Nerds Are Lovable

26: Nerds are Executives

"Emma, I need you to come over, STAT," I almost yell into the phone.

"What's got your panties in a twist?" Emma asks, but I still hear her shuffling around and grabbing the things she needs to come over.

"Fashion emergency. What am I supposed to wear to a fancy dinner? I'm not fancy. I don't do galas or parties. At least not these type of parties. I'm assuming getting shitfaced and taking your shirt off is not acceptable behavior," I keep rambling until Emma finally cuts me off.

"Bitch, I'm coming over. Don't move."

And I don't. I'm laying on my bed, sprawled naked with only a towel covering me. I had spent the entire day painting and by the time I checked the time, I had to rush to the shower to get the paint and sweat off of me. I had tried rummaging through my closet to find even a single outfit that I was content with, but that was a useless 30 minutes. What does one even wear to a high-end Christmas party?

Emma comes bursting in after about 10 minutes of me laying here after our phone call.

"Your savior has arrived."

She then spends 15 minutes in my closet only to come up with a passable outfit at best. She huffs in frustration, falling on the bed next to me. Clearly, I do not go to these type of events often enough, or ever.

"You need new clothes," Emma mumbles.

"Tell me about it."

"I think we can make that black dress work," She starts strategizing the outfit, "I can put your hair up with a diamond clip, do your makeup, we can go to my house so you can borrow my black heels with the diamonds along the side. Oh, and I'm sure you have a diamond necklace, didn't your mom give you one?"

Suddenly, theres a knock at my door that pulls Emma out of her thoughts. It makes both of us sit up on my bed. My dad, not awaiting a response, opens the door. He has a long dress bag draped across his forearms.

"I heard you could use a nice dress," He extends his arms out to me, "It was your mother's, she wanted to give it to you."

I stand up from my bed. Thankfully, I had changed into my pijamas in the time in took Emma to destroy my closet so that I didn't have to walk around in a towel. I take the dress from my father's arms, a sad smile gracing his lips as he hands it over to me. I slowly unzip the bag to reveal a beautiful light blue chiffon dress. The sleeves were thin and see through, with a delicate lace pattern. The dress itself was only tight around the boobs and then released into a beautiful layered skirt all the way to the floor. It was absolutely stunning.

"It was her prom dress," My dad mentions, "She wanted you to wear it to prom, but I think this is a more fitting occasion."

I smile up at him, tears filling my eyes and threatening to escape down my cheeks. I keep staring at my mom's dress, hoping no tears spill onto the delicate fabric. Part of me thought I was dreaming. My mother's prom dress. I remember her talking about this dress. How she had saved it in hopes of having a daughter and gifting it to her. How when she became pregnant with me, she knew it would be a girl. She'd always wanted a girl. I was her little girl. But now, she was never going to see me wear the dress she had saved for me when she was my age.

"Haley," Emma comes up from behind me, "This is perfect."

I nod, a small laugh masking my sobs. Looking up to my dad, he's wearing a small smile on his face. He looks so happy to have given me a piece of her.

"Thanks, dad."

"Of course, Haley. Now go," He makes his way out my room, "Go have fun."

"Okay, T-minus 20 minutes before you need to be in my car so I can take you. There is no way I am letting you walk over there and ruin your hair with this wind."