Great, now I’ve totally bummed myself out on a day that’s supposed to herald new beginnings. Out with the old and in with the new. Yeah, right. Whoever started this brilliant idea?

“What are you wearing to the party tonight?” Jeff asks, looking over his shoulder at me.

“I don’t want to go.”

“You can’t avoid it. After all, it’s going to be right here, so you kind of have to attend.” Jeff’s head swivels back to the football game he’s been watching.

“I still don’t have to go. I can just lock my door and no one will miss me.”

“Julie, Kevin, Drew, Colin, Liam, and me, we’ll miss you. So, get in that closet and find something hot and sexy,” he says, not bothering to turn around.

“Hot and sexy? The place will be filled with hot and sexy. I’ll just come as plain and boring. No one will notice.”

“Quit fishing for compliments. You know you’re beautiful, so quit feeling sorry for yourself. You can hang with those skinny sticks any old day.”

He won’t give up, so I guess I’d better find something to wear. There’s the little black dress, but I’ve worn that so many times. Nothing else seems New Yearish in my wardrobe.

“Check out the bag hanging up in the back,” Jeff yells at me like I’m across town, even though we’re only a few feet from each other.

There’s a black bag hanging up with his clothes, so I grab it and lay it on the bed. I pull down the zipper slowly, revealing a dress that is way out of my price range, like maybe two years’ worth of my meager income. It’s in one word: indescribably beautiful. Okay, so that’s two words. Sue me.

“So, do you like it?” Jeff somehow snuck up behind me, and he lays his head on my shoulder, watching me feel the fabric. It’s so soft and is a lovely turquoise color.

“Jeff, it’s beautiful, but how can you afford this? Your parents have you on a strict budget of nothing but what you earn. We spent your Christmas money, didn’t we?”

“No, we didn’t. I’m not that foolish. I kept enough so I don’t have to work like crazy my last semester, and to buy you this. I saw it the other day and I thought, ‘That would look amazing on Dora with her gorgeous curly red hair,’ so I bought it. Look at the bottom of the bag. I found shoes to match. Yep, they’re ‘fuck me’ pumps—I mean ‘fuck you’ pumps. You know what I mean.”

I shake my head. Tears cloud my eyesight as I grab the amazing platform heels that match the dress perfectly. I turn quickly and hug him, at a loss for words. He stands back, holding me at an arm’s length away, giving me a goofy smile.

“Happy tears, I hope.”

I nod my head and drag him in for another hug.

“Now go and try it on. I know it’ll fit, but I want to see it on you, and I promised your mom I would take a picture and send it to her.”

“Yeah, like she’ll be able to open it on her phone. Jeff I…I love you, and I don’t think I tell you that enough.”

“And I love you too, so move your cute little butt and do some modeling for me. You’re going to leave them breathless tonight.”

I release a squeal and then laugh when Jeff covers his ears. I make a beeline for the bathroom to take a quick shower. I’m not trying on that amazing creation with dirty skin—okay, so unwashed-since-yesterday skin.

“Dora, I thought you were going to take a quick shower, but it’s been more than an hour,” Jeff says through the closed door.

“Come in. I’m just putting lotion on my legs. I want to look perfect for my perfect outfit. At least I don’t have to paint my toenails, not that anyone will see them in my shoes. How should I wear my hair, up or down? And makeup? Subtle but still sexy? Don’t stand there, help me.” Yeah, I know I’m whining a bit. I really want to make everyone notice me.

“Slow down there, fireball. We have a few hours before the event, and I ordered pizza. Before you say anything, I made it half vegetable for me and half sausage for you.”

“Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

“Yes, about an hour ago, but I’ll never tire of it. Just remember this moment when you get angry next time, and remind yourself how wonderful of a friend I am to you,” he laughs.

“You’re more than a friend. You’re my soul mate,” I say and watch his eyebrow rise at my statement.

“But I’m gay. We can’t be soul mates.”

“Yes, we can. My mom says so. Everyone thinks that when you marry or are in love with someone that they’re your soul mate, but it can be anyone. We hit it off immediately, and I feel like I’ve known you forever and can trust you with anything. So, we’re soul mates.”

“I need to buy you clothes more often. I didn’t know you felt like this. I felt that instant connection too, but always shrugged it off as something new for me to explore. But you just nailed it. Your mom is right, as usual. Of course, she has Henry, so is that really fair?” he says, putting his hands on his hips and cocking his head to one side with a cheeky smile on his face. He laughs. “We definitely have our work cut out for us, don’t we? It’s going to take hours to get you just right.”

I giggle with a playful glare as he squeezes my waist. Why can’t Jeff be my soul mate and my real mate forever? Life isn’t fair.

Two hours later—I had to paint my fingernails, and it took me forever to pick out a color from my stash—I can’t believe what I’m seeing in the mirror. I know it’s me, but frickin’ hell, it sure doesn’t look like me. I truly look like I just stepped out of a fashion magazine. I’m not bragging. Jeff said the same thing when we were done.

“Smile for the camera. No, a smile, not a grimace. I want to see those pearly whites of yours”

I stick out my tongue and then I pose like I’m really on a photo shoot. Or what I think of when I think photo shoot.

“That’s it. Work it…work it…turn to your left…now your right. And pout.”

It’s like he’s reading my mind, and I can’t wait to see the photos. I’ll have to choose the most respectable one to send to my mom, but like I said, hopefully she’ll be able to open it on her phone. She wanted a smartphone for her birthday this year because her best girlfriend got one. The only problem is that she’s extremely knowledgeable about the spirit world, but is so challenged with modern technology. Even her computer doesn’t like her. That’s what she says anyways. At least she can work the computer to some extent, but her phone is a different story. She’s the mistress of butt dialing, forgetting to charge the phone, and complaining about how much social media takes up her time. I’m on her friend’s list. She threatened me as she did Taylor and Bridget, so we’re careful what we post because Big Mother is watching.

“Is that really me?” I can’t believe it’s really me in the pics he’s taken. I’m not vain, but I think I kind of love this look and can’t wait for the others to see me. “Is it time yet?” I look anxiously at the clock and realize we have an hour to go until reveal time.

“For the hundredth time, it’s you, and no, you have to be patient. I want you to make an entrance after everyone has arrived. I want to make the male population drool and the females turn green with envy. I predict they will, and every man but the gay people and Kevin will want to get in your pants. I mean, your red bra and panties. Just think if you made an entrance in only those and your shoes. A riot would ensue.”

“Yeah, I’d be arrested for exposing fat in a room full of skinnies.”

“For the last effing time, you’re not fat, you’re just right.”

I’m feeling a little nervous. What if I look like a joke to these beautiful people? “Promise me you’ll stick to me like glue in there. Please don’t leave me alone.”

“Darlin’,” Jeff drapes his arm around my shoulders and pulls me to him. We stare at each other in my full-length mirror. “You won’t be alone tonight, but if it’s glue you want, glue you will get until you tell me to get lost.”