Hearts, Scars & Horseshoes

Chapter 24 - Faith

Nothing.

I had absolute nothing to wear.

I had tried on at least ten different things. They were all unflattering, not cute, or uncomfortable. And there was no way I could wear the outfit I'd bought with Tori. The same outfit I wore the first time I went out with Tobias. I needed help.

"Please pick up." I muttered as I watched my screen say "FaceTiming...".

I couldn't remember what Tori was doing but I needed her like I needed air. I was desperate. I was freaking out. I had only two hours left.

My heart jumped as my screen went from "FaceTiming..." to "connecting...".  I waited on bated breath until Tori's face appeared.

"Oh thank goodness." I said on my exhale. "I don't know what I'm doing."

It was true. Not only could I not figure out what to wear but I was beyond annoyed that I cared so much. The old Faith would have just thrown on whatever if she had even bothered to change and went on her way. Because vanity is a sin. Yet here I was a nervous mess because I couldn't pick out the right clothes. He was just a boy!

But those eyes.

"What's the matter?" She asked, her brown eyes darting off camera for a moment.

"I told you how he asked me out again." I said. I glanced around at what little of her surroundings I could see, not recognizing them. "Where are you?"

"Hi Faith." Came a male voice from out of the frame.

"Who's that?" I felt myself lean to the side a little like all I had to do was peer around the edge of my phone and somehow I'd see who belonged to the voice.

"I'm at Chase's." She giggled, swatting her hand at something.

I still was yet to meet Chase. Which wasn't all that surprising really. Tori went on a lot dates, most of those dates didn't make it past a couple weeks. Plus I never went on dates so the possibility of us double dating was like spotting a unicorn. Never gonna happen.

"Hi Chase." I said, still only seeing Tori's face.

Tori giggled again, biting her lower lip as she looked up throw her eyelashes. I assumed at him.

"Sorry I'm interrupting." I was so clearly interrupting. "But I could really use your help seems how you're the one that got me in this situation."

If Tori hadn't stared Tobias down at The Grounds he probably never would have walked over. And even if he still did, if Tori had never picked out that outfit and insisted that I buy it I wouldn't have had it to wear on my first date. Which meant I would have worn my normal clothes, the ones that clearly weren't good enough for a date. And I wouldn't be in the position I was in now where I was trying to look fashionable with the churchy mom clothes I owned. It was Tori fault. And a little bit Toby's.

"Sorry, say hi first." I watched as the surroundings on Tori's end spun, everything blurring into streaks of colors.

When it finally stopped, I was met with hazel eyes, a mop of light brown hair and cheekbones that models supposedly killed for. I wasn't blind, he was your classic "smoking hot" guy. No wonder Tori was so smitten.

"Hi." I repeated.

"Nice to finally put a face to the name. She talks about you all the time." Chase said, an easy smile on his face.

"Likewise." I told him.

"Faith!" Tori shouted, the surroundings went blurry again as Chase laughed and disappeared from the screen.

I shrugged. "Well it's the truth."

"Doesn't mean you tell him." She scolded but I could see the laughter in her eyes.

"Too late." I spun around to face my closet, we had to get down to business. "Help me please."

I was about to get down on my knees and beg her. I was so nervous, the last thing I wanted to worry about was clothes.

"Okay deep breath." I rolled my eyes before exaggerating my inhale and exhale. "Show me your closet." I spun the camera view around and walked closer. "Good now go to one of the ends and show me what's on the last couple hangers."

I did what I was told. The first three hangers I pulled I had completely forgotten I had even bought. You know how washers eat one sock? Well the far corner of your closet apparently eats clothes you never wear.

"Okay but that purple top, that romper I made you buy that you apparently didn't like, and put that orange thing back or maybe in the garbage."

I frowned, holding it away from me at arms length. It was a peasant top, with floral embroidery across the neckline.

"Why would you ever buy something that orange?" Tori asked me.

I shrugged, holding it against myself as I looked in the mirror. It washed me out and I could easily see myself getting mistaken as a pumpkin. Maybe Tori was right. I discarded it on a chair, going through the same process with the other end of my closet. I pulled out a pleated light blue skirt that came mid thigh.

"That right there. That skirt is so cute!" Tori gushed. "Now show me all your white shirts."

I started riffling through my drawers and my closet, pulling anything white out. My room was quickly turning into a disaster.

"What about this one?" I asked, holding up a plain white dress shirt.

"Pass. Where's that one shirt? The one with the lace that you were in love with in the store and then we got home and you went all 'I can't pull this off' on me."

Her mind was a steel trap when it came to clothes. I pulled the shirt in question down laying it on my bed before placing the skirt over it. It was just a simple white shirt but it had this cute lace detailing over the shoulders. It always felt too girly for me, too pretty. I wasn't girly or that pretty, I was frumpy. They were light years apart.

"It'll be perfect." Tori must have seen my indecision about the shirt. "Trust me."

I bit my lip, staring at the outfit on my bed. "What if it's not?"

"Then wear that romper because I swear it looks adorable on you. Plus I'm mad it still has the tags."

I smiled. "Okay, Thanks. I'll let you get back to Chase." I waggled my eyebrows at her, her cheeks blushing just slightly.

"Call me tonight. I want to know everything." She blew me a kiss through the phone before I hit the end call button.

I turned back to survey my options, stripping off the sweatpants and t-shirt I had on. I put on the romper first, still skeptical of Tori's opinion. It was black with a floral pattern, 3/4 sleeves and buttoned up the front with tiny little buttons. It was cute and I had no doubt that it probably would look adorable on Tori. But as I studied myself in the mirror I felt like my butt was hanging out of the bottom and the elastic waist that was supposed to help give you a shape just accentuated that I ate too much and didn't exercise. I peeled the romper off, discarding it on the floor. I pulled the white lace shirt over my head, stepping into the blue skirt. I tucked the shirt in, doing up the skirt and turned in the mirror. I wouldn't say I looked like a knock out but it was much better than the romper. I sucked in, turning in the mirror for a profile. The skirt hid my extra weight well especially when I tried to hold it in. I let out an exhale, releasing my belly with it. It didn't look quite as cute but it still wasn't awful and at least I'd be mostly comfortable about it.

I grabbed my phone off my bed, holding it out in front of me as I posed in the mirror. The old Faith wasn't one for selfies but maybe the new Faith was. I supposed only time would tell.

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So I recently read the book "I've Lost My Way" by Gayle Foreman. It was amazing. I've been finished with the book for about a week (read it in a day because I couldn't get enough) and I'm still heartbroken that it ended. There's a character in the book, Nathaniel, and I adore him. I want him to be real. I'm hoping like mad that the book will eventually be turned into a movie so that I can experience it again. I might just read the book again. -DBR
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