A LITTLE GLOSS AND
A MAJOR POP STAR SHOULD DO IT
Friday, 5:47 P.M.
“Would you hold still? You’re gonna look like a linebacker if I don’t get this liquid eyeliner right.” Liv sat back on her heels and inspected my makeup. Palettes of organic shadows, blushes, and glosses littered the floor at the foot of my bed. Liv’s hand and the hem of her ratty I THINK, THEREFORE I AM VEGETARIAN T-shirt were smudged with shimmery swatches.
“Scalp burns aren’t too hot, either. Just sit tight a second,” Nessa said. Crouched behind me in a lavender lace miniskirt and long-sleeved black blouse, she wound a thick handful of my hair around a jumbo hot roller. Then she plucked a hairpin from the hem of her skirt and secured the last of my locks.
“I know, I know. I’m just excited.” And counting the minutes until I can call Channel 5, request Sterling Simon’s presence at Marquette Middle School, and threaten to call Channel 2 if anyone else shows up in her place.
I glanced out my tiny bedroom window. Paige’s townhouse was dark. She’d refused to get ready at my place as long as Molly and the girls were there, but had pinky-sworn to make an appearance at the dance, despite the fact that the rally had rendered her life “hollow and meaningless.”
“What about this one?” Molly popped out of my closet in a body-hugging gray silk number with an asymmetrical hem. I’d bought it for the Channel 5 holiday party last year, but then Ella chugged half a carton of eggnog before we left and the dress never made it out of the house.
“It’s yours, Madame Chairperson. Just make sure to cut the tags off.”
Molly smooched the air and disappeared again.
“Are we done here, fabulous hair-and-makeup team?” I hopped up and tightened the sash on my silky bathrobe.
“Yup,” Nessa and Liv chimed.
“Awesome. Thanks.” On my bedside table, a Lady Gaga dance mix pumped from my iPod dock. The second I reached for the volume button, Molly reappeared in a pair of gladiator-style booties.
“Don’t touch the Gaga,” she warned, waving a satin jewel-toned clutch menacingly. “Never touch the Gaga.”
“Easy, little monster.” I backed off, even though I was dying to hit PAUSE and spill my big secret about Levi Stone. But an announcement like this deserved the ultimate in perfect timing. And with Liv chasing me around with a lip brush all night and Nessa flossing for the fourteenth time, I hadn’t found the right moment yet.
A knock sounded at my bedroom door, and the handle squeaked.
“Moooom!” I knew it was her because she’d always done that: knocked and then waltzed right in. I’d explained over and over that this was as pointless as Ella yelling “EXCUSE ME!” before she bulldozed her way into a conversation.
“Don’t mind me; I just wanted to see you girls all dressed up.” Mom leaned against the doorjamb, wearing an ivory V-neck sweater, dark-wash skinny jeans, and espresso equestrian boots. Ella wriggled past her in purple flippers and a sundress with—
Stop. Rewind. Play.
My mother. Was wearing. Skinny jeans.
“Ow ow!” Molly turned from the full-length mirror behind my closet door and gave her butt a little shake. “You look hot, Mrs. Simon! Hey, Ellie Bellie.”
“Ow ow!” Ella wriggled her butt, too. “Hey.”
“You think they look okay?” Mom tried to hide her smile. And failed. “You don’t think they make me look too—”
“Young?” I offered. “Like you’re trying too hard?”
“Lemme see!” Liv leapt out of my closet in a burnt-orange backless halter dress. The silk grazed my arm as she rushed to hug Mom. “No way. I think you look amazing.”
“Agreed.” Nessa paused in her meticulous pomade-to-pixie application long enough to admire my mother. “Total ten. Eleven, even.”
“Well, you girls made my night. I just got them. I have a little… engagement tonight.”
“Wooooo-hooooo!” My friends whistled.
“Get it, girl.” Nessa grinned.
“Nessa! Ew.” I rolled my eyes. It was weird seeing Mom look so… young. But the longer I watched her, the more I wondered if the jeans really had anything to do with it. Maybe it was the natural flush to her cheeks or the sparkle in her green eyes. I was used to seeing her after a long day at the studio: crow’s feet, dark circles, and tired smile beneath layers of makeup.
“You guys look a lot alike tonight,” Nessa observed, glancing between me and my mom. “All happy.”
“Me, too! Me, too!” Ella waved her hand frantically.
“You, too,” Liv said gently, tousling Ella’s curls.
“I’ll take that as the highest of compliments.” Mom pulled Ella and me in for a quick squeeze. “Now I’ve got to finish getting ready.” She kissed me on the forehead. “Have fun tonight, baby.”
