Faith turned off her blow-dryer. She made the final touches on her
perfectly styled hair. The ends were flipped up and the rest was wavy.
HER EYE SHADOW MATCHED HER DRESS, A LIGHT GREEN SATIN WITH A SHEER COVER OVER IT. THE MATCHING PALE GREEN FLATS JUST SHOWED UNDERNEATH HER DRESS. THE LIP-GLOSS SHE HAD ON OVER SOME LIGHT, CONSERVATIVE LIPSTICK WAS FLAVORED COFFEE. SHE LICKED HER LIPS AND WONDERED HOW IT LOOKED.
"FAITH! IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR YOU GO!" FRED'S VOICE SEEPED UNDER THE BATHROOM DOOR. FAITH PUT AWAY HER MAKEUP AND HAIR PRODUCTS AND DRYER. SHE GAVE HER HAIR ONE LAST FLIP AND FIXED HER PEARL EARRINGS INTO HER EARS.
TONIGHT WAS THE ANNUAL 55-FORMAL. FAITH HAD GONE TO THREE ALREADY. AND AT ALL OF THEM, SHE NORMALLY ENDED UP DANCING WITH BOSCO TO THE LAST SONG OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEY ALWAYS WOULD STAND ON THE BALCONY OF THE FANCY RESTAURANT IT WAS ALWAYS HELD AT, "HELEN AND TROY'S." FAITH AND BOSCO WOULD TALK FOR HOURS AND ONCE THEY HAD EVEN KISSED ON THE BALCONY WHEN FRED WAS HITTING ON SOME WAITRESS IN THE CORNER, WHICH HAD CAUSED A THREE-DAY FIGHT FOR THE THREE OF THEM.
SLIPPING THE PEARL NECKLACE BOSCO HAD GOTTEN HER FOR HER BIRTHDAY, FAITH UNLOCKED THE DOOR, FOUND HER WATCH, AND LOOKED TO FRED.
"DO I LOOK ALL RIGHT?" FAITH ASKED. SHE HAD LIED AND SAID IT WAS ONLY FOR THE 55 PRECINCT BECAUSE AT THE LAST PARTY, FRED HAD STEPPED ON SULLY'S WIFE, TATIANA'S FOOT AND BROKE IT. SULLY HAD NOT BEEN TOO HAPPY AND IT TOOK ALMOST THREE MONTHS TO HEAL.
"YEAH. YOU LOOK GREAT." FRED SAID, NOT MOVING FROM HIS POSITION ON THE COUCH. HE BARELY EVEN LOOKED AT HER. FAITH ROLLED HER EYES AT HIM AND STARTED TO LOOK FOR HER PURSE AND WRAP.
SHE FOUND THEM BY THE TABLE. FAITH SLIPPED THE WRAP AROUND HER SHOULDERS AND ADJUSTED THE PURSE ON HER ARM.
SHE GOT INTO THE CAR AND TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. SHE HAD BUTTERFLIES IN HER STOMACH. FAITH WAS NERVOUS TO SEE HOW THIS BALL WOULD TURN OUT.
FAITH HAD JUST STARTED TO WORRY ABOUT THE FOOD AND WHAT TO GET WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT SHE WAS THERE. STEPPING FROM THE CAR, FAITH SAW KIM AND ALEX, WHO WAS WALKING WITH DAVIS.
DAVIS HAD HIS ARM AROUND ALEX, WHO LOOKED VERY PRETTY IN A PURPLE SILK DRESS SHE GOT AT BLOOMINGDALE'S. ALEX TEETERED ON HIGH HEELS OF MATCHING PURPLE.
KIM WORE A BLACK HALTER TOP DRESS WITH A PINK WRAP AND MATCHING PURSE. HALF HER LONG, DARK HAIR WAS PINNED ONTO HER HEAD, THE OTHER HALF LONG AND LOOSE. KIM'S EARRINGS WERE DANGLING DIAMONDS WITH A MATCHING BRACELET.
"HEY, FAITH! GLAD TO SEE YOU!" ALEX SAID. HER STRAIGHT BLOND HAIR BOUNCED. DAVIS SMILED. "I WONDER WHO BOSCO BROUGHT WITH HIM TONIGHT."
FAITH COULDN'T HELP BUT LAUGH. HE HAD BROUGHT THREE DIFFERENT DATES TO THREE DIFFERENT BALLS AND ENDED UP DITCHING THEM TO BE WITH FAITH.
DAVIS OPENED THE DOOR FOR HIS DATE AND FAITH AND KIM. THEY SMILED AND WALKED INTO THE RESTAURANT. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. FAITH'S GAZE TRAVELED TO THE TEN CIRCULAR TABLES COVERED WITH WHITE CLOTHS AND GLASS.
FAITH AUTOMATICALLY STARTED TO SKIM THE CROWD, LOOKING FOR BOSCO. IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG TO FIND HIM. HE STOOD TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE WITH HIS ARM AROUND THE SHOULDERS OF HIS DARK-HAIRED DATE. FAITH HOLLERED OUT, "BOSCO!"
