The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller(36)

Glancing back at her, I give her a shy smile before looking back down and removing the lid. Sitting right on top is a simple cream-colored bra with matching lace lining the edges. I hold it up by the straps, eyeing its beauty. I’ve never had anything so…feminine.
“What about the straps?” I inquire, still in awe that my friend was able to get my sizing correct without asking me. Which most likely means she raided my boring array of white cotton everything.
“You can take them off, dope. Look.”
She takes the bra from my hand and removes the straps, before confirming my suspicions when she strides over to my undie drawer and drops them in. I narrow my eyes in her direction, then lower my stare to the box on my lap. Coordinating panties lie on top of the white tissue paper, and when I pull them out, I’m surprised to find there’s no back to them. Just a half-inch wide piece of fabric.
My eyebrow rises when she giggles. “Time to try something new, Aubrey. They’re more comfortable than you think. You get used to them,” she adds, grabbing the champagne off the table and handing it to me before stepping toward my doorway.
“Put them both on under the dress. Then step into the dress.” Her laughter is unconcealed. “Pull it over your hips, and then call me when you’re ready. I’ll zip ya in.”
She blows me a kiss and disappears before I even have time to thank her.
I sit in silence for a while, deliberating, before deciding that Quinn is right. It’s time to try something new.
So after hooking the bra over my chest and situating myself into the panties, I step into the dress and slide it over my hips as instructed, clamping the top underneath my arms before calling her once again.
After taking another sip of champagne, I fluff and finger through my hair while I wait. She finally returns with a suitcase full of make-up and her own flute of bubbly.
After tossing the make-up on my bed, she quickly steps behind me and zips me in before I turn to face her.
She’s fully dressed herself, and I take in her appearance with appreciation. She’s absolutely stunning.
Her make-up is still the same as earlier, her long, blonde hair twisted in slightly-tousled, relaxed curls, and the light pink dress from before is actually on her body instead of the hanger around her neck. It flows beautifully, the satin hitting her knees as she walks over to my bed.
It’s no wonder my best friend is the reigning Miss Collegiate America. My face falls as my heart breaks—she can’t see what everyone else does, but inside and out, she’s truly the most beautiful person I’ve ever met.
Taking a seat on my bed, she curls her feet underneath her legs and points to the space in front of her. “Sit.”
Schooling my features, I do as I’m told and brush the hair off my shoulders as I take in a relaxing breath. She digs through the mountain of cosmetics in front of me, setting aside an eye shadow palette along with a tube of mascara and lip gloss. She pushes the box aside and scoots closer to me.
“Close your eyes. Chin up. Don’t move.”
“Okay,” I breathe, suddenly nervous because I’ve just seen my alarm clock.
Kaeleb will be here in less than five minutes.
Breathing anxiously, I shut my eyes and try not to blink when she dabs shadow along the top and bottom of my lids. Her finger brushes lightly against them before she applies more in the crease of my eye. After smudging it a bit, she exhales. “Okay. Open.”
My eyes open and flutter a bit before settling on her smile. “Gorgeous,” she says before tilting my head back. “Now, don’t blink.” A mascara wand makes its way to my face, and not long after, both sets of lashes are coated with what must be at least the third coat of the day.
“Perfect.” She pumps the lip gloss a couple of times before giving my lips a healthy application, then sits back and appraises her work.
A very pleased smile crosses her face as she nods. “You. Look. GORGEOUS!” she shouts as she hands me a mirror. “Kaeleb is going to shit himself! I can’t wait!” She jumps off the bed and grabs her champagne.
As I examine myself, I have to agree. She did a beautiful job. My eyes look sultry but natural with their shimmery, light-brown shadow, and the deeper brown at the corners make them pop a brighter blue than I ever remember them being. My lips shine with a nude gloss just like hers, and they lift into a relieved smile before I set the mirror aside and accept the champagne she offers.
“Thank you so much, Quinn. This day has been…unbelievable. And I owe it all to you. You have no idea.” My voice trembles a bit with the admission, because she really has no idea what she’s done for me today.
I feel normal.
A normal girl, about to have a normal birthday celebration with her friends, in a normal (albeit spectacular) dress, with normal hair and make-up.
The only thing that’s missing is a pair of normal shoes.
“Shoes! I need shoes!” I exclaim.
“No, you don’t.” Quinn giggles and reaches for the knob of my bedroom door.
“What? Why wouldn’t I need shoes?”
That makes no sense.
She’s drunker than I thought.
That’s it, I’m officially hiding the champagne.
“You’ll see,” she says just as there’s a knock at the front door.
She winks. “Trust me. Just, stay in here. Don’t come out until someone comes to get you.”
After Quinn quietly shuts the door behind her, I remain seated. As the sounds of Kaeleb’s murmur filters into my room, a nervous excitement flitters through my belly and spreads into my chest. My joy takes flight and I breathe in deeply, contentment pumping enthusiastically with each thrumming heartbeat.