The doorbell rang sharply on a bright Friday morning, and Bella quickly jumped up, excitement bubbling in her chest. Their matriculation was just five days away, and today was the day their dresses finally arrived. She opened the door to the courier, who handed over two large, carefully wrapped boxes.
Bella called Kathy immediately, and within minutes, her best friend was at the apartment, eyes sparkling with anticipation. Together, they carefully unwrapped the packages.
Bella's dress was a breathtaking deep emerald green gown, shimmering delicately in the sunlight. The soft fabric flowed gracefully, hugging her figure just as she had imagined from the pictures. Tiny beads sewn into the fabric caught the light, making it look as if the dress was sprinkled with stars.
Kathy's dress was a bold, fiery red with intricate lace details that traced along the sleeves and hem. The flare at the bottom gave it a dramatic elegance, perfect for turning heads during the ceremony. The dress screamed confidence and power.
"They're even more beautiful than I expected," Kathy breathed, running her fingers over the delicate lace. "I can't wait to wear this."
Bella held her dress up against herself in the mirror. "Do you think this green will make my eyes pop?"
"Absolutely," Kathy replied with a grin. "You're going to slay so hard. We'll be the center of attention, no doubt."
They burst into giggles, imagining the admiring looks and whispers. The nerves about the big day started to melt away, replaced by excitement and anticipation.
"We've got our hair appointments booked with two different stylists, remember?" Bella reminded her. "I'm going with tight curls, and you're doing loose waves, right?"
"Yup," Kathy nodded. "And makeup's booked too. The artist said she's going to make sure our looks are flawless but natural, just the right amount of glam."
Bella checked her calendar on her phone. "Our nail appointments are the day before matriculation. I already sent a DM to the salon, and they're saving us the best slots."
Kathy laughed. "Girl, we're coming prepared from head to toe."
Bella's phone buzzed, it was a message from her dad. He was arriving tomorrow. Her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing him after so long. She quickly told Kathy about the news.
"Kathy, my dad's landing tomorrow! Can you believe it?"
"That's amazing! You must be so excited," Kathy smiled. "He's going to love the dresses."
Bella nodded, biting her lip to stop the smile from growing too wide. "I can't wait to see him. This whole thing's finally feeling real."
They spent the afternoon going over their plans, exchanging outfit ideas, and even sending each other pictures of different wigs and accessories they might wear. The energy between them was contagious, each girl feeding off the other's enthusiasm.
"This is it," Kathy said softly, her eyes shining. "We're ready."
Bella looked around the apartment at the dresses, the carefully planned schedules, and the excited texts from friends about the upcoming ceremony. She felt a surge of confidence. Whatever the future held, they would face it head-on together, glowing, and unstoppable.