I snorted and held my hand out for my Converse. Aideen wrinkled her nose at me and shook her head before moving to my chest of drawers. She opened the bottom one, and grabbed a white pair of ankle socks.
"I hate when you don't wear socks with shoes, it's disgustin'."
I stuck my tongue out at her as I took the socks from her hand, I put both of them on then put on my Converse and stood up. I did a little twirl.
"What do you think?"
Aideen tilted her head to the side as she looked at me and frowned. "You've lost weight, your love handles are virtually gone."
I clapped my hands together like a happy seal. "Best news ever!"
Aideen shook her head. "No, it's not, you shouldn't lose weight as fast as you are. Are you eatin' three full meals a day?"
No.
I wasn't starving myself, but I tried my best to limit my food intake if I could help it.
"Yes, mother," I teased.
I didn't tell her the truth because Aideen wouldn't understand, she would just nag me about 'not eating properly'. I didn't hold it against her though because she cared about me and was only looking out for me, but she didn't know what it was like growing up with a mother like mine. One who scrutinised everything you put in your mouth and made you feel like crap about yourself. I barely loved my ma, she is not a nice person. Not even to me and I was her only child.
Aideen smiled at me as she believed my lie. "Well, lucky you. All your hard work is paying off, the Jason fat is nearly all gone. Woohoo."
I snickered and high fived her.
When I found out who Jason was and that he wasn't my partner, and that he used me just to upset my cousin, I comfort ate and put on three and a half stone. Aideen called it my Jason fat. That nickname alone gave me the boost needed to lose the weight. I didn't want any part of Jason connected to me, especially Jason fat.
I moved to my chest of drawers and opened the top drawer. I took out my hair dryer and hair straightener before I sat on my bed then handed them to Aideen. She plugged the hairdryer into the outlet on my wall and spent the next ten minutes blow drying my hair. My hair wasn't very long. It fell to my mid back when it was straight and it wasn't very thick, so luckily it didn't take long to dry.
"I'm gonna put loose curls down the end of your hair, it looks gorgeous like that. We need you to look hot so it persuades that sexy fucker to be your date in case he hates you after last night."
I raised my eyebrows. "Hell no, if he says no then that is his final answer, no ask the audience, fifty-fifty, or phone a friend. I won't beg or try to persuade him in any way."
Aideen grinned. "Yes, ma'am."
I glared. "That also means you won't try to persuade him either."
She put the straightener down and held up her hands. "I won't do anythin', I swear on the Bible."
I rolled my eyes. "That means nothin' to me, you're goin' to Hell and you know it."
Aideen snickered as she grabbed some heat protectant spray and put some on the ends of my hair. She waited a fews minute for it to dry then picked up the straightener and started to wrap the ends of my hair around the hot plates before she pulled. When she released my hair the ends of it sprung into loose curls, it made me smile because I loved this look on me just as much as Aideen did. It was a nice change considering I wear my hair in a ponytail or up in a messy bun most of the time.
"Hair is done, makeup is next. We're keepin' this pretty face as natural as possible."
Fun.
"Do whatever you want to me."
Aideen tapped my nose. "Open with that sentence when you speak to Alec and you're guaranteed to have him as your date to the weddin'."
The dirty bitch!
I burst out laughing making Aideen smile as she got my small makeup bag from my chest of drawers and brought it over to me. I closed my eyes as she picked out the makeup she would be using on my face and just relaxed while she went to work. She got my foundation, powder, and blush done in less than five minutes because she went very light on everything. She spent a few extra minutes doing a very light brown smoky eye on my eyes, but once that was done I was good to go.
"Perfume?" Aideen questioned.
I shook my head. "No thanks, I have strawberry moisturiser on so I smell nice and fruity."
Aideen leaned in and inhaled deeply.
"Nice."
I playfully shoved her away from me. "Come on, let's go and get this over with before I get nervous."
Or more nervous.
"I'm good to go, baby," Aideen cheered.
Storm barked from the bed so Aideen stuck her finger up at him before she skipped out of the room. I shook my head at her then moved around to Storm. I rubbed his head then kissed it. "I'll be back it a little while, bud."
Storm groaned and stretched then rolled over. I chuckled as I stood up and walked out of my bedroom. I left the door open for him so he could have access to his water and food. I topped off both before I followed Aideen out of my apartment.
"I took him out on a quick walk to go the toilet earlier, and the fucker almost bit my hand off. I'm never doin' it again."
I laughed as I locked up my apartment door and headed down the stairs of my apartment complex with Aideen on my heels. When we were out in the car park I groaned in delight as I felt the heat of the sunlight caress my skin.
"I bloody love the summer."
Aideen sighed, "Me too, babe."
We got into my car and rolled down the windows straight away because the inside of my car was boiling hot. I started my car then pulled out of the car park and onto the road.
"Where am I drivin'?"
Aideen cracked her knuckles. "Upton."
I glanced to her before refocusing on the road. "He lives in Upton? Is he rich?"
Aideen shrugged. "Branna said they are well off."
I snorted.
They are more than well off if they lived in Upton. That was probably the poshest part of Tallaght. Well, if Tallaght had a posh part then Upton would be it. Aideen and I didn't speak as we drove the ten minute drive across two estates until we entered the ever clean and peaceful Upton.
"I'd love to live here," I murmured as I slowed down enough to look around.
"Me too, it's so quiet."
I nodded. "I could get so much writin' done if I lived here."
Aideen glanced at me. "How is your book comin' along?"
I shrugged. "It's comin' along grand, I'm about forty-four thousand words into it."
Aideen whistled. "I can't believe you can write so many words. I struggle writing a text with more than twenty words."
I chuckled as I pulled up in front of the house Aideen pointed out to me.
"How do you know this is their house? Have you been here before?" I asked Aideen as we unbuckled our seat belts and got out of my car.
"No, but Branna said it was a four story house that has a white post box on the wall next to the hall door."
I looked to the house and spotted the post box Aideen spoke of and blew out a big breath. I felt sick now that I was here in front of their house.
"Come on, let's get this over with," I muttered.
"Lose that attitude and think positive, clear your mind," Aideen said from behind me as I walked into the garden and up the steps that led to a porch.
"Okay, yoga weirdo," I said making Aideen chuckle.
I bit down on my bottom lip as I read Slater labelled across the white post box next to the hall door. I closed my eyes then opened them again as I pressed the doorbell.