BOSCO AND HIS DATE TURNED AROUND. FAITH'S JAW NEARLY SLAMMED THE FLOOR. BOSCO WAS AT THE BALL WITH SERGEANT CRUZ. FAITH NEARLY TRIPPED ALEX, SINCE SHE WAS STOPPED DEAD IN HER PATH.
"FAITH? ARE YOU OKAY?" ALEX ASKED. SHE DUCKED UNDER DAVIS' ARM AND WALKED TO FAITH. "WHY ARE YOU STARING INTO SPACE?" ALEX LAUGHED. "IS BOSCO HERE WITH CRUZ OR SOMETHING?"
FAITH NODDED. "YES." SHE COULD FEEL COLOR RUSHING TO HER FACE. "AND HE HAS HIS ARM AROUND HER."
ALEX LOOKED AT FAITH A LITTLE FUNNY. FAITH TURNED AROUND. THERE STOOD BOSCO, WITH SERGEANT CRUZ. SHE WORE A LONG BLUE SILK STRAPLESS DRESS AND MAKEUP.
BOSCO LOOKED HOT AS ALWAYS IN A TUXEDO. HE LET CRUZ LAY HER HEAD INTO HIS SHOULDER AND HE SMILED.
"BOSCO, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU OWNED A TUXEDO." FAITH SAID. SHE SMILED AT HIM. "OH, THIS IS LIEU'S. I SAID THE ONLY WAY I WOULD COME WAS IF I WORE HIS TUX. GOD KNOWS HE HAS LIKE THREE." BOSCO SMILED AT FAITH. SHE SMILED BACK.
"SERGEANT CRUZ. I LOVE YOUR DRESS," ALEX SAID. SHE LOOKED AT BOSCO, HER EYES WIDENING SLIGHTLY.
"THANK YOU. YOU LOOK NICE, OFFICER YOKAS," CRUZ SAID, SLIGHT FAKE SWEETNESS IN HER VOICE.
"OH CALL ME FAITH. THANK YOU." CRUZ SAID. JUST THEN, A GROUP OF MEMBERS OF THE ACU CAME UP TO CRUZ. SHE STARTED TO TALK TO THEM WHILE FAITH PULLED BOSCO ASIDE.
"WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?" FAITH ASKED, HER TONE SNAPPY. '
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? SHE'S MY DATE. AND SHE DOES WORK FOR THE 55."
"WELL, BOSCO, LIKE, WHERE ARE YOUR BLOND DATES?" FAITH ASKED.
"I CAN DATE WHO I WANT." HE TURNED AROUND AND WALKED OVER TO CRUZ. HIS ARM WRAPPED AROUND HER SHOULDERS AND SHE LAID HER HEAD INTO HIS SHOULDER.
HER EYE SHADOW MATCHED HER DRESS, A LIGHT GREEN SATIN WITH A SHEER COVER OVER IT. THE MATCHING PALE GREEN FLATS JUST SHOWED UNDERNEATH HER DRESS. THE LIP-GLOSS SHE HAD ON OVER SOME LIGHT, CONSERVATIVE LIPSTICK WAS FLAVORED COFFEE. SHE LICKED HER LIPS AND WONDERED HOW IT LOOKED.
"FAITH! IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR YOU GO!" FRED'S VOICE SEEPED UNDER THE BATHROOM DOOR. FAITH PUT AWAY HER MAKEUP AND HAIR PRODUCTS AND DRYER. SHE GAVE HER HAIR ONE LAST FLIP AND FIXED HER PEARL EARRINGS INTO HER EARS.
TONIGHT WAS THE ANNUAL 55-FORMAL. FAITH HAD GONE TO THREE ALREADY. AND AT ALL OF THEM, SHE NORMALLY ENDED UP DANCING WITH BOSCO TO THE LAST SONG OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEY ALWAYS WOULD STAND ON THE BALCONY OF THE FANCY RESTAURANT IT WAS ALWAYS HELD AT, "HELEN AND TROY'S." FAITH AND BOSCO WOULD TALK FOR HOURS AND ONCE THEY HAD EVEN KISSED ON THE BALCONY WHEN FRED WAS HITTING ON SOME WAITRESS IN THE CORNER, WHICH HAD CAUSED A THREE-DAY FIGHT FOR THE THREE OF THEM.
SLIPPING THE PEARL NECKLACE BOSCO HAD GOTTEN HER FOR HER BIRTHDAY, FAITH UNLOCKED THE DOOR, FOUND HER WATCH, AND LOOKED TO FRED.
"DO I LOOK ALL RIGHT?" FAITH ASKED. SHE HAD LIED AND SAID IT WAS ONLY FOR THE 55 PRECINCT BECAUSE AT THE LAST PARTY, FRED HAD STEPPED ON SULLY'S WIFE, TATIANA'S FOOT AND BROKE IT. SULLY HAD NOT BEEN TOO HAPPY AND IT TOOK ALMOST THREE MONTHS TO HEAL.
"YEAH. YOU LOOK GREAT." FRED SAID, NOT MOVING FROM HIS POSITION ON THE COUCH. HE BARELY EVEN LOOKED AT HER. FAITH ROLLED HER EYES AT HIM AND STARTED TO LOOK FOR HER PURSE AND WRAP.
