Secret Torture (Student/Teacher) - COMPLETED

Chapter Thirty Nine: Seeing Red

I stepped out from behind the bathroom door and waited for her reaction. My mother folded her arms over one another and frowned. 

"It doesn't fit," she said. "Look at it - it's hanging off you."

I limply tugged at the dress and pulled it up a little, trying to tighten it somehow. 

"It used to fit just fine," I muttered.

My mom walked over to me, pulling at the soft, white fabric. "Yes, well that was before you got so skinny, Allison."

She looked me over once more, her eyes judging. "You can't wear it. Maybe if you had told me earlier this week, I could have gotten it taken in a little - but it's too late. Ryan's going to be here in under an hour. There's no time," she said. "Think of it as a good thing - You wore this dress to the last school dance - you couldn't wear it to another one, I don't know what you were thinking."

I walked over to the mirror, desperately trying to find a way to make it work. My mom joined me. 

"I'll get your new dress," she said.

"But I want to wear this one," I sighed. "Can't we just… I don't know, pin it?"

She shook her head. "Allison, you've dropped nearly two dress sizes. That's a lot of pinning to be asking for. Just try on the dress - see if you like it or not. You might be surprised."

I reluctantly agreed to try on the dress my mother had bought specifically for the graduation ball. I didn't even want to go anymore. I had my makeup all done, and my hair was perfect, and Ryan was going to be arriving shortly - but the dress wouldn't fit. That was more than enough to discourage me. 

I retired to the bathroom once more to change into the new dress - a long, deep red dress, two sizes smaller than every other item of clothing I owned. Yet, it fit. It fit perfectly. 

When I stepped out of the bathroom, my mother covered her mouth with her hand in awe.

"Gorgeous," she said, grinning. "Absolutely gorgeous."

I had to admit - it looked nice. But my stomach wrenched with a strange kind of guilt as I looked at the white dress which lay in a heap on the bathroom floor. He had asked me to wear it. I said I would. And here I was, dressed in something completely different. 

"Do you have to always wear this?" my mom asked, taking a hold of the black pendant that hung around my neck. "I mean, it's lovely - but maybe you should leave it behind tonight. For a change."

I shook my head. "No, I want to wear it," I said, grasping the onyx stone in my hands. 

Walter emerged in the doorway. 

"Allison, you look lovely," he said, with a smile. "Also, your date awaits you downstairs."

I turned to my mom. 

"Do I look okay?"

She laughed, nodding her head. "Yes, Allison. You look okay."

I still was unsure - not only about the fact that I was somewhat disobeying James, but the dress itself was… not what I was used to wearing. The neckline plunged. My chest was pushed up. It was tight. It was red. It was intimidating. it was daring. It was… sexy. 

I slipped on my shoes and made my way downstairs. Ryan was waiting in the hallway, standing next to Ben, talking and laughing with him. Hearing my footsteps, he looked up. I smiled at him, and waved, feeling my abundant bracelets slide up my arm as I did so. He waved back, looking a little stunned.