Part One: The Before Times Chapter one: Preparation I look in the mirror, observing my face fringed by ink black hair and even blacker stocking cap. All girly features have been erased: my sculpted eyebrows penciled back in, my black lashes coated in white powder so they look less girly, and my pouty lips made thin with foundation. Looking down through my chunky, nonprescription fames, I examine the loose, gray shirt that hides my fairly curvy upper half and black "hipster" jeans. "Snap! We forgot shoes, Sandra," I call from the plush bathroom attached to her bedroom. "Really?! We are sooooo screwed," Sandra bounces into the room, literally. Her mocha skin is contrast to my suddenly not-so-tan skin as she examines me up and down. Her carefully manicured hand taps her chin as she considers the countless combinations of shoes and my standard hipster boy outfit. "I was thinking converses... but the only pair I have are my black knee highs," I mutter looking at her slim form towering on heels. "I might be able to snag someone Derek's, they'd be too big, but you ARE supposed to be a guy," Sandra looks at me through her naturally thick lashes I've been jealous of forever. "Fine..., but only because this is revenge from the pudding bra accident!" I'm practically yelling down the hall by the time I finish my sentence. I sigh, plopping down onto her four poster bed, knowing that it will take a minimum of an hour for her to find the perfect black converses. Did I mention Derek has fifty pairs of shoes? All converses and Vans? And twenty pairs are black? I like black- no I LOVE black- but twenty pairs of solid black shoes.... I'd die for them. •*^*•*^*•*^*• Sandra finally came back (I lied: it took two hours, not one) dragging a basket with several pairs of shoes. She named the style as she tossed them on me and around me, "High top, slip on, regular, combat boots, and," she pauses dramatically looking at me. "the flip-flop!" I automatically shove the high tops and flip-flops back into the basket. "No, just simply no," I attempt to run my fingers through my short hair only to find it covered by the stocking cap. "Maybe these," I toss the slip on Vans towards Sandra. "Ooooh these are niice!" I throw one combat boot at her and am about to throw the second but pause. I've always liked shoes but have never had the money for them like Sandra and Derek, so when those combat boots landed on my lap and face I wanted them. Badly. I REALLY wanted them. "These are amazing! I'll wear these for sure," I don't even look up from the slick, unbroken surface of the black shoe. "I see that look Renia, and no I don't think he will notice I lent his ex his shoes, he has another pair in a darker shade anyways," Sandra hands me the other boot in such a manner one would think we were handling a diamond.
Chapter two: Meeting The Third Part one of two "Are you sure you want to do this," Sandra gripped my shoulders, looking into my eyes with popcorn on her breath from the chick flick we just ditched. "San, of course I'm sure! This is one of our last things on the July list that's legal here," I smiled brightly at her as I pulled out my iPod. "'member the drill Rennie?" "Yes, I'm to put my hat on so no one can see the half of my face and walk in with the next movie crowd." "Which is in how long?" I check my cellphone, "Three and a half minutes." She smiles her brilliant smile that gets the guys at me,"Derek is already parked." "You told him," I practically hissed at her. "Well you did date him for a year, he IS gonna remember all the hell you two raised!" I nod, not really listening as I think back a year and a half. To the times I had a Clyde in my life and wasn't secretly looking for a Clydette. "It's time, I can hear them rumble like lava from the bowels of the Earth," I growl jokingly and poke Sandra who glares at me. "Concentrate you ho!" "Fine fine," I grumble, purposely sashaying across the lobby. I kept my head down, examining the baby blue tiles covered with grime, from the very second I swung open the door into a very different world. The sounds of toilets and oh my god is that a urinal?! flushing boom through my head. My heart pounds in my chest as I push open a stall door that has been painted to match the floor.