Free Chasing Destiny by J.D. Rivera

was. I had no idea why she was so obsessed with me dating Carson.
    “What time?”
    “Seven.”
    “I’ll be over around five.” She disconnected the call before I could protest. I rolled my eyes and tossed my phone beside me on the cushion.
    “I’m telling you I’m not upset,” I heard as the door opened, and in walked Carson and some other guy. “I’m telling you Hayes and Luke will be upset.” Carson looked down to see me sitting on the couch with barely any clothes on. He let his eyes roam over me. “Hey, flower girl.”
    “Um, hey.” I grabbed a pillow and placed it in front of my chest.
    “This is Kurt. Kurt, this is Kristin.”
    “Nice to meet you.”
    His eyes traveled very slowly down my body then back up, stopping a beat too long on the pillow. I lifted my lip in disgust. “Pleasure is all mine, sweetheart.”
    “Don’t even fuckin’ think about it,” Carson stated, his voice threatening.
    I pointed down the hall, and said, “I’m just, um…I’m just going to go to my room. Yeah. My room.” I stood and hot-tailed it down the hallway. I didn’t want to spend one more second with them while braless. Well, I had with Carson because we lived together, but not the other guy.
    Shutting the door, I went in search of a bra and settled on a plain, comfortable white one. I’d change later before I went out, or maybe I wouldn’t, but for now, comfort won over style. Once I was completely dressed, I pulled out my Literature textbook and headphones, then lay on the bed to study.
    “Hey, I’m here,” Holly said, breezing into the room without knocking.
    “What?” I glanced at my phone. It was five o’clock. “Shit. I had no idea it was this late. I was studying and lost track of time.”
    “Well, it’s time now. You wanna go for a goth look? I think you would look really good.” If she were any other person, I’d think she was joking.
    “No, I think I’ll just go with my regular look,” I said as I stretched my arms over my head and yawned.
    She scrunched up her nose as she placed her makeup bag on the bed. “What do you mean? Like your ripped up jeans and a t-shirt?”
    “Yeah,” I replied. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
    “Well, at least let me do your makeup.”
    “I’m fine there, too.” Holly was the type of person who could pull off any look or color. I was not. I was a very plain color person.
    “Ugh! You are so frustrating!”
    “Fine,” I conceded. I could always wash it off if it was too much.
    “Yay,” she yelled, jumping up and down.
    I pointed my finger at her. “Nothing crazy!”
    “Move to the side of the bed.” I crawled to the side and sat down as she rolled my chair to sit in front of me. After she plopped down, she began digging in her bag, taking different colors and brushes out.
    “I’ll start with foundation. I’ll go get yours so it’s a match.” She left, and a minute later, she was back, rubbing the makeup all over my face. Next came powder. “Okay, now close your eyes and let me work my magic.”
    “You make me feel so pretty. Work your
magic
?”
    “Shhh, now close them.” I huffed but complied.
    What seemed like fifty coats of whatever she was using and an hour later, she finally finished. “Open.” I slowly opened my eyes. They felt ten times heavier than normal. “You look stunning! Carson is going to be over the moon when he sees you.”
    “Let me see,” I said, standing. I walked to the bathroom and couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked in the mirror. I wanted to scream. Or maybe cry. Or laugh. Laughter is what won. I looked like a cat-clown. A clown with cat eyes. I looked hideous! “What the fuck?” I asked through my laughter.
    “Why are you laughing? You look amazing!”
    “If I were part of the circus or the paid clown at a child’s birthday party.”
    “I can’t believe you don’t like it.” Her mouth pulled down into a frown and I immediately felt like shit. I hadn’t meant to hurt her