By: lornein
Author's note: I am so sorry I haven't been updating guys:-( it's just that I had been sick. But the good news is that I am okay now… it was my birthday on the 2nd(and birthdays always make you feel better no matter how sick you are). So at 19 years I am a little older and wiser now…and hopefully I will be finishing this story soon:-) Honestly..I will update again this week. I promise! ************************************************************************
"I don't know Shalimar…no one has ever been a redhead in our family. As much as my parents don't care…but I still think they'd notice this." Emma nervously looked at the packet of hair color in Nikki's hand.
"Oh come on Emma. This will be a whole new you. Don't you trust me?" I asked again.
"Yeah but… I am not too sure it'll be a whole new me in a good way…And I've known you for less than twenty four hours…let's not ask that question Shal."
"Okay…you just relax. You're in good hands." I tucked a clean towel around Emma as she lowered her head in the bathtub to get it wet. Nikki poured out some shampoo and formed lather in her hands before applying it to Emma's hair.
"Okay Nikki you do what is needed for her hair. I'll go arrange the wardrobe and the make up." I told Nikki. Emma had brought most of her clothes in a bag for us to see. I tucked into it.
And I wished I hadn't. Most of the clothes that the girl owned was way out of fashion and for Emma…whoever said that orange was the new pink was greatly, greatly mistaken. Most of Emma's clothes had a sickly orange color…like cough syrups that you sometime take to cure your throat.
I wasn't even close to getting something ready for her when I heard Nikki calling out,
"Shal here she is. The whole new Emma."
I was amazed to see what Nikki had done. I had to admit, the girl had the hand of god when it came to hair cutting and styling. Emma was almost unrecognizable. She was a redhead now and Nikki had used some adorable fringes for her forehead. But remember I said almost unrecognizable. We still had to get through layers of baggy, ickily orange colored clothing. And might I add that Emma was as ignorant as a sheep when it came to makeup.
"We're getting there Emma." I said to her.
"So did you find her anything to wear?" Nikki asked me.
"We'll see. Emma bring your credit card tomorrow. We're going shopping after school. And I am keeping all the clothes you brought. They are going to the war relief fund." I said.
"Shit guys…I feel like such a lump." Emma looked at her clothes lying around.
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An hour later we had made a lot of progress. I gave Emma a tank top that showed off her belly button and shoulders nicely. And Nikki used a bit of eyeliner on her upper eyelids. We didn't use any eyeliner on her lower eyelids… we didn't want her to end up like that Lexa chick on TV that we really hated watching.
Before we knew it Emma had transformed. I never believed that I would be able to accomplish it but it had happened. Emma looked fabulous. And coming from me that means a lot. Her hair looked great and fell perfectly arranged on her shoulders, I got her to wear a miniskirt of mine (after much persuasion) and Nikki's makeup worked great for her. Everything was perfect…just one final point needed testing now. We needed a male opinion.
"Brennan…hey Brennan get up here." I shouted at the top of my lungs.
"I can't be your dummy for another makeup experiment Shal. Not again." He shouted back.
"It's not that. Just get in here."
I could hear Brennan's footsteps coming up the stairs…the man had large feet.
"What is it? Hurry up I don't have time." He irritably said.
"Yeah…I know you're the president and you're very busy." I smirked at him.
"Very funny Shalimar." He said with a huff, proving that he had run up the stairs.
"Okay Emma this is Brennan. Brennan, Emma." I made the introductions.
"Hi Emma." Brennan smiled sweetly at her. I immediately felt irritated. Not that I was dying without it, but still it would be good if he smiled at me like that sometimes. It would lessen some of the hostility going on between us.
"So you're Shalimar's…uh boyfriend?" Emma asked in a confused tone.
I burst into laughter, I couldn't help it really, I mean, Brennan, my boyfriend. Just saying that sentence in my mind makes me want to laugh harder. My sides began to hurt, as my giggle fest finally died down.
"Oh dear god no. He's my ex stepbrother." I explained it to Emma.
"Hey now that you have had a laugh on my count should I just leave?" Brennan sounded angry.
I sighed, letting the few laughs I had left come out before answering. "Actually we needed a male opinion…but since you are the only thing we've got.. so.." I raised my eyebrows at him.
"So what?" he asked in that very angry tone again.
