Sudden Departure

Chapter Thirty-Six

If you think about Paradise, it can actually feel like torture to some people. All the lazing about and doing nothing can really aggravate a person. Personally, that is my favourite fact about Paradise, but I do find some things about it torturous.

Everywhere I went transparent whispers from the transparent people follow me around like a shadow. Confusion and looming danger oozed from their odd words. "Is she the one he talks about?" "Here she comes, to save us all." "That can't be her. She doesn't even look very bright. She could never do it."

I found my face either constantly scrunched in confusion, or a mask of a smile hiding my doubt.

"What's up with that?" Alex asked as we walked to a boutique for our gala dresses.

There were only two days until the big dance and I still needed to get a dress. And Alex said we would take all day if we had to.

"What's up with what?" I returned to Alex.

"The people!" She exclaimed, "Everywhere they're whispering and pointing, and it's weird." She drew "weird" out for a long time and made it seem wavy on her voice.

I chuckled lightly at her response. "They're not weird, you are. Besides, they're probably just whispering because we're Guardians. They're probably excited for the Gala, as well."

Alex brushed it off again, "Yeah, okay."

Together we strode into the golden-lit boutique. Another eruption of whispers commenced as the transparent workers laid eyes on us.

I fought down the intense urge for my face to burn.

"There they go again!" Alex whispered a little frantically in my ear.

I shook my head and followed one of them to the evening wear section of the store.

Alex caught up with me and gripped my hand. She squeezed it warmly, "Shai, really. Please tell me."

I felt horrible, blistering emotions threatening to explode from me. I could feel that weird tingling sensation in my face, warning me of frightened tears about to spill from my eyes.

"Alex... No. Can we just focus on getting dressed right now? Please."

~~SD~~

A few hours later (and a few hundred disgusted grunts from me) we finally found our dresses... At least Alex did.

Alex looked gorgeous standing in the glitzy dressing room dressed in her gown. It was empire waisted with a black, heart neckline. It resembled a classy clamshell, the color of the night. A thick, shimmering waistband topped a graceful curtain of rose-colored silk. When she strutted about the room it swayed around her legs, resembling the ocean during a summer sunset.

The dress looked absolutely stunning on her. Nick was lucky he had such a gorgeous girlfriend.

Thinking of relationships made me think about none other than Shane. Ugh! Why did I always think about him?! I was ruining this moment with my best friend while simultaneously confusing my emotions further.

Why couldn't I just figure out what I felt about him?

"So what do you think?" Alex interrupted my thoughts.

"Wow, Alex. That's the dress," I breathed.

She squealed and clapped her hands. "Yay!!! Now time for you to see yours!"

She galloped over to me and dragged me by the wrist to the mirror.

I slouched I'm front of it and sighed.