“Perry, it was Perry. Jesus, El, I wouldn’t screw a Percy, who do you think I am?”
“Desperate is what you are.”
“I’m sorry,” Letty says softly. “I don’t know why I thought this was a good idea.”
“It’s perfect,” I assure her, my eyes not leaving Ella and Violet. “They’re a good distraction.”
“They were warned not to mention his name,” Peyton mutters. “Glad they listened.”
“I’m going to have to get used to it. It’s kind of like a rite of passage to regret your first, right?”
They both stare at me with sympathy written all over their faces making me think that I’m wrong.
“Everything will work out,” Peyton assures me.
“N-no, I don’t think there’s a future for—”
“Like I said, things will work out.”
I want to argue with her and insist that everything between Leon and I is over, but even thinking about the words makes my chest ache.
I hate him for what he did. But I also understand his motivation.
My head spins with the whole thing.
“Drinks,” Ella calls, holding up a neon bottle of something I already know is going to ruin my Sunday.
“Just a small one,” Letty says with a wink.
“Oh yeah, I know exactly what your small ones are like.”
She snorts a laugh. “I don’t do small things.” She winks and my cheeks burn, the image of her and Kane that first night I met them flashing before my eyes. “I know you don’t either,” she whispers quietly in my ear, making my entire face heat.
“Okay, pass it over,” I say, knowing that I’m going to need it.
I don’t think anything of it and throw the bright green drink back in one, regretting it instantly.
“What the hell is that?” I mutter as my mouth continues to water with the sour taste while my throat burns with the strength of the alcohol.
“Sour apple. We’ve got raspberry, too,” Violet says happily, holding up a bright pink bottle.
“This is going to hurt tomorrow.”
Three hours, more drinks than I can count, and a face mask that has been on way too long and I’ve got my arms above my head dancing around my dorm room with Ella and Violet who are singing Taylor Swift at the top of their lungs.
“I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun,” I shout, my head spinning, the wide smile on my face making my cheeks ache as my hips move with the music.
“It was time for you to let your hair down,” Letty says excitedly, coming up to dance with me.
“We should go dancing. Like, dancing, dancing,” Violet suggests.
“We’re having a night in, remember,” Letty says, the only one that seems to have kept her head tonight.
“No, let’s go dancing,” I say, forgetting about everything other than how good this feels right now.
“Are you sure?” Letty asks.
“I’m finding us a party,” Ella announces, grabbing her cell from the side and immediately focusing on it, or at least trying to. I can’t imagine she’s seeing things all that straight right now.
“I need to get changed,” I blurt out, knowing that my pajamas aren’t going to cut it for wherever we’re going to end up.
“Let’s find you something sexy,” Violet says, dramatically pulling open my closet and rummaging through it.
“Ugh, Macie. You need to go shopping, girl.”
“I’ve got something. I brought spares,” Ella shouts, throwing her cell on my bed and diving for one of the bags she brought with her. “Here,” she says, throwing a scrap of fabric at me.
“What the hell is this?” My face scrunches up as I wrestle with the material, trying to figure out which way up it even goes.
“It’s a dress. Come on,” she says, stepping up to me. “Off.”
“B-but I don’t—” I don’t get a chance to argue because she has my top off in a heartbeat ensuring I flash them all my bare breasts.
My arms fly to cover myself up.
“Chill, girl. We’ve all seen a pair before. Here.” She tugs the fabric over my head and down over my exposed body. “Shorts off. Sexy panties on,” she demands, swatting me on the ass before turning back toward her bag for another almost nonexistent dress.
In only a little over an hour, all four of us have managed epic transformations.
Gone are the caked on face masks and in their place is flawless makeup provided by Ella and expertly styled hair courtesy of Violet.
I stand in front of my mirror with another drink in my hand and stare at the woman looking back at me.
“Hot, right?” Ella asks, coming to stand beside me.
She’s gorgeous, petite, yet curvy. A classical beauty. I bet she has men following her everywhere.
“I… uh…”
“Any man would be lucky to get anywhere near you, Macie. Start embracing the fact you’re a sexy woman with curves women around the world would die for.”
“Are we ready?” Violet asks.
Looking over my shoulder, I find she’s wearing a short skirt and crop top which shows more skin than I think I’d ever be able to, unless I was on the beach, but she looks stunning.
“Yes,” Letty agrees.
“Good, I’ve got us a ride. Come on girls, it’s time to show MKU how it’s done.”
My stomach knots as the sudden realization that this might have been a bad idea rolls through me.
Letty must sense my hesitation because as the other two grab their purses and head out of the door, she lingers back, catching my hand in hers.
“You’re allowed to enjoy yourself, Macie. The past is in the past. You don’t need to hide from him, from anyone.”
Her dark eyes hold mine as emotion clogs my throat.
“I…” I swallow, not entirely sure what it is I want to say. “I think I’ve spent all my life hiding,” I confess.
“Well then, it’s time to break free of your cocoon, Macie. It’s time to own the beautiful butterfly you’ve become.”
My hands tremble at the thought of embarking on a life everyone else around campus sees as normal.
“El,” she calls, startling me.
“Yo, bitch, what’s up?” she shouts back from down the hall, her voice slurred.
“Whose party are we going to?”
“Basketball,” is all that comes back and knowing that Nate, Jace and Charlie will be there settles something inside me.
Yeah, they’ll probably be pissed that I turned them down, yet I’m willing to turn up with the girls, but I know they’ll understand, and look out for me.
“Okay,” I say, throwing my shoulders back in the hope I both feel and look a little more confident. “Let’s do this.”
Linking her arm through mine, Letty leads me from my room and then the dorm.
There’s a car waiting out in the parking lot with music booming from the windows. Violet immediately heads toward the driver’s side, sticks her ass out, ensuring her skirt rises just that little bit too high to be out in public as she threads her hand around the back of the guy's neck and slams her lips down on his.