Thirty-seven

Tiffany:

Natalie had been in drill sergeant mode the past week, and I was starting to see why her and Brit butted heads so often. The night of the spring carnival had finally arrived, and looking around the campus, I was pretty impressed with how the Greeks had pulled together to make this happen. There were rides, games, and cotton candy. It was perfect, except, I was still in self-destruct mode. So, despite my prior commitment and my fear of our sorority president, I sought her out and admitted my defeat.

“Hey, Nat, can I talk to you for a sec?”

“What’s up, Sugar Plum?” I blinked back at her. Sugar Plum was my pledge name. I earned it when the girls realized I was professionally in the Nutcracker. It wasn’t my part, but I never bothered to correct them. They had tried.

“Everything looks amazing. You worked so hard.”

“Aw, thanks, hon!” She beamed back at me.

“But…”

“But…” Nat said in an exaggerated voice.

“But I can’t work the booth tonight. I’ll scare customers away. I’m too broken.”

“Are you kidding me? There’s only so many sisters that can work the booth! You know I can’t, and neither can Brit. Neither can a good portion of our sorority, and the rest are too damn shy!”

“I know… I know…” Who knew being single would make me qualified for this stupid carnie attraction? “But, I don’t feel like I can do it. I’m really sorry.”

“Come here.” Nat grabbed my hand and pulled me over to where her boyfriend, Enzo, was painting the final letters. “Look how hard he worked. Look how pretty it is, and look, it lights up…” She was frantic. “Enzo! Show her!”

Enzo leaned over and plugged the chord in to an extension outlet. The booth lit up with red, pink, and white lights. It was still daylight out, but I could imagine how pretty the booth would look at night. He had worked hard on it. I felt sick.

“Please, Tiff. Please!” Nat started to beg, and the nausea churned in my stomach. “Enzo and I will be right by your side. Please!”

Brit had told me once that part of being a sister of DSS was putting others needs before your own. It was hard for her at first, and right now, it was hard for me. My gaze drifted over the rules of the booth that Enzo had painted on a wooden board. It was rather intimidating. Maybe I had to force myself outside of my comfort zone in order to be able to move on. After all, was this any different than if I had a part in a show and had to kiss a co-star who I had just met? That reasoning seemed logical. I nodded. “Okay. I’ll go get ready.”

“Thank you, Tiffany! Thank you so much!” Natalie hugged me, and I patted her back. I couldn’t wait to get this night over with.

Brit was curling my hair with my iron while I put on the cherry red lipstick that was required by Natalie. “You comfortable with this?” Brit asked, always looking out for me.

I shrugged. “It’s not horrible. The rules clearly states it’s an innocent, closed-mouth kiss. That customers are to be respectful, and the recipient will only receive more if the kisser offers it.”

“So, you gonna slip anyone the tongue?”

“No! God, I don’t know who the hell has what out there. I swear if any guy tries any shit, I’ll slug him.”

“You won’t need to. Enzo will be there. He’s pretty intimidating. Besides, who says you’ll only be kissing guys? You might have a few girls line up to lock lips with you.” Brit winked at me through the reflection in the mirror. I hadn’t even thought about that possibility.

“Honestly, that would be the least of my problems. I am so sick of men.”

Brit picked up another section of my hair and wound it around the wand. “Yeah, I wish there was an island we could send them to.”

“Wait? Why do they get the island and we get to remain here?”

“Because then we’d run the world,” Brit stated rather matter of fact. “So, either way, we win.”

I gave her arm a squeeze. “Sometimes you’re so smart.”

“I have my moments, and voila! You are done!”

I gave my head a shake and looked at the beautiful curls that now fell delicately over my shoulder. “Wow! Brit, you did a great job!”

“Kristen taught me everything I know. C’mon, girl, if I don’t get you to that kissing booth by eight o’clock, Natalie will have my head.”

Sitting in that chair, having Brit do my hair, I was confident. Now, walking across campus, my stomach was in knots. I hadn’t felt this anxious since I was on the stage. It had been so long since my nerves got the best of me. I took deep breaths but darted my gaze around at the potential “customers” I’d inevitably have to lock lips with. It reminded me of my first kiss, which happened at rehearsal for the Nutcracker. The prince had to kiss me. It was in front of my teacher and half the cast. And now, here I was, about to publicly have private moments for money. Some things never changed.

“You look so freaking sexy!” Natalie squealed as she took in my outfit.

It wasn’t too over the top. I was in dark blue skinny jeans, red heels, and a red tank. Brit had painted a black heart on the front and cut up the back, revealing my black lace bra. So, I guess it was pretty sexy if I turned around, but I had no intention of showing my back to the customers.

“Are you nervous?”

“Incredibly,” I answered honestly.

“Hon, I am going to be in front of the booth. No one will go farther than you want them to. If anything happens, I’ll grab ‘em by the throat if I have to,” Enzo said.

“He will.” Nat nodded emphatically.

“And now we’re working the booth, too!” Brit added.

I crossed my arms. “You’re giving cheek kisses. We could have used the ZDP dog to do that!”

“Fine, if you want to do all the work, I wouldn’t mind playing darts and eating cotton candy.” Brit stepped forward, and I caught her by her purple pony tail.

“Don’t even think about leaving me.”

“You’ll be fine,” Nat said. “And besides, this booth always raises the most money. It’s an honor to work it.”

“If you say so. Come on, Enzo, switch on those lights. I need to get this over with.”

“Yes ma’am!” Enzo kneeled down and switched on the lights, picked up the megaphone, then placed a top hat on his head.

“This is it! Places, girls!” Natalie whispered as she dramatically squeezed our hands.

“Ladies and gentleman!” Enzo’s voice boomed into the megaphone. “The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived! Step right up! The kissing booth is now open!”

I looked out at the sea of guys that shyly started to walk over in our direction and let out a sigh. “What’s wrong?” Brit asked.

“All those guys…” I gestured with my head to the zombies that were making their way over to us. “And not one of them is him.”