"That dress looks so ugly on you," Maria said flatly.
I huffed in frustration. Every single outfit I had tried on looked ugly to her. She didn't even give me a chance to defend myself before shoving another hanger in my face.
"Try this," she said, holding up a skimpy red dress that looked more like a piece of fabric than clothing. It wasn't my style at all; the neckline plunged too low, and the hemline looked like it would ride up with the slightest movement. But I was too tired to argue. I just wanted to get the party over with.
Maria unzipped the back, and I stepped in. She tugged the zipper up and spun me toward the mirror. My reflection stared back at me barely dressed, too much skin exposed.
"It looks gorgeous," she said, satisfied. "Now wear those heels I brought and hurry up, we're late."
I slipped into the towering heels, wobbling slightly, and reached for my bag.
"Can we go now, please?" I asked, glancing at Maria, who was still bent over her makeup bag despite being the one who claimed we were running late.
"Calm down," she snapped, carefully applying more lipstick. "I need to touch up. I have to look extra pretty tonight. Elena told me at lunch break that Lucas and his hot friends are going to be at the party." Her eyes sparkled as she giggled, then she grabbed two padded inserts and tucked them into her bra, cupping her breasts until they sat higher. "There. Perfect."
She turned to me, striking a pose. "Okay, done. How do I look?"
"As pretty as always," I replied with a smile that felt forced.
I stood again, but the heels betrayed me. My ankle wobbled, and I nearly toppled over. Sighing, I sat back down.
"I think I should change the heels. They're too uncomfortable," I said.
Maria rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't be such a nerd. You'll get used to it. And take off those silly glasses while you're at it. They make you look like a total dork."
I knew I should have defended myself, told her that my glasses weren't silly and that I didn't care what she thought. But speaking my mind was something I had never been good at. Instead, I just sighed and let her loop her arm through mine when we headed out.
The night air hit us the moment we stepped outside. Rain poured steadily, tapping against the pavement, soaking the world in silver. My stomach twisted. Why didn't I just stay home? Maria whistled for a cab, and we slid inside, water dripping from our clothes.
The ride was quiet, except for the drumming of the rain against the roof. My heart pounded in my chest. Maybe it was the lateness of the hour, or the fact that it was my first real party. Maybe it was the way the rain made everything feel heavy. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.