"A-choo!"
"Bless you."
"Thank you…A-choo!"
"Bless you."
"Thanks…A-choo!"
"Okay, Maxi, Seriously?" Kate paused her assault on my head to shoot an annoyed look down at me in the vanity seat. She had come over so we could get ready for the Garwin Christmas Eve Gala together and had insisted on doing my hair and make-up. I sniffled a sheepish apology, taking the tissue she offered with a shrug of my bare shoulders. I had already dawned the red dress I had picked up two weeks prior.
"I can't seem to quit sneezing today. I think I'm getting sick," I admitted, dabbing delicately at my nose which was already rubbed raw and glowing painfully. Since early this morning, I'd been having violent sneezing fits at random moments and my body was really taking a beating
"Well, you better just stow sick until tomorrow," the bronze skinned girl huffed, returning her thin fingers to my tresses. "Tonight you are going to look drop dead gorgeous and I won't have you sneezing all my hard work to shit."
I mumbled another quick apology and turned back to face the mirror. Luckily the sneezing seemed to abate slightly after that and soon Kate had swept all but a few of my curls into an elegant bun at the back of my head. Her own hair was done in delicate ringlets framing her face which was already painted with smokey eyed make-up. My own face was bare at the moment, but Kate had sworn to completely transform me and I was in no state to fight for my rights to do so myself. Plus, I wanted to look nice tonight and Kate had far more experience with formal settings than myself. She turned me to face her.
"So," she began, squirting an odd green cream onto her middle and index fingers, "Do you have any idea what Reid got you for Christmas?"
"Nothing," I said wistfully, smile fleeing from my face as she began to smear the cream over my face. I cringed as she fixed me with an exasperated gaze.
"Oh don't be stupid, Max," she insisted, rubbing in the last of the cream and placing the bottle on the vanity behind me. I didn't turn around, instead listening to her riffle through various bags she had brought over and products Mrs. Garwin had lent to match my skin tone. "You don't honestly believe that Reid didn't get you something stupidly expensive do you?"
She came back into my line of sight, powder in one hand and a large fluffy brush in the other. I closed my eyes as I answered, the brush nearly obscuring my speech as she began to line every angle of my face. "Oh no, we agreed on it" I spit around bristles, "I let him pay for this dress so he's not allowed to spend anything on me for Christmas."
Kate pulled away, shrugging her own slender shoulders as she said if I wanted to believe in 'that old trick' it was up to me. I started to argue it was no trick but couldn't continue as she began to paint my lips a startling red color. That was the end of the conversation as I let Kate focus for the next half hour to finish my make-up. By the time she placed down the mascara, the sound of chatter was floating up from the bottom floor.
"I wasn't expecting people to be here so early," I said nervously, looking sideways at myself in the mirror. Kate had given me a creamy sort of glow, everything looking rather natural besides my lips which were the most defined part of my face. My eyes were lined in bronze pencil, a light shadow falling across my lids.
"The earlier you get here, the more likely there'll still be liquor out," Kate suggested, back to me on the opposite side of the room as she shimmied into her dress. Zipping up the side, she turned to me and I could feel myself wilt in self depreciation. We looked like night and day besides each other, my red knee-length dress looking childish next to her black backless number. Even in heels, it brushed the floor as she approached me, back straight like royalty and smile shining through the low lamp light. "We look hot!"
I turned to look into the mirror next to Kate and shifted awkwardly, cheeks dusted in red. "I don't know about this."
"Don't be such a chicken, Max," Kate huffed, walking over and helping me to my feet. Reid's mother had gifted me with a set of break neck heels that I had been practicing in all day. They brought me to about Kate's shoulders and I imagined if she were in flats, I may even be able to look her in the eye; they were that tall. "Reid's jaw is going to drop when he sees you."
"Yeah-" My sentence was cut in half by a violent sneeze, "-I guess."
"Have some courage, girl," Kate laughed as there was a gentle knock on the door to my room. Walking delicately over, I pulled it open to reveal Shannon Garwin looking tall and regal in the dress I had helped her pick out. Her hair was slicked back in a severe looking twist, yet she still managed to come off as gentle. She swept into the room at my beckoning, dropping polite greetings to each of us teens.
"Maxine," she beamed at me, reaching out to place a free hand on my shoulder, "I just want to say again how happy I am that you've come to us."
