“He kidnapped me,” I explain. No point in hiding the truth. I have no allegiance to Alek.
Both of them look at each other before they start laughing. It’s a savage kind of laugh only teenage girls can have.
“Yeah right,” Susanna says, flicking through the dresses. “I know Alek. He would never do something like that. You’re just making up lies.”
“Why would I do that?”
“For attention, obviously. Why else are you going to marry him after knowing him for only a day?”
“Because he’s making me do this. Because he kidnapped me.”
Susanna scoffs. “You’re so full of it. That’s why I don’t like you. And I’ll never like you. Now here.” She pulls out a dress. “Try this one on.”
The dress is beautiful, I’ll admit. Off the shoulder straps. Lace bodice. A skirt that drapes to the floor. It’s like a thing of art from a Greek statue. I love it.
I take it from Susanna and she gives me a smug grin. “Why would you pick out a pretty dress for me?”
“Why not?”
“Because you just said you don’t like me.”
Susanna sighs likeI’mthe problem. “Just because I don’t like you doesn’t mean I’m going to ruin your big day. Try it on.”
Nina gives Susanna a questioning look which Susanna ignores.
I don’t understand their dynamic so I can’t wonder if Susanna is telling me the truth or not. I haven’t had much experience interacting with people.
Amanda comes over. “Do you want to try on that dress?”
“She does,” Susanna answers for me.
“Great. This way.” Amanda leads me to a changing room. “Just let me know if you need help getting into it.” She shuts the door behind me.
Even if I do need help, I doubt I’ll ask for it. I’m too nervous.
My hands are cold as I take off my clothes and try on the dress. It’s a perfect fit somehow, like the universe is trying to tell me something. That thought makes me want to vomit which I would hate to do all over this pretty dress.
Amanda knocks on the door. “Do you need help?”
“No. I have it on.”
“Do you want to go out and show your friends?”
Not really. I get the feeling they’ll mock me but I also get the feeling that it’s customary to show your dress to your friends when wedding dress shopping. I’ve seen enough films and TV shows to know that.
I need to appear as normal as possible. I want to be as normal as possible.
So I take in a deep breath and I go out into the main section of the store where Nina and Susanna are waiting. Both of their eyes widen when they see me in the dress. I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or not.
“You look pretty,” Nina admits in a soft tone. It’s the most she’s sound sincere all day.
Susanna only rolls her eyes again like she agrees with her sister and is annoyed by that fact.
Amanda turns me towards the full length mirror. I try not to flinch from her touch. “There. You do look beautiful. What do you think of the dress?”
“I think it looks… wonderful,” I say. Even though I’m terrified to marry Alek and it’s really the last thing I want to do, I also like how I look in this dress. How womanly. How alive. That’s a feeling I haven’t felt… ever.
“You should wear it,” Nina suggests.
