I blinked, not sure if that was a backhanded compliment or not. "Uh... thanks?"
She tilted her head. "It's very... curvy."
Maria's eyes flicked to mine in the mirror. Annoyance simmered in her expression, perfectly matching the restrained irritation I felt tightening in my chest.
"Turn around," Christina said eagerly.
I turned slowly.
"Mmm," she hummed thoughtfully. "Your waist is smaller than I thought."
I wasn't sure how to respond to that. So I just moved on to the next dress. This one was a soft champagne color. I stepped out again.
Christina clasped her hands. "Okay, see—this one really shows your chest."
Maria coughed.
I stared at my reflection. "I hadn't noticed."
Christina walked around me in a slow circle, as if she were evaluating a sculpture. "Your body type is very... different from mine," she said thoughtfully.
Maria muttered under her breath, "That's one way to put it."
I pressed my lips together hard, holding back a scathing remark as irritation simmered just beneath the surface.
The third dress.
"The fabric really stretches around the middle."
The fourth dress.
"Your waist-to-hip ratio is crazy."
The fifth dress.
"Oh wow, your thighs look amazing in this one."
By the sixth dress, I was starting to regret every life decision that had led to this moment. Maria leaned against the wall withher arms crossed, her expression growing more irritated by the minute.
I stepped out in a sleek black gown and stared at myself in the mirror.
"This one is nice," I said cautiously.
Christina tilted her head. "Mmm... It's okay. But I feel like your body needs something more... structured."
Maria raised an eyebrow.
"Her body doesn't need anything," Maria grumbled.
Christina waved a dismissive hand. "You know what I mean."
No. We did not know what she meant. I took the dress off and changed into another one, deciding silently that I would choose whatever I liked and ignore everything she said. Eventually, we narrowed it down to two dresses.
Christina flopped dramatically onto the edge of the bed. "So what are you doing with your hair?"
I froze. My hand automatically touched the shower cap covering my head.
"I was planning on doing a sleek bun," I said.
