Trying to Score by Toni Aleo

knowing how to handle talking to him again. When they saw each other in person, everything would be fine. It had been so long, she still couldn’t be that mad.
    Right?
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    “Why did I let her talk me into this dress?”
    Fallon stood in front of her wall length mirror, looking over the short black mini dress Audrey had talked her into buying for the party that night. It was a strapless sweetheart mini dress with big white flowers with hand-beaded centers going down the side. The flowers were what sold Fallon on the dress, and she felt so confident when she paired them with her sparkling silver Badgley Mischka Humbie pumps, but now she stood in front of her mirror doubting herself. Even with her amazing hair and perfect makeup, she couldn’t help but feel like she was about to walk into the gas chamber.
    Fallon knew tonight was the night she would see Lucas.
    Her stomach clenched and she was convinced she was gonna puke. Audrey thought it was such a great idea to wear something hot to make him see what he lost, but all Fallon wanted to do was run into the closet and put something else on. She didn’t care if he thought she was hot….much.
    “Stop over-thinking the dress, its hot,” Audrey said from the doorway. Audrey wore an orange and pink sequined tutu cocktail dress with insanely high pink platform shoes. Her hair was done up in a cute little bun and Fallon was convinced that if her hair and makeup were a little more drastic, Audrey could be mistaken for Lady Gaga.
    “I don’t feel hot.”
    “You look it. Love the hair by the way.”
    Fallon smiled thanks as she looked herself over again. Her hair did look good, so did her legs, but that was because of the shoes. Oh God, she should just stay home. Fallon didn’t even know how she was gonna act around Lucas. What was she gonna say?
    “I don’t want to go,” she groaned as she sat at the end of the bed.
    “Oh hush,” Audrey said just as Aiden came flying into Fallon’s room. He let out a loud “Yeehaw” as he did flips and high kicks at the imaginary people he was beating up. All Audrey and Fallon could do was sit and watch him.
    What Fallon would do to be Aiden and not know that the shit was about to hit the fan.
    “I won, man I’m tired,” Aiden said breathlessly as Fallon smiled.
    “I bet buddy, it must be hard fighting…what exactly were you fighting?” Fallon asked. Aiden gave her a lopsided grin.
    “Four, six-headed hippogriffs. Nasty little things,” Aiden gushed, shaking his head.
    “Goodness me, four?! Jeez, so wonder you’re tired,” Fallon gushed, grinning ear to ear. Aiden’s imagination always made her smile.
    “Kid’s a beast, he gets it from his awesome AA,” Audrey gushed taking him into her arms.
    Or his dad , Fallon thought as she watched them hug each other tightly.
    “Isn’t Momma pretty, Aiden?” Audrey asked.
    Aiden nodded his little head quickly, “Yeah Momma, you’re really pretty. I like your flowers.”
    “Thanks baby, now I feel on top of the world,” Fallon boasted as she looked back in the mirror.
    “You look pretty too, AA,” Aiden said making Audrey blush.
    She leaned over, pinching his cheeks. “Thanks babe, come here and give me kisses.”
    As Audrey gave him numerous kisses, Fallon heard the doorbell ring, so she headed downstairs to answer it. Fallon had asked her mom to come watch Aiden since both she and Audrey were needed at the party. Her mom loved watching Aiden, and she jumped at the chance of spending the night with him. When Fallon opened the door, her parents, William and Nora stood on the other side.
    Nora, always pristine, had her dark brown hair down in curls. Her makeup was flawless as was her youthful face — thank you Dr. Swartz. Nora Parker would never admit to the plastic surgery to any of her friends, but Fallon and Audrey knew good and well that a lot of their mother’s face was fixed. Nora was wrapped up in a big puffy coat so