Snapshot » l.t.

Chapter 27

Chapter 27


Renee's POV


I stressed out silently in my car as I waited impatiently.

There was less than a week left for Lacy's party, and I still hadn't found anything. I didn't have a date or a dress, or even a gift. I was a terrible friend.

Today I planned to go shopping for a silly gift card of some sort and a simple dress. I didn't want to be completely jazzed out. I didn't wear dresses like that.

Louis finally came running down the hill from his flat and hopped into my car. "Sorry, I'm late," he said, breathing a little heavily. "The boys wanted to know--"

"I don't need excuses," I interrupted. "I know perfectly well what the boys think."

Louis' face darkened to a different shade of grey. "Yeah, about that--" he started to say, but I cut him off again.

"Don't even," I warned him. "I do not want to hear those two words together ever again, as long as they are not affiliated with me."

"Yes, sir," Louis muttered, rolling his eyes.

I nodded. "Good," I said. "Now, I have to tell you a story."

"Is it a real long story?" he asked precariously. "Like the 'in the beginning' story from your birth up to now?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Ew, no," I said, disgusted. "Why?"

"Because girls always feel the need to talk about themselves and their back story."

I frowned. "I don't think so," I protested. "I think you mean boys always feel the need to talk about themselves."

"No. I'm pretty sure it's girls."

"Boys."

"Girls."

"Boys."

"Girls."

"Boys!"

"Girls!"

"Somebody's sexist," I finally said to cut the conversation short. "I still have my story to tell, so be quiet, child!"

Louis stuck his tongue out at me, just proving my point.

"This is kind of a longer story," I said. "So get comfortable."

Louis looked around. "I'm sitting in a car," he pointed out.

"Okay," I began. "There was a time, long, long ago--"

"I thought you said this wasn't the 'in the beginning' story!" Louis exclaimed.

I shot him a glare. "No interrupting!" I snapped. "It's rude. And it's not that kind of story. For the most part. Now shut up and listen."

He rolled his eyes.

I began again. "In that time, there was a boy and a girl," I started to say, and Louis slapped a hand over his mouth. I glanced at him. I sighed. "What?" I asked.

"Is this the sex talk?"

"Ermagherd, no!" I cried. "Seriously, put your perverted thoughts to the side and just listen for once." I almost added that I was reconsidering my invitation, but I didn't. I still couldn't believe that I was doing this myself.

"The girl was color-blind," I continued. "And the boy was a pig-headed idiot."

Louis made a face at me as I smirked.

"One day that girl got a phone call from a friend. It was a very good friend of hers, her very best friend in the entire world, Lacy."

"Totally thought you were going somewhere else there," Louis muttered. I shushed him.

"Lacy was celebrating her twenty-first birthday. Her father was renting an entire amusement park and pub for the occasion. But there was a special tradition that went along with these kind of birthday parties."

I paused for dramatic effect, which I guessed was kind of pointless.

"There would be a dance," I said. "And each guest was required to bring a..."

I wasn't pausing for dramatic effect this time, I was just having trouble forcing the words out.

"A date," I finally choked. "Now Lacy knew her and her friend would get dates very easily, but her friend wasn't so sure. She was positive no one would go to the dance with her."

I sighed. "Now, nearly three weeks later, that very same color-blind girl is making a fool out of herself in front of the pig-headed idiot."

I ended the story there. I had no idea how to continue.

Louis was looking at me in amusement. "And?" he pressed.

I licked my dry lips. This was going to be a lot worse than reading radiation-ified One Direction blogs.

"W-Would you...." I bit my cheek hard. I couldn't do it, but I tried again. "Will you... be...."

"Yes?" Louis smirked.

There was that weird glimmer in his eyes again. It always showed up whenever we talked about our friendship. I didn't get it.

"Oh, don't make me say the words out loud!" I finally yelped and he laughed. "Just say yes or no and save me the pain."

"Fine then," he said. "Yes."

"See, I thought you were going to say--Wait, did you just say yes?" I asked disbelievingly.

Louis genuinely smiled at me. "Yeah, sure," he said. His eyes still looked all weird. "I mean, we are just friends."

I sighed in relief. "Yeah, just friends," I agreed. "You're probably going to need a fancy suit. And a birthday present. Lacy loves her gifts."

"Can I ask questions now?" he asked and I nodded. "Great. So, who's Lacy?"

"Didn't you hear? Only my very best friend in the entire world. You know someone's your best friend when you tell them a member from her favorite band ruined your life and she would still go kill them for you."

Louis raised his eyebrows as I smiled dreamily.

"Wait, I'm confused," he said. "Elise is your best friend. This Lacy person is your best friend. And I'm your kind-of best friend. How many best friends do you have?"

"Three," I replied. "The same amount of friends I have."

"You have three friends?"

"Yep."

