The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher

Author:Liz Gallagher
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Art & Architecture, Social Issues, Dating & Sex, Art, High school sophomores, Juvenile Fiction, Fiction, United States, Family & Relationships, Interpersonal Relations, Love & Romance, Dating (Social customs), High schools, Schools, People & Places, General, Friendship, School & Education, Seattle (Wash.)
ISBN: 9780375841538
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2009-10-13T02:41:12.387000+00:00

Mom sits on the edge of the dry bathtub as I attempt to slide my feet into her two-inch black special-occasion heels.

She used to work at Nordstrom, so she knows a lot about fashion and beauty.

Seeing her sitting there reminds me of the time I had a horrible flu in third grade. She drew me bath after bath because it was the only thing that would keep me from feeling my fever. I’d wait for the tub to fill, sitting naked in a towel against the sink cabinet, sucking on purple Popsicles.

Now she’s wearing an all-white sweat suit and fairy wings.

The shoes are on. “Okay, eye shadow,” I say. “Make me look … smoky.”

Mom stands up and when I close my eyes to let her transform me, she says, “You’re beautiful. Your date is one lucky boy.”

I blush.

“How come we’ve never met him before?” She finishes my makeup and I open my eyes.

“Because I didn’t know him before.”

“Well, your dad and I will meet him tonight.” She untwists the cap of my lipstick: Cherry Pop, the closest thing I own to blood.

“Yeah,” I say. “That actually makes me think of something.”

“Hmm?” She hands me the lipstick tube and a square of toilet paper for blotting.

“Don’t mention Jewel tonight, okay? When Simon is here.” I put on the lipstick and blot. “They’re not really friends.”

“What’s going on between you and Jewel lately?”

I wish I knew. “We kind of had a fight.” I throw away the toilet paper.

“About …”

“I think I was feeling kind of stuck, just having one friend.”

“That’s understandable.”

“I guess.”

“But just because you want to have more friends, that doesn’t mean you can’t still be close with Jewel.”

“That’s the thing. My new person to hang out with is someone Jewel would never be friends with.”

“That sounds pretty closed-minded. Not like Jewel.”

“Mom, it’s high school. There’s popularity stuff.”

“Well, I miss Jewel.”

“Me too.” My eyes immediately start to tear and I have to take a deep breath. I really do miss him.

Tonight is about me and Simon, though. And that’s exciting.

She hands me the shiny satin witch hat she made for me, and we pin it on.

The doorbell rings and I hear my dad stomping to the door, being Frankenstein as he does every Halloween. Trick-or-treaters scream out their line.

My mom leaves the bathroom to join him, hugging me quickly and then plucking her fairy wand from the sink.

No more missing Jewel. Tonight is about a Dove Girl wish come true.

In my witchy mind, I am kissed.

The doorbell rings again and I catch myself holding my breath. Is it kids or—?

“You must be Simon,” Mom says. I breathe, stand up, smooth my dress, adjust my hat, check the mirror one last time, and head downstairs.

Simon’s wearing his football uniform. He hands me a ghost-shaped box of candy. “Like my costume?”

I glance at Mom. Is she thinking I’m crazy for going to the dance with some football player instead of Jewel? “Is that a costume?”

“I’m Mike Corrigan.” Simon turns around. “Number twelve, see.”

“Oh,” I say, my eyes lingering south of his number twelve.

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