The Queen Of Spades

Chapter 5: Homecoming Needs To Go Home

Homecoming dress shopping. The absolute worst part about high school, other than the entire thing. Noah, Olivia, Nada and I were at a clothing store to get our dresses and suits for the dance. Olivia had chosen a short dark red two piece and Noah had found a blue suit that matched his date's dress. I was looking for a black or green romper to wear because long dresses are only for prom and military ball (which was in January), and I couldn't wear anything short—per Oliver's requirement for no one to see my scars and I couldn't wear anything that showed midriff because of the stretch marks that he desperately wanted to keep hidden. I found two that weren't completely ugly and started to go to try them on but stopped; It sounded like a million whistles were blowing in my ear. The lights got really bright and I couldn't see straight, I tried to go to the changing rooms but when I took a step my legs buckled and I had to grab on to a clothing rack to stay up right. Now? This had to happen now? I thought, covering my ears and rocking back and forth on my knees.
"Hey Madelyn, you okay?" Olivia asked, reaching for me.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I thought I saw something on the floor." I lied, "Can you go find Nada? Tell her that I found an amazing romper that reminds me of London last May."
"Yeah, okay. Be right back." She ran off in the direction that Nada had gone earlier when she got a phone call. I needed to get Olivia away while this happened, but I couldn't stab myself again, Nada would kill me if she ever found out that I did that. I grunted and climbed to my feet just to fall right back down. Okay, think, what can I do to get rid of this headache. Someone behind me cleared their throat, crap, I forgot about Noah. There was no way to lie myself out of this one, I could barely think, let alone speak. The ringing got louder and turned to screaming. Who was screaming? Was I screaming? Was it all in my head? My chest felt like it had a truck on top of it and there were knives turning my throat into ribbons. The lights were so bright I had to close my eyes but it still wasn't enough. I faintly heard Nada talking and tried to open my eyes but my body wouldn’t obey my commands. Then I felt hands under me lifting me up, carrying me somewhere. When the migraine subsided I was in a dressing room with Nada, Noah and Olivia all hovering over me.
"Out, please." Nada ordered them. They left and she looked at me, "London in May? We never went to London last May. What happened?"
"I know that. Don't you think I know that? I know we didn't go to London last May." I thought we did go to London last May.
"You're dodging the question."
"No I'm not. I answered one and I was just getting to the next. If you would be patient for a moment-" Nada cut me off.
"No. I will not be patient for a moment. What in the nine layers of Hell is going on? First you stab Lizzy, then Caleb,”
“Caleb deserved it.” I grumbled.
“Then you skip school and get stabbed. And now this?"
"That's not fair Nada. Wait, how did you know I got stabbed." I am soo gonna kill Noah.
"Answer the bloody question."
"A headache okay. I had a headache. That's what happened."
"No. A headache doesn't have you laying on the floor, screaming."
"Mine do." I changed the subject, "Are you done? I need to try on the death traps and they need to get back to their house." I pointed towards the door where I knew Noah and Olivia were listening from.
"This conversation is not over." Nada left, slamming the door behind her. I sighed and undressed to try on the homecoming outfits. First the green, then the black, coming out of the changing room to show everyone both of them.
"Well," Noah said when I came out in the black one, "you can wear something besides jeans and hoodies."
I gave him a sarcastic little smile and said, "Aye, it's a real miracle." If it was up to me, I would.
"Piss off dude, it was a compliment."
"A pathetic attempt, really. I'm gonna go change back into some real clothes and then we'll go pay, yeah?"
"Yes." Nada said. I changed my clothes and came back with the green romper in my hands. We paid and left in silence. Nobody talked on the ride back to the Hudson's house but I could feel how much they all wanted to. Nada wanted to finish our conversation, Noah and Olivia wanted to know what the Hell happened, everybody always wanted something from me, but I didn't want to talk about it and I wasn't going to. After dropping the two siblings off at their house, Nada and I left to go to my weekly therapy. Honestly it was a waste of money, it's not like I was going to say anything. They had lollipops though and Anton liked candy, so I always grabbed some for him on the way out.