Welcome To My Life

“You’re going out Liz, wear something a little more… sexy” Jenna commanded me.

We were hanging out in my room before we would go out with Jack and his friends. Jenna had arrived here just after dinner because she insisted on helping me get ready. She didn’t agree with the skinny jeans and band shirt I had chosen to wear and forced me to find something different. Something sexy, apparently.

“Sexy?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.
“Yeah yeah, I know you don’t like Alex but there will still be plenty of other cute guys to make out with” Jenna shrugged.
“What makes you think I want to make out with some random guy?” I asked her.
“You seem like the type” Jenna replied.

“Are you calling me a slut?” I joked.
“If I were, would I get you to dress like one?” Jenna fired back.
“Fine, I’ll try to find something sexier, though I’m pretty sure I won’t” I whined.

I opened one of the boxes I hadn’t unpacked yet, which was filled with clothes. Before I got the chance, Jenna started going through it and I decided to just sit on my bed and wait for her to find something. It’s not that I didn’t like dressing up. I was still a girl after all. I just didn’t want to think Alex I dressed up for him and give him the wrong impression.

A few minutes later Jenna had gathered a black high waisted skirt, a dark purple muscle tee and black high-heeled shoes.
“You’re wearing this” she told me.
I wanted to protest, but Jenna seemed so determined that I reluctantly took the clothes from her and went into my bathroom to change. I put the outfit on, the muscle tee tucked messily into the skirt. Okay, the outfit wasn’t so bad except for my lace bra showing on both sides through the big armholes of the muscle tee. Too sexy.

I left my bathroom and went back into my room, to find Jenna sitting on my bed going through some magazine that had been on my nightstand.
“What do you think?” I asked, when she didn’t look up.
She shot up from the magazine when she heard me and got up from the bed.

“You look amazing! Look at those legs!” she exclaimed.
“Don’t you think it’s a little too much?” I muttered.
“Don't you mean too little?" she winked. "It’s the 21st century, I think people can take it”
“But…” I started.

“Jack!” Jenna exclaimed after we heard someone come up the stairs.
Seconds later the door to my room opened and Jack appeared.
“What?” he asked.
Jenna turned me around so that I was facing Jack.
“Do you think Liz looks too sexy?” Jenna asked him.

He looked me up and down, making me feel very uncomfortable.
“Let’s just say Alex is in for a treat tonight” Jack smirked.
“I’M NOT DOING THIS FOR ALEX!” I exclaimed. “Jesus fucking Christ, when are you…”
“Shush” Jenna said, making me shut up. “She doesn’t look too slutty right?”
“Uhm no. I wish more girls at school would dress like that” Jack replied. “Even I have to say you look kind of hot…”
“Out” I groaned, and surprisingly Jack did as he was told.

“See, you don’t look slutty!” Jenna said triumphantly.
“Jenna. My cousin was looking at me like I was some kind of sex doll. I do look slutty” I protested.
“Yes well, Jack just can’t keep his eyes of any girl, really. That's just what he does” Jenna said bitterly.
From her tone I decided to just drop it and wear this outfit.
“Fine, I’ll wear this” I sighed.

“Good, now your hair and make-up” Jenna said, pushing me to sit on the chair in front of my dressing table.
“What’s wrong with my hair and make-up?” I muttered.
I had already done my hair and make-up before Jenna came over, but apparently it was not good enough.

“It’s lovely, just a little too… goody goody for your outfit” she explained, pulling out her own make-up bag. She went through it and chose a few products. She started working on my eyes and the fact that I had no idea what she was doing did not make me feel very much at ease. After she was finished with my eyes I tried to look in the mirror but she didn’t let me.

“I’m not done yet” Jenna said sternly.
“Please just let me see!” I whined.
“Do you trust me?” Jenna asked.
“I don’t know, I don’t really know you that well” I muttered.
“Well, you’re gonna have to now” Jenna smirked, while she started applying blush and bronzer on my cheeks.

