Zara was staring at me from across our lunch table, her eyes almost twitching as she smiled at me intently. I continued munching on some fries as I gave her a disturbed look.

"Are you conjuring up a plan to murder me?" I asked, half serious. Zara's expression didn't waver. If anything, her creepy smile intensified.

"We're going shopping!" She squealed.

"No." I argued.

"Yes."

"Nope."

"PLEASE ALANA!" Zara begged.

I simply shook my head and turned my attention back towards my delicious lunch that I'd been thinking about throughout the entirety of math.

When she realised I wasn't going to reply she said, "Fine. Have fun wearing the same jeans you always wear and some old top with your mom's jewellery! Oh and forget your makeup because I'm not going to be there to help you." She slammed her hand down on the table dramatically and flipped her blonde pony tail as she stood up.

I knew my best too well to know it was all an act, but I knew how much she was looking forward to tonight so I decided to give in.

"I'll go." I sighed, raising an eyebrow as I watched her face transform into a beaming smile.

"For real?" Zara quickly sat back down and took both my hands.

I nodded.

"Yes! I'm going to make you look so hot." She squealed again and started rambling on about making sure my eyeshadow matches the colour of my outfit and something about being lucky that my skins naturally olive. I pretended to listen while I stuffed my face with food.

• • •

A few hours and a hundred dollars later, Zara led me out of the mall to her car with a satisfied smirk on her face.

I'm not even sure why I came because Zara ended up choosing my outfit which she insisted I was not under any circumstances allowed to see until we got home. She held onto the tissue paper filled bag like it was the last Golden Ticket. I groaned and collapsed into her car, exhausted after walking into so many dead end shops.

"Can I please just-"

"No. Be patient." Zara cut me off, knowing exactly what I was about to say.

"What if I don't-" I tried.

"You'll love it." She assured me.

I slumped against the car seat as Zara drove towards my house. I wondered if I had enough time to take a quick nap before we left for Reece's party. Probably not. I quietly laughed at myself, trust me to be thinking about naps when everyone else is peeing their pants with excitement for one of the biggest parties of the year.

"DON'T SCRUNCH YOUR EYE!" Zara yelled in my face while I tried not to squirm from the uncomfortable feeling of her liquid eyeliner.

After what seemed like years, Zara finally finished my makeup. "Okay open your eyes!" She exclaimed.

I opened my eyes nervously, praying to God Zara hadn't made me look like a prostitute. I saw my mouth drop in the reflection when I took in my appearance.

"Wow." I said quietly as I lifted my hand up to my face.

"I know right! You are such a hottie. Thanks to me of course, otherwise you'd still be a 4/10, maybe a 6 with the snapchat dog filter." I rolled my eyes, and shoved my bestfriend.

"Bitch." I joked.

"Only kidding, you'd still look sexy as even if you rocked up to the party in sweat pants and bedhair." Zara said proudly, and I smiled at her strange compliment.

"Speaking of hair! What are we going to do about this?" Zara grimaced as she picked up a strand of my hair with the tips of two fingers as if it were the tail of a dead rat.

"Don't worry, I've got it. You get yourself ready! Or we'll be late." I quickly said, getting up from my vanity table and walking into my bathroom. I couldn't help but stare at myself in the mirror as I worked the brush through my knotted hair. I felt a burst of confidence rush through me, something which I had lacked for so long.

I straightened my brown hair until I was satisfied that it was pin straight. I exited the bathroom to see Zara, now with a full face of makeup, sitting on my bed with the bag that my outfit was inside on her lap. She smiled at me eagerly.

"Are you ready to see what's inside?" She asked. I think she was more excited than me.

"Well yeah, no shit." I answered, tired of waiting.

Zara's face scrunched up as she sighed and handed me the bag, obviously realising that I wasn't going to wait any longer. I snatched the bag and dunk my hand inside to reveal a package wrapped in white tissue paper. I quickly unveiled it to see a red velvet material, which at the touch of my hands unfolded perfectly. It was gorgeous. It was a spaghetti strap dress which had a scoop neck that wasn't too low, and it looked like it would have been just under mid thigh. I could feel myself smiling.

"You like it?" Zarah asked, swinging her legs back and forth like a child.

"I love it!" I honestly replied.

I quickly changed into the dress, loving the way the soft fabric moulded to my hips but was still loose where it needed to be. I finished the look with simple black strap heels, and clipped a silver pendant necklace around my neck.

Zara's face lit up when she saw me in my complete outfit. "Just how I imagined! Stunning!" She embraced me in a quick hug.

"Crap, we should go!" She added when she checked the time on her phone. With that, we headed downstairs and out the door.

__________________________

A.N-

It's 1am and I'm so excited to write the next chapter but I'm falling asleep.

I know the story line seems pretty boring at the moment but please bare with me! It's about to take a big turn.

Almost at 50 views! woo!