I woke up this morning pretty early. I didn’t know what to do. I looked at Rose who had slept next to me last night. I tried to wake her up but she slept like the dead. I decided to get ready for college and then work a little on the project.

As I pushed away my pink curtains, the glittering sun rays spread across my room with various hues of shiny silvers and gold. The faint chirping of birds and dewdrops over the green grass welcomed my vision.

It was a beautiful morning, I thought.

I walked into my bathroom to freshen up and splashed some water on my face and looked at the mirror. A pair of bright, healthy eyes stared right back at me.

“I look good,” I told myself

For no specific reason, it was a good morning. I felt nice and happy. So I decided to wear something nice.

I walked into my closet and scanned through all the clothes I had. Suddenly a chuckle escaped my lips the moment my eyes fell on the floral printed white skirt and a long-sleeved white crop top that Austin had once got for me. I recalled Jenna's face when she saw me at the washroom. That was such a wild experience, I thought.

A few seconds later I decided on wearing a red body-hugging crop and paired it with a pair of the black high-waisted skirt. Next, I made fine delicate strokes with an eyebrow pencil to fill in my brows. I chose a soft brown shade to fill my eyelids and lightly creased it to add depth and size to my eyes. I added a dot of ivory yellow color eye shadow under my brow bone which lightened and made my eyes look more open.

After making a thin soft line with my eyeliner above my lashes, I outlined my lips with a red lip pencil and filled it in with a lipstick of the same color.

I was proud of my finished look and felt extremely confident and beautiful.

“You are gorgeous,” I said to myself with a broad smile.

I headed towards the small shoe rack I had in the corner of my closet and picked out a pair of dark black heels that completed my entire look. I didn’t look to extra or overdressed. I was able to manage the "perfect" look for a college girl.

Neither was it too bold and evident nor was it completely normal. It was just the perfect balance.

I walked towards Rose to wake her up again for college.

“Get up we have to go to the college,” I said shaking her

“Just five more minutes mom,” she replied in her sleep

Mom? Really?

I knew it was no point trying to wake her up so I went downstairs to have my breakfast.

“Oh my god. My daughter is looking beautiful,” my mother said dramatically the moment she looked at me

“Thanks, mom,” I said with a smile as I rolled my eyes at her kissed her on the forehead.

We sat down to have our breakfast which, like always, was delicious.

“Okay, honey. I need to go now, Ok?” said my mom getting up from her seat.

“Could you please drop me on the way?” I asked

“Aren’t you going with Rose? Isn’t she in your room?” my mom questioned

“Yes, she is. But she’s sleeping. She told me she was feeling better last night,” I replied, “she’ll come on her own when she wakes up. I’ll leave her a text with all the instruction,”

“Oh OK. Sure,” my mom agreed and I got up to leave with her.

I left my house keys on the coffee table for Rose. And texted her a few instructions about the food and keys and locking the house properly, which she never does, among some other stuff.

********
I walked into my college building as usual and just when I reached my locker to grab my book my eyes fell on Jenna.

She looked at me surprised. I couldn’t understand why. Was it because I dressed up a little today?

“Someone here is planning to kill people with their beauty,” said a voice from behind me

I turned around to look and a familiar pair of deep blue eyes stared right back at me with a broad smile

“Austin,” I said

“Oh. Bazel. Why do you always have to grab my attention like this?” he complained

“Shut up and let's go to class,” I said

“After you, ma’am,” he replied

*******
I was arranging my books in my locker after the class when I saw Rose running towards me

“Hazel,” she said, huffing and puffing

“Rose!” I exclaimed, “Is everything okay?”

“What are you doing here?” she questioned, worried

“What do you mean? This is the place I study in,” I replied, confused

“But I was sick and you said you’d stay with me,” she replied trying to catch her breath

“Dude, calm down. It was yesterday and last night you told me you were feeling better,” I replied, “Is everything okay?”

“Are you okay? Did you see anything…uh…different?” she asked, hesitantly

“What?” I asked her confused

“Uh. Nothing. It's alright. Leave it,” she said scanning her surroundings.

“Rose, what is wrong?” I questioned

“Nothing. Can we please leave the topic and go to our class?” she said, “What do we have now?”

“Literature,” I replied

She grabbed her books and held my hand tight like I was gonna run away.

The entire time Rose looked worried. She kept looking around like she was searching for something. I tried asking her a couple of times what she was looking for but she didn’t tell a word.

Every time the door opened Rose was startled. She would immediately look who came in. Austin noticed her changed behavior too and questioned me about it. I told him I didn’t know what was going on inside her head. I gestured to him to ask her and when he did she gave him the same reply as she did to me.

**********

A/N
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Toodles.