"...How wonderful life is, now you're in the world" Chelsea crooned softly to herself as she unpacked her bag, hanging up the neatly folded garments in the suites spacious wardrobe.
"Is that singing I hear?" Raven called out from the bathroom, where she was currently straightening her hair.
"It might be" A coy grin appeared on the redheads face, both herself and Raven knew that she only sung when she was happy. Really happy, like i've-just-met-a-gorgeous-blonde happy. Which she was now.
"Well stop with the happy and make with the getting ready girl! you're not gonna get laid if you go out wearing just a bathrobe! Actually, strike that...you probably would...but get dressed anyway!"
"But Rae, i'm unpacking!"
She knew her argument was weak but she didn't want to give the impression she was too eager, she didn't want Raven to think that Maddie was going to get pounced on.
An unimpressed raspberry blew through from the ajoining bathroom.
"Unpack later, or not at all...just get your ass into that dress before I come in there and do it for you." Raven suddenly appeared at the open door, straighteners in hand and leant against the wall watching her friend.
"Don't let Eddie catch you talking like that Rae, he might get jealous"
"Or horny"
Ravens last remark earned a wrinkled nose from Chelsea, still uncomfortable with the idea of her two best friends doing anything sexual with each other.
"I'm sorry girl" Raven came fully into the room, practically ready to leave; hair and makeup done to perfection and an outfit set to make any number of jaws drop. "I'm just so excited about this you and Maddie thing!"
A blush crept up on the redhead and she looked down at the carpet so Raven wouldn't see.
"T-there is no me and Maddie thing." It came out as a stutter.
Raven emitted a cackle and walked further into the room.
"No, of course there isn't" She imitated Maddie's earlier mistake "Really nice boobs. Uhh, I mean boots. Hell girl she wasn't even lookin' at yo' boots. She's definately a breast girl! And i'm not talkin' KFC"
Chelsea had had enough of the innuendos and decided to put on her outfit, hoping that it would shut her best friend up.
"Hey Rae, what size is this?" She asked as she struggled to do the zip up.
"It's your size honey, c'mere i'll do it"
Between them they managed to do up the tiny black dress, a Raven Baxter original. The designer stepped back to admire her handiwork; the dress clung to every curve and accented Chelsea's fine chest and tiny waist, the hem grazed her mid thigh, causing her to tug at it self-consciously. Raven batted her hand away impatiently, declaring that her friend looked perfect.
"Now, my love, it's time for you to let me do your hair. Sit down."
Chelsea smiled as she sat on the end of Raven's bed, doing each others hair was an activity that they'd shared together for years, cramming as many hairslides and clips as was possible in their respective tresses as little girls, right through to experimenting with different styles, hoping to look their best for dates. She missed things like that.
Twenty minutes later there was a light tap on the door, the clock on the wall showed that it was 7:30, the time Maddie had agreed to meet them in their suite, ready to go for a meal before hitting La Tipton.
Raven jumped up like a hyperactive springer spaniel and bounded over to let the other girl in.
Maddie felt ridiculously nervous as she waited outside, she hadn't even felt this bad before performing onstage in her short-lived band, even when they had London as their lead singer.
What the hell is wrong with you? She raged inwardly Get it together Fitzpatrick, i'm sick of this already.
The wooden door suddenly swung open, revealling Raven and her mile-wide smile;
"Maddie!" they embraced as was their usual greeting "Come on in kid, i'm just waiting for Chels to finish up in the bathroom then we're all set, okay?"
Maddie nodded, still feeling shy as she walked into the room and sat down on one of the armchairs in the corner.
"Rae? Is that- oh, hi!" Chelsea walked out of the bathroom almost the second Maddie's backside touched the chair material.
If a pin had been dropped at that moment, it would have echoed.
Both girls stood stock still, staring at each other, taking in every detail.
Shit, you're staring! Don't stare! Madeleine blinked and deftly moved her head away to watch the carpet instead.
Chelsea noticed, she blushed.
"Okay ladies, ready to roll?" Raven broke the tension.
"Yeah!"
"Sure, lets go!"
Maddie and Chelsea replied a little too brightly for her liking, it was false.
"Actually Chels, would you mind running down to the lobby for a sec? I need to talk to Maddie. Alone."
Chelsea grimaced, but nodded. Raven was so transparent it was embarrassing.
Maddie watched the redhead leave the suite, what the hell was Raven going to talk to her about? She suddenly became very aware that she was still watching Chelsea. For the second time in two minutes she found herself looking at the carpet.
Raven waited until she was sure that Chelsea had left the suite. She walked over to Maddie, whose brown eyes were wide with anticipation of the talk to come, taking the other girls hand, Raven led her to sit on the end of Chelsea's bed. They sat so they were able to see each other.
"Maddie, darlin'." Raven began "I know."
Maddie paled, then flushed, then frowned in apparant confusion.
"Y-you know what Rave?"
Raven smiled knowingly
"You're lucky. It took me forever to find my blush."
"your blush?" Maddie was intrigued inspite of herself.
"That person who makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, that person you never want to turn away from no matter how much you're blushing. You know, your blush."
"Well, in case ya haven't noticed, I do turn away. I've only met the girl twice and-" She trailed off, looking shocked.
Raven simply smiled.
"I knew it. You're hot for my Chels." It was a phrase that sounded as though it should have been shouted from the roftops, but she delivered it with such a tenderness that Maddie could feel herself welling up.
it was as though hearing somebody else say to her what she had been denying to herself for so long. Not that she was into Chelsea, she was of course that was obvious from the start, but that she was into girls in general. In a way it was a relief, a terrifying prospect though none the less. She was a catholic for gods sake! What would her parents think? The memory of perfect porcelain skin flooded her mind and she suddenly didn't care about what her parents, or younger brother for that matter, thought of her. She'd cross that bridge when she came to it. Right now, she had some fun to be getting on with.
"I am." Her response was calm.
"Welllll...she's hot for you too girl!" Raven's eyes sparkled at the prospect of matchmaking.
Maddie grinned like a Cheshire cat. Everything suddenly felt like it was going to be okay.
Without saying another word, Raven dragged her down to the lobby.
Her china doll siren was waiting for them after all.