Wasted Words by Staci Hart

I opened the door, even less amused than the time before.

Rose laughed. “You look like those memes where people dress pugs in costumes.”

“I feel that level of shame. Right here.” I motioned to my heart. “And here.” I motioned to my butt.

Lily sighed. “That color just won’t work.”

“I look like I’m just wearing pantyhose over my entire body.”

Rose snorted, and Lily rolled her eyes again. “It’s not that bad.”

I turned around to look in the mirror. “I dunno, it’s pretty freaking bad, dude.”

“Ooooh,” Lily said and stepped in behind me. “The back of this is gorgeous. Look at this, Rose.”

She stepped in and nodded. “Really pretty. But she still looks like a flesh popsicle.”

“Or a meat tube.”

Rose wrinkled her nose and laughed. “Ew.”

“Next,” Lily said with a wave of her hand, and they left me alone with the cocktail dress nightmare I’d found myself in.

Every one of them had been wrong. Too poofy. Too naked. Too long, which happened a lot since I had the frame of a leprechaun. Some of the sleeveless ones were pretty, but with my luck and lack of girl skills, I was likely to lose a boob out of the top. Plus, if I took any selfies, I’d look naked. And if I was putting on mascara and eyeliner, I was taking a goddamn selfie.

It was one of the last dresses to try on, and I tried not to think about what would happen if I didn’t find one. Maybe I’d just back out. I could always claim my period. Or diarrhea. No one questions diarrhea, they just smile and look uncomfortable and tell you they hope you feel well soon before sending you on your way and washing their hands.

I stepped into the black dress with my expectations in the can, fully prepared for another epic failure, but when I slipped my arms in and looked in the mirror, I drew in a breath. It fit me almost perfectly — the neckline was high with cap sleeves, but from the neck to the sweetheart bodice, the fabric was sheer, gathered ever so slightly at the hem at the neck. The waist was fitted, but the skirt flowed away from hips without being too full or poofy.

I felt prettier than I’d maybe ever felt in my life. The dress transformed me, accentuated my small waist, the swing of the skirt hitting me mid-thigh, the angle from my bust down steep enough that I looked curvy.

“Cam? You okay?”

“I think this is it, guys,” I said as I opened the door.

Lily gasped, and Rose’s eyes were wide as they looked me up and down.

I stood there, waiting in the silence with sweaty palms with my eyes darting between them. “What? Is it bad?”

Rose shook her head. “No, Cam. This is very, very good.”

Lily motioned for me to come out to see in the big mirror. “God, look at your waist in this.”

I inspected my reflection. “Will you do me up in the back?”

Rose laughed and stepped behind me. “That’s what she said.” I felt her fingers against my back as she buttoned it up. “This is so pretty, Cam.”

“How the hell am I going to get in and out of it by myself?”

“You’re not,” Rose said. “But lucky for you, you have Tyler to do it for you. I’m sure he won’t mind,” she said with a smirk as she stepped back to look into the mirror. “Yeah, that’s it, all right.”

Buttoned up, it was even prettier. I laid my palm on my stomach, finding it a little hard to believe that the girl in the mirror was me. “This is insane. Why haven’t I ever done this before? I didn’t know I could look like … this.”

Lily laughed. “Just wait until you’ve got heels and makeup on.”

“It’s so dumb. I mean, it’s just an article of clothing, but I feel transformed,” I said in wonder. And then terror washed over me at the thought of fixing my own hair and walking in heels through a banquet hall with Tyler. I swallowed hard. “How am I going to do this? I don’t think I can do this.”

Rose cupped my shoulders. “You can do this. You’re a fantastic ladybeast, and you can do anything.”

Lily smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. We’ll show you how to do your makeup super easy. You don’t need much. Your skin is amazing, your eyes are gigantic, and you have the thickest, longest lashes I’ve ever seen. It’s no wonder you don’t wear makeup. You don’t need it. But it’s nice when you’re dressed up, so you look together.”

“I very seriously doubt that I will ever look together.”

But she chuckled. “Trust me. You will. Now, get dressed and let’s hit the shoe department.”

I sighed. “Thank you for teaching me how to girl.”

“You already know how to girl. This is how you lady,” Rose said with a curtsy, and we laughed.

The rest of the evening was a whirl. First were shoes — black velvet pumps with a platform, which was supposed to help me walk easier, though I still thought I walked funny in them. Then we found a dainty gold bracelet and earrings that were two long slender bars connected by a chain, so one bar hung in front of my earlobe and the other in back. And then was the makeup counter.

I was told to keep it simple. The makeup I had was old enough that I couldn’t even remember when I got it, so I ended up with blush, mascara, liquid eyeliner, and a nude eyeshadow palette — which Lily gave me a quick rundown on and made it seem absolutely simple. The last thing was a red lip crayon called Bloody Valentine, which Rose assured me was her absolute favorite, and her lips always looked amazing, so I took her word on merit alone.