upon my personage. I’m grateful to Lara for remembering how much I’d hated being sucked in too tightly by skin coloured spandex fabric. It’s much easier trying on dresses without having to stand stiff as a statue. I don’t know how I would have sat down at my own wedding if I’d been forced to don control underwear.
Although, the dresses I’ve been trying on do seem a little big in size. I’m starting to get the impression that perhaps Lara hadn’t really thought my gowns through before ordering them. But she wouldn’t do that to me? Would she? I am her best friend after all, and it is my wedding.
Flicking through the rack of dresses, I’m becoming increasingly worried about the suitability of these gowns. They’re all quite pretty, but they are also either way too big or much too small.
Then, I spot something very unusual.
Unusual, but nice. It’s a short white dress with simple narrow straps. There’s no billowing fabric or train on this gown. In fact, the thing is so simple in design I might not think it was made for a bride at all if it weren’t for the fact that its bodice is clearly exquisitely inlaid with white-opal beading.
Oh my, this is lovely. I pull the knee-length dress from its hanger and try it on.
“This is perfect!” I twirl and spin in front of the mirror as Lara enters the changing area. I’ve left the door open.
“How did that get in there?” She frowns and stomps forward. After flicking quickly, and to be honest pretty angrily through the row of dresses, I’m told to take off the dress I’m wearing. “That dress is for an older woman who’s getting married on a beach next month, Em. Sorry. You don’t want something so simple for your big day anyway—”
“I like it though.” I have to cut off her talking. She’s rambling again and insisting I leave already. “But I just got here!” I add, fully pouting about the fact that I can’t have the flipping dress I want.
“You can come back tomorrow and…” Lara’s eyes bulge as her bell shaped bot floats into the room. “Just go, please, Em.” She backs away, pushing the bot out with her.
“Fine! I’ll go!” I shout throughout the bridal shop. “But I don’t actually think I’ll come back tomorrow you know, Lolz!” I think I’m being serious too. She’s been so rude with me. I might actually cry right now because I don’t understand her insistence that I leave. I don’t mind getting out of the store to avoid her robot, but seriously, there are priorities that need dealing with. I don’t think I’m ever going to find the right dress in time. Not at this rate anyway. Not when my best friend won’t even let me stay a decent amount of time at her bridal shop.
“For fuck sake.” I complain while getting dressed into my shorts and t-shirt. I’m so irritated now that I can’t even be bothered to put on Callum’s stupid long socks that I was so determined to wear this morning. Instead of strapping on my ankle and wrist weights, I shove them one by one into the socks. When the fabric starts to stretch from the weight, I double up the socks. As I depart the changing room, sock-bag of weights in hand, my good mood might be gone forever.
“I don’t know if I’ll come back tomorrow!” I bellow as I open the front door of the shop. There’s no reply from Lara and I don’t see her anywhere in the front rooms. “Whatever.” I step out of the shop and I’m tempted to honestly vow never to return.
***
Oh who am I kidding? Of course I’m coming back to Lara’s bridal shop tomorrow. I’ve got a wedding coming up and I don’t have a dress to wear for it. I’m not going to walk down the aisle wearing nothing, now am I? Besides, Lara is probably just on her period or something. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen her act like this. She’s been angry with things before, quite often actually. That’s just who she is. My best friend is easily annoyed by things. Although, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her being so strangely irritated. It’s something to do with that robot of hers, I’m sure of it—
My thoughts are abruptly halted as I round the street corner and run smack into Thomas. “I knew it!” I scream in his face. The lad gets