Revolutionary | Hamilton

1.

  "Josie, have you picked something out yet?" Lydia called from her place behind racks of dresses.  

"No, I don't like any of these." Josephine stated, lying through her teeth.  She knew it was rather inconsiderate to drag Lydia along, purposefully not getting anything.  She didn't want anything nice and expensive.

"You have to get something." Lydia persisted, grabbing dresses from the racks to look.

Josephine sighed heavily, "No I don't."

"Yes, you do.  Your father's orders." 

  Her father had insisted she go out-- No, forced her to go out shopping.  He handed her a small pouch of money, insisting that she spend it at her will.  Lydia, who is Josephine's best friend, exhorted her to go dress shopping, purely in the intention the young woman would catch the eye of a wealthy politician or soldier.  Josephine didn't like that her father and best friend saw eye-to-eye on this matter, she knew she'd only lose arguments over it.

Lydia squealed in amusement, "What about this one?", she held an elegant emerald green dress out to her side.  Ruffles fanned out from what she presumed was the waist, slightly short sleeves hanging from the sides.  The neck piece was a slightly darker shade, accenting the chest of whoever wore it.

It was beautiful.

Josie bit her lip, a telltale sign that she was contemplating.  She wanted to save the money for something else, but she knew her father wouldn't approve her coming back empty handed.  She gave a small sigh, raising her head to Lydia.  She heard the tapping of heels, and saw Lydia already putting the dress into the fitting room.  On her way, she guided her hand through another rack, pulling out a burgundy sweater, wrist-reaching sleeves and a long back.  She tossed it in the dressing room, turning to her best friend with a triumphant look.

"Go, try it on!" She ushered, shoving Josephine into the room and closing the curtain.  Josephine groaned inwardly, before beginning to disrobe the dress she had previously had on.  

She avoided tightening her corset for now, since she was only trying it on and didn't want to feel like she was suffocating herself.  She slipped her slender figure through the dress, her hands guiding the gentle fabric past her hips to fall to her ankles.  She grabbed the burgundy cardigan and tugged it over her shoulders.  She looked down at the dress before making her way out of the fitting room.  

Lydia gasped as she sauntered out, clapping her hands excitedly.  

"It's perfect!  Oh my lord, Josie, you look beautiful!" Josephine blushed as she gave a twirl.  "All the boys will be flocking to you, and then you get to choose one." Lydia stated with a hand on her hip.

"East for you to say, you're already engaged." She shot back.  Lydia had been engaged for nearly a month to a company executive from upper Virginia.  "I also doubt I am as beautiful as you make it out to be."

  The truth is, she felt beautiful.  She felt as if she could dance elegantly in a ballroom, all eyes on her as she moved stylishly across the floor.  The dress didn't have a an immobile feel, it swayed with her as she walked and composed itself to the figure of the wearer.  

"It does feel nice." She admitted, shifting against the close material.  She saw Lydia smile jubilantly.

"Then get it!" Lydia stated.  Before she had a chance to protest, Josephine was being shoved back into the small room, being told to get redressed so they can pay.  She grunted, murmuring incoherently before taking off the emerald beauty and putting on her casual brown dress.  She left the room to see Lydia already at the register.

"27.69." The man at the counter said.  Josie went to grab the pouch her father had given her, but Lydia stopped her.

"My treat." She said laying the money on the counter.

"No, Lyd, it's my dress, I've got money.  You don't need to pay for my stuff." Josephine argued, pushing the money back towards her friend.  

"Nonsense, it's either I pay, or we're leaving without it.  No if's, and's, or but's." Lydia persisted, her motherly nature coming out.  Josephine finally gave in, knowing it was an argument she couldn't win.  Lydia smiled triumphantly, handing the money the man at the register.

As Lydia finished paying, Josie turned her head to see a man tailoring a pair of pants, messing with something at the button.  His tongue poked out from the side of his mouth, a dark hand caressed his head of short black hair.  He looked to the floor, face contorted in seeming frustration.  As his head came back up, taking a long breath, his eyes connected with Josephine's.  She quickly turned away, flushing with embarrassment.  She felt awful for being caught staring.  But her curiosity ate away at her quickly, and she turned to take a quick glance at the man once again.  

This time, he mirrored her actions, both their heads coming up at the same time.  Josephine didn't look away as quickly, finally taking her eyes off him when the older man sent her a wink.  Josie fidgeted with her hands, locking her fingers with each other.  

The girls took the dress, thanking the man at the front counter.  The left casually, the dress hanging over Josie's shoulder.

  Now that they did what Lydia wanted, Josephine knew it was her turn to choose where they went next.  She became happier as she thought of the happy place that, even better, didn't take any money from her pocket.

So, with a giddy hop to her step, Josephine began heading Downtown, Lydia trailing behind her.

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Word Count : 953 

Thank you for reading the first chapter!  Hope you enjoyed it!

I apologize for getting it out so much later, but because of school starting next week, my writing time will be limited.  I will try my hardest to get chapters out, but they will be very slow.  Please and thank you for understanding!

Peace out!