Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“To be a stripper?” I toss back, making Mac burst into laughter.
“I can’t.” She keeps laughing. “I’m just like picturing it.”
“I could be a stripper.” Again, Naomi is dead-ass serious, and I snort a laugh too. “All right, are we going to do this or poke fun at me?” She folds her arms over her chest.
“I feel like we can do both.” Mac glances at me, and I nod in agreement. I open the door farther and step out into the hallway.
“For reals. What are you doing?” Naomi has a pair of heels on. It doesn’t match the getup she’s changed into, which appears to be workout gear but the kind that fits snuggly.
“I want to learn to wear heels.”
“All right.” I step more into the hallway.
“You’re not going to ask why?” Naomi asks.
“Sure.” I shrug nonchalantly. “Why?” I wasn’t going to because Naomi gives me the vibe that the more you ask, the less she gives, and it appears I’m right.
“I want to learn to play a part. To be seductive."
"Let's see it." I now know what the scream was because Naomi takes a step and almost falls again, but Mac catches her, keeping her on her feet.
"This is like the blind leading the blind." A flash of irritation shows on Naomi's face before she masks it. I bet she's good at most things, and she's not mastering this very quickly. I can see how that would easily frustrate her.
"You're the one who didn't want to ask Nix," Mac points out.
"I'd never hear the end of it."
"Want me to help?" I offer. I find it fun to get dressed up when the occasion calls for it. My style is just a tad different than most, but I rock heels when needed. Part of the fun of dressing up is you get to be a different person if you want. A whole new persona if you wish.
"Really?"
"Yep." I walk over to stand next to her. "Now, you have good posture already. That really helps. But balance is key too. Keep your weight in the center of your foot."
"All right." Naomi stands up even straighter, and I watch as she shifts, getting a feel for what is the center. "Now what?"
"We start with short, controlled steps." Naomi lifts one foot to take a step, but I motion for her to stop. "You place the heel down first, then roll through to the toes."
"Got it." Naomi takes a few steps. "It works." Her brows perk up. That might be the only thing of hers that perks.
"Keep going," I encourage, letting her go a few more steps. I follow beside her. "Now stop looking at your feet. Eyes straight ahead and chin up. Sometimes confidence, even if faked, can help more than you realize. Own it."
Naomi does just as I instruct, but her arms remain stiff. Mac is fighting a laugh. "Relax your arms at your side." I mean, she’s not perfect right now, but she takes direction well.
Naomi goes up and down the hallway a few more times. Now she seems to be picking it up quicker. I swear I see a flutter of excitement, but with her, I can’t be certain.
“What’s going on?” We all turn to see Nix standing at the end of the hallway, her arms folded over her chest. She’s in a Golden Prep cheer uniform.
“Just hanging out.” Mac rocks on the balls of her feet. “Shooting the breeze.”
“Shooting the breeze? Really? That’s what you come up with?” Naomi glares at Mac. “I’m practicing walking in heels,” she finally answers. It’s clear Nix isn’t moving from her position at the end of the hallway until she gets the answers she’s after.
“And she was teaching you.” Nix points one of her bright pink painted fingernails at me. I get hit with a weird guilty feeling that I have participated in a cheating scandal. There is hurt written all over Nix’s face that she wasn’t included.
“It’s not what you think.” Mac steps toward her.
“Oh, really.” Nix gives a dramatic eye roll that almost looks painful. I didn’t know eyes could roll that far, but when they’re done, they land right back on me.
“I, uh—” What the hell do I say? “They’re cheering me up. Helping me feel welcome.”
“Oh, don’t give them excuses. I get excluded all the time, and I get it. Sometimes, but this…” She points to Naomi's heels. “It’s way over the line.”
"Nix." Mac gentles her voice.
"Whatever." She throws up her hand. "Just so you know, I got moved to varsity cheer. Not that anyone cares." Nix turns around and stomps off.
"Varsity cheer is hard," I say to fill the silence. They do crazy flips and throw each other around.
Mac lets out an audible breath. "We need to go check on her." Naomi simply nods in agreement. "You'll let her do your hair." Mac adds this, which causes Naomi to purse her lips, but she nods again.