Infinite

Before the Storm- Part 4

Houston, Texas, in the Clarke Home, Friday, September 26th, 2030, at 4:00 pm

Rachel

Anne smiles at me as she walks over and gives me a hug. I rest my head on her shoulder, fully accepting her support. When she picked me up from the airport, I cried the whole way home as I told her everything that happened with Sam. We spent weeks talking after that day, trying to figure out what I wanted.

"What is your heart telling you to do, Rach?" Anne whispers as she steps back from me and gently rubs my arms.

I smile at her weakly and shake my head. I look down at my smoothie, which has a layer of liquid forming at the bottom as it separates. Anne has been there for me every step of the way through this mess with Lucas.

I don't think I would've survived it without her.

"My heart is saying that Lucas has loved me unconditionally for over a decade, and that I want him to need me."

Anne's expression shifts into a wide smile.

"And to let him know how much I need him, too." I need to fully put my faith in Lucas tonight, regardless of what has happened in the past. Anne nods her head quickly and pulls me up from the stool.

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear you say," Anne beams.

I feel my cheeks beaming at her encouragement.

"Now, you need to get dolled up so that you can make Lucas remember why he's fighting so hard for you. What are you wearing tonight?"

I look at her and give her a nervous smile.

"I, umm...I have options," I mumble.

"Options?" Anne asks as she crosses her arms.

"You weren't available when I went shopping and I didn't know what to get."

Anne raises an eyebrow at me and smiles.

"Rachel, how many dresses did you buy?" she giggles a little as she impatiently waits for me to answer.

"I only bought four," I reply.

"Four!?" she shouts.

I laugh at her shock and wave my hand at her.

"Hey, you need to wear something, too! So it works out!" I push her arm playfully as I sprint by her to run up the stairs.

"They better be beautiful or I am going to question my friendship with you," Anne jokes as she chases me. We giggle all the way upstairs, teasing each other about previous poor fashion choices.

Anne unzips the first garment bag, revealing a dusty gray gown with one strap that crosses over the neckline, creating a curtain effect on the waistline of the dress. It parts in the middle, leaving a flowing train that leads to the floor.

"Okay, we're off to a promising start," Anne says as she pulls the gown fully out of the bag and strokes the fabric. "I already like this one a lot."

Anne wears a lot of dark grays and purples, and she would look amazing in this dress.

"Maybe that one will be your perfect match, then." I smile at her as I open the second bag. A wine red fabric spills out and Anne leans over to lift the dress out. It has long laced sleeves and an a-line collar.

"This one is too much," Anne says immediately.

I agree with her as it looks more like a prom dress than an evening gown. We go to open the third bag, and a simple black gown with thin straps and a v neckline is displayed.

"This one isn't enough. Nowhere near enough." Anne shoves it closed, taking it out of the running as well.

"Okay, one left then." I am excited for Anne to see this one, it was my favorite when I tried it on but I just wasn't sure. Anne unzips the last garment bag and I can see her face light up as a deep emerald fabric is revealed.

"Oh, wow," she says as she lifts the skirt out of the bag and folds the sides, letting us look at the entire dress. "Rachel, this one for sure."

We admire the silky texture of the gown. It's an a-line gown with a plunging neckline and long sleeves. There's a band of fabric that wraps around the waist just under the cups to create a slimming figure. It has a chiffon skirt with a side split, and looks elegant just lying on the bed.

"I think you're right," I say excitedly to Anne.

This is one of Lucas' favorite colors besides midnight blue. I hope he shows up tonight, I want him to see me in this. My heart pounds as I think about what Lucas might say or do when he sees me wearing this dress. I hope he likes it. My mind drifts to Sam briefly, making me anxious. I don't know what I'm going to do if he compliments me tonight, or if he sees Lucas. I start to panic as I remember that I still have to tell him about Sam.

"Rachel? Are you alright?" Anne asks as she gently touches my elbow. I shake my head at her.

"What if Lucas does show up tonight?" I ask her in a worried tone. "He doesn't know, yet."

Anne's eyes shift down as she tilts her head at me.

"Oh, honey," she says softly as she pulls me in for a hug. "It's going to be okay. If Lucas does show up tonight, you'll just have to tell him then and hope that he understands." Anne pulls away and rubs my arms. "Let's get ready." She smiles at me, and I can feel some of my worry start to fade.

"We have to put on some music, first!" I say as I run over to connect my phone to the bathroom speaker.

"Absolutely!" Anne shouts as she follows me into the bathroom. We decide to blast some Avril Lavigne as we get ready for the event tonight. It feels like there isn't a single thing going on outside of the bathroom, as Anne and I curl our hair, put makeup on, and belt out some of our favorite songs.