“You look hot.” Zoey spun Beth’s chair around so she could see herself in the mirror. She had to agree—but then she looked nothing like herself either. Zoey had done her makeup and hair so that she looked like one of the girls in her Seventeen magazine, and while it had taken over an hour, Beth thought maybe she could replicate the look, if she got some more expensive products. She was also wearing an outfit borrowed from one of Zoey’s friends who was Beth’s size, since Zoey was a good four inches taller and a size smaller than Beth. She’d have to spend her scorekeeping money and everything else she’d been saving up for the last few years to afford something this nice, but the effect was worth it.
“Now, here’s hoping Dee Dee’s shoes fit,” Zoey said, looking at her equally stunning blonde friend. “You have to have Keds, Beth. You can’t wear your old sneakers or your mom’s knock off Walmart brand.”
“Right,” Beth noted, taking the offered pair of sparkling white Keds from Dee Dee and sliding them on. Since Dee Dee was also a statue compared to Beth, her feet were a size bigger, but with two pairs of socks on, they fit okay. Beth breathed a sigh of relief.
“Totally awesome.” Zoey’s voice was lacking in enthusiasm, even though she was clearly happy the shoes fit. “All right, spray her down.” The tall brunette stepped out of the say, and Dee Dee doused Beth with another shot of hairspray, followed by a few sprits of Chanel No. 5.
“You have to smell as good as you look,” Dee Dee reminded her, and Beth nodded, wondering how much that might cost. She looked at herself again, and couldn’t believe how different she looked. Her eyeshadow was much darker. She had on eyeliner and mascara, both of which she was assured were waterproof, so even though it was hot outside, she wouldn’t melt. Her cheeks sparkled with pink glitter, and her lips were a glossy red color, sort of like Halley’s. Her hair was up off of her neck so she wouldn’t get so hot, but instead of some simple ponytail, it was twisted and pinned, and of course her bangs were expertly curled and flowered, sprayed so that they wouldn’t move in a hurricane. Her arms were covered with bangles, and the tank top she wore under an off-shoulder knitted top fit so much better than the ratty one she’d worn to the batting cages. Her jean shorts were much shorter than she was used to, but they hugged her just right. Even the hoop earrings were perfect. Beth felt like she could fit right in with Carly and Amber, and they’d accept her as one of their own.
“All right. We are going to swing by Sonic and get a drink, and we’ll meet you there, okay? I mean, your dad is expecting you to ride with him, right?”
Beth groaned. She’d still have to keep score that night, but she was really hoping her dad would let her ride with Zoey and hang out with her for a while afterward. When she’d asked her mom, she’d gotten a nonanswer, and her dad had been on the phone. “Let me ask him. I hope he’ll let me just go with you.”
“Awesome,” Zoey noted, and Beth headed down the stairs, leaving the light on at the top so that her friends didn’t trip. As it was, they struggled with all the twists and turns.
Reaching the landing, Beth didn’t allow herself to hesitate facing her parents looking like she did. This was the new her; they’d just have to embrace it. “Dad!” she shouted before hearing his voice coming from the dining room. She walked in to find him talking to her mom, Lavender latched onto her mom’s leg. It seemed like they might be arguing about something, but Beth assumed she was better off not knowing. “Dad, can I just ride with Zoey?”
“He still needs some sort of consequences!” Richard was saying, and Evelyn stared him down, clearly unwavering. “He’s out of control.”
“Dad?” She’d heard enough to know they were talking about Shane, and her mother wasn’t budging. Maybe, if she hurried, he wouldn’t notice what she looked like, too distracted by whatever her brother had done now.
“Beth?” Her mother’s eyes were like saucers as she stared at her, and Beth felt her knees start to buckle.
“Doesn’t she look totally rad?” Zoey asked, resting her hand on Beth’s shoulder. “It took a lot of work, but we did it. We’re gonna swing by Sonic to get a drink on our way to the game, but we won’t be late, ‘kay Mr. Monroe?”
“Beth?” her dad said, his eyebrows knit together.
“You look amazing, Beth!” Evelyn gushed, coming over and taking her daughter by the arms. “Wow! Who’d have known you could clean up so nicely. You look like one of Tiffany’s little friends!”
“Thanks, Mom,” Beth said, taking a step back, but her mom didn’t release her. This wasn’t the reaction she was expecting, but she’d take it. “You don’t care if we go to the square for a while after the game then, do you? I might be a little later than usual. Like—11:30.”
Evelyn tipped her head to the side, and Beth realized she’d pressed her luck too far.
“Heck stay out until midnight!” Richard proclaimed, stepping around the dining room table, past a stunned Lavender who was staring at her older sister like she didn’t know who she was.
“Richard!” Evelyn finally let go so she could wheel on her husband.
“Why not? We let Shane do whatever he wants. Beth might look different today, but I’m sure she’s the same level-headed girl she always is. I’m sure she’ll make good choices. And we know Zoey is responsible.”
“That’s different, Richard!” He was walking out of the room, and her mother followed. Beth decided not to take any chances. “Thanks, Dad! See you at the game!” she called, and turned, taking her friends by the arms and heading toward the front door before they could say anything.