The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter thirty six.

I ran.

I didn't care about my dress and I didn't care about my uncomfortable shoes. All I had to do was run, all I had to do was run far away from here. I couldn't take it, I couldn't do it anymore. It was eating me alive, eating at my flesh and bones, and I was slowly dying.

So I ran. I just picked up the bottom of my dress and ran out the doors and into the cold night. Tears were streaming down my face, my makeup was probably ruined and my hair was damaged from the howling wind. I let out a breath and stopped in my tracks. I was on an unknown street and I was pretty sure I was close to home.

I was panting, sobbing, crying my eyes out and I collapsed onto the ground before my head started to spin. I knew running away was a bad idea, especially in the dress I had come to love. Then, I felt a raindrop hit my cheek and it flowed down like my tears were. I looked up at the dark sky, I couldn't see a thing and I was sure it was past midnight already.

Sitting on an empty road, with only streetlights to guide me home, I cursed at the world and then it started to rain. It poured heavily, making my hair wet like I had just taken a shower. My dress was soaked and I was beginning to get cold.

But, I had to keep going and I had to keep running.

*

Six hours earlier.

Prom.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I traced my fingertips along the bottom half of the dress. It was a golden colour and it had layers going all the way down to my feet. The top half was a darker gold and it had sparkles all around it. It was a little bit poofy and I liked it. In fact, I loved it. I found the dress one day when I made a trip into the city. I walked past the store and it was on a manikin and it just spoke to me. 

My thoughts focussed on my hair. I straightened my long brown hair and it fell over my shoulders. I wore light pink lipstick with a bit of mascara and foundation. I wasn't big on makeup, but for tonight I made an effort. My shoes were black and they were flat because I hated heels and I could never walk in them.

Mom knocked on my door and peeked her head through. She gasped and she smiled brightly. "Avery," she grinned, "you look beautiful."

"Thanks, mom." I said as I grabbed my small bag with my phone inside and I followed her out into the living room where Gwen waited. We did our makeup together and I hadn't seen her in her dress yet. But, she looked breathtaking in her beautiful long white dress that really outlined her curves. The white was covered at the top half of the dress with golden sequences, which flowed down nicely until half way where they started to disappear. Her hair was curly to the tips and it fell onto her shoulders like mine did.