"So could you please tell Emma here, how pretty she looks and how she will be the cutest redhead in town from tomorrow?" I looked at Brennan…pleading him to be gentle with my eyes. But it seemed that I didn't have to try too hard.
Brennan formed a charming(and I mean really charming) smile on his face as he looked towards Emma, letting his gaze take in her new look.
"You look fabulous Emma, you really do. I doubt that any guy would be able to take his eyes off of you."
Emma smiled and blushed. And he smiled again…and very soon there was a whole smiling thing going on between them. I really don't understand! How come he's never that way with me? Why does he always act so hostile when I'm around?
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*Next day at the training school*
I waited for Emma to show up in the cafeteria after getting back from Eckhart's class. I had big plans for her today. She had to be introduced to Gabrielle and the rest of the popular crowd. Half of the day wasn't over yet…and I had heard guys talking about how there was a hot new redhead that they wanted to meet. I was secretly pleased with what I had accomplished.
About last night…after Brennan told Emma how pretty she looked they had talked for quite a while before Emma had left with Nikki. I was surprised at how politely Brennan behaved with her and I had absolutely no idea that he and Emma had so many things in common. They talked a lot about poetry and literature and the ongoing war. And all the while I couldn't help but feel a little left out. Whatever! My mind must have been wandering again.
I went over to where Gabrielle was sitting…I had to make sure that he would like Emma.
"Hey Gabrielle. How was class?" I asked him with a smile.
"Shalimar, you look really beautiful today." He commented.
"Thanks. So how have you been?" I asked again.
"Lonely. But that is going to change very soon. I am having a party at my house tonight. You want to come?" He raised his eyebrows expectantly at me.
Perfect. A party was just the thing I needed to introduce Emma to Gabrielle.
"I'd love to. Can I bring my friends?" I asked.
"Of course. Friends of yours are friends of mine." Gabrielle bowed in a chivalrous gesture at which I laughed.
"Okay I will see you at the party." I smiled at him once again before heading back to my own table.
As I sat down I noticed Emma walk in. She had a beautiful and graceful walk…all she needed was someone who would give her the confidence. And Nikki and I did just that.
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Emma had been hit on about twenty times that day. Every time she had seen a guy moving towards her, she knew that they were going to ask her out. Finally she had moved quickly, not answering anyone else who had addressed her. As she was nearing the cafeteria she felt a soft tap on her shoulder.
"Okay for the last time…" Emma cut off when she noticed an astonished Jesse looking at her with a smile on his face.
"Sorry…I...I just thought…god I'm sorry." Emma blushed bright pink.
"What for?" Jesse smiled at her again.
"It's just that so many guys here have been asking me out that I got really cranky. And I thought you.." Emma was cut off by Jesse.
"And you thought that I would be another guy trying to hit on you." Jesse finished the sentence for her.
"I'm so not comfortable with this…I am not used to so much attention." Emma blushed again.
"Well you deserve it Emma. You are the most beautiful girl here today." Jesse looked straight into Emma's eyes as he said this.
"Don't let Shalimar hear you." Emma's face turned bright pink as she felt Jesse's eyes on her. He left her with another smile as he himself headed off towards the cafeteria.
For the first time that day, Emma truly felt beautiful. She felt that she hadn't made a mistake listening to Shalimar and going for the make over. Her confidence in herself was beginning to grow.
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End of part 5.
To everyone who reviewed:
Petitecat: Hey thanks again!! LOTS more Bren/Shal coming up in the future!
Charlie: I know how we *need* to get distracted from doing college work! Lol..I frequently do it myself!
Jenn11: Hey Jen!! Hope you like this chapter! How have you been BTW?
Molecular Psionic: It's okay if you never saw the movie… there are a lot of twist and turns as far as the pairings go! lol.
Aur: Thanks!! And keep reading to find out!!!
Rain: Thanks a lot!!! Sorry for the late update:(
Kidoftheuniverse: Thanks a lot!! Tell me if you like this chapter!
Crystal raven: I am glad you liked the goodies:)
freak@ngel: Jesse will have a big part to play in the future…this was more of a chapter for Emma's makeover. But I added a little bit of Jesse anyways(That is always good!!).
Dark-moon-Angel: Thanks a lot!! Read on for more Jesse/Emma!
ReganX: To tell you the truth Emma/Gabrielle won't be much of an item… but I'll try and handle them as nicely as I can!!