Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

Abby

There's still a smile on my face as I make my way back to the bedroom, where Elsie is waiting, engrossed in her phone. She looks up as I enter, a curious glint in her eyes.

"Well, spill it, Abby,” she says, setting her phone aside without a moment's hesitation. “What did Karl want?”

I can't help but smirk a bit. Even though the idea of going out on a date with Gianna of all people makes me want to scream, I couldn't deny the sincerity in Karl's eyes. And in a way that I don’t want to admit, there are butterflies in my stomach.

But I manage to keep my cool, and shrug as I sit down at my vanity to start putting on some makeup. “He wants to go on a double date.”

Elsie’s eyes light up with excitement. “A double date? That's fantastic!” She jumps up from the bed and rushes over to me. “We have to get you ready.”

I shake my head, trying to downplay the situation. “Elsie, it's not what you think,” I say. “It's with Ethan and... Gianna.”

Elsie makes a face at the mention of Karl's old secretary's name. “Gianna? Ew. I mean, I knew she was dating Ethan, but...”

“Look,” I say with a sigh, “I'm just doing this for Karl. He seemed to really want me there. We agreed on a platonic date, so don't get too excited.”

But Elsie, despite my attempts at downplaying the situation, sees right through my facade. “Bullshit,” she says, setting her wine glass down on the vanity. “A date is a date, and you're still blushing.” With a sigh, I finally relent. “Okay, okay. Maybe I'm a little excited. But I can only be so excited when Gianna is involved,” I say.

Elsie shrugs. “All the more reason to get dolled up and look really hot,” she says with a mischievous giggle. I can tell she’s tipsy, and even though it's endearing, it's also a little frustrating.

“I'm fine in what I'm wearing,” I say, gesturing to the red mini dress and black cardigan.

She pauses for a moment, taking in my outfit, then places her hands on her hips. “The outfit is great,” she says, then gestures to my hair and face. “But this needs work.”

I can't help but burst out laughing. “Wow. Thanks, Elsie.”

“That's not what I meant,” she says with a wave of her hand. She grabs my makeup bag from me and begins digging through it. “You're gorgeous, Abby. But everyone could always use a little enhancement, you know?"

Before I know it, Elsie is getting to work. Music plays out of the speaker on her phone as she applies my makeup, but my back is turned away from the mirror so I can't see. Normally, I would be averse to the idea, but Elsie’s enthusiasm is too infectious to be annoyed.

“You're going to knock their socks off, Abby,” she says as she finishes applying some lipstick in a shade that I can't see. "Karl won't know what hit him.”

Suddenly, with a final nod, Elsie turns me around to face my reflection.

"Woah. Elsie...” My eyes widen as I take in my appearance. It's more than what I would normally wear: a dramatic smokey eye, winged eyeliner, and plum-colored lips.

“Do you like it?” she asks.

I pause for a moment, still in shock. “It's... not what I'd normally go for,” I admit, leaning in to get a better look, “but honestly... I love it.”

Elsie grins in response; and I'm not lying when I say I love it. She's somehow managed to enhance all of my features in unexpected ways, and the plum lipstick is like the icing on the cake. The color goes well with my outfit, like a perfect combination of the red and the black.