These Broken Roads

Chapter 28: Courage

~Natalie~

Mary and I were standing in the middle of a dress shop. We were looking around trying to get some ideas for my prom dress.

"I have an idea on what would look good on you, but I wanted to be sure." Mary explained while looking at a tight prom dress.

"Please no." I made a face at the dress.

Mary laughed and rolled her eyes. "You want to keep it modest again?"

I nodded and pulled out a cute dress with a plain skirt and a beaded top. Mary made a face.

"Natalie, that's a mother of the bride dress." She said frowning at me. "I have an idea, I just want to see if they have something like it to try on."

I sighed and put the dress back and looked around some more. We were still in the bridal section. This bridal shop had prom dresses too, but Mary said the dress she was imagining for me was probably in the bride's maid section of the store.

I was standing right next to Mary when we both heard a voice.

"What do you mean it's not in?" The shrill voice said.

Mary and I gave each other a look.

"I'm sorry Miss, it's been delayed." said one of the workers.

Emma scoffed. "I can't believe how hard you think your job is. I mean it's not that hard to make sure my prom dress gets here on time."

Mary took my hand. "Maybe we should go."

I nodded and we made our way to the door, but unfortunately Emma caught us trying to leave.

"Oh look what the whore dragged in." Emma said, walking over to Mary and I.

Mary's hand tightened around mine, but I squeezed letting her know I was okay. I turned to look at Emma with a smirk.

"Takes one to know one."

For some reason I felt confident. I was so sick of cowering from Emma. I was sick of her bullshit. I wanted her to know that she can't mess with me anymore.

Emma narrowed her eyes at me and I heard Mary trying to hold back a laugh.

"Well at least I didn't sleep around at-"

"You know." I interrupted. "It's shocking to me how you can air out my dirty laundry, but yet you wear yours. Everyone knows you're the school slut who's slept with every single guy in the senior class."

"Except your worthless brother." She said, raising her eyebrows at me.

I held out my hand to stop Mary who I felt was going to lunge at Emma.

"Oh no, my brother isn't worthless, he just doesn't want to sleep with the school trash" I said.

"Your boyfriend has slept with me." She crossed her arms over her chest.

I laughed. "We are not together anymore. Also, E doesn't whore around like you. I think someone told me you were dating a guy from college. What, run out of dick at the high school? You got a punch card and the more dick you get the more happier you become?"

Emma's jaw clenched. "You don't know shit."

I walked up to her to get in her face. "And you don't know anything about my life. So let's agree to stay out of each other's lives."

Emma finally let up after a minute of us staring each other down. She glared at me, but turned to harass the worker some more about her dress. When I turned I saw Mary's wide smile and I gave her a smile back.