Chapter 3

I stared into the mirror and smiled. Who knew vintage could make you look so good? It took me three hours to find this freaking thing! I grabbed it off of the shelf just as the store was closing. It has a black base with white poka dots about the size of a half dollar. It had a straight neck and thick sleeves that started from under the neck at the side, and wound around my neck like a halter top. I pinned a red carnation on the right sleeve. I ended up spending almost all of my money on this single dress, even though it wasn't all that much money. I have a problem with spending money, and I know sooner or later I'll get in trouble for it, just not yet.

I walked into the bathroom and stared doing my hair. I pulled out the photo I had printed from the computer. This was going to be difficult. After about ten minutes of destroying the ozone layer with hairspray, I decided to go to a salon. I picked up my purse and counted my money.

"Yep. That's enough." I said to myself quietly. I hopped in the car (after I had taken off my dress) and started driving.

* * *

I chuckled as I once again stood in front of my mirror. This time, with hair and makeup completely perfected. I couldn't believe hairdresser's face as I produced my picture out of my purse. She made sure I knew the price of her, and I quote "Artistic ability" before she did anything. I was like, you are a hairdresser! This is what you are supposed to do, so do it! I didn't say it though. I just thought it. I'm seriously not that mean. I made sure she didn't cut it. If she did it would have totally ruined it even though she insisted. I knew she was only in it for the money though.

I tore myself away from the mirror and slipped into my gown. Then I checked the clock.

"Yikes! It's almost 5:30!" I yelped. I took one more look at myself in the mirror to make sure I was perfected and bounced down the stairs. I plopped down on the couch and stared out the window, waiting for Zane's car to pull into the driveway. After about five minutes of jumping up every single time a headlight came into view, I finally spotted Zane's car coming down the street. I pulled my compact out and puckered my lips, and applied some of my prettiest lip gloss. Zane walked up to the door and opened it quietly. (He's my best friend. He can do that if he wants) He looked around for a few seconds until he spotted me. He paused and whistled slowly, which of course made me blush.

"Wow Cait… You didn't have to take this that seriously. I mean it's just a date…" He said quietly.

"Fine then! I guess I'll just go upstairs and change then! I only spent about like, five thousand dollars on myself! I guess it'll all go to waste!" I said as I started to run up the stairs.

"Oh no you don't!" He called as he ran after me. I continued running until I felt a hand clasped around my arm. He covered my mouth with his other hand pulled me to him. I tried screaming but because he had his hand over my mouth it didn't work out very well. Whoa! Déjà vu! I thought as I struggled while being pulled down the stairs.

He tossed me effortlessly over his shoulder and held me there like a sack of potatoes. Now that his hand was off of my mouth, I was free to scream all I wanted.

"ZANE! LET ME DOWN! SERIOUSLY! THIS ISN'T FUNNY! YOU'RE GOING TO MESS UP MY HAIR!"

"No way José."

"Fine!" I said. I finally slumped loosely and waited for him to set me into his car. No such chance. He passed his car and started walking up the block. I rolled my eyes and decided that asking him what he was doing would be a waste of breath. Finally, he came to a stop and slowly let me off of his shoulder.

"Close your eyes." He whispered into my ear. "I don't want to mess up your makeup. Not that you need any anyway." I quickly closed my eyes and smiled at his comment. He always said those kinds of things to me. He was like my support system. Whenever I called myself fat or ugly, he would always either tell me to shut up and give me an explanation of how I am the opposite of what I thought. It always made me feel so loved.

He led me for about 500 feet, turned a corner, and stopped. He turned me so I was facing the street, (At least I think that's the direction I was facing.)

"Now open." He was so close to me I could feel his breath on my neck. I jumped because of it. I opened my eyes to find a 1959 Cadillac Convertible sitting on the curb. I gasped and spun around, almost knocking into him.

"Zane! Oh my gosh! You are seriously in trouble! You really didn't have to do that!

"Yea, I know, but I wanted to. Plus, you know about that new job I got?" I nodded. He had been talking nonstop about his new job at an automobile mechanics shop. "Well… this is the car I have been working on. It's done, and the owners paid me to take it on a test drive. Plus, we have to ride in style and fit the part don't we?" He walked over to the passenger side door and opened it for me.

"Why thank you kind sir!" I said in a partially sarcastic voice. I climbed in and he shut the door behind me. He rushed around the car and sat down in the driver's seat and started the car. We started down the road and turned onto the highway. He turned on the radio and turned onto our favorite station. After about thirty minutes of laughing to our off tune singing and taking turns choosing the song from different stations, I finally ran out of breath. I turned down the music and sighed.

"So, how has your week been?" He asked me.

"It's been pretty good. How about yours?"

"Well… apart from the nerves it's been pretty much okay."

"Why were you nervous?"

"Well… I just asked the most beautiful girl on the planet to go on a date with me, and she said yes. Then I had to figure out something to do for that date. Then I wasn't sure if she would like it or not." I rolled my eyes.

"Zane, you know I would like anything you put together, Even if it was jumping into a mud puddle, or getting a shot. Both of those don't sound like much fun, but it would be fun to do it with you." I looked over at him and he blushed, making me laugh.

"Aw man! I hate it when I blush! It's so… not manly!" He whined.

"I think it's cute when you blush. Speaking of our date…."

"We were on a completely different subject."

"Whatever. Now we're talking about our date. Where are we going anyway?"

"It's a surprise."

I groaned. "AW! COME ON! You know that I don't have enough patience for surprises! Remember your 6th birthday party? I got everyone to tell me what they got you and then couldn't handle the suspense. I told you every single present you would get. Except for the ones that I forgot."

"Which was what? None of them? I was so mad at you!"

"You were still really good at acting surprised though. All thanks to moi. I'm the one who gave you acting lessons."

"That's true. But I'm still not telling you where we are going. It's a surprise remember?"

"Please?"

"Nope. My lips are sealed." He pretended to zip his lips and lock it with a key. Then he rolled down the window and threw the 'key' out. After about twelve minutes more of my pleading I gave up and slumped into my chair. "Aw Cait. Don't be like that. I'll tell you what it is." He said in a pleading tone. My face brightened and I sat up in my seat.

"Okay! What is it?"

"A surprise." He said with a huge grin on his face. I glared at him and gave him the silent treatment until we arrived at our destination.