Preparation

Before I knew it, tomorrow had come, and as usual, I was thrown into my daily chores. Today was no different from yesterday, other than the fact that of what was yet to come. I'd keep my mind on working, but sometimes I'd slip and practice a dance move in whoever's room I was cleaning at the moment. While on my twenty minute break, I asked some of the staff about the Karaoke competition. I found out that the foyer of the Celestial Heights would be transformed into hottest club this side of California. It was called Nevermore, and it only opened on Halloween night. They told me it was one of those white gloves and fancy gowns affairs. It sounded more like a Rave to me. I also took another look at the sign up sheet, just to make sure I wasn't alone. Apparently, some of the other folks had the same thoughts I'd had last night, because twelve of the names were marked through, leaving only ten of us. I groaned, and prepared to get back on my job.

I was off by six, and as soon as I slid my time card through the machine, I rushed to my room and gathered everything I would need for my performance, and scrambled to Anais's room. She had set up an array of curlers and flat irons on her dresser each light flashing and the steam curled from there metallic jaws. I hope to God that's not for me. Oh yeah she's good with hair, but she'll burn the hell out your ears if you don't get to them before she does. I dumped my material on her bed and stared at her as she stood in her mirror tinkering with long white bunny ears placed atop her freshly dyed black hair.

I raised an eyebrow, "Playboy bunny?" I eyed her costume. She wore a slim, strapless, corset with thick black strips running down it's sides. The piece was white with little matching frills that graced her slim thighs. Black fishnet stockings and arm length gloves completed the outfit, along with the white fluffy tail attached to her bottom.

"Really?" was all I had to say to that.

She laughed and turned to me, her ears finally bent like she wanted them. "What?' she twirled and poked out her butt, "It's not cute?" she pouted.

I chuckled and grabbed my towel and loffah out my bag, " What you just did wasn't cute." Her face cracked and she smacked her lips, " I don't have to impress you."

"Uh-huh." I reply, and go to her bathroom.

"But, I do have to curl your hair." she told me, I could hear the smirk in her voice.

On a reflex, I dropped my things and covered my once burned ears. As I turned to look at her, she had a set of steaming curlers in her hand, an evil glint in her eye. " Now, is my outfit cute?"

"Yes! It's adorable." I gave a nervous laugh, " Those men won't know what's coming."

She sat the curlers down and smiled, " I know right?" she turned back to the mirror and primped her hair some more. "Hurry up and shower, we have work to do."

I nod, and swiftly pick up my things. I shower and exit out of the bathroom with my fluffy towel secured tightly on my chest. I chewed on the edge of my fingernail, and watched Anais once again fiddle with her ears. It was only seven and she was already in her costume. I looked at my bag. I was in no rush to get in mine.

" So," I started, " what're you gonna do with my hair?"

She turned her gaze from her mirror and walked toward me. " I was thinking maybe some curls in the back," she replied, as she took some of my hair and wound it around her finger. " And a hump in the front."

I smiled and nod. She smiled back before pointing towards her vanity. "Com'on girl, we'd better get started." before I could sit, she stopped me. " Put the top on first, that way you won't mess it up later."

'Oh too soon!' I whined in my head, but obediently took the green strip and hustled to put it on. I ditch the towel for my favorite pair of boy shorts.

She nods to me and starts to pull out all sorts of hair products while I sit in her chair. A few minutes later she gets to work. I could feel the heat of the curlers on my scalp, and felt the slight tug as she unwinds them from my hair. I sat in a comfortable silence, until I asked, "Have you seen Callie yet?"

"Nu-huh, well, I did bump into her during break." she spoke with a comb tucked between her lips. " She said we'd be in for a surprise."

"huh," I hum, leaning my head this way and that as she styled it.

A good ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"Com'on in!" Anais called, still working in my hair. There was a laugh and then Cassie's voice sounded on the other side of the door. " I don't think I'll fit!"

'what the hell?' Confused, I look at Anais, to find her with the same expression. She leaves me and opens the door to reveal… a very fat red pitcher of..

" Kool-Aid!" I exclaim. And she told me NOT to dress practical!

And that's exactly what she was. Red from head to toe, her bulbous form wallowed through the door, at least she tried to. One moment I'm sitting in a chair, and next, im on the floor laughing my ass off at Callie's costume. I can hardly breath as I watch her struggle through the doorway. The expression on the costume stayed the same, smiling, bright just how I used to remember it. All that was missing was the one line. Rubbing the tears from my eyes, I stop laughing long enough to ask her, " What does he say Cassie?"

She stopped struggling, and backed out form the doorway and darted back in this time making it though and blurted in her deepest voice, "OH YEAH!"

I was laughing so hard my sides where killing me and it was getting hard to breath. After a minute or two we recovered and I heaved a sigh and sat back in the chair. I'd had my laugh this month. As Anais went back to work in my hair, I asked Cassie where she found that at, and she told me she found it in a storage building in the hotel. I left it at that and look at Anais alarm clock, it read eight thirty seven. My heart throbbed and I could feel that nerve bug crawl back into my stomach.

"Hey guys," my voice softer than normal," Its almost time."

Anais tugged the curls around my hair as she glanced at the clock. She chirped in excitement,

" Go, put on the rest of your stuff." She gently pushed me out the chair, "Your done."

I nod numbly, neither excited nor nervous, just somewhere in between, and grab the rest of my outfit. I'm in the bathroom once again, and change into a different pair of undies before slipping into the skirt. Just like last time, it sighed against my skin, and sat perfectly on my hips. I restrained myself from looking in the mirror.

I leave the bathroom for the last time, and take a look at myself in her full length mirror. Before I could get a good look at myself, Anais hopped in front and me and placed the tiara on the top of my head, making sure to bobby pin it in place.

Full of energy, she hopped back, "okay, now you can look."

"Make sure to bring that stick of yours," Cassie said from her position on the bed, "We're gonna need it." I laugh and face the mirror. My brown eyes widened slightly, and my mouth makes a small 'oh'. All that came to mind was 'make sure it's a really big stick'. Anais really knew how to hook a sista up! The curls framed my face perfectly while the rest spiraled down my shoulders. The hump protruded from the top of my head, the bundle of hair just noticeable from the sparkling crown. I'm smiling so hard, that my eyes close. "Thank you."

Anais waved it off, "No problem girl." she picked through my hair once again. "Keep your contacts in until its time for you to go on."

"Give her a jacket so she can hid her outfit." Callie suggested, "and plus it's cold out there."

I catch the jacket flings to me, and a couple pieces of jewelry.

"Lets roll out," Anais announced and pointed to Callie, " you especially."

I gulped, and try to calm my racing heart. After adhering the gold dangly earrings and matching necklace to myself, we heaved Callie off the bed and pulled her into the corridor, and bounded down the brightly lit hallway.

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