Love Burns

Chapter 11

Olivia

It was finally the end of the week and exactly a week away from the Spring Formal. And also the day I go dress shopping with Ashley. Yes, I know, I promised to never go to these things again since sophomore year when Brent Davis only asked me out as a dare and stood me up. It's senior year now and every time people talk about some form of dance it reminds me of that dude. Well, Quinton didn't sound like he would do that — it sounded like quite the opposite actually. I can't believe he actually likes me. All this time I thought that he was only talking to me because I was the new kid. Turns out, that  wasn't the case. I should've just told him the truth, that I  actually feel the same way. But, do I really like him? Or is he just devastatingly attractive? Whatever it is, I can't keep denying what I feel about him. Maybe I actually do  like him. Why him out of all people? Well he isn't so bad though. My thoughts were interrupted by a loud thud, Ashley's good at a lot of things but parking wasn't one of them.

"Sorry about that, I think I might've dented the car. Oh well, I'm just so excited to finally talk to you alone about that snak- I mean our lovely friend.....A.."

I laugh, ever since Ashley saw Alice sitting with those girls, she's not been shy about hating her. I don't mind honestly, she dumped me to sit with them anyway. "Alice?"

"Yeah, her. Anyways, did she ever apologize for that? I mean, isn't it common sense to hate your best friend's enemies? Why is this bi- I mean girl, even friends with them?  I swear, all four of them share the same braincell. I caught them trying to cheat on an English test once and they were whispering the answers so loud that even the teacher felt bad for them and pretended not to notice."

I started laughing even more now, "What? You've got to be kidding."

"You really think I would make up such a lame story?"

"Well..you've got a good point.."

"Exactly, now let's go. We've got dresses to try on."

We go into the first store we saw and started trying on a bunch of dresses. Ashley looked like a princess in each one but when she tried on this gorgeous green dress, we both knew that it was the one.

"Who's your date to the dance?" She'd probably have a whole line of guys waiting to ask her out, I mean, she's the Ashley Wang after all.

"Well usually, I go solo but this time a special someone asked me out.." I could see a hint of red creeping up her cheeks. 

"Oooh, who's the lucky guy?"

She smiles, "I'm keeping that a surprise for the formal."

"Oh come on Ashley, we're friends and friends tell each other everything."

"Nice try, Olivia, I'm not falling for that one. Now go, try on your dresses, I wanna send a couple pictures to Quinton and make him jealous."

"Why would he be jealous.?"

"You'll see."

I tried on the first few dresses and to my luck they were either too tight, too loose or just made me look like a grandma. One of them also smelt a little weird which ruined my mood. 

"Why does nothing look good on me?"

"It's not you sweetie, its the ugly grandma looking dress you chose, like seriously, where did you even find this?" she asked, while examining the dress. 

I tried to look offended but instead I started laughing, "Well, if you're such a fashion icon, help me find something better."

"Alright, bet."

After 30 minutes she came back with a mountain of new dresses for me to try on and unsurprisingly, this round went much smoother than the first. Even though I looked  good in these dresses, I didn't feel  good in them. In some of them, the neckline dipped too low and in others, the slit was too wide or the back dipped a little too deep. But finally, after almost two hours, I found a dress, which not only made my body look good, but also just me in general, because apparently the colour compliments my skin tone — Ashley's words not mine. 

"Oh, Q's gonna freak out when he sees you."

I laugh, "Well, I'm not spending this much money for a dress for him not to freak out."

"Touché."

I finally got home after spending almost the entire day in the mall. My feet are numb from walking but I had fun though. Tati loved the dress I bought, my aunt on the other hand just said, "You spent the entire day at the mall just to get...this? Couldn't you have bought something a little more...extravagant?"

"It's just a formal, so I thought.."

"Olivia, you don't go to a public school anymore, all the kids there come from a completely different world and you my dear, have to work extra hard to blend in with them."

"I..I understand, I'll figure something out." I could feel the moisture building up in my eyes, no, I couldn't cry in front of her. She can't know that her words have an effect on me. I ran up the stairs and I could hear Tati calling me but I couldn't go back there. Not when I was seconds away from bawling like a little baby. 

After two hours, I finally stopped crying and got out of the bathroom. I immediately saw Tati standing by the door. She hugged me and said, "I'm sorry about mom, she means well Liv. Trust me. She just...doesn't know how to express it." 

"It's okay, I'm not that stupid. I've known that she's hated me since I moved in here."

"Liv, I'm sure she doesn't."

I didn't have the energy to bring up all the instances where my aunt made it crystal clear that she had no intention of liking me, so instead, I just let her comfort me. I suddenly heard my phone ringing. I went to check who it wa—Quinton? Why was he calling? 

"Hello?"

"Hey" Woah, Why did he have to sound so good  on the phone?

"Um..why'd you call?" 

"Are you free tomorrow?"

"Yeah..why?"

"Well, someone here, wanted a date before the formal, so I might've planned a little surprise for her."

I could feel my cheeks heat, what was up with him these days? Who does he think he is? A poet? And why was my heart racing?  "I see, well lucky for you, she might be able to make it. Is it something fancy or..?"

"Sort of, the dress code is black tie, if that helps."

"Are you trying to lure me with money, DeMarco?"

"I don't know, is it working, Carter?"

"It might be." It definitely was, but he didn't need to know that I was already lured in without his money. 

"That's all I wanted to hear, Goodnight, Olivia."

"Goodnight." I did indeed have a very  good night.