My entire body got hot as I let my eyes drop shyly to the woman's shoes. "Thank you so much for having me, again, Mrs. Garwin." She laughed, waving me off in a polite manner as she guided me back to the vanity where Kate still stood looking pretty as ever. Her cell buzzed on the bed and she hurried to check it, excusing herself as she realized Sarah was downstairs.
"I'll be right back," she called as she exited, leaving Mrs. Garwin and I alone. The woman turned to look way down at me in the vanity seat.
"Such a sweet girl," she commented.
"Yes," I agreed with a nod, "She and Sarah are both very nice."
It was silent for a moment.
"I wanted to give you something," she admitted at last, straightening up where she stood. My eyes bugged and I moved to protest.
"Oh, Mrs. Garwin, you shouldn't have-"
"It's nothing for keeps," she assured me, laughing at how red my face had become. "I just wanted to lend it to you for tonight to add a little…flare." I noticed that one of her hands was concealed behind her back only when she moved to bring it before me. Hanging from her delicate fingers was a diamond platinum necklace (link on my profile). My mouth fell open and stayed that way as she moved to stand behind me at the vanity much like Kate had.
"I bought this for myself on my tenth wedding anniversary," she said, clasping the heavy thing to my neck. "Steven was away on business and I suspect he completely forgot the occasion all together. It was a little gift to myself."
"I can't wear this," I finally blurted out as she adjusted the ornament around my neck. Craning my neck to look up at her, I back tracked. "I-I mean it's lovely, but it's too-"
"Are you going to steal it?" she cut across me, eyes suddenly going narrow. My heart just about stopped and I gasped.
"Of course not!" I assured, ready to rip the cursed thing from my neck at the very thought of taking it from this woman without permission, "Mrs. Garwin, I-"
"Are you going to break it?" she went on, gaze less intense now as she tilted her head at me.
"Never, I-"
"Then I see no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to borrow it for the night," she explained, shrugging as if we were discussing the lending out of Tupperware. She stifled any further protest as she began making her way to the door. "I trust you Maxine and I think you should begin to trust yourself as well."
As she opened the door to leave, laughter and small talk poured into my room only being muted once the door shut behind her. I turned to the vanity again, taking in myself now with the necklace on. it began as what could have been a simple choker before falling into many mixed shaped diamond curtains. It went from the base of my throat to my collar bone and I had to admit…it did ad flare.
As I looked at myself this way and that, what Shannon had said upon her exit came to mind and I frowned at myself. Placing my hands lightly on the vanity top I murmured a firm "Trust yourself."
"Woah! Where'd you get the bling?" Kate asked, gob smacked as I descended the stairs to where her and Sarah waited on the arms of their dates. Like Kate, Sarah's dress brushed the floor around her stilettos and I complimented her golden curls which were pinned over her right shoulder. Pogue and Caleb looked dashing in near identical tuxedos. Something told me they had all been attending this thing for years.
"Reid's mom lent it to me for the night," I explained, reaching up to finger the precious item lightly. My face heated as Pogue made a comment about already getting after the family jewels and then I turned to look across the surrounding rooms and hallways. The place was packed, but not uncomfortably so and as I shifted myself from high heeled foot to high heeled foot I caught sight of a particularly handsome gentleman leaning casually over by the Christmas tree in the main hall. I excused myself from my friends, nearly toppling down on my trek to the young man.
"Hi, Tyler," I greeted, skidding to a halt at his right elbow. The tall sophomore looked down at me and smiled, inclining his head in greeting.
"Hey, Max, you look nice."
"Thanks," I mumbled, both of us disregarding how quickly my cheeks colored. I turned to stand shoulder to elbow with him, facing the large tree the Garwins had ordered. It was as tall as the ceiling and decorated immaculately with silver and gold ornaments. With the string lights and a few artificial candles, the thing was shining to rival the stars outside. "It's pretty."
"It is," Tyler agreed, nodding his head appreciatively this time, "I think the one they had last year was bigger."
"I highly doubt it," I chuckled, having to tilt my head way back to glimpse the star at the very top. Suddenly, a tickle formed in my nose and with I'm sure a very attractive pre-game face, I suffered a very violent sneeze.
"A-choo!"
"Gesundheit."
I jumped nearly out of my skin at the voice that had suddenly appeared over my right shoulder. Spinning around with a yelp, I nearly stepped back into the tree as I came face to chest with my boyfriend. He reached out a hand to steady me, gripping my elbow lightly in his hand which I noticed still bared its usual fingerless glove. A knot of endearment appeared in my chest seeing this, but as I looked up into his amused, crystalline eyes I fought it down with a huff. I focused in on the for once tamed locks of his blonde hair as I began my tirade, not wanting how insanely handsome he looked in that tuxedo with those gloves to distract me.
