CHAPTER 10

Gia

“Dio santo!” I blasphemed with shaking fingers.

I hated the first day of a new school year and this was the worst by far.

“You ready?” Maria called from the other side of the door.

My shirts and skirts were dry-cleaned and appeared like magic weekly. The magic didn’t extend to Maria until I put my foot down. Now we spent zero time on school laundry which gave us more time to do the things we enjoyed.

My white collared shirt was clean and crisp and the pleats of the skirt firmly pressed. It was the same old me. I wore a locket my mother gave me that belonged to my grandmother, but it was my only jewelry. Senior year we were allowed fingernail polish other than neutral or pink. Maria had painted our nails a deep blood red which announced our senior status. I admired her handiwork before pushing through the door.

“Turn around,” she ordered.

I did as commanded. No toilet paper stuck to my shoes or skirt. Everything was as plain and boring as always.

“You’ll do,” she said and followed