“Yeah. You, too,” I muttered as the door closed again. With my next breath, I inhaled a cloud of Mom’s gardenia perfume and swallowed hard. Was breaking up Mom and Gabe a huge mistake? I wanted my mother to be happy. I wanted her to have flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes and even skinny jeans, as long as she didn’t steal mine. But couldn’t she have all those things with Ella and me? Weren’t we enough?
“Kacey. Is she not the cutest?” Molly was saying. She whipped her hair into a high ponytail, then let it fall and started over.
“Who?”
“Your mom, duh. I wish I could find a guy who’d take me out on dates like that.”
“Ummm…” I shook my head, trying to rid it of Mom and Gabe. “Don’t you already have that? What about… Detroit?”
“Phoenix.”
“Right. Phoenix,” I said as I slid the bronze sequined racer-back mini Paige and I had picked out at Nordstrom Rack from its hanger. Then I slipped the dress over my head and sat at my vanity, unwinding the rollers from my hair.
Molly’s reflection seemed to shrink in the corner of the mirror. “We kind of… aren’t together anymore.”
“Wait. What?” I ditched the rollers and jumped up. “Are you serious? What happened?”
“I don’t know, really.” Mols dropped to the edge of my bed. “He just sort of stopped FaceTimeing me and stuff, so a few days ago I texted and asked him what was up, and he texted back that he was looking for somebody who was more mature.”
“No way! I can’t believe that guy!” Nessa whacked my duvet with an open palm. “And by the way, mature is code for old. Mommy issues.”
“Oh, Mols.” I knelt in front of her. “I—boys suck,” I proclaimed. “He’s a loser.”
Liv rubbed Molly’s back in wide circles, like Mom always did mine when I was sick. “He’s so not worth it, sweetie.”
“But how can he not like me? Guys always like me.” She looked genuinely bewildered. “It’s my thing.”
I brushed her white-blond layers away from her eyes. “It’s not your only thing. What about your party-planning thing?”
“I guess.”
“You’re right, though.” I sighed semi-dramatically, realizing instantly what would make her feel better. “When you’re in the room, it’s like guys don’t notice any other girl. Like tonight. Eeeevery girl’s gonna want to talk to Levi Stone, and he probably won’t notice any of us once you hit the dance floor.” I let my shoulders slump.
“I know, but—” Molly blinked. “Huh?”
“Levi Stone,” I said casually. “Did I not—did I forget to mention?”
“Kace. Are you okay?” Liv squinted at me like she was staring through a foggy set of contacts.
“I’m fine,” I insisted. “But I’ll be better once we get to school. To see Levi Stone. Who just agreed to play a song at the dance in exchange for an interview with my mother.”
It was partly true. The part about Levi Stone playing a song was, at least.
We sat in silence for a full eight beats, while the girls studied me like we were back at Shedd and I was some exotic species of flying dolphin.
“Oh. My. God. I think she’s serious!” Nessa whispered. “Levi Stone!”
“Ahhhhhhhhh!” The girls scooped me into a giant hug, hooking their arms around my neck and squeezing. The scent of vanilla, amber, and brown sugar body lotions overwhelmed me.
“How did you—I don’t even—how is this possible?” Molly screeched into my neck. “This is gonna be the best dance ever! And I’m the party planner! I mean, I’ll give you credit and everything, but still!”
“I have to redo my hair,” Nessa decided.
“No time,” I argued. “You guys have to finish setting up, and I’m late for sound check.” I tugged at the hem of my dress. “Oh. And you can’t tell anyone. It has to be a surprise when he shows. Swear?”
“But—” Molly looked like she was about to pee right there on my bed.
“SWEAR.”
“Okaaaay.”
“Good.” Reaching for my bedside table, I plucked a sparkly guitar-shaped statement ring from my ring dish and slipped into a pair of sky-high black calf-hair heels. Then one last mirror check. My waves were huge, adding a sixties mod vibe to my sequined dress. For my makeup, Liv had gone with a rich, brown smoky eye, peach blush, and a hint of icy pink gloss on my lips. Everything was perfect. The only thing missing was Zander.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” I sang. “It’s time, baby!”
“Wait! Wait.” Liv crouched next to her makeup bag and pulled out three slender green glass rings. “My grandpa helped me make them from these old natural soda bottles we found in the garage.”
“Love!” I slid mine on my middle finger. It fit perfectly.
“Good. Now, it’s picture time.” Liv dragged us to my photo booth, and we crammed inside. Molly collapsed on my lap.
“Ow! Mols! You’re bending my sequins!” I smacked her thigh.
“Everybody say ‘Leeeeviiiiiiii!’ ” Liv instructed.
We held out our hands to the camera like we were flashing serious bling.
“Leeeeeeeviiiiiiiiiii!” The flashbulb exploded in a burst of gold, like fireworks signaling the beginning of a perfect night.