[in progress] As hearts collide {chicklit}

Chapter ten - seventeen

Despite our intense initial friendship, Alex and I became firm friends and we, along with Jim, were inseparable.

At the end of the school year, we decided to stay on at school to complete our A levels together, which only helped to strengthen our friendships. Alex lived farther away, but we made it a point to meet regularly, our weekends filled with inside jokes and new memories.

There were moments where Al's flirty banter and lingering gazes sent ripples through our little circle, but he'd never taken it any further. Not that there wasn't a few butterflies and erratic heart flips from myself along the way, but I repressed it – putting it down to hormones.

That was until we made the catastrophic decision to go to Annabel's 18th birthday party – an event that would alter the course of our summer. It was in early June, we'd just finished our A levels and were looking for an excuse to celebrate. Though I wasn't to turn 18 until August, mum let me start to go to pubs with Al and Jim when they'd had their birthdays. So it wasn't unusual for us to have a few drinks together on occasion. But Annabel, one of our fellow sixth formers, had decided to turn 18 in style, holding a big party at her grand house, only a few doors down from Mia's mini mansion and everyone had been invited via Facebook.

On the day of the party, I'd spent the morning agonising about what to wear. I didn't have anything that felt right for a party. Everything was too old, too casual or just plain boring. Sensing my emotions, mum offered to take me into town to buy a new outfit and I practically bit her hands off at the offer.

We traipsed around some of the boutiques in the town, but I still couldn't find anything that felt right. Then, as I'd almost lost all hope, I saw it. In the window of "La belle des bois" a sweet little shop set back next to the new posh café at the end of the strip.
It was a midnight blue mini dress, with long sleeves offset with delicate and intricate beading. It was the most beautiful dress I'd ever seen.
"Do you want to go and try it on, love?" My mum asked, opening the door. I nodded emphatically and walked inside. Mum spoke to the lady at the till, asking for me to try on the dress. When I looked at it inside, I could see that the back went down into a low cut v shape. It was more revealing than anything I'd worn before, but I was intrigued to see what it looked like on.

The shop assistant brought the dress into the small changing room at the back of shop. I closed the curtain and peered at this incredible dress. It was too elegant for me and I feared that it would make me look silly. Sighing, I pulled my t-shirt over my head and then slipped the item on. It was buttery soft and lightweight - perfect for mid-June weather. I stared at myself in the reflection and was stunned at the sight. The dress clung to my curves in all the right ways. It wasn't too short - jump skimming halfway up my thighs. Pulling off my jeans, I was aware of how it made my legs look slimmer, my face less cherubic and brought out the gold flecks in my hair and eyes.

I pulled open the curtain and walked out to show mum.
"Oh, Em... you look stunning, and so grown up. You're not my little girl anymore." Her eyes were shiny and her voice cracked a little. I blushed at her comment and smiled.
"I'll always be your little girl... but thanks. Is it too much for a house party?"
"Not at all. But you're going to need shoes with it - converses just won't cut it with this one!" I giggled and nodded.
"Ok, mama... let's get some shoes too."

Twenty minutes later, we were back in the car, beautiful dress and a pair of gold cross platform sandals.

Jim messaged to let me know he'd knock for me at 6:30 - enough time for us to pop to the pub for a quick drink beforehand. We'd meet Alex in there and then head to the party together.

After a full shower; complete with shaved legs and body scrub, I was buffed to perfection. I decided to keep my hair down and use a diffuser to let my natural waves out. I'd let my hair grow long, but mostly kept it up, so it made a good change to have it down, settling over my chest.
I decided to put a small amount of gold eyeshadow in the corners of my eyes and then swept a bronze-brown over the lids. With some black liner along my lash line, a couple of coats of mascara and a slick of neutral lip gloss, I was ready to go.