CARAMEL

I looked in the mirror, and saw a girl with chocolate-coloured skin
staring back. Her eyes looked huge and bright, under normal
circumstances, they displayed a degree of innocence. Only, tonight the
light sweep of eyeliner had done something. It had made her, as well as
her eyes, appear older, but not necessarily wiser. The blood-red stain
that coated her thick lips gleamed; catching the light from ever
angle.
But did they look good? Sure, they had an effect, but was it good? Was
it going to turn heads in a 'Wow, she's gorgeous' way, or in a 'what
bled over her mouth?' way.
I decided that for tonight at least, the girl behind the mirror was
going to win. I hadn't let her out in a while, and if she wanted
fire-hydrant lips, then she could have them. I applied another coat of
'Fiery passion', just for luck, and blot my lips, leaving a smudged
'kiss' on a piece of green tissue. I pulled the soft paper away from my
lips and wondered if that was the only object my lips were going to
come into contact with tonight.
My mind wondered aimless until it reached its desired destination:
Brandon. I wondered if he'd be replacing the tissue paper anytime
soon.
Were his lips this soft?
Well, they probably weren't 2-ply, and probably didn't cost
?2.99&;#8230;.
He was so gorgeous&;#8230;. 6''1 with brown eyes&;#8230;smile
like the sunrise. When I looked at him, that's what I saw. The sunrise.
I heard the smoothest music whenever he was around&;#8230;or maybe I
just wear my Walkman too much&;#8230;
I stared deeply into the mirror, as though it was a river and I was
about to see a something swimming around in the shallows, or, as though
it wasn't about to say, 'You are the fairest one of all'. Fat chance. I
knew what I saw, but what did he see when he looked at me?
Did he even see me at all?
I cranked up the volume on my CD player, allowing the healing sounds of
R'n'B to wash over me, cleansing me of my worries. The singer's voice
was like silk. I turned it up one more notch. If Yvette had a problem
with it, she'd come banging on the door, and scream at me to turn it
down&;#8230;
Brushing my long dark hair into no particular style at all, I took one
final look into the mirror. 'Caramel, you can do this.' I told myself
over and over. I mean, it was just a night out.
Right?
Surely I could get through a couple of hours without fighting, getting
too drunk, making a complete idiot of myself&;#8230;. not that I
made a habit of it&;#8230;
Now, her on the other hand. She didn't need a fight or excess alcohol
to make an exhibition of herself. Usually, all she had to do was turn
up&;#8230;. 5''5, blonde hair&;#8230;.she probably had 'Made In
Taiwan' stamped somewhere on her back.
What did Brandon see in her anyway. She wasn't even pretty. Well, not
much. It was just because she gave him what he wanted.
And what does Brandon want?
Anything but me.

Caramel x