The alarm on my phone causes vibrations to ripple under my stomach as I'm sleeping face down with drool pooling in my mouth, almost spilling out onto my pillow. I quickly suck it back in, becoming more conscious and immediately grab my phone to stop the horrid noise from continuing any longer. It is 6:45 p.m. on a Saturday, but not just any other Saturday.

Saturday, the day of our first official date. I could act all nonchalant about it but the unwarranted beating of my heart as I arise, doesn't allow me.

To say I'm nervous is quite a bit of an understatement as it is the first time anyone has shown enough interest in me to take me out. Like in public, for everyone to see that I'm with them. It's insane.

It feels extremely weird but satisfying at the same time. It makes me feel as though I matter to someone in a weird, contorted way.

I finally build up enough courage to revive myself from the power nap I just had and head straight to the bathroom to brush my teeth to rid myself of the tuna breath that still lingered. Tuna sandwiches are great but the smell mingled in with hot breath is not.

After brushing my teeth, I attempt to find something to wear but all my closet consists of are oversized t-shirts and hoodies, with a variety of jeans mingled in. Those are the only articles of clothing I trust to cover up the love handles I so adamantly despise.

"What the hell, Jules?" I question myself out loud, as I realize I have absolutely nothing to wear for tonight.

I rub my temples trying to initiate some thought as to how I can solve this issue. All of a sudden, I'm hit with an epiphany. I know the only person that can help me in this situation so I grab my phone and slip on my black and white Nike slides.

My tall figure travels stealthily to the dorm room directly across from mine and knocks, desperately hoping that she is there. I wait anxiously for a few seconds, fearing that someone might spot me in the hall looking like the hot mess that I am.

"Jules!" She squeals as she yanks open the door to see me. Hugging is usually her first instinct so I'm not completely shocked when her arms naturally wrap themselves around me, trapping me in the tightest embrace I've ever been in.

"Hey, Steph," I reply, simply rubbing her back with my hand since my arms are limited in their range due to her restriction. I attempt to reciprocate her feelings of excitement as I enter her shared dorm.

Stephanie is one of the only friends I've made in Orlando for the short time that I've been here. She has helped me navigate around crazy-ass Florida after I met her through working at the campus bookstore. She took me under her wing since this is her second year at USO. I find a bit of solace in Stephanie because she is so outgoing and has really been there for me the many times I've fallen homesick.

"What's up, finally got some dick?" She states sarcastically, sticking her tongue out at me in a teasing manner. Her transitions into conversations never seem to phase me anymore.

I don't reply, still unsure about this whole thing between me and Victor. My eyes divert their attention to the stiff beige carpeted flooring and instinctively, my fingers start fidgeting around one another like they always do.

"Oh, my gosh, you really did get some dick!" She exclaims after gasping. Her hands clasp together as her eyes widen at me in awe and admiration. Her fuchsia, loosely-curled hair, bounces alongside her exaggerated reaction.

"Relax, lower your voice... people can hear," I whisper the latter end of the statement, thoroughly embarrassed and guarded about the whole ordeal.

"Jules, there is nothing to be shy about. When is this date?" She comforts as she goes to sit on the twin bed with her legs crossed and her hazel-green orbs darted at me.

"At 8," I answer, sheepishly with my shoulders slumped.

She looks at me as if I was Medusa with locks made of slithering serpents.

"What the hell are you doing here? You have to go get ready now!"

"That's the issue," I look away timidly, "I-I don't know how. I have nothing to get ready with. No makeup, no dress, and no ounce of confidence," I admit, panic consuming my features as I realize the depth of my predicament.

"You came to the right place," She states dramatically as she obnoxiously winks and heads for her closet. This girl is a character. She rummages through her, what seems like thousands, of items until she pulls out this black lace, tight-fitting dress with a crimson blood undertone that adds an overall pop of color under the lace. The shape of the dress is nothing I can imagine my body fitting into. It is slim but widens as it goes down towards the pelvic area.

