CHAPTER 40

**CHLOE DUARTE**

I'm off work feeling like taking the day off to take care of myself, that's exactly what I do when I call an Uber to one of the most sought-after beauty salons in town.

But unfortunately, my smile diminishes drastically when I enter the space and am stared at by all the women in the place, but I don't let myself be shaken when I wait my turn by sitting in one of the few chairs available in the salon.

Still waiting I soon receive a text message from Samanta inviting me to a rock concert that one of the company's employees and a friend of Matt's will be starring in.

I think about the invitation for a few minutes until I decide to accept it at once, I have never been to these kinds of festivals, and I am ready to go for the first time in my life.

She responds in a few minutes letting me know that we will meet at night at the place where Matt's friend will be performing with his rock band.

With Samanta living further away than me, I arrange a motorcycle ride with Matt who will stop by my apartment after he leaves the company.

My excitement returns with everything at the thought of having fun together in the company of the two people I love.

It's rock night and I don't have any pieces for this kind of occasion, my clothes are all social fabrics and nothing out of place.

“Shall we go, dear?", I raise my head and find a dark-haired boy who stares at me with a smile.

“Of course!", I get up from my chair and follow him into the salon before sitting down in front of the mirror he leads me to.

“So, I see you're up for change, right?", he smiles holding my shoulders as we watch my long hair.

“Right.", today is moving day and I am wanting something practical and beautiful in the same proportion...

The nice guy introduces himself as John and soon starts to prepare the strands for cutting, I am anxious to see the final result as the scissors start to slide through my hair.

We talked about the cut, and I made it clear that I didn't have something in mind yet he said he would take care of the situation and that I would love his work of art.

I thought about dyeing my hair a lighter shade, but I love the natural dark color so much that I won't do it, one haircut is more than enough for the first day of the change.

While John works taking care of my hair, two salon employees take care of my feet and hands, I enjoy the day and don't deny it when they offer me a facial skin treatment.

I am walking around so mentally exhausted that this will be more than perfect for relaxing, I know full well that everyone here recognizes me as that mystery girl from the prom and I am internally grateful when no one asks questions or comments on this.

“There you go, baby!", as I hear John's excited voice, my eyes lock on my reflection in the mirror in front of me.

A contented smile breaks out on my lips as I see my short, naturally wavy hair, which used to be long and is now shoulder-length to perfectly match the curve of my face.

“It's perfect, John!", I compliment his work twice, touching and shaking my hair while still smiling.

“This is the day you're going to break hearts out there, sweetheart!", I laugh and shake my head.

Hearing this a well-known name comes to my mind, but I don't say it and try not to think about that person. Today is my day and I will let absolutely nothing stand in the way of my happiness.

I leave the beauty salon with my nails painted in a light color and my hair with refreshing luck, I take another Uber to one of the city's malls to do some shopping and spend the limit of my credit card.

I go in and rummage through each store looking for the perfect piece for the show, I find some nice dresses, but I feel like that's not what I'm looking for. I am almost giving up when I enter the last store, but I hit the nail on the head when my eyes find a draped black miniskirt.

Happy that it is exactly my size I go in search of more pieces to complete the look and match the black fabric of the skirt.

After a few minutes of searching, I accept the help of one of the saleswomen who takes me to the bodysuit and cropped section, my eyes find a variety of colors and different models.

But I choose and fall in love at first sight with a black crop of shiny fabric with thin straps resembling a core, I try on both pieces in the store's teaser glad the dark colors have matched each other.

Before leaving the mall, I walk into yet another shoe store and buy a pair of black boots that go up to the top of my thighs, wearing high heels to a rock concert doesn't feel comfortable.

With the two bags of clothes in my hands I head for the nearest supermarket I can find in the mall, grab a shopping cart, and don't skimp when I decide to stock up my apartment.

I buy various foods and vegetables for complete meals, but I also don't give up my beloved snacks and wines.

Before I pay for everything, I grab the biggest pot of ice cream I can find before going to the cashier and leaving the supermarket.

I call another Uber to the apartment to take the heavy bags of groceries, at home I start putting everything away in the cupboards and refrigerator before sitting on the couch with a few packages of chocolate and snacks.

I'm too lazy to cook lunch so my meal will be to eat junk food and more junk food, I open the notebook checking that the chapters I published yesterday yielded many comments from my dear readers.

I am about to use my free time to write a few more chapters to get ahead, but the words don't flow in my mind, and I soon get a creativity block.

I snort in frustration trying to think of some idea, but nothing comes to mind, I close the notebook and head to the kitchen where I grab the huge pot of ice cream and a spoon before going back to the living room and turning on the TV.

I turn off the lights and sit back down on the couch looking for some TV series or movie, I decide to watch a long romance movie to see if it will give me some inspiration for the chapters of my story.

The movie ends and I am in tears crying because of the tragic ending of a movie, feeling that I need to cheer myself up again I watch a romance movie mixed with comedy and it gives me good laughs.

I finish the whole pot of ice cream in the second movie and when I pick up my cell phone I am startled by the time.

I turn off the TV and go to my room to be ready soon or I run the risk of being late later. I put on the two new pieces of clothing and decide to just curl my hair a little more and let it loose later.

Since it is a rock concert I do my most elaborate make-up this time and give up the basic make-up. I cover my eyes with a dark color and complete my look with bright red lipstick.

In front of the bedroom mirror, I take a walk after putting on my boots, feeling more than pretty this late afternoon.

The boots go up to the top of my thighs contrasting with the black skirt, the model is short so I will have to be extremely careful if I decide to jump or dance when the band performs.

The cropped top is also very perfect and makes my breasts look bigger than they are. I choose a small handbag where I put only the essentials such as my cell phone, ID, money, lipstick to touch up, and some mints.

I go back to the kitchen with my look ready deciding to open one of the wines and prepare something quick to eat before I leave, I am not very hungry, but I need to eat something if I don't want to be sick at the show later.

I make a quick mac and cheese and take care that the sauce doesn't splatter and dirty my precious new clothes, with a full belly I drink two glasses of wine before I hear the knocking on the apartment door.

I gulp down all the rest of the wine in the glass before taking everything into the kitchen and hurrying to open the door to find my best friend leaning against the wall next to the door.

Matt starts to say with a smile, but the smile fades as his dark eyes lock on me.

Matt is frozen in place; his gaze goes down my entire body and back up to my awestruck face and at that moment I feel insecure.

“What? Did I overdo it?", I ask with a frown looking and pointing at my clothes, but my friend quickly denies it with his head.

“Princess, if I wasn't your best friend, I would drag you into this apartment and make all your neighbors hear our noises."

I slap him on the shoulder laughing but notice that my friend is trying hard not to look at my bust or my legs bare through the short skirt.

My eyes travel down his body seeing that he is also dressed appropriately, in his wild hair he wears a black cap that matches the dark jeans and leather jacket he always wears when he is on his motorcycle.

“Are you sure I didn't overdo it? Maybe the skirt is too short..."

“You look beautiful and very hot, princess. So, you don't have to worry, because I am sure that you will be the most beautiful girl at this show.", he interrupts me by blinking one of his dark eyes at me.