Fairy Tale

Chapter 45: Body Confidence

Emily couldn't wait until the Christmas break. School had been a hard two weeks. In the halls people kept elbowing her bruised ribs. She noticed it was the cheer team and a few of the football team who were Ben's friends. How they knew her right side was bruised she didn't know. But when they elbowed her they would hiss nasty things or call her names.

The last few days Emily's stomach started to twist again, the anxieties started to settle in. The big fundraiser ball for the football team was coming up. The last day of school was the big day. Mama Lee promised to take her and Sonya shopping, claiming she also needed a dress for the event. All parents were coming to the event as well, as were some other big wigs from the area. A few scouts were also coming. It was a big social networking time for colleges and universities.

But Emily was becoming more anxious. She knew Teresa was going to do something. She had been too quiet the last few weeks. She brought it up with Minho but they both had no idea what to do. They couldn't prove anything or have her banned for no reason. So Emily just had to live with nagging anxiety.

She wasn't going to ditch and leave Minho alone at the Christmas fundraiser. He had formally asked her to be a date, even though  they were already dating he made it really cheesy and Emily blushed and giggled the whole time.

The football team had convinced Coach to cancel the auction. There was enough protest that it wasn't going to happen. Teresa and Brenda and the rest of the cheer team were not happy about that. But Minho pulled a lot of weight, and he was admitted he was not going to participate in it.

The Coach threw his hands in the air and finally relented.

"Coach, I love the game, but you try that kinda a klunk again, find another QB. I have dignity and self respect, I ain't gonna pimp myself out just so this school cane make a few bucks." Minho growled and slammed the door behind him.

~•~

Sonya had Emily's arm looped through hers as they walked into the mall, Bear hugging her leg tightly. Mama Lee and Mrs. Isaac were chatting away just in front of them.

"Okay girls. First stop... coffee." Mama Lee smiled.

Now that they had coffee, Emily followed like a list puppy. She had no idea what she was doing or how to start.

"What'll it be girls?"

They stood in the middle of a store with racks of different kinds of dresses.

"No idea." Emily said, her eyes wide slowly taking in all the different dresses, "I'm no good at this."

"Just like shopping for your birthday! Minho made you try on like the whole store before he actually found the perfect dress!" Sonya said poking her side.

"Really?" Mrs. Isaac raised an eyebrow, "he picked that dress? It was beautiful on you Emily!"

Emily nodded, her cheeks flaming up.

"You raised him right!" Sonya chuckled, nodding at Mama Lee who had a bit of a smug look.

"Well step one. Find your size and go from there." Mama Lee and Mrs. Issac shoed them over to the other side of the store where their size was and they started going threw it.

"Wanna look like a disco ball?" Sonya giggled and held up a dress so covered in sequence Emily threw up a hand.

"My eyes! My eyes!" Emily threw her hands over her eyes and glasses dramatically, while Sonya howled with laughter. "It's blinding me!"