It's Always Been You

Pretty in Pink? I THINK NOT!

" I... Feel... Ridiculous." i said walking through this bed sheet that i'm guessing Mel put up while i was getting dressed, "And was that bedsheed really necessary?!?" i laughed. "Yes... Yes it was. If we're gonna have one of those moments, we're gonna do it right." Mel said with a stirn  voice.

"Haha, you look great!!" James couldn't stop laughing. "And by great, i mean delicious. You look like a Hostess Snowball." he laughed even harder. "Wow, thanks. It means alot to be told by your best friend that you look like a four-hundred calorie snack." I said, starting to laugh about how silly that sounds.

What i was wearing was a floor length mermaid style dress with a v-neck design that tied around the neck. The body was hot pink and faded white as it reached the floor. The v-neck design created two lines that crossed in the middle of my boobs and went around to the back, but as it got to the back, it got lower. So it was also a bare back dress. It looked pretty, but it just wasn't me.

"What do YOU think, Al?" Mel asked me. "I agree with James on this one," i said , laughing, "I mean, it's beautiful, gorgeous! But it's not me. YOu know what i mean?" I tried to sugarcoat it. "Yea, i know exactly what you mean." Mel smiled. "OK! ON TO THE NEXT DRESS!" Sky screamed. She was just so excited! Just like a little girl dressing up her barbie doll.

She grabbed my arm and pulled me into the 'dressing room' again. The second dress was totally different from the first dress i tried on. She went a whole new direction with this one. This was alot shorter. It was more spunky... More me.

It was three inches above my knee. It was a deep blue, gorgeous cocktail-style tube top dress with a small diamond broach on the top right edge of the dress that held three straps, holding the dress up. Two straps went over my right shoulder and the third strap went across my chest and over the left shoulder. "Here we go..." i said to myself pushing the bedsheets when i walk out.

" ... Why have you guys gone silent?" I asked nervously. "You... look... amazing." Mel said slowly, stretching out the word 'amazing'. I looked at James, raising an eyebrow, "So? what do you think?" I gave a flat smile and twirling once. "I think you look beautiful..." James spoke smiling with eyes i haven't seen since that time we were watching TV and Selena Gomez showed up in a bikini.

"Really? I was hoping for a "you look like a fish" sort of compliment... " I said, imitating him with a low voice and laughing. "Haha then, you look like a fish... a really stunning and beautiful fish." Something abot him was different tonight.

He wasn't the joking, weird, name-calling best friend. Tonight, he was the dead-serious, happy, compliment-giving, really sweet guy friend i knew i could always count on. "And i swear, if that dude ever turn you down, i will go out with a lamp and beat him to death." he's back! "Haha, then put your lamp down because there's still one more dress!" Skye said jumping up and down with excitement.

"i know the drill..." i said smiling, holding my arm out and pretending to be pulled into the dressing room by an invisible force. As i was getting helped into my last dress, Skye told me, " He likes you." "How could he not? He's my best friend." I said. " No, he really likes you!" She told me. "No, I doubt it. Look at him! His Brown, silky hair, his brown eyes, his FACE!! He's gorgeous! And look at me. He'll never see me other than a friend." i said, disappointing myself by overthinking.

"Man girl! I've only met you and him in person today and i can already see the spark between you two! How could you not see it?!" Skye said zipping up the dress. "I don't know. I probably just don't want to keep my hopes up. There are girls out there better than i am and there always will be." I spoke.

" But maybe he doesn't want those other girls. Maybe he just wants you." She said. "NOW GO OUT THERE AND SHINE!" She said pushing me out so hard, i almost fell forward when i pushed through the bed sheets.

What i was wearing was very different from the two other dresses i tried on. It was a brilliant red strapless dress. it had a four inch wide, sparkly silver swirl band that hugged my torso and went around to my back. In the front, the dress was four inches above the knee, but it grew longer as it went to the back of me. in the back, the dress left a train as i walked. The whole skirt had beautiful waves from the right to the left. It was just gorgeous and i couldn't wait to see what the others thought.

When i walked closer to them becoming more visible, all i could hear was a gasp from Mel. As i got closer to her, i saw her crying. "Mel! Why are you crying?" "You just look so grown up! You're just so beautiful, and just, amazing..." she gave me a big bear hug.

"So i'm guessing this one's a keeper." I said, laughing. Mel, in tears, nodded. She definitely loved the dress. Now... Time for James's opinion. "Soooo??" i opened my arms and twirled for him. " Man, Alea. You're gorgeous. If this boy doesn't take you, i will." he said chuckling.

Chuckling... He was joking. Right? God, i have to get my head out of the gutter. "Haha, oh really?? Dispite all the embarrassing moments we've been through together since we were kids?" I tried to play along.

"That's what makes you even CUTER!" he still sounded like he was joking around. Oh well, i doubt he'd go for someone like me, dispite what anybody else says.

"Haha well then. I think this dress is a winner!" i turned around to hug Skye. "Thanks, it really means alot! And I can tell we'll become really close friends in no time!" i said squeezing her harder. "No problem! And i hope so." her voice became hoarse because i was squeezing her hard.

*       *       *  

When Mel was dropping us home, some Black Eyed Peas played on the radio. As the song played, all of us were singing to " I Got a Feeling". May i say, we sounded GREAT! I mean, we weren't the world's greatest singers, but  we were really good. The way we all switched to three part harmonies through out parts of the song was just incredible.   "Well then, I'll see you guys later! Hey, you doing anything tomorrow afterschool?" Mel asked as we got out of the car. " Um, actually yea. I have a car wash to attend tomorrow to help out with the ball. Today, my Journalist class is helping out the boys wash cars tomorrow." I totally forgot about that!  I wonder if that boy's going...   "OOOHHH!!!! You better make you move on your man then! Well i gotta go! BYYYEEE!!!" she said driving away. "BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE'S GONNA BE THE--" it was too late. She was already out of earshot.   "What time is it?" i asked James. " Umm, it's 8:15." he said taking out his phone to check the time. "Oh thank God! Hey, I'll talk to you tomorrow. I bet my mom's already got her coffee out ready to wait for me by the door." well, my mom was always paranoid about situations where she's not around.   "Ok then, By Fishy!" he said waving at me as he walked towards his house. Yep! He's back!    "GOOD...BYE...!!" i yelled, smiling. Now, time to go to sleep. I got a big day tomorrow!!   ... I hope he's there...