Heyyy!
Let me tell you, writer's block is a bitch. I don't know why I've had such a hard time writing recently. I finally finished this chapter but I want to warn you it's not edited. I wanted to get it out to you guys first so you know I didn't forget about you.
I hope everyone is having a great summer and I hope to have an easier time writing in the next couple months.
Read, vote, comment, share! Let me know what you think! My PM is always open :)
Much love,
Elle
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I slept fitfully the rest of the night. Never really fully falling asleep before I would jerk myself awake. Sam had eventually come back into the main room after another thirty minutes on the phone. I assume to calm his mom down and collect his own thoughts in private.
It was a long five hours of tossing and turning for me, which meant more time awake to not only think about Sam's secret imperfect home situation, but also that I was going to be in a pageant in only a few hours. By the time 6:30 rolled around, I was restless to get out of bed and do something. Anything.
I decided a hot shower may be my answer to clear my head and take a moment to flush the thoughts that plagued me all night. The searing hot water pelleted down on my head and shoulders, soaking my hair. Steam filled the bathroom and fogged up the mirror. Leaning my forehead against the tiled wall and closing my eyes, I inhaled the humid air to fill my lungs to full capacity.
There was nothing I could do about Sam's personal situation. I wasn't even supposed to hear that conversation, yet now I carried the weight of something much bigger than a pageant. I had no one to confide in to untangle the confusing web that I was stuck in unintentionally. I couldn't directly help Sam or even ask how I could be of use. All I could do was stand back, half in the dark, and watch whatever was going to happen happen.
I eventually stepped out of the shower after spending several long moments standing in thought. Wrapping one big fluffy towel around my torso and another around my hair, I brushed my teeth and placed my glasses back on my nose. I was too distracted to try to put in my contacts yet. Plus, I wanted to wear them for the shortest time as possible, so another hour without them would be better.
I pulled back on my pajama shorts and sweatshirt with my hair still wet from my shower. I didn't bother putting it back into a braid since I needed my hair to dry faster. With such thick hair like mine, it took hours for it to dry completely, so I know I would need to use a hair dryer eventually. It was only 6:45 when I was done, so I turned the bathroom light off before going back into the main room. I wanted to give Sam every minute of sleep I could since he had a long night.
My efforts didn't matter though because Sam was already awake and sitting up when I tiptoed out. He switched on the lamp and dark circles were suddenly illuminated under his eyes.
"You're up early," he commented, pushing his legs over the side of the bed so he was sitting on the edge.
"Hard to stay asleep when I'm this nervous," I replied. It's also hard to sleep when you're trying to figure out why someone would want their mother to kick their own father out of the house, but I left that part out.
Sam hummed in acknowledgment before sidestepping me to use the bathroom himself.
The pageant started at 10am and we had three hours to get hair, make-up, dressing, and registration done. Three hours seemed like a long time, but once you start, it seems like time is in fast-forward. I stood in the middle of the room looking around, unsure of what even to start with. I've been through this process hundreds of times, but suddenly, when I'm the only getting ready, my mind goes blank. I was so used to my mom barking out orders to me. What do I start with?
"Earth to Lu," Sam called from behind me, which broke me out of my trance. "Why don't we get you some breakfast first to settle you in."
I didn't bother arguing, so I instead slipped on my flip flops and didn't give a second thought to wearing pajamas to the lobby. Sam on the other hand, put on a hat that he pulled low over his forehead and a sweatshirt, which he yanked the hood over his head as well. A shadow was cast over his face and it was hard to see any of his features, which meant he would be unrecognizable. We walked in silence to the lobby and searched for the continental breakfast. When we did get there, there were already frantic mothers and frazzled daughters crowding the buffet.
"Oh boy," I breathed at the familiar sight of girls' hair in curlers and half-done self tanner. "Should I have gotten a fake tan?" I whispered to Sam as we both took in the frenzy in front of us.
"I didn't even think of it since I don't ever get them done. You're so naturally pasty that you probably would look ridiculous with one," Sam answered, not missing a beat.
How charming. It must be so difficult to have a perfect sun-kissed complexion, while I look like a vampire who spends most of her time in Alaska. Leaving Sam behind me, I surged towards the front line to grab a plate. Sam followed behind me with a small smug smirk. I ignored him as I grabbed a half of a cinnamon raisin bagel and cream cheese, eggs, yogurt, and a heaping spoonful of sliced melon. With my other hand, I filled up a cup of orange juice. There was one tiny table open among the large amounts of women filling the room. I weaved my way to the table by the window and placed my meal down.
Sam slid into the seat across from me and took a look at my plate before taking a peek around the room. "I'm glad you can eat like a normal person," he muttered, taking a bite of his own eggs.
"Huh?"
"Look around."
I casually glanced up and scanned the other tables. Several girls were looking in my direction in shock. Their faces appalled as they stared at my breakfast. A pathetically small yogurt or apple barely touched sat in front of most of them. A poor excuse for the first meal of the day in my opinion.
"Why are they looking at me like I'm an alien?" I hissed to Sam, shifting in my seat so my body faced towards the wall. Maybe trying to act like wallpaper will discourage them from watching me.
"Because you're eating a real breakfast and not a meal for a bird," he replied bluntly.
"Won't they get hungry?"
"Some of them will probably go right to the bathroom after this and throw up whatever they just ate and the rest of them won't eat again until after the pageant."
"The pageant doesn't end until like 6," I deadpanned, taking a spoonful of yogurt into my mouth.
Sam merely shrugged like the fact that these girls were practically starving themselves for the day was normal. I knew my sister didn't eat much during pageant days, but I hoped she didn't throw back up whatever she put down.
"They're worried about not fitting into their dresses."
I stared down at my own plate with a suddenly queasy stomach. "Will I still be able to fit into my dress?" The question was not really directed at Sam, but more at the plate of food that didn't look so appetizing anymore. I've never been one to be worried about weighing too much, especially when my mother and Thalia frequently commented on my similar appearance to a stick. While my sister had curves that seemed to be carved by a sculptor, I had the figure of a brick.
"You have nothing to worry about. Now, you better eat the rest of your breakfast since we have a long day ahead of us. I'm not letting you leave until your plate is clean," Sam instructed me with no room for argument. He pushed my plate even closer with his finger and continued eating his own breakfast.
