Why so dense human?!

Part 6

"Agnes," I whined.

"I don't think this is going to help my situation at all."

I surveyed myself in the department store changing room mirror with a doubtful expression laced onto my face.

"Oh hush up and try it on. I really don't see how it is going to worsen your situation either," she replied.

From my mouth escaped a loud groan as I wiggled uncomfortably around in the outfit that my best friend had picked out for me. There I was, facing the mirror, wearing a size small baby blue V neck T-shirt that had 'Stay Beautiful' written on it and a black mini skirt that showed too much leg in my honest opinion.

"Why did I let you talk me into this?"

"Well," she started to say, "You didn't exactly let me talk you into it."

I huffed at the sudden realization.

"Actually," she continued, "You didn't even have much say in the matter."

Earlier today, Agnes had witnessed a painful encounter between Tyler and me in the school cafeteria. After it ended, Agnes gave me a pitiful look and told me to cancel all my after school plans, not that I had any. If I had known this was her plan, I probably wouldn't have willingly tagged along.

"Come on out let me get a good look at you"

I managed to waddle myself out of the changing room with a disapproving look plastered on my face.

"Would you try and breathe a little?" she said with a smile.

"These clothes obviously weren't meant for anyone to be breathing in," I replied with a grimace.

"Why do I even need new clothes?"

"I don't know about you, but watching you two do what you do every day is making me sad."

"It's a work in progress," I replied.

"Nicole, it's just sad," she answered while shaking her head.

"Buying you new clothes might just help your situation a little."

"I guess I understand that, but the clothes that you've picked out are really not the way to go about helping me."

"Fine," she groaned.

Agnes spun around, grabbed something from behind of her, then turned back around and threw some clothes at me.

"Try those," she commanded.

I cried internally for a brief second before waddling back into the changing room to change into the clothes that Agnes gave me.

I did a full three hundred and sixty degree turn in the full length mirror and cringed. The purple tank top with multiple ruffles stuck awkwardly onto me. No matter what I did, or what way I turned, the top still looked hideous. I plastered a huge bogus smile onto my face and made my way out of the changing room.

"That...is just terrible," Agnes half whispered at me.

The bogus smile that I was wearing was soon replaced by an honest one as I almost barked out in laughter. I waddled back into the changing room and took off the top and jeans that I was wearing. I turned a worried gaze towards the dress that Agnes had shoved towards me. It was a black dress with a vibrant colorful pattern on it. It had spaghetti straps and the hem of the dress stopped at my knees. The back of the dress was 'missing' or 'cut' in the back with some form of pattern. It was the spitting definition of a summer dress. I threw on the dress and spun outside.

"I love that one," Agnes nodded in approval.

"You had better love this one," I huffed, "I wasn't about to try on any more."

*********

I nervously glanced around the hallway. The day before, I thought that the dress was okay, but honestly? I felt weird wearing the material. What had once seemed like a knee length dress was now a piece of cloth that hiked up my thigh. I kept tugging on the dress every two seconds and I groaned loudly to myself. I must have bought the dress out of nothing but frustration. I mental cursed at Agnes as I retrieved books from within my locker. Moments later I heard a throat clearing behind me. I spun around annoyed at how close the person was standing next to me. Who stands this close and clears their throat? How rude, I thought. After turning around my legs grew weak. Tyler shifted awkwardly in front of me. His brown hair was a big mess, but in a good way.

"Hey," he greeted me.

"Oh hello there," I practically choked out.

The dress barely had any material to it, but I felt very hot at the moment. I felt trapped in a windowless room. I felt suffocated. I felt like I had been stuffed into an oven. Either that, or I'm a very dramatic person.

"Agnes said you needed to speak to me?"

I frowned. When did I....

I smiled at Tyler nervously. I didn't need to speak to him at all. Agnes had lied to him and now I was stuck in this position. I needed to think of something fast.

"Oh...um....yes!" I exclaimed.

I practically shouted in the guy's face at that moment.

"We still need to do the final touches on our chemistry project..." I began to think of lies.

"And I just realized that I can't make it to your house on Saturday, due to family matters..."

He looked at me with concern.

"No! It's nothing serious!" I shouted "just a sick pet rabbit..." I trailed off.

I mentally slapped myself and forced myself to continue the lie that I had already started with. Why stop now? I was already on a roll. Or at least I thought I was.

"Long story short, could you meet me at the spot for a smoothie after school?"

Tyler looked at me as if he was still trying to digest what I had just said to him.

"Yeah sure, no problem." He said.

He waved good bye to me and I forcefully let out the breath that I had been holding since the beginning of the conversation. I mentally reminded myself to attack Agnes later that day.