After the initial oohs and ahs over the size of the mansion, we all got settled up in my room and proceeded to try on every dress that we could. Mo brought us treats — chocolate chip cookies and mini cherry pies — and stayed a while. I know she was happy to chat with the girls and get all the dirt on St. Mary’s, a place she hates as well. And then she stayed all through our hair and makeup and last-minute prep before Reed came to get us.
I’d like to point out though that the only reason he did and not Conrad — which apparently was a point of heavy discussion also — is because he has an SUV. He recently bought it for Halo, and so it was the only vehicle that could accommodate six decked-out girls.
And again I’d like to point out that out of all six girls, according to Reed, Callie was the best dressed in an ice blue flowing chiffon dress with lacy cap sleeves. He stared at her for about a minute — we all counted — when she first walked out of the door.
Then we got to the bar, where Conrad was waiting for all of us to arrive. And let the record show that he stared at his Wyn for about a minute and a half; we all counted again. She’s dressed up in my personal favorite: a shiny silver A-line strapless dress with sequins. Which I think is now Conrad’s favorite too.
Oh, before I forget, Ledger — who is only here for reinforcement; yeah, totally believable — stared at Tempest for about the same amount of time as Conrad stared at Wyn. Only he did it from the corner of his eye and with a very harsh and ticking jaw.
Not sure about the presence of his ticking jaw but I think it could be because of her very tight blue dress, and also because she made it a point not to look at him at all.
I noticed, yup.
Anyway as I said, as fun as everything was, there have been some hiccups.
Hiccup number one: Well, this is more of a weird thing than a hiccup.
And it has to do with Jupiter.
As soon as she saw Conrad, she first couldn’t talk when all the introductions were made, and then couldn’t stop shaking his hand when he made the mistake of offering it to her. She did the same with Ledger, who gave her a weird but distracted look.
As weird as all that was, the weirder thing was that she didn’t even touch Shepard.
When his name came up, she simply nodded and backed away. Not that Shepard took notice. He was — still is — busy on his phone, so he didn’t bother to give Jupiter more than a passing glance.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Ledger asked Shepard.
Shepard looked up from his phone. “What?”
Ledger swatted him on the back of his head. “Where are your manners, asshole?” He tipped his head to where Jupiter was standing. “She’s saying hello.”
Shepard clenched his jaw but let Ledger’s swat go before turning to Jupiter and issuing a distracted greeting. “Hey.”
“Hi,” she said, blushing.
And I think I’m going to ask her about it.
I’m going to ask Jupiter what her deal is. With Callie — remember the time she hug-attacked Callie, back at the Ballad of the Bards? — and the rest of her brothers. Because outside of her strange over-enthusiastic meetings with the Thornes and even stranger blush-filled hi to Shepard, she’s a pretty chill gal. So there has to be a reason for this.
Now, hiccup number two: This one’s slightly more serious and it has to do with Echo.
Because of whom we’re here.
And who, according to me and the rest of the girls, is actually the best dressed.
I designed it that way.
She was going to see her ex-boyfriend for the first time in ages, she had to look her prettiest.
In a midnight blue suede dress, she looks like this bombshell temptress who has a penchant for strapless corset style bodices with a slit on the side. And her high, strappy heels prove that she likes to have a good time. Pair that with smoky eye makeup and big curls, and this Lucas guy does not have a chance at all.
He’s going to cry us a river when he sees her.
Which he doesn’t. Not right away.
Because as soon as we get to a little nook that Callie’s brothers have picked out for us to sit and hang out, she runs away. She hides herself behind a big pillar, staring at something fearfully. Leaving all my girls, who look concerned, I go to her and ask her what’s up.
“He’s here,” she tells me.
“Who? Lucas?” I clap my hands, turning to look in the direction she is. “Which one is he?”