Love in Ireland

/18/

-Friday September 29th-

It's the day before Noah's birthday and birthday party. I'm currently finishing up my dress for tomorrow.

"Milena, your dress looks way too effin' plain to be a dress you'll wear." Alannah complained, walking into my room. For some reason, what Tara told me at the garden party made me feel more self-conscious about my outfits. It didn't help that the press had been saying some pretty nasty things since I started "dating" Declan. So now whenever I know I will be in the public eye, I try to not dress too, well, me.

"Alannah, what are you talking about? The dress is fine. I have some tulle accents." I said, not turning to look at her.

"Yeah, but there's no you in the dress. No flowers or patterns, no embroidery, no sparkles, no lace, and it's all one color." Alannah pointed out.

"Yes, I'm well aware. It's just not spring or summer anymore, so I thought I would ditch the flowers."

"You have got to be kidding me. You wear floral stuff in the winter. No way, that's the real reason." Alannah protested.

I'm about to respond to Alannah, but Zach entered the room. "What's going on?" He asked plopping himself down on the couch.

"This is Milena's dress." Alannah said, grabbing a fist full of fabric and lifting it up so Zach could see.

"You're kidding?" Zach asked, staring down at the dress in my lap. "It's so plain. I thought Declan was the one in the relationship who dressed boring."

"Who dresses boring?" Declan asked, walking into the room.

"You." Zach answered unfazed.

"I play it safe because of the auburn hair." Declan said, trying to defend himself. Today he was wearing a pair of black dress pants and a white and light blue stripped polo.

"Hey Zach, be proud that he wore a shirt that wasn't a solid color today." I laughed, hoping to steer the conversation away from my dress.

"Yeah, well, a little color wouldn't hurt him. You're ginger and despite your bright red hair, you still wear patterns and colors. Although you do steer away from a few colors." Zach said, repositioning himself on the couch so Declan could sit next to him. "Now, back to your dress." So much for my attempt. "The fact that it's one color makes me sad. Who hurt you? There's no embroidery, flowers, lace, patterns, or glitter."

"That's what I said!" Alannah exclaimed, waving her hands around in the air like a crazy person. "It looks like a dress my mom or Tara would wear."

"Tara would not wear that because it's green and apparently pink is the only color she finds acceptable to wear." Zach said, trying not to laugh.

A light blub seems to go off in Declan's head and he shifts in his spot behind me. "Is it because of what Tara and the media have been saying about how you dress?" Declan asked, sliding down next to me. My eyes go wide and I drop my dress and needle. Declan scoots in front of me to look at my face. I didn't think he would guess it that fast.

"What-" I sputtered.

Declan quickly cut me off before I could stammer out nonsense. "Since the garden party, whenever we go out in public, you've been toning down what you wear. Just little things like wearing fewer patterns, fewer things with paint on them, basic shoes, and less jewelry." I look up at Declan. Every inch of his face is full of concern all the way from his eyes to his mouth, which is pressed into a straight line. "Not many people noticed. Well, except me. I started to piece things together like how you would change out of your painting clothes before dinner, or pick up a pair of shoes and then go with boring black flats."