Birthday prep mode

Carmen’s turning 21 tomorrow but we’re celebrating tonight with dinner at that new Italian place on Franklin Street. She showed up to my room an hour ago with a bag full of makeup options and declared we needed a proper getting-ready session.

Birthday prep mode

I love how she takes these things seriously - like picking the perfect lipstick is a legitimate crisis that requires both of our full attention.

Lipstick emergency consultation in progress

We spent twenty minutes debating whether the coral or the berry would go better with her burgundy top. (The berry won, obviously.)

It’s nice having someone who gets excited about the little things. Most of my study group friends think getting dressed up for dinner is silly, but Carmen makes it feel like an event worth celebrating. Plus she promised to help me figure out what to do with my hair for next week’s nursing program orientation.

Reservation’s at seven and we’re definitely going to be late if she keeps changing her earrings, but honestly? I’m not complaining. This is way better than another night buried in anatomy notes.