Just to Dance with you

Gary Crimble

Amelia's POV
Liverpool, 25th December 1961:

"Millie.....Millie......Amelia! Wake up!" I groaned awake to the annoying droning of my sister once again, It's Christmas Day so the early morning wake up call wasn't unexpected but the muttering of my sister didn't help my already dreary mood as I struggled to wake up....yes Mandy I know you're going to Rory's for Christmas dinner, yes Mandy I know you won't be back until later, yes Mandy I will try to have a good day without you blah blah blah....but I'm completely over it! Honestly I couldn't care less that I was spending Christmas alone...

I clasped my eyes tightly shut as she shook my shoulder to wake me, I opened only one eye and peered over my quilt, the orange morning sun creeping in through the sheer curtains of our shared room, the bells of St. Barnabas ringing proudly signalling Christmas morning.

I turned on my side to see and peered over my quilt to see Mandy raking through the wardrobe before coming back to the edge of my bed holding something. My weight shifted as she sat on the edge of my bed placing a hand on my cheek as I closed my eyes once again. Please don't get sentimental sis. I already can't deal with today.

"Hey Mills....it's 9 o'clock, I'm heading to Rory's now....Millie please look at me." She sighed as I grumbled under my breath, getting cosier under the covers, turning my back to her, partly because she woke me up and partly because I really didn't want her to go. But, reluctantly I turned back to face my sister. She looked beautiful today.

Usually her hair was sticking up in every direction all askew and untameable and her face was usually bare exposing her freckles but today she added some simple, light makeup and straightened her hair down, I think the added muted orange glow from outside made her look even more ethereal. I'd never seen her like this before.

"Mandy....you look amazing." I mumble slightly sighting up in bed, ridding my eyes of the sleep still lingering there. She giggled slightly before ruffling my hair.

"Yeah and you look like shit." She joked...partly...I still had last nights makeup on and my hair, with added thanks to my sister, was like a lions mane.
"Come off it." I groaned flicking my sisters hand away as she reached for the box that was on her lap.

"I got you something, there's more downstairs under the tree but I wanted you to have this now." She beamed handing me the plain cardboard box, it must've only just arrived, Mandy is usually on it with wrapping presents. I adjusted myself in my bed and Mandy got comfier as I took the box from her, carefully opening it.

Once I'd opened it fully I was greeted by a bright fuschia dress...the dress I'd seen months ago in a little boutique window in York. My jaw dropped open in awe and in confusion.

"Oh Mandy it's the dress! The one I saw in York oh I love it! How did you get it here?" I ask jumping up out of bed, running over to the mirror and clutching the dress up against myself. I turned to my sister as she laughed at my excitement and shrugged.

"I ordered it before we left for Liverpool, I remember you saying how much you loved it and how you kept going on and on and on about it, it got here on Thursday." She smiles walking over to me and I throw my arms around her as we hugged tightly. It was at that point I realised what Mandy was wearing.

"You're wearing the dress I got you!" I smiled pulling away from my sister to examine her gorgeous red outfit, she really was stunning as she gave me a little twirl.

"I love it! And I love you sis, despite your annoying tendencies." She giggled bringing me in for another hug, kissing me softly on the head. A small breeze twirling past us as the once orange glow turned into a softer yellow.