twenty-two. cursed hallway

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
                          
.·゜゜·　　·゜゜·．
                          
"What time do you want us there, Maritza?" I glance behind me, seeing my dad was peaking into my room. A smile spreads across his face as he takes in the sight of me. "Is that what you're wearing tonight?"
                          
I nod, my hands flattening down the shirt that's tucked into my dress pants. "I wanna look nice for the curtain call. Is it too much?" I might have spent all night up and read a lot of articles saying the most powerful a woman could look is in a suit, and I may or may not have forced Amy to come over early in the morning to take me to the mall to buy a power suit just for this night. You know...as one normally does.
                          
My dad shakes his head. "No, you look really pretty." He tucks his hands into his pockets. "When do you want us to be there? Early to be in the front row? Or late enough to be in the middle?"
                          
I chuckle, turning back to my reflection. "Doesn't matter, Pa, I'm not acting in the show. I'm just an advisor."
                          
"I know, but you know we're proud of you for taking this on."
                          
"We? As in...?" I raise an eyebrow at him through the mirror.
                          
I see my dad sigh, shuffling his feet. "I know she has a funny way of showing it, but your mother is proud of you for everything you've achieved. You've grown into a smart young woman, Mari."
                          
Maybe she is proud of me, or she isn't, either is fine. Because I know I'm proud of me. I've matured a lot in these last few months, and I'll be damned if I don't give myself a pat on the back for it. So, for once I can say I don't care about whether or not I've got my mom's seal of approval, because I've got my own seal of approval. And it says 'fuck yeah Maritza' on it.
                          
"Thanks, Pa," I mumble. I see my phone light up with a notification on my right, and when I peer over, Amy's name is displayed. "I gotta head there now. Just...be there right on time. Does that work?" I ask as I scoop up my bag and toss it over my shoulder.
                          
My dad nods, and when I pass him, he stops me to press a kiss to my forehead. "Have fun tonight, beba."
                          
I smile. "Okay, Pa, I will."
                          
.·゜゜·　　·゜゜·．
                          
There is nothing fun about this.
                          
I thought by getting here a little early that I'd beat all the chaos of people running around and being stressed out, but I was wrong. Looks like everybody got here fucking early because half the cast is here being all crazy. The only upside to this is the fact that I haven't run into Ricky yet in the midst of all this chaos, but that is simultaneously the downside.
                          
With a sigh, Amy falls into the seat beside me, her makeup now done. "This is stressful," she mumbles, her head falling to my shoulder.
                          
"Man up, Ryan," I tease, shrugging to get her off of me.