SHE FOUND THEM BY THE TABLE. FAITH SLIPPED THE WRAP AROUND HER SHOULDERS AND ADJUSTED THE PURSE ON HER ARM.
SHE GOT INTO THE CAR AND TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. SHE HAD BUTTERFLIES IN HER STOMACH. FAITH WAS NERVOUS TO SEE HOW THIS BALL WOULD TURN OUT.
FAITH HAD JUST STARTED TO WORRY ABOUT THE FOOD AND WHAT TO GET WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT SHE WAS THERE. STEPPING FROM THE CAR, FAITH SAW KIM AND ALEX, WHO WAS WALKING WITH DAVIS.
DAVIS HAD HIS ARM AROUND ALEX, WHO LOOKED VERY PRETTY IN A PURPLE SILK DRESS SHE GOT AT BLOOMINGDALE'S. ALEX TEETERED ON HIGH HEELS OF MATCHING PURPLE.
KIM WORE A BLACK HALTER TOP DRESS WITH A PINK WRAP AND MATCHING PURSE. HALF HER LONG, DARK HAIR WAS PINNED ONTO HER HEAD, THE OTHER HALF LONG AND LOOSE. KIM'S EARRINGS WERE DANGLING DIAMONDS WITH A MATCHING BRACELET.
"HEY, FAITH! GLAD TO SEE YOU!" ALEX SAID. HER STRAIGHT BLOND HAIR BOUNCED. DAVIS SMILED. "I WONDER WHO BOSCO BROUGHT WITH HIM TONIGHT."
FAITH COULDN'T HELP BUT LAUGH. HE HAD BROUGHT THREE DIFFERENT DATES TO THREE DIFFERENT BALLS AND ENDED UP DITCHING THEM TO BE WITH FAITH.
DAVIS OPENED THE DOOR FOR HIS DATE AND FAITH AND KIM. THEY SMILED AND WALKED INTO THE RESTAURANT. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. FAITH'S GAZE TRAVELED TO THE TEN CIRCULAR TABLES COVERED WITH WHITE CLOTHS AND GLASS.
FAITH AUTOMATICALLY STARTED TO SKIM THE CROWD, LOOKING FOR BOSCO. IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG TO FIND HIM. HE STOOD TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE WITH HIS ARM AROUND THE SHOULDERS OF HIS DARK-HAIRED DATE. FAITH HOLLERED OUT, "BOSCO!"
BOSCO AND HIS DATE TURNED AROUND. FAITH'S JAW NEARLY SLAMMED THE FLOOR. BOSCO WAS AT THE BALL WITH SERGEANT CRUZ. FAITH NEARLY TRIPPED ALEX, SINCE SHE WAS STOPPED DEAD IN HER PATH.
"FAITH? ARE YOU OKAY?" ALEX ASKED. SHE DUCKED UNDER DAVIS' ARM AND WALKED TO FAITH. "WHY ARE YOU STARING INTO SPACE?" ALEX LAUGHED. "IS BOSCO HERE WITH CRUZ OR SOMETHING?"
FAITH NODDED. "YES." SHE COULD FEEL COLOR RUSHING TO HER FACE. "AND HE HAS HIS ARM AROUND HER."
ALEX LOOKED AT FAITH A LITTLE FUNNY. FAITH TURNED AROUND. THERE STOOD BOSCO, WITH SERGEANT CRUZ. SHE WORE A LONG BLUE SILK STRAPLESS DRESS AND MAKEUP.
BOSCO LOOKED HOT AS ALWAYS IN A TUXEDO. HE LET CRUZ LAY HER HEAD INTO HIS SHOULDER AND HE SMILED.
"BOSCO, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU OWNED A TUXEDO." FAITH SAID. SHE SMILED AT HIM. "OH, THIS IS LIEU'S. I SAID THE ONLY WAY I WOULD COME WAS IF I WORE HIS TUX. GOD KNOWS HE HAS LIKE THREE." BOSCO SMILED AT FAITH. SHE SMILED BACK.
"SERGEANT CRUZ. I LOVE YOUR DRESS," ALEX SAID. SHE LOOKED AT BOSCO, HER EYES WIDENING SLIGHTLY.
"THANK YOU. YOU LOOK NICE, OFFICER YOKAS," CRUZ SAID, SLIGHT FAKE SWEETNESS IN HER VOICE.
"OH CALL ME FAITH. THANK YOU." CRUZ SAID. JUST THEN, A GROUP OF MEMBERS OF THE ACU CAME UP TO CRUZ. SHE STARTED TO TALK TO THEM WHILE FAITH PULLED BOSCO ASIDE.
"WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?" FAITH ASKED, HER TONE SNAPPY. '
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? SHE'S MY DATE. AND SHE DOES WORK FOR THE 55."
"WELL, BOSCO, LIKE, WHERE ARE YOUR BLOND DATES?" FAITH ASKED.
"I CAN DATE WHO I WANT." HE TURNED AROUND AND WALKED OVER TO CRUZ. HIS ARM WRAPPED AROUND HER SHOULDERS AND SHE LAID HER HEAD INTO HIS SHOULDER.