“Speaking of beautiful. That dress is like a dream,” Peyton says to Ariela, who is wearing a soft coral strapless gown with a thick band of silver beading sparkling at the waist.
Ariela looks good in anything she puts on, but this dress just isn’t her style. And based on the way she is looking at it in the mirror—shoulders shrugged and nose scrunched up—tells me she doesn’t like it either. “I don’t think this one is me. Do you want to try it on?”
“Yes!” Peyton practically screams.
Katie comes out in another dress that she’s rejecting. She’s in kind of foul mood. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.
She plops down next to me in a tight red dress that barely contains her boobs. “Dallas doesn’t want me.”
“Why do you think that?”
She purses her lips and pushes her hair behind one ear. “Last night. Things were fun. Like really fun. And I wanted to. And—I’m embarrassed to even say it—I tried. And he said no. Guys never say no.”
“Sometimes they do,” I say gently. “I think he really likes you. Maybe he wants it to be special the first time you do it. Like not just some romp in the bushes, you know?”
She lets out a sigh so big it causes one of her boobs to completely pop out of the dress. She looks down and laughs. “Probably not this dress, huh? So do you really think that’s it?”
“What did he tell you?”
“He didn’t explain. Just sort of moved away. Said he was tired. Stopped things pretty abruptly.”
“Why are you trying to go so fast with him? You’ve only been dating him, sort of, for like three days.”
“I’m tired of being a good girl all the time. I’m ready to get some experience, and I like Dallas. I really like him. I’ve crushed on him since school started.”
Maggie comes out in the navy dress at the same time Peyton walks out in the coral one. They both look stunning.
“Wow! You both look amazing!” Katie says.
“I can’t believe I found a dress so fast!” Peyton exclaims. “This is the one. It’s conservative, like they expect us to be, but I adore the bling at the waist. I feel like a goddess.”
“You look like one too,” I tell her. And she does. The color of it with her blonde hair and green eyes is amazing.
She smiles and literally lights up the room.
Maggie stands in front of the mirror. “So you all like this one?”
“It’s very different from Peyton’s but it’s amazing on you. The layers are flirty and fun, but the fit—the way it hugs your body, all the way down—makes it sexy. You look incredible.”
She cracks a naughty smile. “I think Parker will like it.”
“I think all the guys will like it,” Annie says.
“We did good here,” I say. “Maggie, Annie, and Peyton all found dresses. Katie and Ariela, what do you think? Next store?”
They both nod in agreement.
We go to three more stores and try on a bunch more dresses.
Katie finds a shimmering black and gold sequined dress. I find a long, fitted gown that glides down my body like liquid gold. It would be great for a party back home, but after looking at the photos of the past Homecoming Court dresses and listening to everyone talk about the tradition, I really want to wear something appropriate.
I also find an adorable strapless burgundy gown with the cutest flouncy skirt. I buy it to save for another occasion, just because it is so damn cute, but the burgundy would have totally clashed with all the red in the stadium.
It’s weird.
I want to look amazing in my dress but, for the first time in my life, it feels okay to want to blend in. To be part of something bigger than me. I get Whitney’s wanting to stand out. I never want to look like anyone but me. But what I really want is for the alumni to look at me and say, There’s an Eastbrooke girl.
I look at my friends, who are oohing and ahhing over Ariela in a black gown with a soft flowing skirt, sweetheart neckline, and a beaded bodice, and realize that I’m really glad to be here.
Even with things a little up in the air with Dawson right now.
Even though I miss my family.
I feel happy.
I feel like I’ve made friends. Friends who are supportive of each other. Friends who seem to like me for me. Not because of what I wear or who my mom is. They just like me.
And it feels really good.
Dawson texts me just as we’re about to go shoe shopping.
Dawson: I know you’re shopping and won’t answer if I call, but please don’t be mad at me. I’m sorry. Cam said he talked to you last night. That he told you the truth.
Me: He did. But he’s your brother. You can’t tell me he wouldn’t lie for you.
Dawson: Yeah, I guess.
Me: The good news for you is that I trust Riley and he says it’s true.
Dawson: So you’re not mad?
Me: When I got your texts last night, I was really upset, Dawson. I think maybe you have some major sucking up to do.
Dawson: I’m good at sucking . . .
Me: Yes, I know. I gotta go. Shoes are calling. I heart you.
Dawson: I heart you more.
Now that everyone has their dresses, we’re at a department store looking at jewelry, handbags, and shoes.
Katie, Maggie, and Annie rush over to Peyton and me. “I just heard one for the sales girls say that Abby Johnston is here. In THIS VERY STORE! Can you believe that?”
“Um, no, actually, I can’t.” My mom is here? Could that be true? Garrett did say she was taking a trip.
“We’re all going down to the cosmetics department. That’s where she’s supposed to be. We’re going to go stalk her and see if we can get a picture with her.”
Shit. I can’t go see her.
But I want to see her.
God, I want to see her.
They all take off, but Annie turns back around to look at me. I’m still standing here, frozen in my spot.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“Um, you guys go. I lived in LA. Seeing a celebrity isn’t that big of deal to me. I’m gonna go back and get that clutch I saw earlier. I think it would be perfect with my dress for the dance. I’ll meet up with you later.”
She runs off and I slink over to the second floor balcony, where I can see down to the cosmetics and perfume counters. I spot Mom right away. There are two men, Ryan and Craig, in black suits trailing closely behind her. James is not with her, which is surprising. He almost always accompanies Mom when Tommy doesn’t. It makes Tommy worry less.
Which means Mom made James stay with the girls. Which means she’s worried about them.
Which makes me worry.
I watch her stop to try on some perfume. She smiles graciously and takes a photo with a fan. I see my friends wandering through the cosmetics counters.
I pull my phone out and call her.
She puts her phone up to her ear just as Annie and Katie approach her. I watch her hold up a finger to them as she answers.
“Whatever you do, Mom, do not say my name out loud. I go to school with the girls who are standing in front of you. They want your autograph.”
“You're here?”
“Yes. I’m hiding behind some clothes on the second floor balcony. I want to see you. Go ahead and sign the autographs. Annie is a huge fan. Then go upstairs to the lingerie department on the fifth floor, grab a couple things to try on, and I’ll be waiting in a dressing room.”
“Sounds good,” she says and hangs up.
I slowly back away from the balcony and almost knock over a rack.
“Can I help you?” a sales clerk asks me.
I jump. Look guilty. “Um, no.” I look at the escalators and decide I’d be better off going the back way. “Where's the elevator?”
She points a finger toward the back of the store.
“Thank you.”
I quickly walk to the elevator and take it to the fifth floor. I grab the first four items I see and ask for a fitting room.