Ruth takes one last pin out of her mouth to adjust some excess fabric under my arm. “They both look good in theory. But you’re right, they’re too short. I would suggest a slightly longer skirt for Gen and for Jodie. I know they’re skorts to protect their modesty when they dance, but if they look short in the front, the back is going to be even worse. And I’m betting the shorts part doesn’t cover anything if the skirt rides up when they dance. It’ll take the slightest movement to see everything underneath. The design is this way as an insurance policy; if their asses are hanging out of it because it’s the wrong size, it’s pointless.”
“But won’t a longer skirt make us look frumpy?” Gen objects.
Ruth walks behind her. “Shift the way you’re standing. Point your foot forward as if you were at the end of a choreography. See what I mean?” she points to the way the pleated hem lifts in the back. “Your butt is all out. And the shorts are too short too, so half your buttocks are exposed. My design has been tested on different body types; this is just the wrong size.”
“Are you implying that my butt is too big?” Gen’s eyes are narrowed as she challenges the uniform coordinator.
“This isn’t what she’s saying. Chill out, girl.” Jodie snorts with an eye roll. “I actually agree. This skirt is way too thin for me. It’s the right length on Taryn and Talia, but we look like we got these skirts from the kids’ section.”
Gen doesn’t like being challenged. “You’re such a suck up, Jodie.” She snaps. “You’re so eager to look good in front of Carole and Lexi that you’d rather be in a skirt that makes you look like you’re a child wearing her mom’s clothes.”
“No, but?—”
Jodie bites her tongue when she sees the horrified looks on our directors’ faces.
“Your personal opinions on the fit of your uniforms are irrelevant.” Carole looks positively pissed off. “What size do you have on? Both of you.”
Jodie twists around to grab the tag sewn into the back of her waistband. “Can you read it, Ruth?”
“No wonder these are short.” Ruth shakes her head. “This is an extra small, S. Every size comes in S, R, and L; short, regular, and long. You two are what… five eleven? Six feet tall? No one over five nine should even be in a regular and you’re in a short. Let me get you the right size. I’m also done with Taryn’s top. What do you think?”
I’m relieved when Carole and Lexi approve the way my custom tailored top fits and wait for Jodie to be done trying on the new skirt.
“I look horrid in this long skirt.” Gen shoves the hanger with her new skirt on the rack so hard that the whole thing rattles. “What’s the point of having long legs if you can’t show them off?”
Jodie and I look at each other and sigh. When someone crosses her, Gen is like a dog with a bone.
“If you’re so pissed about it,” Talia challenges her. “Why didn’t you insist?”
“Talia is right.” I bite out. “You can’t bitch and moan behind their back. If you had a problem, you should have argued your point.”
Gen crosses her arms over her chest. “And then what? Get kicked out of camp? You fucking wish. Didn’t you hear them?They don’t care about what we think. They tell us how they want us to look and how high to jump, and they expect us to fall in line.”
“If you know that,” Jodie challenges her. “Why don’t you do everyone a favor and shut the fuck up? You’re giving me a headache.”
“Aww, what’s up,Jo-Jo?” Gen sing songs my nickname for Jodie, her tone taunting. “Are you salty because they made you cut your hair rather than me?”
Jodie flips her off. “No. My new haircut is actually growing on me. You’re just fucking annoying. Just accept that you have to do as you’re told like everyone else.”
Gen turns on her heel, flicking her long hair in Jodie’s face. “Oh, don’t worry about me. Carole thinks she’s in charge here, but it’ll take one call to my daddy and I’ll be back in my short skirt.”
I’m proud of my best friend for not decking our least favorite roommate. “Well done, babe.” I say once Gen is gone and out of earshot. “She isn’t worth it.”
Jodie tucks a lock of her newly short hair behind her ear. “I know. Besides, I’m serious about my hair. It took a second to get used to it being chin length, but I think I look good in it.”
Talia runs a hand through her blonde locks. “Yeah, me too. Carole and Lexi are good at their jobs. We should let them guide us. Gen can dig her own grave if she wants to fight their decisions.”
“I agree. Anyway, enough about Genevieve. I’m starving and I’ve seen that the dining hall tonight has roast turkey and mashed potatoes. I’ve been thinking about a bowl of mash all day. It’s my comfort food when I’m exhausted. Let’s go eat some dinner.”
While Talia agrees, Jodie hesitates.
“I don’t know. I’m not that hungry.”
“How is that possible, Jo-Jo? We’ve been dancing for hours and I saw you go for a run earlier this morning.”
My best friend doesn’t meet my gaze. “I’m just more tired than hungry, that’s all.”
“Jo, come on, it’s me you’re talking to. Our love for mashed potatoes is one of the first things we bonded over when we were disoriented freshmen who didn’t know anyone on a huge campus. Is anything the matter?”
