Free Cameo by Tanille Edwards Page B

the bathroom, surprise, surprise. At these types of shindigs, there was always a long wait to use the restroom. It was beautiful, the bathroom. It had honed marble countertops, beautifully marble tiled floors, a steam shower, and a classic view of the ocean, though I guess anybody out in the ocean had a classic view of me too. Now this was definitely the type of bathroom I wanted to have built right next to my bedroom. I did the obligatory makeup check. I was so paranoid about people being able to see me that I turned out the light. I could still see with the moonlight.
    After I used the swanky toilet, I realized there was a shadow of an animal on the floor right in front of the sink. It was either a bird or a squirrel—probably a bird, because it didn’t have a tail from what I could see. The large window wrapped around the corner, so I peeked my head around the corner. Just how big was this bathroom? I found a complete mirror, vanity, and a huge spa tub. This bathroom was almost as big as the entire second floor of my house. Then I spotted the red cardinal perched on the window seat. That was weird. As long as he was alive, I was still safe. Dead birds were always harbingers of bad things to come. Before I turned to wash my hands, the red bird dropped off the cliff as if his wings had malfunctioned. If I wasn’t such a germaphobe, I would’ve turned on the lights to ease my anxiety. But I hadn’t washed my hands yet, and I hated spreading germs—which reminded me, the doorknob was probably full of germs anyway.
    I finally washed and dried my hands. I used the same paper towel I dried my hands with to twist the door knob. That’s when I realized this gold body glow stuff Cindy insisted I put on was all uneven. One spot looked like I had doused a whole bottle of the stuff on it. I could’ve skipped cleaningit off with a paper towel and hand soap, but I did it anyway. Oddly, I could see two dusty, black tennis shoes standing right behind me.
    Someone slapped a hand across my mouth. I stomped my foot on theirs. Then I yanked at the hand on my mouth. I looked at myself in the oversize mirror. And it freaked me out even more. Was this me under siege? This was like a bad action movie with me as the victim. How did I get here? The skinny arms were one clue. But once I shifted my focus from me, I realized the person was wearing mascara. Unless he was gay, this was a girl. I dug my nails into her arm. Oodles of anger and fear ripped through my veins. Who did she think she was? She looked skinny, but her grip on my face was insane. I kept pulling at her hand to get it off. I wasn’t about to be ambushed by some cross-dressing stalker. If this was a representation of good and evil, the line was clear.
    â€œListen, don’t scream.”
    I tried to open my mouth to bite her hand, but it was a failed attempt. The pressure she had on my mouth prevented my lips from moving enough for me to bite. Then she tightened her grip on my jaw. I elbowed her in the stomach. That was the only thing I could remember from self-defense day in gym class. All year long, they teach you how to play volleyball, yet only one day was dedicated to what turned out to be most useful.
    â€œShit,” she said. She let go of my mouth.
    I wailed, “Help!”
    Suddenly it felt like a brick was being smashed against my intestines. My cries for help had dried up. I had been silenced by a karate chop in the stomach. Next thing I knew, she swung her foot underneath mine. I flew to the ground. You would’ve thought she had taken my self-defense class. I knew that move, so why didn’t I use it?
    â€œI am here to help you.”
    If I wasn’t ready to unload whatever drops were left in my bladder before those words, I was definitely ready to do so after them.
    â€œStay down, insolent. I am not trying to assault you.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t assault me.”
    I grabbed her ankle and yanked it toward