Fragile

Before the social, I had never worn anything formal in my life. I had also never gone to a social that required a full face of makeup, hair and jewelry. In movies, getting ready with the girls was maybe a 15 second montage. I didn't realize that in real life, 15 seconds meant four hours. 

"I've always wanted to dress you up since the day I met you," Kiera squealed as she made beach waves with the iron. "You're just gorgeous, honestly, Fay." 

I had never looked at myself in the mirror too long before. My mother always called me her little fairy, though I never felt magical. Never in my life. Yet as Kiera put beach waves in my golden brown hair and beamed at her beautiful makeup job, I couldn't help but smile. I really did look like a fairy. 

"Why are you laughing?" she pouted. "You're adorable." 

The smile stretched wider on my face. I saw the creases in the corners of my eyes and the glittering of the light on my highlighter. "Nothing. I just look like a fairy." 

"You're just now realizing?" she teased. "I figured your name was a dead giveaway." 

Kiera was gorgeous next to me. Her sunkissed tan skin complimented her glittery black cocktail dress, and her blonde hair was styled in a beautiful half up look. She looked... sexy. Looking at us both in the full length mirror, I realized there was more than one type of beautiful. For the first time in my life, I considered myself to be apart of that spectrum. 

"Noah and his partner should be here any minute," Kiera said. "They have to detour to make sure no one is following." 

I nodded, the sudden reminder hitting me like a bucket of ice water. I wasn't here to play Cinderella. I was here to be a spy for a major trafficking operation, to potentially risk my life for the sake of hundreds of girls. 

Noah was going to see me in a tight dress and heels. Would he do a double take like in the movies? Would he wrap his arm around my waist the second he saw me? Would he ignore me? Then again, what did I want? What were we exactly? Just because we kissed twice this semester... what did that mean? After everything we had been through this semester, I couldn't help but feel estranged from Noah. He seemed to know everything about me, but I knew nothing about him. How could I be expecting a relationship when I wouldn't even know who it was I was dating? 

"Woah, Earth to Fay," Kiera tapped my shoulder. "You're spiraling there. Are you nervous about the operation? It's okay if you are." 

I locked my honey eyes with hers in the mirror. Right, now was not the time to ask about dating advice. "Just hoping I don't give us away," I admitted. 

"You're going to be fine. Any nerves you show will look totally normal. You look overwhelmed most of the time anyway," she lightly jabbed. "Just be yourself, okay? We'll be the hottest girls there, they'll want us easy." 

I hated the way that made a knot twist in my gut. "You're right." 

A cryptic knock rapped on the door. The code. Kiera quietly peered into the eye hole before unlocking the door and opening it. "Charles?" 

I spun around in my chair. Next to Noah stood none other than Charles, carrying a heavy duffel bag and a laptop. He looked sheepish and embarrassed as Noah shoved him inside and made Kiera close the door. Kiera looked back and forth between me and Charles, thoroughly confused. 

"Someone better start talking," Kiera finally said. "Choose your words wisely, because I'm about ready to smack the both of you." 

I was startled by Kiera's suddenly cold tone. Were we supposed to be angry? Sure, surprised but... I wasn't sure what the friendship protocol was on this. Was Charles even considered a friend? Were they working together the night of the party? Was the drugged drink... intentional?