It's a Little Strange

15. NEVER

A/N: VIEW DISCRETION ADVISED. This chapter has themes of suicide and sexual assault.

This took me forever to do because I don't know what I'm doing but I really liked this chapter tbh. Sorry for the long waits!

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Michelle and her father went to the mall since there was no way her mother and Teddy would ever go back willingly. Whenever Michelle thought about the suicide bomber, she wanted to throw up. Someone did that like actually did that. All for a statement. But why?

She shook her head of that thought and walked further ahead of her dad. He called out, "M! I'm going to Bed and Bath, text me if you need me!" He pivoted and raced into the store to probably inhale some perfumes.

Michelle waved her hand at him as he left and she kept herself alert. She found herself walking on her toes and she had to will herself to calm down, but it was an effort. Her hands balled up and she sucked in her bottom lip as she looked around for her.

Finally, Michelle spotted Liz sitting on a couch with her phone in her hand. Michelle let out a sigh of relief and quickened her pace to reach her. As Michelle got closer, Liz looked up from her phone and offered her a small smile. "Hey, MJ."

"Liz," she replied, stuffing her hands in her letterman's jacket. Michelle glanced around their perimeter, still anxious to see if someone would be bold like that bomber. No one fit the image. She relaxed. "So... what's up?"

Liz too glanced around cautiously. She slowly slid from the couch and clung onto Michelle's arm. Liz pulled her close and led her into a walk. She leaned close to Michelle to whisper to her ear. "I'm just super nervous..." She hesitated, her eyes drifting off to the distance before she blinked. "Everything is crazy right now. My aunt is getting married!" Liz said excitedly.

"I know, I know." Michelle nodded her head, remembering Liz's text messages to her.

"Like I don't even understand what's happening. One minute everything is normal and the next-" Liz cut herself off to take a deep breath.

They stood in front of a dress store. They both looked at each other for a moment, not quite believing that they were both here together. Yep, Michelle and Liz. Together. Sure, they've known each other for years since their moms were good friends in college, but they didn't go to the same school until high school. Their mothers tried their hardest to get the girls to be best friends but they simply didn't click...

Well until Spider-Man happened.

Liz walked through the store first with her hand clutching onto her purse as if someone was about to steal it from her shoulder. Michelle wandered in after her, her eyes enlarging as she took in the unfamiliar sight of decent dresses (dresses her mother would certainly approve of instead of the "garbage" Michelle would wear). This was uncharted territory for Michelle- no man's land.

Liz suddenly spun around and asked, "What size are you?"

"Um... 4? I think?" Michelle stepped to the side to run her fingers through the silky fabric of the closest dress. It sparkled and it definitely wasn't something she would ever choose to wear.

Liz cringed at the sight. "MJ, that's an awful dress. Don't worry, I'll get you something that you'll love and is completely you." She disappeared in the store, leaving Michelle at the door in bewilderment.

Michelle glanced around the assortment of dresses. There were some casual, some professional, some clubby and even some for prom. Thank god Michelle didn't have to worry about getting a prom dress soon. She wasn't going to go, obviously.