Story of Us trilogy 01: TouchStone for Play Read Online Free PDF Page B

something to wear.
    I switch on Britney singing Piece of Me and
skip off into my bedroom; before she hits the chorus I’m dancing in my one
designer dress and stomping in heels I’ve never worn, hoping I’ll find
something that won’t reveal my ordinariness to this prince of a man.
    Just to be on the safe side, I want to enlist the help
of my best friend Charlie. She’s an urban firecracker with flaming red hair and
a perfect smile; a city girl who’s paid too much and knows how to spend what
she earns, usually on socialising and herself. I’ll need her help if I’m going
to pull this off.
     
    ***
     
    All it takes is a phone call and she’s knocking on my
door in 50 minutes. Over her arm are what looks like 20 dresses of varying
colours and lengths: what a life saver. Under sufferance, I try, twirl and
discard until we have two contenders. A red smock dress that sits just over my
knee or a fitted silver, grey cocktail dress that’s slightly shorter but with a
less revealing neck line.
    "It’s a winner," Charlie announces, seeming
even more excited than I am. Some things never change, she’s the same red
headed girl I knew at university but slightly taller with straighter teeth.
    Caught up in the excitement of it all, she blows a
stray piece of hair from her face and issues another round of instructions:
“hair, nails and legs,” and I wonder if it might not be easier to give her the
ticket. So much to do and so little time, on a school night too!
    By 9.30, I’m almost done and I’m sitting in a bath
with a face mask on while she’s giving me a manicure. The bath is filled with
bubbles and the oils ripple around my softening skin like a luxury spa. I’m
enjoying being pampered. It’s a new experience for me.
    "There, all we need now is two coats of varnish
and you’re done and dusted." Charlie is proud of her handy work. She goes
to refill our glasses with more chilled Chardonnay and I step out of the bath;
the soft folds of the bathrobe glide over my baby soft skin and I hug myself.
The bathroom is a sauna and I can’t see for steam, but I know I’m glowing and
that has something to do with the oils, but more to do with the thought of
seeing Ayden Stone again. I’m getting a second chance to shine.
    Once again sleep doesn’t come easily, but for
different reasons. There’s a trace of regret, but I hold on to the promise of
redemption and it comforts me. I dream of wild azure eyes and soft kisses and
awake to the sound of an angry alarm clock: it’s a new day.
     
    ***
     
    Wednesday is a blur. Every lesson takes care of itself
and I’m totally preoccupied. From midday onwards I have butterflies in my
stomach and, at one point, actually feel I might bring back my lunch. It’s like
being 16 again, only I was never like this at 16. I consider myself to have
been what my father reliably called ‘an ugly duckling’ and I trusted his
judgement. Most of my boyfriends developed out of friendship and when romantic
liaisons came to a natural end, I’d suffer the indignation of losing both a boy
and a friend. But, I’m captain of my own ship so, come hell and high water, I’m
ready for you Ayden Stone.
     
    It’s 6.15, I’m almost done and Charlie has arrived to
give me the once-over. She finishes off my hair and make-up and leaves me to
dress. I take a look at her masterpiece in the mirror and I’m pleasantly
surprised. By choice, I’ve put myself on the back burner for almost seven, long
years, and here I am all fired up and full of anticipation. I take one last look,
"welcome back Beth." An undetectable smile passes my lips, and I head
off to make my dramatic entrance.
    Charlie gasps and holds her hand to her mouth in mock
horror.
    "That bad, eh?" I screw my face into a
grimace.
    "No, no Beth. You look amazing. Who knew, under
all those stuffy shirts and pleated pants was a babe just waiting to get out.
He’ll have such a hard on when he sees you."
    Oh! Now there’s a thought …
    She runs over