door.
Twirling in front of the mirror, I replied merrily, “Wonderful. I love it!”
“Let me see!” I heard her plead, and I realized that I owed her a peek. She was the one who found me the dress after all. I walked out of the room slowly, with my head sort of bowed as I awaited her reaction. Expecting a loud outburst or a big show, I was surprised when I saw her face turn all gloomy and emotional.
“You don’t like it?” I asked her, uncomfortable by her silence. Erika hated the dress? But it looked so good on me! Great. Just when I found the perfect dress for me, she found a way to ruin it. How typical.
Embarrassed by her expression, I wanted to make her appreciate the dress even if she didn’t like it. “I know it’s a little snug…but I think it looks great---”
“I think so too, Jade,” she interrupted, her frown vanishing. “You look beautiful.”
“I do?” I don’t know if I was more confused that she agreed with me, or that she had just said I looked beautiful. Both were odd to hear when they were coming out of her mouth.
Erika nodded with a slight grin. “I was just shocked, that’s all. That dress brings out all the good in you! It matches your coloring and everything.” Taking a step back, she observed me in awe. “Wow. Your date is going to have a heart attack when he sees you in that dress,” Erika told me, and it was the gentle way she said it that made me believe her.
“Thank you, Erika,“ I told her with a smile.
“You’re welcome.” She backed away suddenly and pointed down the hall. “You get changed and I’ll be over at the register waiting, okay?”
I nodded at her, and closed the door gently. Turning to look at my reflection one last time, I smiled happily at my mirror image. I still couldn’t believe how amazing I looked! It was because of this gown that I was finally confident about the dance. Just one look at me while I was wearing this and I knew Trace would be helpless. Everything was falling into place perfectly… and for the first time my life seemed somewhat exciting. I couldn’t wait for the formal, and I knew that after that night, Trace and I would never be apart again.
14
AFTER TUGGING THE GOWN OFF, I dressed myself quickly and hurried out of the small dressing room. I was glad that I had found the dress for the formal, but the mall was beginning to irritate me and I was eager to go home. After spending a countless number of hours searching for just one dress, I honestly had enough shopping for one afternoon. As I ran down the short hallway, I passed by an open door just as Gloria was walking out. Out of all the department stores in West Havenbrook, she had to be in the exact same one I was in? Figures.
Gloria stepped deliberately in my path, wedging her body in-between the corridor. She prevented me from an escape, and I watched her with raised eyebrows as she gave me the once over. I couldn’t help but notice the unpleasant expression on her face.
“What are you doing here?” She asked me snootily. After catching a glimpse of the dress in my hands, Gloria rolled her eyes and snickered. “You’re going to the winter formal? I didn’t know they let girls like you in.”
Controlling my temper, I forced a smile and replied, “I guess they made an exception this
Twirling in front of the mirror, I replied merrily, “Wonderful. I love it!”
“Let me see!” I heard her plead, and I realized that I owed her a peek. She was the one who found me the dress after all. I walked out of the room slowly, with my head sort of bowed as I awaited her reaction. Expecting a loud outburst or a big show, I was surprised when I saw her face turn all gloomy and emotional.
“You don’t like it?” I asked her, uncomfortable by her silence. Erika hated the dress? But it looked so good on me! Great. Just when I found the perfect dress for me, she found a way to ruin it. How typical.
Embarrassed by her expression, I wanted to make her appreciate the dress even if she didn’t like it. “I know it’s a little snug…but I think it looks great---”
“I think so too, Jade,” she interrupted, her frown vanishing. “You look beautiful.”
“I do?” I don’t know if I was more confused that she agreed with me, or that she had just said I looked beautiful. Both were odd to hear when they were coming out of her mouth.
Erika nodded with a slight grin. “I was just shocked, that’s all. That dress brings out all the good in you! It matches your coloring and everything.” Taking a step back, she observed me in awe. “Wow. Your date is going to have a heart attack when he sees you in that dress,” Erika told me, and it was the gentle way she said it that made me believe her.
“Thank you, Erika,“ I told her with a smile.
“You’re welcome.” She backed away suddenly and pointed down the hall. “You get changed and I’ll be over at the register waiting, okay?”
I nodded at her, and closed the door gently. Turning to look at my reflection one last time, I smiled happily at my mirror image. I still couldn’t believe how amazing I looked! It was because of this gown that I was finally confident about the dance. Just one look at me while I was wearing this and I knew Trace would be helpless. Everything was falling into place perfectly… and for the first time my life seemed somewhat exciting. I couldn’t wait for the formal, and I knew that after that night, Trace and I would never be apart again.
14
AFTER TUGGING THE GOWN OFF, I dressed myself quickly and hurried out of the small dressing room. I was glad that I had found the dress for the formal, but the mall was beginning to irritate me and I was eager to go home. After spending a countless number of hours searching for just one dress, I honestly had enough shopping for one afternoon. As I ran down the short hallway, I passed by an open door just as Gloria was walking out. Out of all the department stores in West Havenbrook, she had to be in the exact same one I was in? Figures.
Gloria stepped deliberately in my path, wedging her body in-between the corridor. She prevented me from an escape, and I watched her with raised eyebrows as she gave me the once over. I couldn’t help but notice the unpleasant expression on her face.
“What are you doing here?” She asked me snootily. After catching a glimpse of the dress in my hands, Gloria rolled her eyes and snickered. “You’re going to the winter formal? I didn’t know they let girls like you in.”
Controlling my temper, I forced a smile and replied, “I guess they made an exception this
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