"Reid!" I wheezed, barely resisting the urge to sneeze again as Tyler shook with silent laughter beside me. "You scared me!"
"You look beautiful," he murmured, completely disregarding my berating as he slid an arm coolly around my waist. I could tell my face was flaming from the way he smirked at me. "Glad I paid for that dress. Can hardly wait to rip it-"
"Hey, Reid," Tyler suddenly cut across his friend, sparing me a very humiliating conversation, "Why don't you give Maxine her Christmas present?" Reid looked ready to kill our friend, but I'm positive I looked ten time more furious as I glowered up at him.
"My what?"
"Nothing," the blonde growled, reaching over to punch Tyler roughly in the arm. The boy just laughed, stumbling off with his affronted arm clutched by the other. I paid it no mind.
"Reid, you promised-" I began to somewhat whine but he cut me off with a brief peck.
"I promised I wouldn't spend any money on you," he clarified before I could begin reprimanding him for silencing me, "And I didn't. This was totally free."
"Money wasn't the point, Reid," I huffed in exasperation even though I wasn't sure if what I said was true or not. I moved as if to rake my fingers through my hair, but then remembered my bun and sighed in annoyance, arm falling back down to my side. "I didn't get a chance to get you anything-"
"I don't want or need anything, babe," he soothed, idling in to crowd my space. I gave a halfhearted scowl and he backed away slightly.
"Well neither do I, so whatever it is…take it back." I was prepared to leave him there after this statement. I turned and with squared shoulders began to storm off in a huff, but then- "A-choo!"
The force of the sneeze coupled with the fact that I was in midstride sent me careening backwards and I would have fallen if not for Reid. Catching me under the arms, he set me back on my feet and was quick to tuck me under his shoulder before I could escape.
"Come on, Maxi, please." I looked up, hearing the sincerity in his voice and when I got caught in his baby-blues I could've just kicked myself. He was too handsome. "Please just come see it, and if you really hate it…I'll take it back."
I could tell it took a lot for him to say this. Reid Garwin hated to be wrong. So with a martyr's sigh I agreed to seeing whatever it was he had gotten me and only groaned a little as he grabbed my wrist and began to lead me back upstairs. We passed our friends on our way up and I nearly died of shame from the knowing smirks Pogue and Caleb sent our way. It was all too much!
The walk up the stairs and through the hall was silent aside from my sneezes which seemed to have come back with a vengeance now that my night was supposed to be in full swing. Reid asked me if I was getting sick and as we reached the door to his room I responded that it was possible. He gave me a sympathetic look and a peck on the forehead before telling me to shut my eyes as he reached for the door handle.
"Why?" I sniffed. My boyfriend rolled his eyes as if I were stupid.
"Because your gift is a surprise obviously. Now do it." With one purse lipped glare, I complied and reached out blindly as I heard his door open up. He took my hand and pulled me through the doorway, my entire body tense as I tried to remind myself that Reid wouldn't let me trip or run into anything. "Ok, stop there." I did. He dropped my hand then and I heard his footsteps grow further away as I waited. There was a series of, in the darkness of my eyelids, very confusing noises including Reid's own hushed voice before I heard him approach again. "Alright…open your eyes." I did. "Ta-da!"
In his large hands, Reid held what seemed to be an impossibly small kitten. My eyes bugged as the tiny animal mewed in content, nibbling at the gloves I had bought Reid all those weeks ago. It was no more than a ball of grey fluff in my boyfriend's hands, its entire form fitting in the cup of his fingers. It was small and innocent and adorable and as I looked at it in shock I realized what my oncoming 'illness' was. It had large, blue eyes that blinked up at me and though I wanted nothing more than to cradle it to my chest and make shameless cooing noises, my face began to scrunch up in a look of extreme distaste. Reid grimaced.
"You hate her," he sighed, looking ready to drop the thing as his eyes rolled to the ceiling. The kitten mewed again.
"No, Reid, it's perfect," I assured him, face still drawn down in an unwilling frown, "It's just…I'm allergic to cats." I'm sure I would have witnessed a comically astonished look on Reid's face, but as soon as the words left my lips, my entire body was seized up in a powerful sneeze. "A-choo!"