My thoughts were quickly erased by the snap of two fingers in front of my face.

The owner of the hand, with a solemn face, put her hand down on my shoulder, her joyful mood had disappeared, just as quickly as my memory.

"Dawn?..."Mandy asked, biting her lower lip out of guilt, as her sad eyes looked me up and down.

I shook my head, the tears pooling in my eyes threatening to fall without a moments notice. "You know how it gets," I replied with a sad smile, I ringed my fingers together- a habit I created whenever I felt uncomfortable.

I gazed up at her face and I saw the pity shining through her eyes, so I decided to change the subject, no longer could I stand her eyes silently judging me.

"Hey!" My voice wavered, "When was the last time you got your nails done, huh?" I said, referring to when she snapped her fingers at me.

Her face sagged, realizing that I was done with the topic at hand, once again blocking her out. "I don't know... guess it's been too long." and she glanced down at her hands with a look of disgust. "What do you say we go get our nails done together and then maybe if and only if you change your mind, maybe we can go to the club afterward?" She said, hope pooling in her doe eyes.

I didn't want to disappoint her, she seemed like she was really looking forward to going out tonight.

"Alright, alright. I'll think about it." The words had barely left my mouth before Mandy squealed and pounced on me, her small body squeezing my own.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I swear you won't regret it!" She said excitedly, her face pulled back with a smile.

Yeah, let's hope so...

And with that, we continued on with our shift. Dealing with customers who acted like they knew more about baking than us, well at least more than Mandy- I was a lost cause when it came to stuff like this. Then afterward cleaning up messes created by said customers.

Before we both knew it, our shift was over, and Mandy dragged me to her car with the apron still in my hand, not waiting for me to strap on my seat belt and she started speeding her way to the closest nail spa.

I gripped the handle, fearing for my safety. Mandy glanced over and scoffed. "You're acting like I can't drive!"

"Mandy!" I screamed, "The road!"

She turned her head so fast it was a surprise that she hadn't gotten whiplash, she quickly swerved, avoiding crashing into the opposite lane. I rolled my eyes at her and tightened my grip. After all, I've been through I wasn't about to die because of carelessness.

We finally approached the spa, and it took all my self-restraint to not get on my knees and kiss the ground.

Mandy pulled over and parked her car, but my mind was in deep thought.

Flashback.

My teacher held my small hand firmly in her grip, my parents had yet to come. My teacher who stood to my right, glancing over the road to see if anyone was coming.

They were supposed to pick me up an hour ago, by now all the kids were gone and it was just the teacher and me standing alone.

It was quiet until I heard the clicking sound of heels walking towards us. I turned my head and saw my mother, her hair splayed messily on top of her head, upon our glances towards her she threw my teacher a smile.

"Ms. Alexander thank you so much," my mother spoke. "My husband and I... lost track of time." My mother turned and gestured at my fathers approaching figure.

"It's quite alright Mrs. Myers. Let's hope this doesn't become a habit." My teacher politely laughed, her own eyes taking in my mother's disgruntled attire.

Ms. Alexander handed me off to my mother, I let go of her hand to grip my mothers, my head turned slowly, as I brought my free hand up to wave goodbye to her.

We were just about to get in the car, the three of us deadly silent. It was here that I made my first mistake, and opened my mouth to speak.

"Mommy?" I started.

She turned her head, looking at me from the passenger seat. "Yes, Dawn?"

"Why do your hands not look as nice as Ms. Alexander's?" I innocently questioned.

My mother opened her mouth to speak but was promptly cut off.

"We can't afford things like that." My father grumbled, "Maybe if you weren't in the picture, we could." His beady eyes glaring holes into my own.

"Greg!" My mother scolded, her eyes lit with fury. "She is our daughter, don't speak to her like that!"

He scoffed. "It's not like she knows what I said, Diana." His hands gripping the steering wheel, as he pulled us out of the parking lot.

End.

"Dawn? Stop zoning out." Mandy said again with another snap in front of my face.

I swatted her hands away. "Get your crusty fingers away from me."

She laughed as we made our way inside, the conversation about my father was long gone and in place of it, we talked about the royal wedding and everything in between.

"I'm telling you, Dawn..." She drawled out. "If I had the chance, I'd throw it back for Prince Harry."

Crinkling my nose I responded. "Mandy he's like ten years older than you." She rolled her eyes, "And married."

