It Started With A Cigarette|✓|

Chapter-24: PROM SHOPPING

"Are you kidding me?! You're wearing this excuse of a prom dress?!", Jess asked disgustedly.
She threw my black shirt and jeans on my bed and dug through all my clothes.

"Don't you have one proper dress to wear?", Jess asked.

I shrugged.
"We're going shopping, like it or not.", Jess said.

"Oh no. I don't wanna go to the mall. I don't even have a purpose for going there. Martha is not even opening the shop this week.", I replied dumbly.

"Did I say anything about your job? We are leaving in fifteen minutes. Let me freshen up.", she said as she headed towards the bathroom.

I toyed with the idea of hiding in my closet before she came back but then I decided against it.

"Come on! Let's go!", Jess said excitedly as soon as she came out of the washroom.

I sighed and got up from the bed.
"Do we have to go?", I tried again.
She gave me a stern glare before grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the house.

We sat in her car and drove off to the mall.

---×---
"Eww!", I said, looking at a hideously embroidered brown dress.

"Who makes these dresses?", I said.
Jess turned to look at the dress and scrunched her nose.
"Approved.", she said.

"Okay, so we need to get you new clothes, new shoes, a makeup set and some new earrings.", Jess said.

I looked at her in horror.
"I thought we were only going to buy dresses.", I whined.
Jess rolled her eyes and continued wading through all the dresses.

An attendant came up to us.
"Can I help you?", she asked enthusiastically.

I shook my head and gave her a small smile.
"Sure!", Jess said and I rolled my eyes.

"What colour do you like?", the attendant asked me. I looked at her name tag; Chloe.

"Black. Only black, please.", I said.

"I assume you guys are looking for prom dresses. You guys have come just at the right time. We have a new set of dresses arriving today. They must have arrived by now. I'll see if there are any black dresses.", Chloe said hurriedly before walking off.

"That is so gorgeous!", Jess said pointing at an ocean-blue gown.
It's long skirt flowed to the floor and it's colour was the most attractive thing about it.

Never having stepped outside the world of black, I solemnly nodded.

"You are such a bore to shop with.", Jess said.

I grinned and thanked her. I randomly looked around when I saw Chloe returning with a bunch of clothes in her hands, all black.

I raised my eyebrows as Chloe laid out all five of the dresses in front of me.
I had to admit, all of them were beautiful. Black is like the best colour ever.

I scanned all the dresses but my eyes fell only on one particular dress. It had a v-cut in the front and it was not shiny and glittery like the others. It was a plain, black. It was simple yet magnificent. I picked it up.
"This one.", I told Jess.
"Good choice. Go try it on.", Jess said, nudging me to the trial room.

I took off my clothes and slipped into the beautiful, black gown. I inspected myself in the mirror. I looked perfect. For the first time, I felt a sort of excitement within me.

The dress hugged my body, making it look perfect. The v-cut made me look more feminine and curvy. I looked at myself once again before slipping it off of me.