brian." "I love you too, Jessica," he said with a wink. "I think we should get going now," Nick said, opening the door for everyone. "That would be a good idea," Jade said, entertwining her arm with Kevin's outstretched one. "That would be a very good idea," Brian mumbled.
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