"Figures," he said and I punched his arm.

"Just don't get any ideas from this dance-thing," I warned him. "We're just friends, no matter what stupid Harry and Matchmaker Co. says."

Louis grinned. "Stupid Harry," he agreed.

"I thought you and Harry were supposed to be lovers."

"Sometimes. But married couples aren't always perfect, are they?"

"I'm just going to pretend you didn't say that," I said as he chuckled. "Now let's get going. I have a lot of shopping to do, and unfortunately you're coming along with. I hope you brought your wallet."


*~*~*~*


"What's on your list?" Louis asked as we walked around downtown.

I don't think he meant literally, but I actually did pull one out of my pocket. "Um, a fancy dress, a shiny gift card, and a suit and disguise for you," I read.

Louis raised his eyebrows. "Sounds expensive," he commented.

I grinned at him. "Don't worry, you're buying half the stuff," I said. "Good thing I'm friends with a billionaire, huh?"

Louis pushed me. I punched him back.

"Ah, here we are," I said, stopping outside a music store. "Lacy loves music. I always get her an iTunes gift card. Come on."

We entered the store.

As I picked out an iTunes card, Louis wandered around the store looking at stuff. I was just about to buy the card when Louis yelled, "Didn't you say something about us being her favorite band?"

"Louis, shut up!" I hissed as I bounded over. "People will hear you!"

The only other person in the store was the cashier, but one could never be too careful.

Louis rolled his eyes at me, but showed me what he found. "I think she'd like this," he said.

I took it from him and stared at it. "You've got to be freaking kidding me," I said.

It was the "This Is Us: One Direction" movie on Blu-Ray DVD. It was the last one. Of course Lacy would love it. She couldn't stop blabbing about it since she left the theater. For a while, anyway.

"Why?" Louis asked. "What's up?"

"I can't believe you guys would make a movie. I thought you were better than this, ruining innocent lives."

"What the hell are you talking about?" he demanded.

"Lacy is a closet Directioner," I explained. "It was supposed to be our little secret. Then the movie came out, and she dragged me along with. Now I think you guys are okay, whereas I couldn't stand you before. You've ruined me."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Louis grinned, swinging an arm around my shoulders. I pushed it off. I sighed.

"Come on," I mumbled. "Let's buy it."

"Seriously?" he exclaimed, like he had expected me to say no. "Okay then."

I made Louis buy it because it was his movie, and there was no way I was going to spend my money on chiz like that.

As we left the store, I checked the gift off my list.

"We're doing good," I said. "Now your disguise."

"And I know just the place," Louis interrupted, and pointed.

We stared across the street at the joke shop. We smirked at each other and ran over.


.....


"I look ridiculous."

"Don't be silly, you look fine."

"Liar."

"Oh, stop acting like a girl, Louis, and show the world your new and improved, beautiful face."

"You think I'm beautiful?"

"I meant that in the gayest way possible."

Louis scowled at me while I smiled back prettily. "Come on," I urged, and frantically gestured with my hands.

He let out an exaggerated sigh and stepped out of the shadows. I slapped a hand over my mouth as I snickered.

Louis was wearing a horrible, huge, luscious, wide, fuzzy... mustache.

Well, okay, it was a bit more than a mustache.

"It itches."

I rolled my eyes. "No duh," I said. "But it definitely covers your face."

"People are still going to recognize me by my voice."

"If that was true, we would've been caught a million times by now."

Louis nodded thoughtfully. "Good point," he conceded and scratched his chin.

Let me explain the get up: Louis looked fifty years old. He wasn't wearing any fake wrinkles or anything, just the dark mustache and beard really gave him that look. Add the crinkles by his eyes, and you've got yourself an old man, everybody.

"I'm not showing up at your best friend's dance like this," Louis protested.

"Why not?" I asked innocently. He gave me a smart-ass look. I laughed.

"Okay, I get that you look a little old for me," I admitted. "But this would definitely give people something to talk about. 'Do you remember that time when a pedophile took Renee to Lacy's dance?'."

I laughed again as Louis continued to glower at me. "Forget it," he grumbled and took off the mustache and beard. "Not gonna happen."

"Fine," I sighed, and took them from him. "I'm going to miss the look." I put it back on the shelf.

"We still have to disguise you well though," I murmured, more to myself than him. I snapped my fingers. "I've got it!" I declared. "You're going to be a redhead!"

Louis shook his head. "I'm not going to be a redhead, either," he said.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What's wrong with redheads?" I demanded.

It's true I'm more brunette than redhead, but there's still a reddish tint to my hair. And Lacy is strawberry-blonde, so that's offensive to my best friend.

"There's nothing wrong with redheads," Louis said quickly, catching his mistake. "I just don't think it would look good on me."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

I picked up a clown wig with the poofy hair. I assumed it was red. "Afro circus," I sang, jiggling the wig in his face, trying to entice him.

