All of us swim home as fast as we can. Surely, Marissa and I want to get to my house to get ready, but Blythe wants to get home in order to make sure they don't start fighting. I don't know why Brittany is speed-swimming alongside us. Maybe it's just to keep up with us. Maybe it's to get away from Blythe quicker. Blythe is kind of talking her ear off behind us. Marissa is trying to hold in a laugh the whole time Blythe is talking. At least, I assume it's because of Blythe. She always manages to clear the air whenever there is fighting or something else negative.

I, on the other hand, am trying to listen and pay attention to what Blythe is saying. That's what good sisters do. Blythe talks about her wonderful day at school, this new kid in her class named Elliot, and about how she can't wait to go back to school tomorrow.

Once she is all out of those topics, Blythe begins asking Marissa questions.

"What's your favorite color?"

Chuckling, Marissa says, "It's orange, silly."

"I like red. It's cool and reminds me of fire. I think it's the best color in the whole wide world," Blythe says, grinning from ear to ear.

"Really? I thought orange was," Marissa says, pouting.

Shaking her head, Blythe objects, "No, red is."

"If you say it is, then it must be," Marissa says, shrugging, symbolizing she gives up. Blythe begins smiling as she realizes she has won. Marissa laughs.

"Who do you like better: girls or boys?" Blythe asks her.

"Girls, of course!"

"Good. Girls are better. They're smarter and prettier and better at everything they do. Boys are just dumb and ugly." Marissa and I laugh.

Amused, I ask, "So, Avery is dumb and ugly, then?"

"No..."

"I thought you said boys are?"

"I did, but Avery is different. We taught him to be smart, and he's cute because we're cute," Blythe says, smiling to back up her argument.

"Oh, I see," I say, trying to hold in a laugh. Luckily, we arrive at my house just in time as it is about to blurt out. Blythe and Brittany race inside before I even get to blink my eyes.

"I guess they were in a rush," Marissa chuckles.

"I guess so..."

"Now, we have thirty minutes, so let's hurry," Marissa urges.

"Don't you mean you have thirty minutes?" Marissa begins to grin a huge grin. "Marissa... what are you planning?"

"I'm doing your make-up," she says excitedly. I sigh. I knew Marissa was planning something, and that was something I hoped she wasn't thinking about.

"But, I just want it to look natural," I protest.

"Oh, shush. I'll make you look even more beautiful, if it's even possible. Now, come on. We've got some work to do," Marissa says, pushing me into my house. She guides me into my room and sits me on my bed.

As Marissa looks through her bag, I twiddle with my fingers in anticipation. Marissa plops a bunch of things on my bed beside me. I stare wide-eyed at all the things she expects to put on my face.

I am about to say something when Marissa places a finger to my lips, shushing me. I sigh in defeat before allowing her to paint my face.

~

Twenty-five minutes later, Marissa and I are both ready. I'm shocked she was actually able to get us both ready in such a short time. Marissa was able to brush my hair, put make-up on me, and do the same for her. I've tried several times to look at myself in a mirror to ease my worrying, but Marissa wouldn't let me. As soon as she turns away, I will take the chance to look.

"Are you ready?" Marissa asks me, obviously excited.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I say, shrugging my shoulders.

"Good. Now, come with me," Marissa says, guiding me to my bathroom. I swim ahead of her, unknowing what she is about to do. I thought we were leaving. If we don't leave now, we're going to be late. "Look," Marissa says as she pushes me into the tiny room. I glance at the beautiful creature before me. At first, I wondered who it could be before realizing it's me.

Marissa did as I told her; she made me look natural. Everything is so beautiful, but my eyes are the first things to catch my sight. They have always been my favorite feature. They're practically popping out of my head with beauty.

Those lips of mine are the next thing to catch my eye. They look so plush and attractive.

My skin--My skin looks flawless. Usually, I will put concealer or foundation on before going to school, but I didn't even feel Marissa touch my skin. I swear she has worked wonders for me.

Did I talk about my hair? It looks even more curlier than normal, and that's saying something. My hair is usually extremely curly, but somehow, Marissa managed to add twice it's curliness to it.

Finally, I get to see what Marissa's blue bra looks like on me. I have to admit, her bra looks very slimming and looks as if it was made for me. It goes great with my bright, purple tail.

"You like?" Marissa smiles.

"Like? No," I state, trying to show no emotion. I see a frown appear on her once proud face. "I love!" I scream in amazement. Marissa instantly grins, showing she is proud once again.

"Really?"

"Yeah! I look--" I begin to say, looking for the correct word.

"Beautiful?" I nod, grinning.

"Thanks, Marissa. You're the best friend I could ever hope for."

"No problem. Now, those boys are going to be drooling over us," she smirks. I look at her in confusion before realizing I never paid attention to what Marissa looks like.

Shows what a great friend I am...

Like me, Marissa made herself look natural. Marissa's normal, small, thin lips look plusher and more average-size than usual. Her coral lipstick is really blowing my mind. That must be why her lips look plumper today. Any other day, they don't. Besides that, they are really shining like diamonds, and oh my god! Her caramel-colored eyes are popping full of beauty just like mine. Marissa's once wavy, reddish-brown hair is now straight. Her skin looks just as flawless as mine. Shockingly, Marissa looks even more tanner than she did two hours ago. I personally think it's because of her astonishing golden yellow bra I picked out for her. She looks great in it! I knew that red one would look awful.

Go, Stacie! You got skills when it comes to picking out your best friend's clothing.

"Hopefully," I whisper. Marissa stares at me, wide-eyed. She quickly places both her hands on my shoulders.

"No! Don't say that. You have to sound confident, even if you aren't," Marissa whines.

"I can't," I say softly.

"Yes, you can! Now, repeat after me. I am beautiful," Marissa says sternly.

"I am beautiful," I repeat in disbelief.

"No matter what happens today, I will remember this."

"No matter what happens today, I will remember this."

"Remember what?" Marissa asks.

"That... I am beautiful?" I say, hoping that is what she wants to hear.

"Good. Now, those boys are going to be drooling over me when I swim by."

"Those boys are going to be drooling over me when I swim by," I repeat, not being able to picture it in my head.

"And, if they don't, they're most likely gay."

"No," I object.

Staring me down, Marissa says sternly, "Say it." I swear she would make one serious hardcore mother.

"And, if they don't, they're most likely gay," I groan.

"Good, now let's get a move on. The boys are waiting for us." Marissa beams, full of excitement and anticipation.

I look at my alarm clock to see that we're late. I quickly swim to my room to get my things.