Face the Music by Melody Carlson Read Free Book Online Page B

defense.
    “I wanted to see you wearing something a little more feminine for a change,” said Beanie. “Your Doc Martens are fine and everything, but I thought it’d be fun to see you really looking like a girly girl.”
    Naturally, Laura and Allie got a good laugh over this since they both think I’m not terribly in touch with my feminine side. Which I happen to think is a bunch of bunk. I mean, just because you don’t wear lace and frills doesn’t mean you’re not feminine. Right?
    But what can you do when you’re outnumbered—four to one in this case since Caitlin had comealong to see our little dress rehearsal? And God bless Caitlin because she said, “Chloe is very feminine. Who else can dress like she does and still look that pretty?” Okay, “pretty” probably isn’t the look I’m usually going for, but it was better than nothing.
    Now let me describe our outfits in the order that Beanie presented them to us. First was Allie’s, a pretty little chiffon number in a soft shade of aqua blue that really brought out her blue eyes. But instead of being all fluffy and poofy, it was more sleek and sophisticated.
    “I feel like a real movie star.” Allie twirled around in it, pointing the toe of a satin dyed-to-match strappy shoe. “Very sexy.”
    “Yeah,” said Laura. “Reminds me of Marilyn Monroe.”
    “Wait ’til you see the rhinestones I have to go with it.” Beanie dug through a bag to produce a necklace, earrings, and bracelet that looked surprisingly like the real thing—diamonds.
    “You should let me help you with your hair,” offered Caitlin. “You’ll want to wear it up.”
    “Cool.” Allie grinned as she scooped her blood waves into a makeshift do and strutted around my bedroom. But then she started singing “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” until we finally had to shut her up.
    Next came Laura. It figured that Beanie was making me (queen of the heel draggers) wait until last. Laura’s outfit, in my opinion, was even more stunning than Allie’s. It was this amazing shade of orangeish coral, but in an iridescent satin that just seemed to shimmer with all kinds of hidden colors, and believe me, it looked totally amazing against Laura’s beautiful bronze-colored skin. The dress wasn’t as soft looking as Allie’s. In fact, as I search for the right word to describe it, I think I would call it smoldering . I could imagine Laura in a smoky nightclub crooning out the blues. Okay, I realize Laura would never do that—I’m simply being dramatic. And the satin shoes to go with it were absolutely gorgeous, sleek and simple, yet very elegant.
    “Ooh,” Laura said as she checked herself out in the mirror. “This is nice. Very nice.”
    “Poor Ryan,” said Allie. “He’s going to fall over dead when he sees you looking so hot.”
    Laura laughed. “Good. Then at least he’ll have something to remember me by.”
    Naturally, we were all curious as to what this meant, but Laura quickly set us straight.
    “I’ve decided that going to the prom with Ryan is going to be just a one-date thing,” she explained as Beanie helped her with the necklace clasp (a beautiful string of oversize faux black pearls and earrings to match).
    Laura turned to me. “Can we tell them about our pact?”
    “Fine with me,” I said and Allie nodded. And then the three of us attempted to explain our commitment. It came out in something of a jumble, but Caitlin and Beanie seemed to get it.
    And Caitlin—no surprise here—thought it was a very wise plan. “Take it from me, you’ll all save yourself a whole lot of trouble,” she said. “And I know that God will honor you for it. Just wait and see.”
    Beanie nodded, mumbling with pins in her mouth as she took in the back of Laura’s dress. “She’s right, you know. I should’ve listened to Caitlin when I was your age.”
    Finally, it was my turn. And Beanie’s psychology was working on me. I couldn’t wait. By now I figured that even if she