7 Things About the Boy Next Door

Chapter 8

"Even though I saw it coming it still hurts." -Unknown

~Harmony~

I change out of my gardening clothes and into a pair of pale wash skinny jeans, a lacy pull over vest and navy flats.

There is still sometime until the hour is up, so I do some mundane house chores for mum.

She comes back home sullen and withdrawn, going straight to her room for a nap so I guess she is going to be there for the rest of the day and someone needs to hoover too. In case she did feel like coming out to eat, I leave a bowl of 2 minute noodles waiting by the stove for her.

Just as I'm storing the hoover away back in the laundry, the doorbell rings repeatedly. I amble to the door and find Jas behind it smiling largely, finger poised over the button ready to strike again.

"I know I'm a bit early but I couldn't wait. Come on, let's go." She practically pulls me from my own home to her car and I smile at her enthusiasm for shopping. Before Mel got sick, she used to be like this when she had some saved money.

My smile falters and I stub the toe of my shoe on the pavement causing me to jump forwards a step.

"Woah, you okay? What's wrong?" Jas asks as I right myself and fall into her car; it's new looking, a red Holden with leather interior and built in GPS. Snazzy.

"Nothing," I blurt a little too quickly not wanting to talk about Melody. I inwardly wince at how unconvincing that sounds so I change the subject as quick as I can onto her. I compliment her car.

"Thanks, I put all my money into it. Saved all my pay checks up for five years and was totally worth it when I got this baby." Jas turns the key in the ignition and the engine purrs to life. "She's a dream to drive; light and fluid."

The drive to the shopping centre is filled with chatter; mostly from Jasmine's part while she talks my ear off about beauty tips, cute boys and plans for the party this weekend. I'm not really listening too hard, which is bad, I know, but I reply with small 'yeses' and 'mhmm's' where appropriate.

My mind is elsewhere, still stuck on how this would be exactly what Mel would want to be doing with me. I try not to visibly frown and keep my expression in check with subtle, but frequent glances in the side mirror.

We park in what seems to be the only vacant space available and go into Forever New first because Jas says they have a killer sale.

We're not even ten minutes into perusing through the dress section when Jas gasps loudly from behind me. I think something's wrong and turn to face her, only to see that she's pawing at a dress on the rack with a dreamy face.

"Harmony, I think I found the one," she says like we're discussing life partners.

She unhooks the dress from the bar it's hanging off and holds it up to her body for me to see. It's a strapless mini dress falling to mid-thigh in a cascade of dark amethyst coloured silk and pulling in at the waist which would accentuate her lean figure.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go try it on." I usher Jas into a changing stall and she flies out seconds later twirling the streaming fabric and modelling it in the full length mirror.

It fits like a glove; hugging her waist and flaring out at the hips. I can tell she loves it. "It looks gorgeous on you Jas. You look amazing!" I compliment.

"I do love the colour."

"Come on. Let's get it." I start turning for the counter when she stops me.

"No, no. I can't buy the first thing I see; it's like... a rule. Got to make sure there's nothing better out there," she tells me completely seriously.