you should know what you're falling for

twenty two

I slip the key into doorknob turn the lock. It quietly clicks, and I push the door lightly open. It scratches against the floor and air whooshes through the opening.

 I slip through the doorway and gently remove my beaten down shoes from my feet. I get another look at myself in the mirror, another look a the way I'm dressed, and laugh quietly. Little old me dressed up like a typical, rich Bridgewater Girl. It kind of scares me.

"Chloe?" I hear an adult woman's voice. I stiffen. Figures the one time I step out of line, I get caught. Isn't that the way it always is?

"Yes?" I answer reluctantly, my heart drumming in my ears.

I slink down the hallway to the living room where I can sense that my foster-mother is sitting, growing more and more tense by the minute. I can't believe I let a boy talk me into cutting class, and now he's not even going to take any of the heat for it. Just my luck.

But Christi says something that surprises me, 

"You got my call, didn't you? That's why you're here early, I suppose." My eyes widen, and, not believing my luck, I shakily reply, 

"Yup...What is it you wanted to, uh, talk to me about?" I mentally pray that I don't reveal my web of lies to my foster-mom. I actually like living here more than I suspected I would, and to leave would actually break my heart a bit. There, I said it, and I regret it. I opened my heart up to these people, and now I'm vulnerable once more.

"How long did you think you could keep it a secret from me?" she raises an eyebrow. My stomach churns. Keep what a secret? I've been nothing but honest except for sneaking around with Josh, but... No, that couldn't be it. That is not secret anymore, everyone knows about that. Christi finally continues, 

"The dress? The completely destroyed dress?"

My lunch jumps up my throat, but I struggle to keep it down. The cocktail dress - the one that Kendall spilled alcohol all over. She must've found out, and, of course, I am taking the blame. Her darling daughter would never drink underage - psyche.

And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, Christi drops a bombshell, 

"That wasn't just any dress...It was for an important occasion."

Of course it was. Leave it to me to trash the one meaningful object in this house. Bravo, Chlo.

"It's for a wedding..."

I roll my eyes. These rich people would go out and buy an entirely new dress just for a wedding.

"...My wedding." Christi murmurs, and my jaw drops.