Frost by Marianna Baer

Author:Marianna Baer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Published: 2012-09-13T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

DESPITE CELESTE’S ASSURANCE we wouldn’t be carded, I wasn’t taking any chances. Back at the Parker-Whites’, I put on my nicest jeans and a black turtleneck sweater that made me look older and more sophisticated, and pulled my hair into a twist at the nape of my neck.

“You look like a librarian,” Celeste said from the bed she’d claimed.

We were sharing a room here, too, with twin beds, framed photos of Japanese temples on the walls, and a massive golden Buddha statue watching from the corner.

Insisting I could do better, she had me try on one of the many dresses she’d brought—a red-and-black-pattern vintage Diane von Furstenburg. The silk stretched over me, cool and slinky, and seemed to fit. Then I looked in the mirror.

“No way,” I said immediately, taken aback by how exposed I felt. This sort of dress—tight, low-cut, curve-enhancing—was obviously designed for someone with a different sort of build. Or, rather, a different sort of personality. And definitely someone with different footwear, I thought, looking across the room at my selection: scuffy, brown, lace-up boots or Chucks.

A knock came at the door. Celeste said, “Come in,” at the same time I said, “One minute.” Her voice must have been louder because the door opened. David stood there.

“Wow,” he said.

I crossed my arms in front of my boobs. “I was just trying it on,” I explained. “I’m not wearing it.”

“Really? Why not?” He turned to Celeste. “It’s yours, right? You should give it to Leena for good. To wear on a daily basis.” I blushed as he grinned at me.

“It was Mom’s,” Celeste said. “I’m not giving it to anyone.

What did you want, anyway?”

David’s smile faded. “I actually need to talk to you.”

“I have to use the bathroom,” I said, picking up on his serious tone of voice. “You guys can talk in here.” I decided to wear my hair down, and just a little mascara and lip gloss, so I didn’t actually have that much to do in the bathroom to waste time. I ended up posing in front of the mirror, trying to appreciate David’s opinion of my new look.

I liked that he’d been so enthusiastic, but wearing something so sexy and sophisticated still felt strange: as much of a lie as my friends’ fake IDs. Not to mention, it seemed more than a little weird to be trying to look good for a guy in his mother’s dress.

Before going back to the bedroom, I glanced in the medicine cabinet to see if anything had been abandoned there. While my doctor prescribed me antianxiety pills for emergencies, I occasionally snagged a few other types from my and my friends’ parents—only when it was obvious they weren’t actively taking it. Nothing here, though.

Eventually, I figured I’d given Celeste and David long enough. Celeste stood in her black lace underwear, surveying the remaining clothes in the closet.

“What do you think?” She held up a fifties aqua-blue diner waitress dress and a black top that looked like it was made of ribbons.

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