Chapter 19 Chapter 19

Chapter 19 Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19
Skylar.

As expected, it took hours before they were done, and not without banter, though that was part of the spark.

“Ta-da!!” Nonna said in her very cheerful manner.

“I thought that was my line to say,”

“Does it matter anyways?”

“Oh yeah, it does,” Jay answered in a grunted manner.

“Fine, I am sorry. ”,

“Yeah sure, you are,” he answered, feigning anger but pleased with the apology.

I was supposed to open my eyes, but I was scared that when I did, I wouldn't be able to recognize myself; the girl in the mirror wouldn't be me but someone else, someone distant.

Was I willing for this new me? Would it make me feel awkward? Once I took in this part of me, there was no going back.

They were waiting, anxiously. I knew the feeling when you had done your whole best and poured in every vital detail you could think of to something perfect.

They could argue all day, but I knew they had given me their best. They were tense. I could feel it in the air.

They were also really quiet and possibly hugging themselves like kids; they were bonded. I didn't think this was like Troy and me; we had banter, yes, but theirs was different.

They didn't call each other names; that was actually my doing, though. They were more friends than anything else.

The type of friendship that actually survived time—I admired them for it; they knew one another in a way I believed no one else did. It was beautiful.

Enough with the speech; I was willing to open my eyes, and I really did.

The minute my eyes flung open, I closed them shut immediately. No, I wasn't expecting that. The girl in the mirror couldn't be me.

We were different people, from different universes.

“So what do you think?” they asked in unison as though they had read each other’s minds.

Did they just ask me what I thought? That was an odd question considering the fact that they had killed; they really did.

But I really had to really look at myself and what Troy had said the other day.

“Confidence was like football or maybe hockey, and you just had to feel that you were doing the right thing, and nothing else mattered.”

I opened my eyes; my glasses were gone. They had insisted that a contact matching my eye color would fit me as hell, and it did.

I have seen properly without glasses before, and here before the mirror, I need anyone to rate me... . I was a queen on a scale of 10.

I had to tell Nina or maybe drop by her house and surprise her.

They had applied the all-too-expected blush on my face and dabbed my face with powder, and I guessed underneath there were foundations underway.

My brow had been straightened and split into two so that the upper part hung high above my head.

I felt really happy with what they had.

“Thank you.” That was all I could say, and they came around me in a hug, feeling all emotional, and to think Jay shed a tear—it made me even tear up more.

“Nope.” I heard Jay snapping his fingers at me. “Not here; you are going to ruin your makeup,” he said, and I knew he was right.

Nonna brought out a see-through traveling pouch that contained makeup essentials.
“I don't know how to use this.” I said, rejecting the bag.
She rolled her eyes at me, not in an offensive manner though. “What are we here for then?”

“Take it,” and this time I did. She started a list of how and where I could apply some of the items, even taking my number in case I wanted a video call if I got confused.
Jay, on the other hand, was washing off the brushes.

He came out of the bathroom, and his face lit up as he sent Nonna a mischievous look. Hinting at her to look at something.

They both looked behind me, and this time I saw her blush.

That was when I turned my head; he stood leaning on the doorway. He was carrying a nylon bag, which didn't look like it was for me alone.

I really blushed; his jaw didn't drop, not this time around, but he smiled at Nonna, and I knew he was appreciating her for her work done.

I didn't have my glasses anymore, so there was nothing to adjust, so I just bit my lip; it was the only thing I could do to actually not hide my face behind my palm.

He handed Nonna the bags, and his head came downwards towards mine. For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me, like those deep kisses lovers give each other, but rather he kissed my cheek tenderly, saying, “You look beautiful.”

I didn't know if it was a disappointment because I really wanted him to kiss me; I was feeling emotional and really appreciative.

He talked to them for some more; I could pinpoint what he said. Soon he was done, and he took my hands in his as I used my free hand to wave the duo goodbye.

But could you really deny the chemistry you had, the one that pulled at you from every corner? Other days I would have fought this, the way all my female tendencies got woken around Troy.

With Leo, it was my head being in delulu, but with Troy, my whole body sizzled, the air always seemed to escape my lungs, and most times I just didn't know what to say around him. I didn't know if he felt the same way, and I didn't know if I wanted him to.

Would he end up breaking my heart? He was doing this because of some stupid deal we made, but I knew it was becoming real, and I just knew what to do.

Once outside, he still didn't let go of my hands; he walked over to open the door, but I didn't enter, not yet. I dropped the bag in the car, then closed the car door.

He squinted his eyes at me confused. I didn't need to explain or ask for permission; I raised my toes in the air and wrapped my hands around his neck. He didn't protest; his Adam's apple kept going up and down. Then my lips covered his, his eyes held shock, he wrapped his hands around my waist, and then drew me closer.

My lips melted against mine; I didn't know what it tasted like, not yet, but it felt good being in his arms. It was like a cacophony of flowers under spring; it tasted divine.

Who would have thought Skylar Walter would ever lose her guard with men other than her stepbrother?

It was bliss; he opened his mouth, and his tongue slipped out to meet mine. I hadn't been kissed like that before, like I was oxygen and he needed me to breathe, bec
ause I felt the same.

Then the taste hit me: honey mixed with something I just couldn't pinpoint.