Louis half-smiled but pushed the wig away.

"No way."

I pouted but put it back anyway.

"You're picky."

I browsed the shelves some more. "If you're not going to be a redhead," I mused. "You're going to be a blonde."

"A blonde? Really?" he asked in "that" voice. You should know what voice I'm talking about.

"Yeah," I said, flashing a grin in his direction. I made a funny. Hahahaha. "That way I'll get to do all the talking. Now here."

I shoved a curly, pale grey wig into his arms. "No arguing," I added as he opened his mouth. "It's this one, or you're not coming at all."

I realized that wasn't a very good argument. Louis was just doing this for me as a favor. He could leave whenever he wanted. I know he didn't really want to do this.

But to my surprise, he sighed but didn't argue. He didn't put the wig back. I smiled for real.

"Now we just need to find something for your face," I said. "And of course nobody makes blonde mustaches, so you're going to need these."

I placed a pair of large nerd glasses in his outstretched hand. Louis bit his lip. I could tell he was really holding back, and I laughed. I gave his arm a gentle squeeze, my version of saying a cheesy thank-you.

"You're buying," I added over my shoulder as I turned and walked away.

We left the joke shop, me holding Louis' one bag. "Can I complain now?" he whined.

"No," I replied and checked my list. I bit my lip. "Now we have to find your suit and my dress." I struggled not to groan.

"Oh, I'm going to enjoy this," Louis said with a wide grin. I glared at him for an explanation, but for some reason he kept his mouth shut of his own free will.


.....


I went to the place where all the good prom dresses were. I would assume they sold good dancing dresses there, or else they wouldn't be called "Rock The Night Away". A rather inappropriate title, if you ask me.

I sat on a cushy bench as Louis sifted through the dresses. This seemed kind of backward to me, but I wasn't about to argue. How was I supposed to know what dress to wear? Sure, I may be a girl, but I didn't get out that much.

"What dress am I supposed to wear?" I asked.

"Something that is good for dancing, and matches your hair and eyes," Louis replied with a glance at me.

I frowned. "How do you know that?"

He stopped long enough to grin at me again. "I've had lots and lots of girlfriends," he said, then turned away.

That shouldn't have bothered me. What he said, I mean. But it did. When he said that, I got this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I pushed the feeling away. Why did I care?

"How about this one?" Louis offered, holding one out to me.

I stared at it. "Um, what color is it?" I asked, unable to identify it.

Louis faltered for a moment, and in that instant I saw the look of guilt on his face. I felt bad. I guess the accident was still a touchy subject for him.

But then the look was gone, and he said calmly, "It's red."

After a second or two, we both said in unison, "No way." I half-smiled. Maybe I was already getting the hang of this.

Louis showed me another one. "It's black," he added quickly. I rolled my eyes playfully. "I could've guessed that," I said. "But no. That wouldn't work."

I should take Louis on all of my clothes shopping trips. He's like a girl really deep down on the inside. I find that really disturbing, but helpful at times. Maybe Zayn was like that, just deep down inside he was a real dude.

"I found it!" Louis exclaimed, and I hopped over to check it out. I stared at it, unsure of what to make of it.

It was a darker grey color. It was long, stretching out in the back and definitely covering the backs of my legs. The dress was hiked up in the front, revealing half my thighs and below, while it was long and thinner in the back. It was sleeveless, excluding the dark, sparkly sleeve of ivy. Not the literal plant, just a cloth designed to look like it.

It was definitely beautiful, but I'd never worn a dress before without sleeves, much less with my body half-naked out front. Nobody would catch me dead in an outfit like that. It was too jazzed up.

"It's the color of your eyes," Louis said. "So it matches your hair as well."

He glanced at me, and we made eye contact. For a moment, I thought he was meaning more than what he was saying. I thought I felt something stir.

But then he looked away, and these weird feelings disappeared. Good. They were starting to creep me out.

"Try it on," Louis urged.

I wrinkled my nose.

"No way," I protested. "I don't wear dresses like that. It has to have sleeves, and it has to cover ALL parts of my legs. Not just half."

Louis rolled his eyes. "Please, for me," he pleaded. He pulled a pouty face.

I groaned. "Fine," I huffed, snatching the dress from him. "But if this dress doesn't fit, we're moving on to the suits."

Louis frowned at me, but I turned away. I knew I didn't really make sense there, but oh well. What's said is said.

I locked myself in the dressing room and took off my clothes. I felt exposed. I slipped on the dress, the material silky or itchy in certain places. I pulled the ivy sleeve onto my arm, and I stared at my reflection.

It wasn't bad. I looked kind of good, I'll admit that. But I couldn't go through with it. I still felt exposed. No. Just no.

"How do you look?" Louis called from the other side.

