Page 32 of The Retaliation You Deliver

In only a little over an hour, all four of us have managed epic transformations.

Gone are the caked on face masks and in their place is flawless makeup provided by Ella and expertly styled hair courtesy of Violet.

I stand in front of my mirror with another drink in my hand and stare at the woman looking back at me.

“Hot, right?” Ella asks, coming to stand beside me.

She’s gorgeous, petite, yet curvy. A classical beauty. I bet she has men following her everywhere.

“I… uh…”

“Any man would be lucky to get anywhere near you, Macie. Start embracing the fact you’re a sexy woman with curves women around the world would die for.”

“Are we ready?” Violet asks.

Looking over my shoulder, I find she’s wearing a short skirt and crop top which shows more skin than I think I’d ever be able to, unless I was on the beach, but she looks stunning.

“Yes,” Letty agrees.

“Good, I’ve got us a ride. Come on girls, it’s time to show MKU how it’s done.”

My stomach knots as the sudden realization that this might have been a bad idea rolls through me.

Letty must sense my hesitation because as the other two grab their purses and head out of the door, she lingers back, catching my hand in hers.

“You’re allowed to enjoy yourself, Macie. The past is in the past. You don’t need to hide from him, from anyone.”

Her dark eyes hold mine as emotion clogs my throat.

“I…” I swallow, not entirely sure what it is I want to say. “I think I’ve spent all my life hiding,” I confess.

“Well then, it’s time to break free of your cocoon, Macie. It’s time to own the beautiful butterfly you’ve become.”

My hands tremble at the thought of embarking on a life everyone else around campus sees as normal.

“El,” she calls, startling me.

“Yo, bitch, what’s up?” she shouts back from down the hall, her voice slurred.

“Whose party are we going to?”

“Basketball,” is all that comes back and knowing that Nate, Jace and Charlie will be there settles something inside me.

Yeah, they’ll probably be pissed that I turned them down, yet I’m willing to turn up with the girls, but I know they’ll understand, and look out for me.

“Okay,” I say, throwing my shoulders back in the hope I both feel and look a little more confident. “Let’s do this.”

Linking her arm through mine, Letty leads me from my room and then the dorm.

There’s a car waiting out in the parking lot with music booming from the windows. Violet immediately heads toward the driver’s side, sticks her ass out, ensuring her skirt rises just that little bit too high to be out in public as she threads her hand around the back of the guy's neck and slams her lips down on his.

“Uh… who’s that?”

“I have no idea,” Letty confesses. “Violet gets a little crazy when she drinks.”

“You don’t say,” I mutter as we watch her crawl through the window so she can sit plastered to the guy’s side.

“You’re a whore,” Ella shouts happily, making Violet flip her off before turning her attention back to the guy.