Seth had wondered what kept his brother and when he returned to the bar after he had been in Kates room, Seth asked him where he had been.
"Got caught up on a call," replied Richie but, Seth sensed his brother wasn't being completely honest, but Seth let it go for now.
Richie ordered a drink. The crowd was good tonight. Some locals had made their way in along with the usual truckers making their trek across the border.
"Hey, did you know it was Kate's birthday a couple days ago?" asked Richie. Seth thought for a minute and then felt a wave of shame as he realized he had forgotten.
"Shit! I totally forgot," he said smacking the top of the bar with the palm of his hand. He couldn't believe he had been so stupid but, then again Kate had been hiding from everyone so how was he supposed to remember when she didn't seem to want anyone to? Don't be an asshole blaming her! He thought.
"Well it seems her little brother forgot too so don't get too down on yourself," replied Richard dryly.
"How did you know then?" asked Seth. Richard drank the last of his whiskey and turned away from his brother to signal for another.
"Look it doesn't matter how I know, what matters is we make it up to her!" replied Richard. Seth stared at his brother with confusion. Richard was genuinely upset about this. He could hide it from others but, not from his own brother. For a minute Seth was reminded of when he caught Kate and Richie kissing at the Twister. Did Richie actually care for her? Time would tell.
"Okay, Ill figure it out ok?" said Seth and with that he walked out of the bar.
Through Kate's eyes
I felt better than I had in a long time. Maybe it was having a purpose for once? I woke up anticipating the coming night when I would join Seth, Richard and Scott in the bar. I didn't care about my birthday or the fact that a cloud of doom rested over my head. For tonight, none of it mattered. I would let it go.
I spent most of the day hanging out in my room, trying to pass the time. At one point I even took a nap. When the sun went down I realized I needed to get dressed but, I was sad to see all I had was jeans and tee shirts. I mentally kicked myself for not taking advantage of the skirts and dresses Brandy had got me but, I refused, not realizing i would ever need them.
I don't know why I cared so much about my appearance. It wasn't that I was a big bar person. Even though I wasn't twenty one I had been in more bars than most people twice my age. When Seth and I worked together on jobs we always went to a bar to celebrate.
I never was one to worry about my appearance but tonight seemed different. I wanted to look nice and yet not look like I am selling a bible. As I contemplated my few choices, I got a knock at the door.
"Hey honey!" cried Brandy as she gave me a quick hug and walked into my room. She carried a large garment bag and make up kit. I shut the door and followed her in the room. She placed the makeup kit, which was actually just a tackle box on the vanity and put the garment bag on the bed.
"What's all this?" I asked slightly concerned.
Brandy smiled at me as she opened the tackle box and pulled out a curling iron.
"Seth said you might need some help getting ready tonight. I was going to cosmetology school before I was turned," she said. While she talked I walked over to the bed and picked up the bag. Brandy snatched it from me before I could undo the zipper.
"Nope! That's a surprise, now go shower so I can get started!" she trilled pushing me towards the bathroom.
I rolled my eyes, oh great, I'm gonna be a vampires Barbie doll!
I'd never been to prom but, I could only imagine that getting ready for one night in the bar was as close to it as I would ever get. I had gone to a church dance with my ex Kyle when we were freshman but, it was semi-formal.
I sat there listening to Brandy prattle on as she did my makeup and hair and tried to imagine another time, another me. It was odd that I could remember who I was but, she was totally foreign to me. I used to think that French kissing Kyle behind the church was the most risky thing I had ever done.
Since then I had been a vampire hunter, professional robber, a liar and even a murderer. Would anything ever feel normal again?
"Okay I think that should do it!" trilled Brandy as she sprayed my hair again. I tried not to breath in the hairspray fumes.
When I looked in the mirror again, this time I really saw myself. Brandy had taken my long hair and pinned some it up away from my face to frame it. She had given me soft curls that fell down my back and then placed small lilac blossoms in it. It was simple but, I liked it.
My makeup had never looked more perfect and honestly I don't think I had ever worn more on my face! My mom had always told me that too much make up would give people the wrong idea so I was always careful to keep it to mascara and lip gloss. Brandy had given my eyes a smoky silvery look with eye liner on the top lid that seemed to make my eyes look bigger. She had used bronzer or blush to contour my cheek bones.
I stared at myself and was unconsciously moving closer to the mirror until I felt Brandy gently pull my shoulders back.
"Careful you'll hurt your eyes!" she giggled grabbing the garment bag from the bed. I heard the zipper of the bag and smiled so big I thought my face would split.
