"Now go ahead and open your eyes. Or keep thinking the worse. Whatever you want."
Erin's sarcasm and confidence almost made Kelsey feel like she would feel comfortable with what she would see in the mirror even though she could feel the palms of her hands starting to sweat.
Almost.
Kelsey then slowly opened her eyes looking at her reflection somewhat with surprise. For a brief moment, everything seemed to be frozen in time as Kelsey blinked trying to focus on her reflection.
Erin had forcefully taken her glasses hiding them somewhere in the apartment making it almost impossible for Kelsey to find them since she knew her friend would somehow sneak them to the club to deflect attention.
But Kelsey didn't need glasses since she had perfect vision. So her brief moment of blinking wasn't because of seeing blurs, but because she thought for a split moment that she saw someone else in her place with the same striking dark green eyes.
The blonde had finally gave in on allowing her friend to do her makeup and was pleasantly surprised. A small smile curved on her face as she saw much less clown makeup from her previous experiences.
Right now her beautiful golden blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders only to have the top part taken back in a braid. Her makeup was almost unnoticeable, but the mascara added to her eyelashes made her whole appearance light up since her green eyes sparkled more in the light.
She strangely looked beautiful with the little work done on her, but she felt extremely uncomfortable not being able to hide herself behind glasses. She wasn't one who liked to show herself off in the limelight.
Although at times she felt inferior to Erin, right now she was amazed at the stranger looking back at her through the mirror almost like someone she didn't get to see very often.
"I learned my lesson last time Kelsey! I made you look more natural so you won't end up hiding in the bathroom all night at the club. All the boys will be all over you."
Erin's comment snapped Kelsey back into reality as she knew her friend was anything but done with her transformation.
"It's time to pick out a dress." Erin said excitedly not allowing Kelsey to reply. She then jumped in excited clapping her hands with much happiness in her eyes. "I have the perfect outfit!"
Erin rushed again into her bedroom while Kelsey stayed in the bathroom tilting her head at her reflection once again noticing how dark her eyes were.
Although she wasn't the only green eyed woman in North Carolina, there was something unique with hers which she never could quite put a finger on.
Unlike Erin who was extremely curvy with perfect silky red hair, Kelsey never had much confidence in her appearance.
Maybe it had to do with her past and the way she grew up, but she didn't like to think positively of herself or even associate with many since she actually enjoyed her privacy.
Her friend was a natural flirt who knew how beautiful she was to the eyes of men, but Kelsey liked to stay hidden so no one could verbally hurt her. She had learned long ago to hide from verbal comments that could only hurt her.
Yet Kelsey Stratton was very happy with herself and the way she acted. She never needed to impress anyone else.
"Kelsey?"
The blonde looked over to the right noticing concern in her friends eyes. Erin opened her mouth shutting it shut thinking to herself before speaking once again.
"You know you look beautiful right? I just wish you could see yourself through my eyes."
Erin's sweet words of comfort brought a smile to Kelsey face as she gave a confirming nod.
Erin hummed in response not knowing her friends complete background. But she never understood how the blonde didn't realize how spectacular she was when she entered a room.
Every eye turned in her direction at her innocence and beauty which seemed so perfectly natural. No makeup or clothing could hide her no matter how hard Kelsey tried. And something was unique with Kelsey that no one could hide since she seemed almost surreal.
"It's thanks to you of course." Kelsey let out a small laugh trying to make Erin feel fine not liking how quiet her usually loud friend was being. "It's like you turned a pumpkin into a carriage!"
When Kelsey got into her troubling thoughts of her past, she could sense the worry Erin had toward her which was another reason she tried to focus on everything else in her life.
Erin laughed at the remark before bringing out a dress she had hidden behind her back. She was ready for the night to begin. Unbeknownst to Kelsey, Erin knew her friend was the true beauty out of them both and she intended to have her shine for the evening.
Immediately the smile on Kelsey's face fell as she noticed the revealing black dress her friend had showed her. Not only was this something she would refuse to wear in any other circumstance, but the thought of someone else seeing her in it made her feel horrified making Kelsey face transform into pure terror.
"Absolutely not!" Kelsey exclaimed shaking her head at Erin. "I will NOT wear that!"
Kelsey realized at the moment it was time to leave the bathroom as her body was ready to run. Her brows scrunched as her eyes were wide in her attempt to escape her annoying redheaded friend.
"Come on!" Erin pleaded pouting her lips in attempt to convince the blonde. "You will look amazing in it!"
"You've got to be kidding me!" Kelsey said sliding around Erin to escape the bathroom. "Men will get the wrong idea! That's the kind of dress you wear! Not me!"
"When will you realize that you are the type of girl who could totally rock this outfit! I have to constantly diet and exercise to fit into my clothes!" Erin said following Kelsey who attempted to make her way to her own room.
"It's not fair how you are already beautiful and have an amazing figure, but refuse to show it off! Stop wasting time and put on the dress on!" Erin demanded nearly stomping her foot. "You are too old to be this stubborn!"
Kelsey frowned trying to run faster, yet somehow Erin was hot on her trail which was surprising since Erin wasn't much of a runner.
By the time she reached her bedroom door trying to slam it, she suddenly felt her friend forcefully push it open giving her a deadly glare.
Maybe it was the hint of warning laced in the brown eyes of Erin, but something about the look terrified Kelsey.
Yet, as the blondes eyes drifted back to the black dress, confidence left her soul. She had no desire to try to seduce men for the evening. And she had absolutely no desire to out the dress upon her body.
"There's no way you will be able to convince me to wear that!" Kelsey snapped giving her friend the same kind of deadly stare in hope that the attempt of the seductive dress could be dropped. "You will have to hold me down if you think that thing is even coming near me!"
Erin's lips twisted as a malice smile spread across her face. A challenge wasn't going to stop her from getting her friend into the dress.
Kelsey gulped realizing how much her friend wanted to go out this evening as Erin took another step toward her.
"Sweet sweet Kelsey…" she said with a voice that could almost trick Kelsey in believing she had good intentions.
Almost.
"Don't be so difficult. Tonight is suppose to be… fun."