Page 74 of The Last Vampire
She picks up her bag of toiletries, like that’s all she has to say. She stalks past me to the door, and I get the distinct impression that my side of the story doesn’t matter to her. This whole confrontation only happened because she cares about Salma.
“It’s grief,” I say without turning around. “That’s what’s eating at Sal.”
After a brief pause, I hear the door open and shut.
KNOWING MYbest friend, I’m not surprised she decided to go retro with her costume.
Ironically, she and Tiffany dressed up as vampire slayers. Tiffany is Buffy and Salma is Faith from our moms’ favorite television series of all time. They introduced us to it when we were in middle school.
While Salma and Tiffany used the school’s stash to accessorize, they chiefly harnessed the powers of their combined wardrobes to pull this off. Salma is wearing skintight black pleather pants, a black crop top, knee-high black boots, a silver-studded black choker, black lipstick, and red nail polish “for a splash of color.” Tiffany is also in high boots, but her pants are red, her top isn’t cropped, and she’s added an oversized black leather jacket that Trevor loaned her. And she’s wearing a blond wig.
My dress is not as easy to put on, and I need Salma’s help. The top is a corset and has to be tightened from the back. “I didn’t see another dress like this one,” she says as she pulls on the strings until I can’t inhale. “I hope William managed to find something that matches.”
“He did,” I assure her. “This… it must’ve been a set because his clothes also look very old-fashioned,” I add, laying the groundwork for what she’s about to see. No one is going to have a costume as authentic as his.
“Done,” says Sal, and if I had any breath left, I would thank her.
“Damn,” whispers Tiffany, and when I look at her, I’m surprised to find she’s looking at me.
“Ohwow,” says Salma, scanning me up and down. “How much did your boobs grow this summer?”
“I’m a C,” I say defensively, even though I’m starting to spill out of my bras and Ma made me buy a D before coming here.
“Your waist is snatched,” says Tiffany, and I try to think of how that could be a diss, since I can’t imagine her giving me a compliment.
“What are we doing with your hair and makeup?” asks Salma.
“I was thinking maybe an updo,” I say, wishing I could look up different styles online.
“I got it,” says Tiffany, pulling out her tablet and tapping on her photo album. After scrolling through, she shows us a picture of a beautiful bride and groom. The bride has her hair swept up in a romantic bun that’s exactly what I envisioned.
“Who are they?” asks Salma.
“My brother and his wife,” says Tiffany. “He met her when he spent a year in Japan, and she moved back to the States with him. They got married this summer.”
“Let’s see a picture of you from the wedding,” says Salma.
“Nah, I hated my dress,” says Tiffany, locking the tablet as if to keep Salma from looking through it.
“Oh,come on—”
“I think that hairstyle is perfect,” I say. “Do you two think you could help me pull it off?”
“I have all the supplies we need,” says Tiffany, and Salma looks from her to me like she’s just noticed we’re being civil. “Let’s go, we don’t have long.”
Half an hour later, my hair is twisted into a bun, with a few curls hanging loose and my shoulders bare. Salma applies my makeup similarly to how she did the day of the Harvard field trip. Only she adds one bold touch: matte red lipstick.
I grab my mask, and Salma and Tiffany grab their wooden stakes for killing vampires, which they made by taping together a bunch of sharpened pencils.
It takes me a while to make it down the tower stairs with all the folds of my dress, and a couple of girls stare in admiration from their open doorways as we pass.
“You look amazing,” says a neighbor named Melisa. I assume she’s talking to Salma and Tiffany, but when I look at her, she’s staring atme.
“Thanks,” I say, not used to receiving compliments. “Love your Harley Quinn costume.”
When I get to the bottom step, I see Fran staring up at me, their mouth agape in surprise. “Behold the belle of the ball!”
I can’t help grinning.
