All the Wrong Reasons

Breaking Free

Chapter 13: Breaking Free

The dress definitely wasn’t working for me. No matter how I looked at it, no matter from what angle, under what light, it still looked ridiculous.

“My sister has the most appalling taste” Jessy stated as she came to stand next to me on the platform. We were both wearing our bridesmaids’ dresses, Jessy’s impromptu return from Italy meaning she too had to participate in this farce.

I adjusted the neckline and sighed.

“What is it about awful bridesmaid dresses? Why do women loose all motions of taste when they get married?” I said, turning around to look at myself from the back again. The dress made my bum look huge.

“Must be biological” Jessy looked just as glum. Even she looked far from fabulous in the purple monstrosity. Though with her petite figure, it gave her a certain charm. Being built along a much larger frame, I just looked absurd.

“I thought I was going to be spared the humiliation” Jessy muttered.

“Don’t you girls look lovely!” one of the smartly dressed shop assistant sailed into the dressing area, carrying several boxes, her mouth stretched into a wide smile.

“Do the dresses fit properly?” she asked, bustling around, pinching seams and adjusting hemlines.

“They fit just fine” I said. Thank heavens for small mercies.

“Not long until the big day then” the assistants in this shop seemed to be on a permanent high. This one had a smile that reached ten million watts and she whizzed about the shop at top speed.

“What’s in the boxes?” Jessy asked warily.

“Shoes, ladies, shoes. The most important part of an outfit, some say” she whipped the lids off to reveal purple high heels of an impossible height. There were purple rosettes on the toes.

“Your sister hates us, doesn’t she?” I asked Jessy. She pulled one of the shoes out of its box and stared at it in disgust.

“Looks like, doesn’t it?”

“I’ll never be able to walk in those” I gingerly picked up one of the shoes myself, as if it might bite me. “I’ll fall over in the church and kill myself”

“And let’s not forget the accessories” the assistant opened another box.

“Oh goodness” Jessy sounded faint.

“I’m so not being paid enough to wear that”

Inside the box was a large amount of bright purple flowers, made of silk. They were mounted on a headband to form a luxuriant wreath of silken greenery. I stuck my hand into the box and pulled one out in sick fascination. It was even worse when seen up close.

“Isn’t it lovely?” the assistant breathed as I placed in on my head. I stared at her, wondering if the glare of so many white dresses had rendered her blind.

“It’s brill-” I choked as I caught sight of myself.  It looked doubly awful on top of my messy hair. Jessy chocked back a snort of laughter.

“I hope Nikki realises what we’re doing for her” I grumbled as Jessy and I emerged from the changing area.

“I hope she’s bloody grateful” Jessy said. “Fancy a coffee or something to brace our spirits after that ordeal?”

I hesitated for a second, thinking of the vast amount of work waiting for me at home.

“Yeah, let’s” Screw schoolwork. Annabeth was going to relax for once.

Jennifer came striding into the shop just as we were leaving. She paused for an instant when she was us, as if trying to decide what to do. Finally, she settled for a quick nod towards Jessy before disappearing into the backroom. Jennifer had decided, after weeks of silent reproach, that simply refusing to acknowledge my existence was easier.