Falling For A Follower

Chapter 9

I sit at the bar and wait for Val, she was supposed to show up 15 minuets ago, I wonder if she's even coming, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't come, I haven't exactly been the nicest to her recently. The stranger said that he would head back to my house after he's gathered his supplies for the job, I still feel strange about having him work for me. As I get lost in my thoughts, I feel a familiar presence beside me, it was Val, she didn't say a word to me. We sat in silence for a few minuets before I broke into words "Val I'm sorry about how I've treated you recently, I've just had a lot going on and have been under constant stress. I don't want to be on bad terms with you" I say keeping my eyes on my empty glass. Val stays quiet for a moment before jabbing me in the side "don't be dumb, it's okay. I could see that you were stressed from the moment you walked in this morning. Although you look well physically, better than usual actually" she says looking at me closely. I wave for the bartender and he pours us a drink, he slides them across the polished bar top and gives us a wink before moving on to the other patrons. I turn to Val "never mind how I look, I need your help on something, it's part of this job" I say taking a sip of my drink, Val lowers her glass "go ahead, you know I'd help you with anything". I take a breath and start to explain that I needed help looking for a gown for this job. Her eyes light up, she downs her drink and throws some money down on the bar "I know exactly where to go" she says grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the bar. 

After about an hour of driving and Val giving directions, we pull up at an isolated building painted a deep burgundy. "We're here" she says getting out of the car, I hesitate and get out myself, shoving my keys in my back pocket. I follow Val inside the shop, I immediately felt overwhelmed, dresses of every length, cut, style and colour lined the walls, rails and rails of then cluttering the floor space, towers of shoe boxes were stacked in one corner and a long table of other shiny things stood beside the many boxes. Val called out a hello and a small woman emerged from the back room, she walked hunched over and her long silver hair trailed behind her "hello Val dear, what can I do for you" the woman asks. Val explains that I was looking for a formal gown and mask but I had no idea where to start. The woman smiles an look me up and down, "not one for pretty dresses are you dear?" she asks, I shake my head. The woman and Val start pulling me around the shop, dropping several gowns in my arms along with several pairs of shoes, so many that I nearly dropped everything. Before I did however, they pushed me into a dressing room. I hung up the dresses and dropped the shoes into a pile on the floor, I sigh and begin to undress to try the first option. Val had picked a periwinkle blue floor length gown that had a shiny overlay, silver beads and wide shoulder straps, She had also picked silver heels. I looked in the mirror and felt sick, it felt awful and I looked really strange. I started to change out of it, I picked up another dress and started again.

After trying several dresses, I leave the dressing room in my regular clothes. Val slumped in a chair fast asleep, I walked over to the counter and put the dresses down. "nothing feel right dear?" the old woman asks, I shake my head "nothing ever feels right, they were all nice and all but nothing made me feel okay" I explain rubbing the back of my head. The woman's eyes glint slightly, "I understand and I think I have something perfect for you if you are willing to try" She says walking towards the back, beckoning me to follow her. I follow closely, she starts talking about all sorts of things, I was only half paying attention as I was marvelling at the different bolts of fabric that were piled up. The woman stopped at a mannequin, "here it is" she says, I look myself and started to feel strange, not the same feeling I had earlier but something different. I felt drawn to this gown. It was a deep purple with a black overlay and accents as well as black underskirts. The neckline was high in a halter style, the top half of the dress was covered in small pieces of amethyst and black onyx. On the table beside the dress was a black and purple mask with ornate silver spirals along the edges with more jewels, the shoes were black knee high boots with a slight platform. I was lost for words "I understand what you needed this gown for, I got a tip. So I created this for you, you will easily be able to wear a pair of jeans underneath and take the skirt portion off if needed, and judging by your hair, I thought that this would be the perfect colour for you" I nod as she explains. She takes me off to a dressing room and helped me into the gown, I look in the mirror, I didn't look like me, but that was the point I suppose. However, for once I felt somewhat beautiful. I turn towards the woman and smile "thank you" I say quietly, she smiles in return.

After I changed back into my clothes, the woman packaged the gown, shoes and mask into their respective boxes, I go to hand her money but she shakes her head. "take them as a gift, I know it means a lot to a certain someone" she smiles, I try to object but she stands firm. I smile and thank her again, taking the boxes in my arms. Val follows me out of the shop and we get in the car. I drive Val back to her apartment before heading home. I enter the house with the boxes and the stranger was sat on the sofa reading through some papers, "got what you needed?" he asks "I do now" I reply going up the stairs to unpack my items.