Where I Belong. (Stopped)

Chapter 23: Sunshine.

The clock was my enemy. I could feel it laughing at me - yeah, I know clocks can’t laugh because of the whole inanimate object thing - but it just was. It was was just ticking and tocking and it was obnoxious. Ashlee cleared her throat. I looked at her and she was holding up an orange strapless sundress. “What?”

Ashlee scowled, “Yes or no?”

“To what?” My gaze went back to the clock. It’s second hand felt like it was moving by the minute - oh, wait, never mind, I was looking at the minute hand.. 

I guess this whole date thing tonight was really getting to me. I’ve sat in my room with Ashlee for the past two hours. I couldn’t look outside and no one would tell me, not even Jeff. Like what the hell? Why is that important that Jeff can’t even tell me? You’d think he would to you know, get the new step daughter to like him more, but he didn’t. He just smirked and shook his head. 

“Tanya!” Ashlee snapped.

“What Ashlee? What do you want?!”

Ashlee rolled her eyes, making her way over to me. “Look at me.” She muttered. I looked up at her as I was laying on my stomach on my bed. I raised my eyebrows in question. Just then, Ashlee’s hand went across my left cheek. I gasped as a stinging pain went through my face.

“What the hell?!”

“That was to snap you out of it.” I gave her an exasperated look. “Now, what are you gonna wear?”

“I don’t know..”

Ashlee made her way back to my closet. “Well figure it out.”

“Why? It’s not like I have to rush.”

“The more you look at that damn clock the more I will slap you.” Ashlee said. “Here,” She pulled out a red sweater dress. “This would be cute, with a black belt.” I rolled over and off my bed to stand up. I grabbed it and held it out at arm’s length, then held it against me as I looked at it in the mirror.

I shrugged.

“You’re wearing it whether you like it or not because you’re such a diva with this whole dressing thing.”

“I haven’t been a diva.”

“Fine, you’ve been stupid and stubborn.”

“Thanks Ash,” I laughed, throwing the piece of red clothing at her. She laid it on my bed along with the black belt.

“Ooh, you’re shoes.”

“What about them?” I asked, turning to her, arms crossed.

“What are you wearing?”

“Converses?”

I swear, with the look on Ashlee’s face, she was about to slap me again.

***

Ashlee grinned as she looked at me up and down. “Oh my god, if I didn’t love men so much, I would so go lesbian for you.”

“Like Nathan,” I laughed as I slid on my converses. Ashlee scowled. “It’s true though.” Ashlee just rolled her eyes.

As I stood up, I straighten out the red sweater dress and smoothed out my hair that was straighten and in a side ponytail. You know, something casual and sweet. I looked over at the clock and grinned. 6:52, eight minutes and I get to know what everyone else knows. And I can’t fucking wait.

“I’m ready,” I took a breath and Ashlee pulled open the door. I followed her down the hallway. She turned to me at the stairs.

“Stay here!”