chapter 8

Locating Darcy's house was easy. Adding to the fact that LittleWood was a small town, we hosted the end of year party there last year.

PS. It's where I ripped my swimming suit.

Anyways, after my mom reluctantly drove me there, I stepped up to the front door, my bag slung over my shoulder and knocked.

It was semi-big, a two-storey house painted in white, had wooden shutters and a cobblestone driveway. Beautiful lilies surrounded the entire house.

The front door opened a crack and a pair of blue eyes peered out.

It opened wider and Darcy's mom appeared fully. A flowery apron was wrapped around her tall, thin frame, her brown hair was tied back. Her blue eyes like Darcy's was warm and friendly.

“Hello Taylor. Why, it's so nice to see you,” she spoke with a heavy French accent.

Last year she insisted on learning each and everyone's names.

“Hello Mrs. Condé. Darcy invited me for a sleepover.”

“She did, didn't she?” She raised an eyebrow and shook her head. “Come in, Taylor. Come in.” She moved aside and I stepped in.

The front hall was scattered in pictures of Darcy and her parents. Moving to the left we entered her living room with its huge plasma.

“Darcy should be in her room. Why don't you go check on her?”

“Thanks Mrs. Condé.”

I took a set of stairs with a floral carpet on it upstairs into a long hallway.

There were doors on the left and right and I had no idea which was Darcy's. I stayed on the lower floor throughout the party last year.

My bag shook beside me and I hit it. It quietened immediately.

A giggle attracted me to the third door on my left. I stopped before it and knocked.

“Come in.”

I opened the door and entered, closing it behind me.

Darcy's room was pale pink with a four-poster bed and a huge mirror with a dresser. Makeup supplies lined the top.

Darcy was seated on the pink carpet on the floor dressed in a white top and black pajama bottoms. Mindy was on the bed dressed in a pale pink nightgown.

I was thrown by the sight of Mindy. I hadn't expected her to be there but honestly what did I expect to expect?

“Hi, Taylor!” Darcy greeted like we'd been friends forever.

“Hi?” I replied, trying to decide if I was walking into an ambush. “Mindy. Didn't expect to see you here.”

I looked around for hidden cameras.

Ok, Taylor. You're in the lair of the beast. You will not show weakness.

“Darcy told me about the highlighter lipstick and I just had to come. Do you know how hard it is to touch up in school with Alderman prowling?”

With her blonde hair down I could see it had some brown streaks in it that complimented her brown eyes. I could see why she was popular as she stretched out on the bed.

This is it Taylor.

“I'll make your highlighter lipsticks but I have a few conditions.”

“You know we can't get Rebecca off of you, so don't even try, ” Darcy said from the floor.

“That's not what I wanted to say.” I rolled my eyes. “I'm doing this piece on populars and I kinda need your help.”

“For the studio? I thought Rebecca was anchor?” Darcy asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, of course she is, I'm just her lowly assistant but this one is for me. For college applications, these things look good on it.”

I prayed they wouldn't see through my lies. They shared a look.

“What do we get out of it?” Mindy asked.

“Highlighter lipsticks and help with homework.”

I knew I was giving them more they deserved but it was important to me that they agreed. I held my breath whilst they shared a look.

“Done, but what exactly are we supposed to do?”

I felt on top of the world. “Just be yourselves. And a few pointers here and there.”

Mindy shrugged. “I don't see how that can hurt anyone but you need to get started on those highlighters, pronto.”

“Yeah, but you're nowhere near ready for a sleepover,” Darcy pointed to my T-shirt and jeans then to the door behind her. “Go change.”

“I'll be right back.”

I opened the door and found the bathroom. The squeaky clean beige bathtub took up most of the space in there. A mirror was fixed above the beige sink.

I placed my bag on top of the dazzling sink and opened it.

It happened so fast. A blur of white escaped and bolted out of my purple duffel bag.

Oh crap! I knew I shouldn't have brought her.

Thankfully I locked the door behind me so there was no place for Leslie to escape to. She landed on the white tiles and started stretching.

“Now you listen here and listen good, miss,” I wagged my finger at her. “You know the reason I brought you so you be very good, ok?”

If Leslie understood me I'd never know because all she did was lick her paw.

You really have to get out of the habit of talking to your cat, Taylor.

I sighed and changed into my favorite purple pajamas. It had a huge sparkly unicorn on the shirt and a smaller one on the left leg of the pants.

I scooped up Leslie and carried my bag out.

I gave an apologizing look to them as I emerged.

“I'm sorry guys. I know I shouldn't have brought her.”

“Why do you have a cat in your arms, Taylor?” Mindy asked.

“Here's the thing, her name's Leslie and I never go to a sleepover without her. I get serious jitters if I try.” I scratched behind her ear.

"She's adorable!" Darcy screamed reaching for her.

"Really? You don't mind?"

"Of course not! I love cats!"

I handed her to Darcy and she immediately snuggled into her. Darcy scratched behind her ear and I knew Leslie was safe.

I sat on the carpet beside darcy and surveyed all the material they'd scattered on the floor.

“The highlighter lipstick I made was honestly just a means to an end,” I said as I checked out a bright yellow highlighter, “I guess they're a little like charm bracelets. Take a couple of cute charms and string them together. I used to make them but not anymore.”

“Why did you stop Taylor?” Mindy asked. Leslie had put two paws on her head and stared at me, her pink ears moving like radars.

I took my bottom lip between my teeth and bit down hard.

I couldn't tell them that charm bracelets brought me more bad than good luck, besides, these girls were the right-hand girls to the person I hated most in the world. Not to mention they teased continuously me with her. I might need them for my project but I wasn't forgetting that easily.

With that thought, I decided against it.

Teach them how to make it, get some material for my project then I'm outta here.

“It's nothing,” I waved my hand as I brought out a MAC lipstick. It was almost a shame to waste such a good brand.

“It's OK Taylor, I give up doing a lot of things too,” Darcy said hugging her legs.

“Like exercise and that knitted hat you always say you'll finish.” Mindy teased, a smile on her face.

Darcy giggled.

“You know I hate exercise, Min. It's a miracle I'm still in the cheer squad.”

“You hate exercise?” I asked astonished.

Whoa, did not see that one coming!

“Guilty as charged. I try to get through cheer practice every Friday and P.E but after that, nah, I don't think exercise is my calling.”

It reminded me of my own hatred of exercise and for a minute Darcy seemed human to me.

“So Taylor, I heard Rebecca used to be your friend, BFF, if what I heard is correct. What happened?”

They tried to hide it but they both seemed anxious to get some answers.

“I don't know. If I did, why would I tell you guys? You do nothing but bully me.”

“We're sorry, Taylor, but it's not like you make it easy for yourself,” Darcy tried to hide her smile behind her hand.

“What's that supposed to mean?” I bristled.

“I mean coming to school in your granny clothes and being a general nerd?” Mindy raised her eyebrow like it was obvious.

“Yeah, you were practically asking for it,” Darcy affirmed.

Remember why you're doing this, Taylor.

“Then it's a good thing you guys are helping with this popular project,” I forced a fake smile.

“I'm actually excited,” Darcy turned to Mindy. “I mean it's going to be crazy fun.”

“I'm excited too. Tomorrow we'll start. We've got a lot of work to do.”

Mindy had a mysterious smirk on her face.

Oh boy, this isn't going to end well.