She looked at the picture of the Pretty Ones. Shiny and happy in their matching blue jean suits. They were so cute. It was almost sickening. She wanted to be like them.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Her thumb ran over the glossy photo. She felt her eyes watering. She must have been tired. Cursing her parents for making her big-boned, she wrapped an arm around her stomach. She looked at her deep dark green eyes. They stood out. She liked her eyes.
She felt the weight of his stare at the back of her neck. Though the looking glass, she saw him approach her slowly. She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. He wrapped his arm around her bare waist. Their fingers intertwined. Her eyes were smiling but the one on her lips ran away. His gaze fell upon the images in the mirror. She sighed and asked.
"How do I look?"
"My darling, you look wonderful tonight."
Her eyes couldn't help but look at the picture of Britney and Justin in the corner of the mirror.
"She's cute." She pouted her lips.
"So are you." He hugged her a little. She knew he was warning her not to do that self-loathing thing she did but also comforting her letting her know that he was there for her if she felt like doing that self-loathing thing. He twirled a strain of her red hair around his chubby finger, absently. He kissed her cheek. He looked at the happy couple in the mirror. They reminded him of a pick-me line he heard her say: "You know what would look good on you?"
"No, what?"
"Me."
She really did look good on him with beads of sweat streaming down her forehead and wild frizzy hair sticking with her cheeks. He didn't look too bad himself underneath her with his eyes closed and his mouth slightly open and sounds occasionally escaping. "jello pudding snacks-- manhattan project-- next karate kid-- yeah, yeah-- something like you."
His lips not only mumble but spill kisses like a fountain. That was why they were late.
If Chris did notice they were late he didn't say anything. She slipped into the booth. She sat next to Joey and asked Chris where Josh and Lance were. They were out of the dance floor bumping and grinding like nobody's business. Thank God tabloids didn't know about that place. Joey put his arm around her shoulder. He nodded at Chris.
"Where are the Pretty Ones?" He asked.
Chris snorted bitterly. "Aww, the drunk icon and the two-dollar whore left about an hour ago. The place isn't good enough for them. They wanted to go someplace 'trendy'." The last he said in a mocking high-pitched tone. He took a swig of tequila and put the glass down next to the other two he had for the night. A blonde twentysomething appeared at the table. She put another full glass, four empty shot glasses, and a bottle of vodka and tequila on the table.
Mirakel smiled. "Thanks, Miranda."
"No prob, Em. I'll be back with your cherries."
Mirakel nodded as she poured vodka and tequila into a glass. Chris watched Miranda walk away. He liked the way her hair and ass bounced. She looked at him and then lowered her eyes. She went back looking for cherries. Cherries! Where are the God damn cherries? She found them before Chris' liquid courage started to kick in. She handed the plate of cherries to Mirakel. Then she slipped Chris a message. he opened his mouth to speak but she was called off to help another customer. Lance and Josh came lollygagging to the booth.
Mirakel's face scrunched up as she took a sip of her bitter concoction.
"That's some good shit." She said
"Hey man, why weren't you out there on the dance floor. Everybody was feeling the DJ." Josh asked Chris.
"Obviously, I wasn't." He retorted.
"Dude, what the fuck is your problem?" He didn't say it meanly just with concern.
"Nothing man."
Josh knew something was wrong but he didn't want to push it. Chris had been unusually bitter the last couple of months. Nobody knew why.
Josh tried to shake the thoughts out of his head. But once they were in there they had a hard time coming out. He took the small glass Joey offered him.
He finished it in one gulp.
Mirakel greeted him before tying a cherry stem with her tongue.
Chris wondered if Miranda could do that.
When the shot glasses were empty and the bottles were half-empty, Miranda showed up with the bill. Joey and Mirakel left the booth to leave the two alone. Josh and Lance had long since been gone back to their hotel room spilling sloppy kisses into each other's mouth and having drunken sex.
Miranda sat across from Chris. She placed her hand over his. He looked up, into her kind gentle eyes. She smiled timidly.
"Hey." she almost whispered.
"Hello, how ya doing?" slightly slurring his words.
She yawned. "I'm a little tired but other then that just fine. I'd be even better if you could over to my place to y'know talk."
He left Joey and Mirakel the bill while he went off to Miranda's place. They talked about the Stock Market and football.
Something magical was happening. They weren't quite sure what it was but it felt heaven sent.
He rested his head on her chest.
Her breasts were small and humble so no one could confuse them with mountains.
She let her fingers caress his spiky hair. "Chris?"
"Yeah?" He looked up at her.
She bit her lip.
"Baby, I wonder if you feel the same as I do." He liked the sound of 'baby' coming from her sweet mouth.
"Well, I do. Girl in your eyes I feel your fire burn, all your secrets I will learn, even if it takes forever."
She kissed his forehead and told him she could tie a cherry stem with her tongue.
They fell asleep murmuring confessions.
He was late to the group meeting the next morning.
Josh noticed he wasn't bitter anymore.
But Justin had been the past few days.
He called the meeting to let everybody know.
Britney was ten days late.