"F-Fine," I stammered, then cursed myself. Perfect. Had I ever stuttered in front of Louis before? I didn't think so.

"I bet you look great."

My cheeks enflamed, and soon I was staring at a red-faced girl. Well, more like grey-faced. But I knew what color my cheeks really were.

"Does it fit?"

"Yeah," I replied slowly.

"Cool. Let me see."

I froze. "N-No, I don't think that will be necessary," I said quickly, stuttering again.

"I'm thinking it will be. Come on, I won't judge you too hard."

He didn't convince me. I was about to change back into my comfortable, welcoming street clothes when he said something that caught my attention.

"If you come out still in your dress, I'll let you see me in my new suit."

Oh man, that was tempting.

"And you won't hate me if I laugh at you?" I asked precariously.

I swear I heard him sigh. "No."

I grinned, but then it slowly faded. "Fine," I said, mustering up my little confidence and courage. "I'm coming out."

Before I could start doubting myself and back out, I stepped out of the dressing room.

My face heated up again when I saw Louis' jaw drop. I looked really horrible, didn't I?

"I know, I look terrible," I sighed. "I warned you."

Louis stared at me like I was crazy. "What are you talking about?" he exclaimed. "You look... unbelievable. Gorgeous doesn't even begin to cover it."

I was surprised, but soon the feeling melted into modesty and gratefulness. "Thanks, Lou," I murmured, then gasped slightly at what I said.

Louis smirked at me. "Did you just call me what I thought you did?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Just shut up," I muttered, and bowed my head so he couldn't see me blushing. "I'm gonna go change. Your turn."

We went into the suit section. They all looked alike, so it was just a matter of choosing which size.

"Since I did your dirty work for you," Louis said, sitting down. "You're going to do mine."

I stuck my tongue out at him but didn't argue. I made him hold my dress while I looked around.

Yep, they all looked alike. Black suit, black dress pants, black shoes. White undershirt. A single tie. Boring.

I reached the end of the rack and picked one out. "Um, help me out here," I called to Louis. He got up and walked over to me, leaving the dress behind.

"I can't decide," I told him. "I found this suit." I showed him the white one with the uniquely-colored shirt on the inside. "And this one." I showed him the black one with another uniquely-colored shirt on the inside. "Which do you think you'd look better in?"

Louis got a thoughtful look in his eyes as he stared into space. Back into LouLou Land he goes.

"I don't know," he finally said. "I don't think the black one with that green shirt would work. Sure, it matches your dress, but it doesn't look good in the suit. So I suppose the white one....?" But he hesitated.

My brow creased in concentration, and then an idea came to me. "I don't know if this will work," I said. "But perhaps we can switch the shirts on the inside. You wear the white suit with the green shirt, and we'll fix the other shirt up with the other suit. How would that work?"

Louis shrugged. "I've got nothing else, so let's try it," he said. He took both suits from me and went into the dressing room.

I waited for him patiently. I sat on the bench and swung my feet back and forth like a little kid. I would look back to check on my dress every once in a while. I didn't want anyone taking it, but I was too lazy to go back and get it. Plus, I wanted to be here when Louis finally came out.

"Are you almost done, Tomlinson?" I called.

"Nearly."

He was done, I could tell by his voice. I smiled.

"Then why don't you show me?"

"You're going to laugh, so be prepared."

He came out with a goofy grin on his face. I think it was to take the attention off his suit, but it didn't work. I stared.

I wasn't going to laugh. No way. A girl who would do that would have to be looney.

"Well, aren't you going to laugh or make fun of me or something?" Louis asked expectantly.

I turned my gaze up to him. "No way," I gasped. "You look... breathtaking. I mean, you really, really do."

He did. I didn't really feel all that ashamed while saying that. Sure, we were just friends, I was just speaking the truth.

Louis smiled at me. "Thanks, Renee," he said. "Now why don't we get out of here?"

"Yeah," I agreed hurriedly and rushed over to snatch up my dress. I paid while waiting for Louis to hurry up.

We left the store. "I felt like an extreme girl today," Louis said in a tone like he couldn't believe it. "That kind of makes me nervous."

"Don't worry," I giggled. "It disturbs me, too. Just be grateful you aren't Zayn. He's actually used to it."

We laughed as we got back in my car. Yeah, today was totally girl time.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Author's Note:


There are three kids in my school that are seriously pissing me off.

The first two sit at my table in history class, and they won't stop TALKING. It's like they have to comment on EVERYTHING.

The other kid sits at my table in biology, and he chews his gum so loudly! He literally does it with his mouth open and half the gum hanging off his lip. It drives me insane!

Sorry about my rant. I just had to get it out.

Oh yeah, the good part in my story is coming up. I'm so freaking excited it nearly disappoints me that I'm the one writing it.


Stay Beautiful,
-Sammi <3