"I can't wear that," I declare immediately. You have to have a body for that type of dress.

"Jules, you can and you will rock the shit out of this dress," Steph convinces, looking at the dress and then glancing at me with a huge grin on her face.

I squint at the dress, trying to visualize it on me. Fuck it, let's try to impress him.

"Okay, fine... I have to take a shower," I state, rolling my eyes at Steph. A smile still plastered onto her face. What could ever make this girl stop smiling?

"Let's get it!" Steph squeals as she folds the dress over her arm to grab for one more thing from her closet. As she steps back out, high heels cling loosely onto her fingers.

Oh hell no.

Steph spins me around and out the door before I can protest, obviously seeing the slight apprehension written all over my face. She shuts the door before following me across to my dorm room. I simply turn the knob having not locked the door, knowing I wouldn't be out too long.

Once we're in, I head straight for the shower after I hear Steph shut the door behind her. As I head into my room, I pull my phone out from my back pocket to see that it is already nearing seven.

In response, my phone is dropped onto the bed before I disappear into the connected bathroom.

While in the shower, thoughts begin to swarm as they always do. What if he doesn't like me? Does he think I'm too young for him? Am I enough for him?

The warm water coats every inch of my body, relaxing the tension in my muscles. I allow myself to be consumed by the feeling, enough to subdue my detrimental thoughts for just a moment.

After I step out of the shower and into my room, I see Steph seated patiently on my bed as she scrolls through her phone. The royal purple that coats her nails becoming obvious as her fingers type away at the speed of light.

"You can leave while I change," I express as I head over to the top of my dresser drawer for some lotion.

"Jules, I have tits and a vagina too." She declares matter of factly, refusing to look up from her phone.

I don't want you to see how ugly my body looks.

I stare at her for a moment trying to see if she is serious or not. Soon realizing that I am not going to get my way, I start getting myself ready. I quickly dry myself and apply lotion to slip the dress on. Steph just sits there consumed by her phone, completely disregarding my previous plea.

After getting the dress on comfortably, I start to shift from my heels to my toes until Steph notices my awkwardness. She momentarily looks up, her eyes widening into saucers with a sly smirk tugging at the edge of her lips.

Do I look that bad?

"Damn! If you were my type I would most definitely take you back to my place," she hollers with the sudden clap of her hands.

A heat begins to rise to my cheeks, thinking of how Victor will react to this dress. Will he feel the same way?

"Shut up!" I yell, covering my slight excitement with my hands. "Who's your type anyway? You bring any girl back to your dorm, I wouldn't know if you had a specific type," I roast.

"Go off then," Steph chuckles as she looks up from her phone. "Get your ass over here so I can glam you up."

I head over to the edge of my bed and sit anxiously waiting for Steph to paint my face.

I've never had my makeup done. Not even a bit of that black stuff that people put around their eyes that make them look like raccoons.

The brushes and powders fly everywhere, choking me a couple of times until it all comes to an end. Steph sprays a water solution after she is done, causing me to flinch.

I already feel completely different as the makeup adds weight to my face.

"Ta-da! You look fucking amazing!" She announces as she takes a step back to observe the entirety of my face. "Check it out for yourself."

I get up and make my way towards my dresser drawer mirror and when I open my eyes, I have to take a double-take.

"Oh, my fucking gosh!" I exclaim, staring at every corner of my face in detail.

I almost gasp. I don't know how to feel.
I get an odd tingling feeling. I feel good about myself.

I have never seen myself look this way and I don't really know how to act. I can't seem to stop staring at the person in the mirror, amazed at what Steph had done.

"You're a miracle worker."

"I try," she says cockily as she playfully lays her hand regally on her chest.

________<€>_______

Hey! What do you think of Jules' new makeover? What did you think of her thoughts throughout this process?

...

Also, what are your thoughts on Stephanie, our new character?