I'm constantly editing and swapping parts around so if you have any questions feel free to message me!
------------------------
"I...can't....breathe!"
Jess waved a hand, dismissing my complaint.
"Pshh, you can breathe fine. Its just a little snug."
"Is there a bigger size?"
"No need, I don't think magenta is your colour."
With a sigh I stomped back into the changing room.
Jess is Carter's older sister and seeing as she's going to the event that Noah's taking me to, she's dragged me out to go dress shopping. Not that I mind, she's really nice when she's not stuffing me into sparkly tubes that call themselves clothing. The place we're in is fancy enough that just the front window had me worrying about money, or more specifically my lack of it. It took the first two hours of trying on clothes for me to suck up the courage to tell Jess I couldn't afford any of them. She simply patted my shoulder and said Noah would take care of it.
"He said that since he's dragging you along, it's the least he could do."
There is four assistants helping us, and they're still struggling with the sheer number of dresses Jess had picked out for us. I handed back the magenta one and one of the assistants, a petite blonde lady, passed me another through the curtain of the changing room.
I tugged it on, praying it fits so I can get out of here, and turned to face the mirror. I almost gasped at my own reflection. The dress was midnight blue silk, encrusted with thousands of tiny gemstones that make it look like a night sky. It had a deep V neckline and clung to my body in exactly the right way before elegantly flowing out at the knee.
I shyly stepped out from behind the curtain and Jess gasped.
"That's the one, it's gorgeous!" She exclaimed.
I did a tentative twirl, delighting in the way it flared out around me, making me feel like a princess. I had never seen anything so beautiful and the fact that I was wearing it was like a dream.
I tended to dress very masculine, in oversized tees and baggy jeans, partially because it was comfortable and partially because they were the clothes I was given in the homes but it was nice to feel feminine and pretty for a change. I just needed to make sure I didn't get used to it.
As Jess was admiring the gown, my stomach rumbled loudly.
"Hungry?" Jess chuckled.
"Just a little," I replied, slightly embarrassed.
"Well scramble out of that dress and we can go get some lunch."
"Oh no, really, it's fi-"
"Don't be silly I know great place around the corner. Now chop chop."
I hurried back into the changing room and began undressing but quickly realised that I couldn't reach the zip. The dress rose high at the back, thankfully covering everything, but the zip was too high for me to reach. I struggled for a minute, trying to be as quiet as possible but I clearly didn't succeed as Jess called through the curtain,
"Need any help with the zip?'
Before I could reply she was already in the changing room.
"No its okay I've got it!" I breathed out anxiously, desperate she accepted my refusal but she continued, grabbing the zip with ease as I froze in fear.
"Nonsense, its no trouble-"
Jess stopped, the expression in her reflection one of horror and disgust.
I jerked away from her, her shock too acute to stop me. I spun so she could no longer see my back and when her eyes flickered to the mirror behind me I shook my thick hair from my shoulder to cover it.
"Look, Jess I can explain," I stuttered.
"What happened to you?" She whispered eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Just then one of the assistants tapped on the wall next to the curtain, making us both jump.
"Everything alright in there?" She called.
"No, all good we'll be out in a sec," Jess replied, without breaking eye contact. Then she said much quieter, "Get dressed. We'll talk at lunch."