Mirage by Ashley Suzanne Page A

doing? Who was he with? Did he think about me? Did he miss me?
    I don’t even know if I want the answers to these questions. I don’t know if my heart can take the answers and what I would do with them if I actually knew.
    A few hours later, the sunlight pours through my bedroom window and Kylee is snoring in my face.
    “Ky, wake up,” I say shaking her shoulders. I remembered why I didn’t like sharing a bed with her and begging my parents for bunk beds when we were kids.
    “I’m up, I’m up. What’s going on?” Kylee asks rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
    After a few more attempts to get Kylee out of bed, we go downstairs to rummage through the fridge. I decide on a bagel with strawberry cream cheese while Kylee grabbed a bowl and milk to have cereal.
    Sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen thinking about how tonight was going to go, my stomach starts turning and is in knots. I really didn’t want to go, but a part of me wants to see Skylar. Maybe if we can get over the awkwardness of being friends, we can get back to where we were, maybe start over again.
    Did I just want to be his friend? I have no idea. Something about him drew me in. We started off being friends, he manipulated his way into my heart and I did love him, but did I love him enough to be more than just a good friend? Did he even feel the same way about me? All of this over thinking is going to drive me insane and give me an ulcer.
    Kylee and I decide to take an afternoon shopping trip. I really could use something new to wear tonight. I had only been to a clubhouse once before and from what I remember, the men wore jeans and their motorcycle vests and the girls wore next to nothing, looking as slutty as can be. That has never been me. I like to be girly but not slutty.
    At an adorable boutique we found downtown, I find the perfect outfit for a clubhouse. I move into the fitting room to try it on. Coming out of the room to face Kylee to get her opinion, I pause by a trifold of floor to ceiling mirrors and admire the way I look in this outfit.
    I pair a short, dark denim jean shorts with an orange form-fitting racer back tank top with an excessive v cut in the front and wedge sandals. With the tanning I have been doing after work, my skin is a great shade of brown that makes the orange against my skin pop. I also think that orange brings out the green emerald tone of my eyes. Playing with my hair, I decide that a high pony pulled tight will make this look seem sexy but carefree at the same time. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard.
    “Oh shit, Mi, you look amazing,” Kylee says as she eyes me up and down. I have never in my entire life felt like I looked beautiful, let alone more beautiful than Kylee. But in this moment, I have the market cornered on sexy.
    Giving myself a 360 in the mirror, I admire how well I look. Then, I return to the fitting room and change into the clothes I wore here. Kylee decided on a new pair of low rise jeans and a shirt that showed more of her midriff than I would ever be comfortable with. We pay for our purchases and leave.
    We go to eat at one of our favorite cafes located only a few blocks from the heart of the U of M campus. It’s such a nice place, laid back, smooth jazz plays in the background and they serve the best sandwiches and salads you will find in the whole city. We order our lunches and sit back to admire the college guys walking around outside through the huge window in front of the café when my phone rings.
    “Hello?”
    “Mira, hey it’s Jacoby. How are you?”
    “Oh hey, I’m sorry. I must not have had your number saved in my phone. I’m good, what’s up,” I say casually.
    “Well last night you agreed to go on a date with me and I was wondering what you were doing tonight?”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry. I have plans with Kylee tonight. We’re going out to meet with an old friend from college. I would invite you along but I don’t know if this is really your scene,” I