A girl and her camera

Chapter ten

Picture above is Hanna's ball gown. Not exactly the same as the stories' description, but it gives a good idea. God, I just love writing this story! So many things happening, and going to happen! Mwah hahaha. Enjoy my good folks.

"How about this one, Hanna?"

Hanna and Martha stood, hidden amongst the vast curtains of dresses in Madame Vander's dress shop of Pretti-portes. Since Eve had gone with her mother, Pansy, to a French-owned, haute couture establishment on the richer side of the city, Hanna and Martha had decided to set out for themselves, to find Hanna a more affordable dress. And so what if it was a mass-produced design? It was a modern kind of dress they wanted, and Hanna was a modern kind of girl. It just seemed so perfect.

"I don't know, Martha..." She hummed, unsure. "It's a bit...bright, don't you think?"

In her hands, Martha held a sky-blue, short-sleeved frock with teal-blue beading along the skirt, sewn into the shape of a flower. It was gorgeous, in Martha's opinion. And in Hanna's too. But Hanna wasn't used to wearing dresses like that. Her wardrobe mostly consisted of drab, dull colors that washed out her pale complexion.

"It's supposed to be," Martha replied, "And would you look at it? The beading matches your eyes."

Hanna didn't quite think so. Even without her glasses, which was a rare occasion, Hanna always thought of her eyes to be dull, grey and ugly. Nothing like the bright-blue shade Eve had. How could that lovely shade of blue possibly match her inferior eye color?

"It does not," Hanna murmured.

"Yes, it does." Martha assured her, "Come on Hanna, try it on. You said so yourself, you want to be noticed at this ball."

Sighing reluctantly, Hanna took the dress from Martha, and marched over to the changing rooms with it. And Martha, genuinely excited to see how the dress looked on Hanna, waited in the changing room lobby, sitting in one of the plush, emerald velvet, armchairs. She knew Hanna was going to look marvelous in this dress; not like the meek, mousy girl she was at school. And it would teach Eve a lesson, Martha thought smugly. Do not under-estimate the influence of a good friend.

When Hanna stepped out, tentatively, from the shelter of the dress curtains, Martha gaped, awe-struck by her appearance. Hanna had taken her glasses off just before hand, which made her entrance even more shocking. With the full skirt, swishing along as she walked; the dress had simply elevated Hanna's beauty, making her shine. And her eyes, despite Hanna's worries, were brought to life, and sparkled along with the dress. Martha definitely thought this was the best Hanna had looked so far. Even without makeup, or an extensive hair-do.

"You look beautiful, Hanna!" Martha squealed, excited. "Take a look in that mirror there!"

So she did. And as Hanna looked at herself, from head to heel, she couldn't even comprehend the change within herself, that just one, simple ball-dress could bring. Her skin, instead of looking pasty and sickly as it normally did, glowed from the complexion the dress gave her. Her hair, instead of seeming flat and stringy, seemed to shine as the thick braid of it fell down one shoulder. And even her eyes, even though it was a bit blurred to her, sparkled bright and happily. Like the brightest star in a night sky. Hanna was beautiful. She was beginning to like the woman she was becoming; both physically and mentally.

"Do you not think it's too much?" She squeaked, turning to examine every end of herself.

"I think it's just enough," Martha answered, smiling proudly. "That dress was made for you, Hanna. So I suggest you pay for it right away, and when you get home I can help you get ready."