“Okay, lips” she said after she finished my face makeup.
She pulled out a dark red lipstick and applied it onto my lips. I always thought dark lipsticks looked so cool on other people but never dared to wear them myself.

“Okay, I’m done” Jenna said, stepping away from me so that I could look in the mirror.
“Wow” I muttered. “I look so… different..”
“Good different I hope?” Jenna asked.
“Absolutely. Thanks!” I said smiling.
“I’m glad you like it” Jenna replied.

The doorbell rang. We would all gather here and drive to town in Rian’s car. I hadn’t met Zack and Rian before. Jack told me they were in his and Alex’s band, but I hadn’t ever seen them play either.

“We should probably go downstairs” I said, heading for the door, followed by Jenna.
I heard a familiar voice downstairs that wasn’t Jack. Was I ready to face Alex? What if he didn’t want to talk to me. Jenna apparently noticed my doubt.

“Come on, apologize” she said, pushing me towards the stairs.
“Don’t push me, I’m wearing heels, I just might fall down the stairs” I hissed.
“Well, if you did I’m sure Alex would ask if you’re okay, so can I?” Jenna asked.
“Don’t you dare” I told her.
“Then get your ass downstairs and apologize to the guy!” she said forcefully.
“Okay, okay fine” I sighed and I headed down the stairs, followed by Jenna.

Since we had been bickering for so long, the boys had already gone into the living room so we did too.
“Alex, can I talk to you?” I asked when I found them on the couch.

Just like Jack had done earlier, Alex was now also eyeing me up and down. This is why I don’t dress like this, because it makes me really fucking uncomfortable. He didn’t even reply either, he was just looking at me.

“Hello? Earth to Alex?” I tried again, but it wasn’t until Jack poked his side he woke up from whatever inappropriate daydream he was having.
“You were saying…?” he asked.
“I asked if I could talk to you” I said stiffly.
“Oh uh yeah sure” he muttered and I lead him to the kitchen.

“Look, I’m sorry about earlier” I said quietly after I shut the door behind him. “I was unnecessarily rude and you didn’t deserve that at all.”
“Well, it’s okay if you want to pay attention in class” Alex shrugged and I noticed he was eyeing me up and down, mostly down, again.
“Eyes are up here” I groaned. “Never seen a girl in a skirt?”
Alex’s face turned red. “Sorry” he muttered.

“It’s not that I necessarily want to pay attention in class, I just… didn’t want to give you the wrong idea, if you know what I mean” I said softly.
Alex smiled, but I could easily tell he was faking it. “I know what you mean.”
“I’m sorry” I muttered, looking down.
“Eyes are up here” Alex smirked. “And stop apologizing. We’re good.”
“Thank god” I replied.

The doorbell rang again. That must be Zack and Rian.
“Let’s go party!” I yelled before I headed back to the living room with Alex right behind me.
Two guys I didn’t know were indeed just entering the living room. One was rather muscular, the other one rather bald. I walked up to them.

“So you’re the niece these two won’t stop talking about?” the almost bald guy grinned.
“Well, I sure hope Jack hasn’t been talking that much about me” I replied, making a face. “That can’t be good.”
I noticed Jack and Alex giving the guy a look.

“I’m Rian” he introduced himself, holding out his hand.
“Liz, nice to meet you” I replied.
The muscular guy stepped forward and held out his hand as well. “I’m Zack.”
“Liz” I replied.
“Nice to meet you” he nodded.

“Well, are you ready to party?” Jack exclaimed, dragging out the ‘y’.
“Hell yeah!” the boys exclaimed.
Zack and Rian had brought a strong alcohol smell with them. Were they already wasted? Well that could be fun…

Notes

I decided to have this story take place in the present by the way, so not back when ATL was formed. I need social media and smartphones and today's music :)

Title credit: 5SOS - She Looks So Perfect