by Kayla Thurman
I’ve always been told that I should grow up. I’ve never been like other children, wishing that I was older, because I liked being a kid. I don’t like to wear makeup. I hate high heeled shoes. I’m not ready to be grown, because I’ve seen what growing up did to all my friends.
I’ve seen what it’s done to my best friend, Erin Walker. Before high school, Erin had been a straight A student and a great friend. It had never really mattered that Erin was a few months older than me until we got to high school. Halfway through our freshman year, Erin had started hanging out with some of the juniors, and she had started smoking. Erin started wearing too much makeup and stilettos. She had suddenly turned into someone different than the person that I’d known, and that was what caused conflict. Erin had changed, and I hadn’t.
***
“Hey, Erin, Alonna.” My least favorite person in the world called to us. Tony Pembroke has been my worst enemy since first grade, when he put glue in my hair.
I looked up from my desk. “Hi, Tony,” I said, rolling my eyes. I didn’t say anything else to him in hopes that he might go away.
“Hi, Tony. How are you?” Erin chimed sweetly. I could’ve gagged. I couldn’t understand why Erin liked Tony so much.
We were a little early getting to class, so the room was fairly quiet. All the desks were empty, and the teacher wasn’t in the room yet. Tony decided to sit down right next to me and behind Erin.
“So, Alonna.” Tony stared at me with his bright green eyes. “I’m having a party at my house Saturday. You know, for my birthday. I was wondering if you wanted to come.”
I stared at him in disbelief. Erin looked back at us and said, “Of course, we’d love to go!”
I turned and glared at Erin. “Speak for yourself. I have plans on Saturday.”
Erin frowned back. “Like what? Watching cartoons all day?”
“As a matter of fact, yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Erin stared defiantly at me for a minute before turning to Tony. “Don’t worry, we’ll be there.”
Tony smiled his charming, but mischievous smile and got up, taking his usual seat near the back of the classroom.
“Alonna, we’re going to the mall tomorrow to find something to wear Saturday.”
“I told you, I am not going to that party. And how do you know Tony even wants you to be there? You just invited yourself, as usual.”
“What’s your problem? Why don’t you grow up already?”
“There’ll be plenty of time for me to grow up later,” I said, looking toward the front of the classroom, as the teacher walked in.
“We’ll go to the mall tomorrow, and find something cute for you to wear,” Erin said confidently. “You’ll change your mind.”
I just shrugged. She can try whatever she wants, I thought, nothing’s going to change. I’d never been so wrong in my life.
***
“Isn’t this cute?” Erin waved a miniskirt in front of my face. “Come on, it would look great on you.” We had been in the mall for almost 3 hours, and I was more than ready to go home. We’d searched through rack after rack of clothes, and couldn’t find anything that we could agree on.
I made a face. “Erin, that’s too short.”
“But I like it. It’s cute.”
“But it’ll barely cover my-”
“It’s going to look great with that shirt I bought for you on your birthday.”
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. “Well, what if I don’t want to wear that?”
“What else are you going to wear? Jeans and an oversized sweatshirt?”
“Maybe.”
Erin let out an exasperated sigh. “Alonna, please. Stop being so difficult.” She handed the skirt to me. “Try this on.” Erin pushed me to the fitting rooms.
Five minutes later, Erin said, “Aren’t you done yet? Let me see.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because it looks awful.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. Come on, let me see.”
I opened the door and shuffled out awkwardly. The skirt showed most of my legs, which were eternally scratched up, scraped, and scabbed from playing soccer.
Erin stared at me, wrinkling her nose. “It looks like you got into a fight with a cat.”
“I told you it looked bad.”
“It doesn’t look too bad… You’ll be fine.”
I wasn’t reassured, but I let her buy the skirt anyway.
Erin smiled at me. “The party starts at eight, so be at my house by about… a quarter to seven. Okay?”
“A quarter to seven? Isn’t that a little early?”
“No. I have to do your hair and makeup.”
“Erin! I am not wearing makeup!”
“Relax. I’m just going to put some eyeliner and lip gloss on you. It’s not much.”
“But, Erin…”
“It’s going to look really good, I promise.”
“If you say so,” I sighed.
***
“Alonna! Stop blinking!”
“I can’t help it! You’re trying to put my eye out!”
“I haven’t poked you in the eye once!”
“But it looks like you’re about to!”
“Then stop looking at the pencil!” Erin began to apply eyeliner around the edge of my right eye. “There. I told you it wouldn’t be so bad. You were just making it too hard.”
“Can I look now?”
“If you want to.”
I took a deep breath and turned to the mirror on Erin’s dressing table. The eyeliner made my eyes stand out more, and the lip gloss made my lips look just a little fuller. I looked older and more mature, but I didn’t feel right. It just didn’t seem like me.
“See? I did a good job, didn’t I?” Erin said. She pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, lit one, and took a long drag, exhaling the smoke in my face.
“Wow. Um… I don’t… I really don’t know, Erin.” I coughed, trying to wave the smoke away.
“Oh, you look great, Alonna. Trust me.”
Erin went to get herself ready for the party, leaving me to stare at the mirror.
***
When we arrived at the Pembrokes’ house, Tony was at the door, welcoming some of the other guests. When he saw Erin, he looked at her disdainfully, but smiled at me.
“Hi, Tony! Happy birthday!” Erin’s said, smiling her most charming smile. I didn’t say anything.
“Hi, Erin. Hi, Alonna.” He let Erin walk into the house, but blocked the doorway, when I tried to get in. “You… uh… look really nice tonight.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, ducking under his arm, and going to find Erin.
I heard someone, probably one of the guys say, “Ooh, Tony got rejected.”
