My Emerald

What are friends for?

She filled Nancy in on the whole plan and conversation. Although Nancy tried to talk her out of it, she knew once Charlotte had set her mind on it there would be no changing it. So Nancy did what she did best. “Char you are staying with us Friday, I’ll help you “be presentable”” she said while fake gagging at Geralds words, “you go to this event shake hands, smile that georgeous smile, then come back here and we’ll go out?” She tried to say cheerfully. “Celebrate with your real family, I’ll tell Heather were spending the day pampering you but to meet us after and we can do dinner and maybe go back to The Valley? What do you think? I know two guys that could cheer you up? Especially once they find out it is your birthday!” Charlotte was in tears at this point, from the decision to severe her relationship with her father to the pain from him not remembering her birthday, but agreed with her friend. “Dry those tears, let's have a movie night? I’m 10 minutes from your place, what do you say?” “Sounds great.” Was all she could manage to get out.

The week flew by faster than she realized and Saturday morning rolls around, Josh comes knocking at the door bright and early with breakfast and coffee in hand for the girls. Becca is beaming at how thoughtful he is, knowing he worked a double last night to still think of all of them this morning. Nancy had apologized for putting thoughts into her head that he wasn’t a great guy when they had gone out to The Valley and tried to make up for it by inviting him out with them tonight. Nancy still hadn’t told the group how she was getting into this club, but Charlotte had more on her plate than that today. Josh dashed off to do an early shift and be off in time to actually accompany the girls tonight, no way he was having a repeat from last time. He made a mental note to thank whatever guys Nancy mentioned had brought them home so they didn’t have to take the bus. Becca joined Nancy as they got started on making Charlotte presentable. Like any good makeover, the soundtrack had to be perfect and, much to Nancy and Beccas rebuttal, Charlotte would only play the Ed Sheeran playlist. Trying to lighten the mood, Nancy chimed in, “Thanks so much for the help on that paper, Char, I actually have something to turn in Monday now!”

The colour drained from Charlotte's face. After what happened, Charlotte never finished her paper and now they had too many plans. “Oh no I’m not done, I can’t go I have to finish this paper it is worth 30% of our grade!” She exclaimed, trying to wiggle out of the beauty station the girls had created.

“Oh no ma’am do not smudge those nails I just finished!” Becca said directing her back to the chair.

“Don’t worry Char, you can be done in like 1 hour and get a perfect score. Just take your laptop with you, when you go to the party, do your introductions, smile for a while and sneak off to finish it. Just reappear after to say your goodbyes and you’ll look like the perfect doting daughter.” Nancy said like it was the most obvious solution, but Charlotte had no other options. If she bailed she doubted Gerald would ever give, this opportunity again, plus a paid internship without having to fight other candidates was just what she needed to get started on getting away from him.

“Becca, can you get my laptop and things together and make sure they’re in my bag please?” she asked in defeat.

“If it means you don’t ruin your nails, then of course”, She happily replied. Two hours later and Charlotte was ready, she was the picture of grace. Charlotte was naturally beautiful, so the girls kept it simple with a silk midi dress, scoop neck line and some signature nude pumps. Her chestnut hair fell in effortless curls down her back and her rosy cheeks gave way to her stunning green eyes. Nancy smiled in appreciation of her work, she loved helping her friend feel as beautiful as she knew her heart was. “Ok time to go,” Nancy said while scooting her out of the door, grabbing her bag with her laptop in it. Nancy was dropping her off and going to pick her up later. After much debate from Charlotte about the far drive stating it was near a new shopping centre and she needed to grab some things anyway, Nancy had won out.