Free Trance by Tabitha Levin Page A

tomorrow about what we were all going to wear.
    I placed the pad beside the bed, turned off the light, and looked up at the stars. Tomorrow. My thoughts drifted to Jason and what our date might be like. I hoped it wouldn’t be dinner and a movie. Not that I minded eating good food, of course, but he had to be more original than that didn’t he? Just what did gorgeous stage hypnotists do on dates? I had no idea. I couldn’t even guess. I realized I didn’t know anything about him. Not really. Not past the witty banter, the gorgeous smile, and his brilliant talent. Oh, and that amazing kiss.
    Did he have any brothers, sisters? How long has he lived around here? Does he even live here, or is he only passing through? For the first time in a long while, I wanted to know more about someone new.
    I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, thinking about his lips touching mine.
     
    “You will look amazing in this.” Lacey sent through a picture of a fitted blue top with silver edging, paired with a dark pink skirt. The skirt looked to be made out of a shimmery soft silk that would flow and dance around your legs as you walked. The type of skirt that would flare up in a circle if you twirled in one spot.
    “Please tell me it’s from the sale rack,” I texted back.
    She rang me.
    “Just tuck the tags under, I’ll take them back tomorrow. It’s not the type of outfit you want to be seen in twice anyway.”
    “You are going to get in so much trouble.”
    “Doubt it. I think the manager has the hots for me.”
    “Isn’t your manager a woman?”
    “Very funny. But seriously, no eating pasta sauce, swimming fully clothed, or making out on the grass.”
    “I’ll put that on my not-to-do list.”
    “Just strip off to your underwear if you want to do anything crazy. It’ll be more fun that way anyway.”
    “Crap. Underwear. I didn’t get anything new.”
    “Seriously? Fine. Red or black?”
    “Are they my only choices?”
    “Nope. But if you are going to let him see you in them, they better be super hot.”
    “I am not going to sleep with him on the first date.”
    “Chicken.”
    “White. I want to look sweet.”
    “You in white? Sounds so unlike you.” I poked my tongue at her through the phone. She continued. “I’ll find something with bling. What’s your budget?”
    “Can’t I return that too?”
    “Eewww.”
    “ Mwahaha. Kidding. I don’t know - keep it under a hundred.”
    “Done. See you in twenty.”
    Twenty minutes. I had already washed my hair twice. I tried to straighten it, but it curled right on back up. I stared at the clock. Ten to six. Twenty minutes: Lacey arrived to dress me. Seventy minutes: Jason arrived to date me. Nothing like a good production schedule to make this into a bigger deal than it needed to be. I concentrated on breathing to calm myself. I knew I could talk to him. He’d show me a good time. What was I so worried for? Only the fact that I haven’t been on a date for goodness knows how long and the last guy I was with was something I never wanted to experience again. No pressure.
    A distraction is what I needed, at least until Lacey arrived. I threw on an old sweatshirt and pants and walked into the kitchen to chat to my grandparents.
    “Is that what you are wearing?” asked my grandmother.
    “Oh yes, don’t you watch the fashion channel. This is the latest in comfort chic. Straight from Paris.” I pretended to walk the catwalk from the table to the sink. I did a turn and my best model pose at the end of the fake runway.
    “Superb. The designer is a genius,” said Rose. “What time is Lacey coming with the real outfit?”
    “Soon.”
    “It’s not going to give you much time.”
    “How much time do I need? I’ll just brush my hair again and put on makeup. I can do a glam face in under ten minutes. I’ve perfected it.”
    “This isn’t stage though. Don’t go too heavy, men don’t like it when you wear too much makeup.”
    I grinned. “I think I can