"OH ALLI THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE, I AM A MESS." I practically yelled while I dragged Alli inside of my house late Saturday morning.
"Damn Clare, what is going ON?"
"I'm going to a bar tonight and I need to know what to wear" I said turning and walking up the stairs, still holding onto her and dragging her up with me. I had called her about 20 minutes earlier in hysterics and thankfully she rushed over at my begging (and Mama Bhandari's approval, of course).
Alli stopped dead in her tracks at the bottom of the stairs, took her hand back, and looked at me shocked. Then she raised her eyebrows at me impressed while she crossed her arms across her chest.
"Well well well, little miss Saint Clare. Lemme see the fake." She said reaching her hand out toward me, "I need to know where to get one too, maybe then we can go bar hopping together. BTW thanks for the invite."
"No, Alli!" I half whined/screeched at her. "I'm actually cleared to go to the bar. Eli's dad is playing a sho-"
"Ok. Stop. Say no more Clare. I get it. You need my help to look hot for Eli tonight"
No wonder we were best friends. I took a breath and started to feel a tiny bit calmer.
"In a simple word, yes." I turned and dragged her up to my room "So please help with my wardrobe. I've obviously never been to a bar so I don't know what to wear." I said in hysterics walking into my unusually messy room.
"What and you think I have?" Alli questioned.
"Well, no." I was beginning to panic again. "Come on Alli, you're just far better at this fashion stuff than me. Please help, pleeeeaaaseeeeee?" I looked at her with puppy dog eyes while batting my eyelashes, begging for help.
"Of course Clare, now stop begging! We don't have time to waste!"
"Ok! Do I wear a dress? Heels? Jeans? A button-up? Is a cardigan too 'churchy'? What about my make-up, should I do my usual mascara and lip gloss or should I actually make an attempt at-"
"CLARE! Calm down! I. Will. Help. You; don't worry! Let's see what we have to work with..."
Alli quickly went through the huge pile of clothes thrown on my bed from my closet and drawers. Then she spoke up after examining the mess and began tossing things off my bed.
"No on your church dresses. Button-ups and cardigans are a HUGE no. I don't even think you own heels, so I don't even know why you said that. Clare you don't really have anything 'sexy'." She thought for a second "Well, sexy in your definition. How much money do you have?"
"Uhm, well my mom is out for the night, God knows where, so she left me $40 for food and for when I go out."
"SHE KNOWS YOU'RE GOING TO A BAR?" As if my head was already spinning, Alli just made me go from nervous to ready to have a panic attack.
"I almost lost my hearing, thanks Alli." I said sarcastically, "And no, she thinks I am going to a movie night at Adam's house and she left me money just in case we went out or got food or something"
A sneaky grin appeared across Alli's face. "Perfect." She said almost devilishly. "Let's hit the mall and find you an outfit that will make Eli tremble in his skinny jeans!"
Home. I was finally home after 4 excruciatingly long hours at the mall with Alli. I dropped her off at home after we left the mall even though she insisted that she help me get ready. I kindly declined knowing I'd end up at the bar with fake eyelashes, bright red lipstick, thick black eyeliner, and teased up hair like Sandy from Grease. No offense to Alli with her trendy style and impeccable make-up skills, but I needed to look like myself tonight. I couldn't make it obvious that I was a) trying to impress Eli and b) I was way too under aged to be in a bar even though yes, I was both of those things.
I got to my room and put down all 87 (ok that's an exaggeration, but it felt like 87) bags on my bed and hopped in the shower. Taking my extra sweet time washing my hair, my body, and shaving I thought about how tonight would go. I'd get there at 8 PM, check in at the door and pay, and quickly try and find Eli and his family. I'd sit next to Eli and watch his dad's band play while we all ate pizza. We'd hang out for a bit and then I'd leave probably around 10 PM.
I got out of the shower, wrapped my hair in a towel, and headed to my bedroom. I took the clothes and shoes out of the shopping bags and laid them out on my bed. I grabbed the Victoria's Secret bag and put on the matching black lace bra and panties Alli insisted on buying for me. She claimed they would give me a confidence boost and even said 'every girl wants to feel a little sexy underneath'. I had to give her credit because when I looked in the mirror I did look pretty good in the sexy lingerie and I felt good too. I put on my new pair of dark wash skinny jeans and topped it off with the black shirt I actually picked out myself. It was tight around my stomach but going up to my ribs and in the arms it was a loose three-quarter top with a detailed lacey generously low cut middle with strings to tie. Not something I usually wear, but I don't usually go to a bar, so when in Rome...
I went to the bathroom, blow-dried, and curled my hair to perfection, the best it has looked in a long time. I decided I'd go the tiniest extra step and give myself a very subtle smoky eye and put a very thin line of black liquid eyeliner on my lid. I curled my eyelashes and put mascara on.
7:30 PM crap, Plan Make Eli Tremble In His Skinny Jeans was taking longer than expected. I quickly sprayed some perfume on myself and went to my room. I pulled out the new knee length tan 1 ½ inch chunky heel boots I bought and slid them on. I grabbed my phone, wallet, keys, gum, and lip-gloss, put them in my new small burgundy cross body satchel, flicked the porch light on, and headed down to the bar.
Who knew at 16 I'd be driving to a bar by myself to meet up with a guy? Little Miss Saint Clare, I barely recognize you.