Chapter Eleven: Carmen

I can't believe how fast today went by, before I knew it, it was already 6:30 p.m. I had texted Krysty earlier that day, after asking Mami, if she was going to the ball and if she wanted to get ready with Mami, Camila and me, and she agreed. So at 6:30, Krys showed up at our house with a duffel bag and a garment bag.

"Hey!" I say opening the door and grabbing her duffel bag, and boy was it heavy.

"Camila and my mom are waiting for us upstairs. You can put your shoes over there," I said, pointing to a shoe rack.

"Good. Hey, are you guys allowed to drink alcohol?" She asks.

"Yeah, I mean, the law allows it as long as it's 8% or less of alcohol. So my parents allow it as long as we don't abuse it."

"Great," she said relieved.

We climbed the stairs and I knocked on Mami's door. "Come in!"

We enter the room and there is an entire snack bar where their desks should be. There was junk on one of the tables and drinks including alcohol on the other.

"Hello, You must be Carmen's mom, I'm her friend and boss Krystyna Quince."

"Hi, it's so great that Carmen finally has a friend."

"Mami!" I groan, but Krys just giggles.

"Okay, who's first to shower. 'Cause if no one volunteers, I will," Cami says.

"I will!" I say, seizing the opportunity before anyone else could.

I go to the bathroom and take off my clothes before getting in the shower. My parents' bathroom was regal, to say the least. the had a standing shower with white and gold marble walls. There were so many knobs and buttons in the shower, it took me some time to get the water to the right temperature. After my shower, I grab one of their incredibly soft towels from their towel rack and stepped out.

"Next person can go now," I say, stepping out of Mami's bedroom and heading to mine to get dressed in a yellow sweatshirt and black cotton shorts. Then, I grab my dress and heels before heading back to Mami's room. In the room, I notice Cami is gone meaning she is probably taking a shower. I went over to the table with the drinks and found two new bottles of wine. Must be the one Krys brought. I poured myself a glass of 2% alcoholic wine and sat on the bed and took a sip and almost spit it out, it was disgusting I put it away and started chatting with Mami and Krys. When Cami was done, Krys went in.

"Did you want to borrow some of my clothes?" I offered.

"It's okay, I brought my own."

By the time it was Mami's turn to shower, half of the food was gone and four bottles of wine were done. The food was mostly my fault, but the alcohol was the others. Papi had tried to come in and they drunkenly pushed him out, insisting it was girls night only.

About two hours and a half before the ball, they sobered up and we started getting ready. I decided to get into my dress last since Mami had never seen my dress, and I had never shown it to her or told her it was blue. We all decide that Camila will go first, so we all waited eagerly, even I did and I had already seen her dress. When she came out we all ooh'd, she looked even more beautiful the second time. Then Mami went in to change, and when she came out, she was wearing a beautiful honey yellow floor-length gown. It had a boat neckline and spirals of white going up the dress. Like we did with Cami, we ooh'd. After that, Krys went and I was getting nervous as it was almost my turn. Krys came out wearing a bright red puffy, off the shoulder gown with a giant bow at the back.

"Oh, looks like I have competition," Cami joked.

"Watch out," Krys joked.

"Well," I sighed, "I guess it's my turn."

I grabbed my garment bag and went into the bathroom and very slowly got my dress out of the bag and slowly opened it and ever so slowly put it on. While I was putting on the dress I was thinking of what I would tell Mami after she saw my dress. When I finally have my argument in my head I walk out expecting the worst, but Mami just gasps and gushes about how beautiful my dress is.

"You're not mad?" I ask.

"Oh no honey, I love your dress. You are allowed to wear whatever you feel comfortable in an uncomfortable place."

"Thank god," I said relieved.

"I also know about your sneakers."

"What? How?"

"The next time you want to hide the fact you bought something, don't give me the receipt," she said like it was the most obvious thing.

"When did you find out?"

After we got home from the mall."

"Then why did you make me practice walking with the heels," she made me walk in heels when I didn't have to.

"I wanted to take revenge," she says casually shrugging.

"You are evil," Cami laughed and we all followed.

An hour before the ball, Mami said it was time for hair and makeup. "I can do makeup," Krys offers.

"Me too," I say.

"Mami and I can do hair then," Cami says.

"Great," Mami said.

Mami walked over to her closet and rolled out another vanity and placed it next to her other one, and starts setting up things for the hair and makeup. Krys also gets some of her necessities for pampering and places them on the vanity tables.

"I'll do your makeup first, Carm," Krys says.

"Sure," I say and sit on the stool in front of the makeup station. "Could you keep it natural?" I ask.

"Of course."

"I'll do your hair first, Mami," Cami says.

When Krys was done with my makeup, we switched, and she kept her promise and made the make look and natural as possible. She wanted something bold though, so I gave her a smokey eye and ruby red lips. As I was finishing with Krys, Mami and Cami switched. Cami had straightened Mami's hair and curled it ever so slightly, making it look naturally wavy.

"Okay," I sigh, content with my work. "We're done here."

"Give me one second," Mami said, finishing the fish braid she did on Cami's head, hen she added pearls and sprayed hair spray. "Done."

"I'll take Carmen," Cami says.

"Ok," Krys says sitting in front of Mami.

"So, sis," She started, running her finger through my hair. "What do you want?"

"You remember that one style Abuela wore in her wedding picture?"

"Oh, that is my favourite!" She said and got to work.

On her wedding day, Abuela wore a crown of hair, that comes down to a side french fish braid, curled to the bottom, with pearls and flowers. When Cami was done she sprayed a truck-load of hairspray and placed her hands on my shoulders smiling softly at me. "You look just like her."

"Really?" I asked teary-eyed.

"Really. Don't cry though, you'll ruin your makeup."

"Speaking of makeup, sit, I have to do yours," I say, blinking repeatedly.

"What I can I do for you, fair lady and future queen of Aldovea?" I joke

"I want something bold yet natural, peasant," She says, sticking her chin out defiantly.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Half an hour later, we're all done and Mami tells us to put on our shoes. I pick up my dress and head to my room. I decide to wear my sneakers to the ball because the option sounded much better in case I have to stand for long periods. I quickly wear the shoes and tie the laces before heading downstairs.

"You look beautiful, sweetie," Papi says, holding out his hand to me as I reach the bottom step.

"Thank you, Papi," I giggle, hugging him and taking his hand.

We left the house, Papi locked it, and we waited with the others.

We waited for about 5 minutes when a black limousine pulled up in front of us. "Is this the Hernández family?" the driver asks as he gets out. He looked no older than a year older than Cami and me.

"Yes, Plus a Hugh," I say, pointing to Krys.

He opens the door and we climb in, Dad first, then me, Cami, Krys, and Mami. The driver got back into his seat, after closing the door.

"All right guys," Mami says. "Let's go rock a ball!" she whoops and we all join.

I join in and suddenly, there is a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I just brush it off as nerves.