Chapter 12 That night…

****

"I'm here for Tiffany, can I see her?" I asked staring at Raphael and hoping that he'd respond to me sooner. Today, I had only worn baggy jeans a loose t-shirt, a pair of sneakers, and then a small bag across. I didn't have to be told that I looked just exactly like a girl who lives under the bridge plus my roughened hair. He shrugged after scanning my whole body for a minute, he moved away from the entrance then I walked In appreciating his gesture.

“She's right upstairs!" He snapped closing the door behind him then he fell in step next to me as we emerged the stairs. 
 "I heard y'all got some karaoke shit tonight?!" He asked

"Er! Yeah. We sure do!" I said politely

"Are you making it out there?" He asked and he sounded more sincere and fully interested in what I was going to do next.

"Oh no, I doubt it..." I snapped as well stopped in front of Tiffany's room.

"A'ight! I'm just gonna check into my room and stay all by myself. Wanna join in?" He opted. I'm sure that he knew that I was going to decline that offer, I've never been in the same room with a man and Raphael can not be the first. Nah.

"Oh no, I ugh...I'll just check on Tiffany instead. Thanks for the offer anyway." I said as I fastened the knob and plopped into her room instantly, it was indeed awkward. “Hey?!" I hollered as Tiffany turned to me with a smile on her face a powder palette on her hand and a brush in the other hand. She was only wearing pink wooly shorts, like really short, and a matching wooly white bra. I wonder how she does that and feels very comfortable and confident, what if Raphael or Davis or maybe her Dad badges in, would she find that...

"Oh Claude, I knew you'd make it out here!" She said interrupting my thoughts. She walked up to me and dragged me by the arm towards the dresser until I dropped on the chair before the mirror. "I wanted to show you something I saw on YouTube, I tried it on myself, and I'm sure it would look better on you. Wanna check it out?" She asked tilting her face towards mine.

"Doesn't it have a name though?" I asked

"Not really...not for now. I would like to show you before the name is figured out." She added. She was now getting the powder (foundation), lipstick, eye pencils, liners, mascara, and brushes ready set. I wasn't dumb to not understand what she was trying to do, MAKE ME UP.

"Iffy, whatever it is that you plan on doing, just know that I know and I would not do it!" I straightened out then she took. a step backward crossing her arms. She took a deep breath and asked.

"What do you think about my face...the makeover?"

"Pretty Angel." I snapped, I was a bit sarcastic with the angel thing but sure was very pretty.

"Great!" She snapped "I want you to look hot tonight, at least no one would notice if that's what you're scared of. It's for the night!"

"I get it but I wouldn't go for it. I'm not explaining why, I'm only here because you wanted to see me..." I explained stating my stance then rubbed my neck slightly

"Are you sure that you only wanted to see me 'cause you could have just ditched or texted me that you're not coming?" She said and that was the truth, I had been thinking twice about breaking the rules and attending the karaoke.

"Yeah, whatever!" I shrugged accepting my defeat as she held up her hands in excitement.

"Yass! Whatever I'm gonna be doing will not be noticeable I promise and trust me you'd look superb. And this outfit you have on...we'd just do something about." She added them and turned my face away from the mirror.

*

I took a good look at my reflection in the mirror thrice, I needed someone to wake me up from this fantasy that I assumed was reality.

"What did you think?" Were the only words she could up with smiling at her effort.

"I love it!" I said under my breath, it wasn't like I didn't like the makeup over or the floral off-shoulder dress I was wearing but I still could not believe my looks, it was the best I'd seen my entire life.

"I'm hot!" I added with a giggly smile

"Do you mean the room temperature? I could adjust it or something...sorry..." She explained

"No I mean, I'm hot. Like hot!" I clarified as she heaved a deep sigh.

"Oh gosh, I thought you wouldn't like it," she gave me a warm hug. I turned back to the mirror and admired my eloquence even if my dress was six inches above my knees and my collarbone below was partly exposed, I didn't mind at all. Plus, my hair was straightened and tied into two pigtails with fancy ribbons around each.

"You might wanna take a picture instead of just staring for long..before you change your mind!" She teased as she adjusted her plaited thigh-length skirt against her blouse. I did take the pictures with her as well stomped out of her room. We stopped at the living room to take the back door instead as Raphael stood in our way. 
 "Is this Claude?" He asked and also the first time he called me by my name, I thought he didn't know or remember.

“Wow!" He added staring at me intently while I took off my gaze, I was beginning to feel very uncomfortable.

"The keys Raph, please?" Tiffany pleaded innocently as he handed the keys into her hand without taking his gaze off me.

"See you later bro!" She dragged me by the hand lightly walking past the kitchen and then the door. I could still feel Raphael's eyes fixated on me

*

06:32 pm,

It had been roughly thirty minutes since our arrival, we gathered around the campfire while others sang, a good number of girls and boys showcased their singing ability, their side of comedy and all but the next was a game to play which was 'Kiss or Hit', it's one of the student's favorite but not in my case. We were expected to pick a partner to answer his or her question, but if it was correct then it was a kiss if it was wrong it was going to be a light hit on the arm. Since before the game was suggested, I had been searching and texting Lacey but she would neither reply nor answer my calls luckily, I found Johnson. He was shocked at what he saw, and he was bewildered but I went ahead to ask about Lacey then he said she headed out of sight with Mason and that she'd be back in five minutes. Always stealing minutes with Mason, always. Such a teenage love affair to admire. Everyone was getting their partner because we had seven minutes to decide and there I was scared and skeptical to touch or hold a guy. In short, I was nervously insane.

"Er...Johnson, I..." I swallowed up so that I could gather some courage to ask if I could be just a partner but I guess I was too late to ask because Tiffany interrupted

"Hey cute, be my partner?!" I heard her say, I guess she has no idea that I was already asking for that, she was making a call earlier before then. Johnson asked what I wanted to say then I told him not to worry.

"Seriously you can tell me!" He insisted

"It's nothing serious at all, just forget it." I snapped forcing a smile while Tiffany tucked her hand into his with a smile, of course, he accepted her request besides she was pretty. They were already chattering and laughing too, that act was getting on my nerves. I stood like a log of wood watching every girl and boy pick a partner of their choice and there I was with no one beside me. Wasn't I pretty enough or what exactly was the problem, I asked myself then I crossed my arms hoping and wishing that the ground would just swallow me up.

"Seems like someone has no partner..." I heard someone ask from behind.