I Hope You Dance

Chapter 2

After we ate and had a few beers we were walking around Sydney, going into shops and taking in the sights. Jake split off with the blonde from the restaurant so it was just Phoenix, Rooster and I. "What about this top? Think it would look good?" I nodded as Phoenix held up the sheer black top. "Pair it with a smooth bra, black or colorful and I think you'd look great." She nodded before grabbing it and a few others, she walked towards the dressing room but stopped. "What size pants do you wear?" I furrowed my brows, "Like a sixteen." She looked at me, shocked. "Wide hips." She made a face that said, 'Touché'. "Here, try these on and take this shirt." She tossed me the black pants and a denim button up. 

"Oh my god, no. These are leather Natasha!" I said and she nodded before taking my hand. "Glad you know what leather feels like, now come on." She said grabbing my arm and pulling me past Rooster who was in a chair and into the fitting rooms. After a few minutes I managed to change, I looked good, but these pants were tight. I had the denim shirt tucked in, but I untucked it to hide my midsection. All these years and even though I'm fit, it's still an insecurity. I heard Phoenix step out. "So? How do I look?" "You're actually a girl?" I heard a smack and assume she hit his chest. "You look great Phoenix." Rooster said and suddenly a banging on my door made me jump. "Come on Magnolia, get out here and show me how hot you are!" Phoenix said and I bit my lip. "It doesn't fit." 

"You lying bitch." I sighed. "Now you can come out here, on your own. Or, I can come in there." That would not be pretty. I took a deep breath before swinging the door open. I glared at Phoenix who smiled widely. "Ho ho!" She yelled. "If I was into girls, you'd be it for me." A blush crept up my cheeks at her words. "Rooster, what do you think?" I glanced to Rooster who was adjusting his sitting position. "I-well-you look- I uh-" He cleared his throat. "You look beautiful." I bit my lip and looked to Phoenix. "Really?" She scoffed. "Do you really think we'd lie to you?" I looked to Rooster who had pulled down his sunglasses and flashed me a smile. "Buy it." He said and I sighed. "Twist my arm why don't you?" I asked as I closed the door, hearing Phoenix cheer before disappearing to change as well. 

"I can't believe you guys convinced me to buy that." I said and Rooster scoffed. "As soon as we said you looked good it didn't take much." I laughed. "Not wrong." I looked at the time and saw it was about six back home. "I'm gonna call my mom, I had a fitting for bridesmaid dresses  scheduled today and I wanna check in." They nodded. "We're gonna grab some ice cream, want some?" I nodded as they walk into the shop and I dialed mom's number. "He-hey sweetie! Oh I miss you, how's life at sea treating you?" I furrowed my brows, her voice was shaky. "It's good, busy but we're docked for a few days and I wanted to check in on the fitting." "Oh! T-the fitting!" I nodded. "Yeah, the one you're sitting in on for me? Did you forget?" I hoped she didn't, but it's not like my mom to forget these things. 

"No, not at- Anna no! Please, stay!" I furrowed my brows at how distant mom's voice sounded. "Mom?" "Regina I can't, not after that." I was so out of the loop and it was stressing me out. "Then you need to tell her yourself, Anna. I'm not doing that to her." The phone shifted hands. "Caila?" I rubbed my forehead at Anna's voice. "Hey Anna, everything okay?" Anna was my maid of honor. Best friend since middle school, she was my backbone in all this. "I love you Caila, I do. But I can't support this marriage." I leaned my head on the wall behind me as Phoenix and Rooster came out. "Whoa, What's going on?" I heard a sigh. "You're fiancé busted in on our fitting." My head snapped up. "He what?" 

"Yeah, he was going on about how we were bad influences on you and that we had no place in this wedding." I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. "Even made remarks about how fat I am." My eyes widened. "You're five months pregnant with twins, Anna." She sighed. "He didn't care, sounded drunk and everything. But Caila, I can't be a good friend and stand behind you. Me, Kelsie, Emily and Katy are out." I started panicking. "Y'all are my bridesmaids! We are eight months from this wedding, you can't just bail on me like this!" Tears started streaming down my face. "I hope one day you realize that what we're doing, comes from a place of love. We love you Caila and we can't watch you put yourself through this."