We made our way over to the racks, where the new arrivals hung. Ivy and I rummaged through the clothing, pulling out pieces and holding them up against each other.
She found the dress Amelia had mentioned—a stunning deep plum velvet dress, with bell sleeves, and intricate gold embroidery along the neckline and cuffs—and held it up, admiring the rich fabric and detailed design. “This is beautiful,” she breathed, a smile spreading across her face.
“Go try it on,” I encouraged, eager to see how it looked on her.
She nodded, heading towards the dressing room. Meanwhile, I continued browsing, finding a few pieces that caught my eye. As I pulled out a deep green wrap dress with delicate embroidery, Ivy reappeared, wearing the velvet dress.
“You look amazing!” I said, admiring how effortlessly she pulled it off.
Ivy twirled in front of the mirror, the velvet fabric hugging her figure perfectly. “It’s gorgeous, but we’re here for you, remember?” she reminded me with a playful smile. “Let’s findyousomething amazing.”
Encouraged, I tried on the green wrap dress, feeling the soft fabric glide smoothly over my skin. I stepped out of the dressing room to show Ivy and Amelia, who both nodded in approval. But, as much as I liked it, it didn’t feel like . . . me, and my face must have showed it.
Ivy and Amelia worked quickly, darting between racks and pulling out pieces for me to try. Ivy handed me a dark floral maxi dress with bell sleeves, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “This one’s so romantic, you’ve got to try it!” she urged.
Amelia, not to be outdone, selected a velvet blazer and matching skirt, both in a dark blue. “This would look amazing with some chunky boots. It’s got that edgy-but-chic vibe,” she suggested, her warm caramel eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
As they both fussed over me, gratitude warmed me. This was what shopping should be like—fun and supportive, with plenty of laughter and discovery. It was such a contrast to my experiences in Cresden, where friendships felt more like competitions. Back there, shopping trips wereabout keeping up appearances, with an underlying edge of jealousy and snarky comments disguised as compliments. It always felt like a subtle game of one-upmanship.
Here in Hallow’s End, Ivy and Amelia weren’t interested in comparing or judging. They were genuinely excited to help me find something I loved. It was refreshing, and made me realize how much I’d been missing out on real, genuine friendships.
While trying on a mustard-colored sweater dress with lace details, I asked, “So, how long have you two been friends?”
“We’ve lived in this town all our lives,” Ivy began, her voice carrying a note of fond nostalgia, “but we only really bonded in college. We found out we both have a love for tarot cards and manifesting.”
Amelia laughed, adding, “Yeah, we were both deep into ourwitchyphase, even back then, and it just stuck. We still do tarot readings for each other whenever we need some cosmic guidance.”
I laughed along with them, stepping out of the dressing room to face them. “Does everyone in this town get into the witchy stuff?” I teased, adjusting the hem of the sweater dress.
Ivy grinned playfully. “Kind of,” she admitted. “It’s athinghere in Hallow’s End. The town has this delicious, mystical folklore background, especially around Halloween. The locals say the veil between our world, and the other side, is thinner here. There are all these stories about people finding what they’ve lost—things that disappeared ages ago suddenly reappearing in the most unexpected places. It’s like the town helps you find your way back to what you need, even if it’s not always in the form you expected.”
Amelia nodded, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she leaned in closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. “And it’s not just about objects. There are tales of people bumping into old friends they thoughtthey’d never see again, or running into someone who becomes unexpectedly significant in their lives. Some folks even say they’ve rekindled old passions. Hobbies, dreams—even relationships they thought were long dead. It’s as if the town has a way of bringing things full circle, offering second chances, or nudging people toward their true path.”
Ivy chimed in, “And then there are thereallyodd things. Like the stories of couples who get together during the Halloween festival, claiming to feel an inexplicable pull, as if some unseen force was matchmaking. Or the mysterious coincidences—people finding exactly what they need, just when they need it, like the town knows what they truly desire.
Amelia grinned, “According to legend, the town was established on an ancient ley line that amplifies energy. Some people think that’s why strange things happen here, especially around Halloween. It’s like the town’s spirit comes alive and gets a little mischievous.”
I listened, both intrigued and sceptical. The idea that a town could have some kind of unseen power, influencing the lives of its residents, felt like a stretch. Still, therewassomething captivating about the stories, and they made me think about the small coincidences that had happened since I’d arrived—things that seemed almost too perfect to be just chance. Like meeting Ivy and Ethan on my first day in town. Or how here, the dream of opening a gallery felt more within reach than ever before. I tried to dismiss it as just local superstition, but part of me was intrigued, making me wonder if there was more to the stories than met the eye.
“So, basically, anything can happen here, and it wouldn’t even be that surprising?”
Ivy laughed. “Exactly! It keeps life interesting, that’s for sure. And who knows? Maybe you’ll find a bit of magic here, too.”
After the chat, I continued browsing, and ended up selecting a few new pieces, including a cozy knit sweater, a flowy floral skirt, and a pair ofhigh-waisted jeans. Just as I was about to say I had enough for one day, Ivy and Amelia exchanged a conspiratorial glance that made me raise an eyebrow.
“Wait, there’s one more thing you have to try on,” Ivy insisted, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she pulled out a garment bag from a nearby rack.
I laughed, shaking my head. “I think I’ve tried on enough for one day. You two are relentless.”
“Trust us,” Amelia chimed in, her grin widening. “This one isperfectfor your date on Saturday.”
Their excitement was contagious, building my own anticipation alongside it. Earlier, while rummaging through racks and trying on various outfits, I’d mentioned my upcoming date, and they’d both been thrilled, especially Amelia, who couldn’t hide her surprise that Ethan was finally taking an interest in something beyond his books and his sister.
“Okay, okay,” I relented with a grin. “You two are really selling this. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I walked into the dressing room and unzipped the garment bag with curiosity. Inside was a beautiful red dress. Like everything else in the shop, it had a vintage flair, with its puffed sleeves and a sweetheart neckline, reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour. The fitted bodice featured delicate ruching that accentuated the waist, while the skirt flowed gracefully, ending just below the knee with a subtle slit that added a touch of allure.
I slipped into the dress, fastening the small, delicate buttons that ran down the front. The material felt cool against my skin, and I smiled at my reflection as I studied myself in the mirror. I completed the outfit with a pair of sleek black heeled boots I had found and instantly fallen in love with.
