burning red

- 14 -

"are you sure I should be doing this?" Harley asked, constantly looking around at their surroundings as she slowly walked into Justine's room.

"hey Carrots, this is my house." Justine retorted with a sassy scoff. Harley had been acting like they were robbing the place. "I'm just letting you borrow one of my dresses, no biggie." She pulled the reluctant girlsie into her room before opening the dark wood wardrobe to reveal a plethora of colourful dresses that almost looked like pastries.

Justine was never a fan of her stifling, formal lifestyle. She's always hated the idea that as soon as she was born, she already had a role defined for her. But what she also hated was not having the right outfit, especially if it was a special occasion. So that's how she and Harley ended up in her room, doing a little shopping for the girlsie.

Justine made an exaggerated motion towards her wardrobe. "take your pick."

Harley's eyes widened. "absolutely not!"

"what, why?" She whined.

"I can't. It's your dresses and I just can't!" Justine groaned and approached her.

"exactly, it's my dress!" She laughed as she lightly pushed Harley to the side before picking out a light green dress with puffed sleeves and a high, laced collar. In fact, it was the one that she had worn to meet Bill Hearst's family. But she quickly shook those thoughts out of her head then stuck her hand out, holding it in front of Harley for her to take, but she still refused. "come on, it's calling your name!"

"it's not!" Harley retorted and crossed her arms, turning away from Justine and the dress.

"wow, someone with your imagination, who would'a thought?" She mumbled to herself, loud enough for Harley to hear her so that maybe she'd reconsider.

But still, she had her back faced towards Justine.

"Harley!" Justine even went as far as giving the dress a voice as she sang in a high-pitched voice, waving the green dress in one hand. "I'm a pretty dress and I really, really want you to wear me." She could practically feel Harley grin.

"Justine, stop." She forced back a laugh.

"I would look beautiful on you, especially with your auburn hair- and oh, imagine how Race would react if he saw you in me." Justine tossed a teasing smile at her, even though Harley didn't see it. To her pleasure, Harley slowly turned around to face her with cheeks as red as her hair. "come on." Justine spoke in her normal voice again and stuck her hand out to hand her the dress.

"are you sure?" Harley squeaked.

"I insist." She took a step forward and pressed the hanger to her chest, in which Harley looked down at it.

"fine," Harley breathed after a moment of hesitation and gently took the hanger from Justine's hand. "only because you're my best friend."

Justine shot her a wink before pulling out a magenta-coloured dress with a white, laced collar and a tight bodice. No puffed sleeves, contrary to the one Harley had. It had always been her favourite for it's simplicity. Her mother usually preferred dresses that made her look like a heavily iced cupcake but as usual, Justine liked the opposite. She easily found beauty in many things, especially in simple aspects. She found that that simplicity was more elegant and she'd much rather be elegant than dressed up.