"That didn't stop Shakira." She waved me off, earning a glare from the lady doing her nails. "You're acting like you wouldn't!" Mandy exclaimed, a bright smile taking a place on her face once more.

"Hey! That's for me and Shakira to know." I said with a small smile adorning my own face.

We continued with our dumb conversations, casually including the workers to join, without us knowing, an hour flew by quickly.

We had already made our way to Mandy's apartment and I was laying down on her bed while she was rummaging through her closet.

"Okay, okay what about this one." She said while holding up a neon green dress that sparkled with fake crystals.

"Yeah if you're into looking like a highlighter," I respond cheekily.

Her eyes turned ice like, "Ha. Ha. Very funny."

After a couple more minutes she pulls out a gold body-con dress. "Ooo, now I'll be looking like a Fenty highlighter." She replied, her mouth wide as she took in the dress.

"Oh god," I responded with a slight smile.

"I know I know, now you." She pointed towards me, "Go pick something out for yourself."

Groaning I got up and picked the first dress that I saw sticking out from her closet. It was backless and short, and those two didn't bode well for me. So I quickly put it back. But it didn't go unnoticed by Mandy, who snatched it from the hanger and tossed it back to me.

"Mandy I can't." I pleaded, giving her my most innocent puppy dog eyes.

She responded quickly, her tone final. "Stop saying you can't and start saying you can for a change."

"I don't want anyone to see them." I referred to the massacre that was my back.

Her eyes got soft, "Honey, there's nothing wrong with your scars." She told me as she patted my back, soothingly rubbing the tender skin, unknowingly sending shivers through my body. I grimaced away from her touch, not liking anyone touching my sensitive skin.

"I know, there's nothing wrong with them, but I'm still insecure about them. I don't want anyone other than myself to see them."

Her hands, which were still suspended in the air, dropped. "I understand that, let me see if I have something else." She moved away and rummaged through her closet. Under her breath, she whispered, as she pushed clothes aside trying to find anything. "Why don't I have something else. Literally anything else!" She angrily shoved her clothes. I watched her as she turned around with a sloppy smile. "I think I have a jacket, would that work?"

"Alright, I guess. It is pretty cold out." I said while looking back over at the dress.

"Yay!" She cheered. "Okay, now go change we're leaving in thirty minutes!" She exclaimed while rushing into the bathroom and getting herself ready.

Groaning I turned the dress back over and felt its soft material in my hands. I took off my top and pulled the dress over my head, letting it bunch up as I then took off my pants. Now having discarded my bottom and top, I pulled down the dress. I shifted around, letting the material flow and find its places on the correct curves.

Mandy walked back in after knocking, her head peaked into the room before she stepped inside of it fully. Her overdramatic ass wiped a fake tear. "I'm feeling like a proud mama bear."

"Oh shut it," I respond throwing my shirt at her, she laughed as she dodged it. Throwing a jacket towards me afterward.

She marched towards her closet, squatting down as she rummaged the bottom for the two pairs of shoes.

The problem here is that. I don't know how to do my makeup. I never had anyone to teach me how to do it. Every time I did a cat eye I end up making one side longer, or higher. When I do my lips I either overline or underline them. I huffed in annoyance as I felt completely useless, so I decided that I'll do what's easiest plain old mascara.

"Come on, really?" I turn around to see Mandy, whose gold dress clung to her body. "Don't you want to try a little bit? Have a little risk?" She added with a wink.

"Uh, this is the best I can do alright, I have shaky hands." I sneered.

She dropped the shoes near the bed. "Sit still let me do it, I can't leave you to do anything huh?"

Grunting in response as she gripped my head with her claws, she swiped the black eyeliner on, effortlessly creating a cat eye, which she easily duplicated on the other.

"That wasn't so bad was it?" She mocked, and I glared at her. "Now go and put on your shoes we're gonna be late." She nudged me over to the black heels.

"It's a night club, Mandy, I don't think we can be late."

"Yeah, yeah hurry up. I'm gonna be downstairs alright, I'll bring my car up front."

Looking back at the mirror to make sure my that not too much was revealed, I took a shaky breath, smoothing out wrinkles as I tried to control my racing heart.

I'll be alright.

30 views?? I might just start sobbin. At least 20 people have looked at my story and I just.