"'Lyssa? 'Lys, can you come here?" Mia called from her and Brian's bedroom.
Alyssa poked her head around the doorframe. "Yeah?" She asked, eyeing her sister warily. She stepped into the room and Letty slammed and locked the door behind her.
"We're gonna get you ready for the races." Mia answered her quizzical look.
Advancing upon her, Letty grabbed her shoulders and pushed her over to the wardrobe. "Pick out what you like and if it's bad, we'll pick for you."
Alyssa stepped forward self-consciously and began to slowly move the hangers and clothes out of her way. Carefully, she selected a black leather miniskirt with a red belt, black strappy sandals that showed her toned, tanned legs and a red tank top that ended just above her belly button ring.
"Too skanky?" Alyssa spun around and stared quizzically at her sister and friend.
"No way girl. Jesse won't be able to keep his eyes off ya!" Letty grinned slyly.
"Or his hands!" Mia giggled.
Alyssa widened her eyes and playfully slapped her older sibling. "Mia!" She mock-gasped.
"What? She's just saying what everyone's thinking. Sit. We're gonna do your make-up." Letty ordered, pointing to a chair infront of a vanity table.
Alyssa lowered herself slowly into the chair and stared into the mirror. Staring back at her was a 23-year-old woman with tanned, clear skin, bright violet eyes set in a delicate, timeless face, with shoulder-length ebony hair framing her face. On her hip bone was a small tattoo, depicting an angel, with red devil horns and a devil's tail appearing from underneath its white robe. That was what others saw. A contented, happy woman.
Underneath that mask was something completely different.
A broken soul. An empty heart. A sobbing child.
Across the very tops of her thighs and over her buttocks, white scars sprawled over the tender skin. On the soles of her feet were long scars, results from walking on broken glass in bare feet. The ugly shapes were cleverly hidden from prying eyes, only able to be seen when her body was naked. Which wasn't often.
"Lys!" Mia cried. She waved a hand infront of her younger sister's face.
"What?" Alyssa asked, her face a picture of bewilderment.
"She's been sayin' your name for the last five minutes!" Letty replied, looking at her in concern. "You ok?"
"Yeah. Must have zoned out, that's all." Alyssa insisted. She spun around and faced the mirror, gasping as she did so.
Mia and Letty had definitely worked their magic to perfection.
Her eyes were outlined with long black lashes and black eyeliner. Her lids were covered in shimmery black powder and her lips shone with pale pink gloss.
"Damn girl. You hot." Letty grinned, as she pulled on her trademark black leather pants and flame-toed boots. On the top she wore a red tank top with black, blue and silver flames licking up the side.
Mia just smiled. She was wearing a tan leather skirt, white lacy shirt and white knee-high boots.
"Ready?" Alyssa asked, holding out her arms.
Letty and Mia both took an arm each and the three women descended down the stairs to the living area.
"Damn." Jesse whispered under his breath.
"You got that right brotha." Brian murmured back, not taking his eyes off Mia.
"They fine." Leon muttered.
"Letty, baby! Let's get goin'!" Dom cried, swallowing hard.
Letty, Mia and Alyssa all cocked an eyebrow at each other. "Men." They said in unison.