Page 73 of Make Me Pretty
“Abel, Abel,” someone drawls to my left. I lift a brow, then smile at Peris’s best friend.
“Gabriel.” I crinkle my nose and wink.
Hetsksloudly and wags his finger. “Nuh-uh. No flirting in front of Peris.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. “Notin frontof him. Got it.”
Gabe blinks with wide eyes. “That’s not?—”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Peris snaps, eyes never straying from mine. I shrug, but when I part my lips to reply, his head swivels toward Gabriel. “Hm?”
“Oh, me?” He points at himself. “Gotcha.” His curls bounce atop his head as he whirls around, making me giggle.
“Don’t laugh like that.”
I stop short. “Like what, Peris?”
“All cute and—and flirty. I’vetold you?—”
“Cute and flirty,” I deadpan. “It was just a laugh.”
“It was agiggle.” He enunciates the word like it makes a difference.
I scoff and drag my fingers through my hair before forgetting Sierra French braided it. I dislodge them, pulling out a few wayward strands that hang in front of my face. Peris’s eyes flick over my eyes, then down to my painted lips, which I purposely pucker before parting them to run my tongue along my teeth.
“Not sure how I feel about the purple, but squad rules.” I shrug. “But I do love the eye makeup. It’s pretty… isn’t it?” I ask, softening my voice at the end. It’s not merely an act. A small sliver of that pesky desperation for approval slipping through the cracks.
“What?” He shakes his head, staring intently at me. “Yeah,” he says gruffly, then blurts, “Did you cut your hair?”
My face cracks into a beaming smile. One that stretches my mouth so wide, my lips split at the corners. I stand on my tiptoes to throw my arms around Peris’s neck. “Thanks, baby. I did.” I pull back to peck a kiss to the tip of his nose. “I’ll see ya at the game. You’re gonna kick ass.” I jump back and twirl around, sashaying my ass even though it’s impossible to see through my baggy jeans.
As I round the corner, I catch Peris’s shocked, “What the fuck?” and Gabe’s echoing cackles.
“You’re so fucked, dude.”
Yeah—him and me both.
CHAPTER 23
ABEL
Staringat my reflection feels strange, the person looking back at me a mask of one I’ve never worn before.
My fingers curl around the ribbed edge of the skirt I’ve only just now put on for the first time. I think a part of me was afraid to put on something so… blatantly feminine. Something clearly not made for someone like me.
I press the pleated hem down over my exposed thighs, and the light blonde leg hairs that catch in the light make me cringe.
“You look amazing, but I think you already know that,” Sierra says to my right as she drags the sharpened end of a lip pencil over the line of her bottom lip again, for some reason. I follow the movement through the mirror, readily avoiding myself.
“I’m surprised Ms. B even let me get the skirt,” I reply instead.
Sierra shrugs, popping the lid back on and smacking her lips. “She’s all about equality and shit. You wanted to wear it, so it’s that simple.”
I smile. Ms. B is the shit. “I know. But aren’t there like… state regulations or something?” My brows furrow.
“Yeah, but I don’t think she cares,” Cassie says from somewhere behind me. “Or anyone else, really. It’s not that big of a deal. You’re still following their rules.”
My eyes catch on my legs again. Bruised and scarred andhairy.“It’s too late now, anyway.” I force a laugh, wishing I was at least buzzed to get through this. I’m pretty sure I’m going to forget every single fucking cheer I’ve spent the last couple of weeks learning. My head is empty for everything except hating what is staring back at me.
