scope for the imagination //awae//

ten

"Do you know how in love with you I am? Do you see how in love with you I am?"

Clothes were strewn all over Anne's room. From the growing pile on her bed to the off handed piece slipping off the desk, it was safe to say the four had tried every outfit combination possible.

"Guys, it's useless. No matter what, I'll just be plain. Plus, I don't have any dress that feels right for this. Maybe I just shouldn't go." Anne tucked a strand of hair behind her head.

"Oh Anne, don't say that! You are positively beautiful, inside and out. But, I think I have an idea." Diana grinned mischievously.

"Like what?" Cole asked.

"My Aunt Josephine gave me a dress to give Anne for Christmas since she would be away for the holidays. It's a bit early for Christmas, but I figure she wouldn't mind so much if she knew the dire circumstances," Diana concluded seriously.

"Ooooh!" Ruby squealed, "We should do a makeover at Diana's!"

"I can do her hair!" Cole chirped.

"And I can get the dress!" Diana eyes lit up.

"Oh it's going to be perfect," Ruby sighed romantically.

"Hello? Aren't you forgetting something?" Anne crossed her arms.

"Are we?" Ruby glanced between Cole and Diana.

They shared puzzled looks and furrowed brows before Anne pleaded, "You didn't ask me what I wanted! One dress can't fix my dreadful hair and freckles."

"Please Anne? Just trust us," Diana took Anne's hands and held them firmly.

Anne looked around her circle of friends and their hopeful faces before saying, "Oh, alright! You win."

However, deep down, Anne was excited. She had always wanted a fancy dress, and she wondered what Gilbert would think.

Maybe feeling more like Princess Cordelia wasn't impossible, Anne thought as Diana hastily grabbed her hand and led her away.

_________________

Diana rummaged through the back of her closet before stumbling out with a box wrapped in green ribbon.

"Aha!" she exclaimed, slightly out of breath. "Here it is. I almost thought I had lost it."

"Well, it's now or never Anne. Open it!" Ruby peered up at Anne and the pristine box.

With trembling hands, Anne slowly brushed over the emerald bow before untying it and lifting the top off of the box. The sight before her was more than she could ever imagine.

Beneath a fine sheet of tissue paper lay what Anne could only say was the dress of her dreams. The deep, forest green fabric was softer than anything she'd ever felt before, and she handled it with care as she unfolded it. Once unfolded, she was even more awestruck. She ran her fingers lightly over the billowy sleeves before continuing down to the ruffled detailing that hemmed the end.

"Diana..." Anne trailed off.

"Hush, Anne and just try it on!" She shoved Anne towards her massive walk-in closet.

Anne hastily took off her clothes before gently stepping into the satiny fabric and sipping up the back. As soon as she looked up at the mirror, her eyes went wide with wonder. The emerald hue complimented her hair, making it look fiery rather than the carrot like shade she was used to.
She felt ethereal, as if she had stepped right out of the worlds of fantasy books she'd always dreamed of being in.