Shattered

Chapter 26

^Listening is optional, but this is a super beautiful song that I love very much and really recommend^

This dress makes me look fat.

Standing in front of the wall length mirror, I gently ran my fingers over the golden lace trim, acting as if I could feel the countless dollars this dress must cost. Soft piano played throughout the lush boutique, which I recognized as Clair De Lune, flooding the area with an ethereal ambiance.

This was the first dress I could say I actually disliked, despite the beautiful skirt. It was simply unflattering on me. Give it to another person, perhaps someone taller with a nicer silhouette, I'm sure they would look nice. The cut made my chest and stomach blend together, giving the appearance that I was shorter than I already am, as well as just making me look fat. Not that I have the flattest stomach, I don't work out and I've spent more time lying down than walking since I've been with Chandler, but I didn't look how this dress was currently making me look.

Catching his steel eyes through the reflection of the mirror, I gave a scowl, which he nodded his head at. Neither did Chandler like the dress. With the last three dresses I tried on, he wouldn't give a reaction until I gave my own, but always seemed to be assimilating his opinion with observational eyes. Only when I left to change did it appear that he redirected his attention, focusing on his phone. I assumed it was for work, since he seems to be a bit of a workaholic.

Chandler seemed to trust me, which I found extremely surprising. For my first time actually out of the apartment and interacting with others, he wasn't hovering and breathing down my neck, like I expected him to, giving me just a taste of freedom. However, I knew that if I were to try something, he would be quick to react.

Before we left the apartment, he had warned me on what would happen if I misbehaved, and that he wasn't afraid to hurt someone else if he had to. I didn't doubt him one bit. For once, I wanted to enjoy myself, even if it meant forgetting my situation for a few hours. I was out of the hellhole, in a store with garments more expensive than my rent, I think I had the right to have a little fun. Chandler was the one paying, might as well try to make his pockets hurt, although I doubted I could.

"What do you think about this one?" The tall brunette woman who had been assisting me in finding a dress walked over with a smile, gently smoothing the skirt of the dress. She was quite pretty; her short hair tightly coiled, vibrant brown eyes, and gorgeous dark skin. Most of me expected the employees of such a pristine shop to be more... snobby?

I gave Saria, as her name tag read, an awkward smile, unsure how to tell her I thought the dress made me look atrocious. "Well..." I started; my voice low. Behind me, I could hear Chandler chuckle, finding amusement as I struggled to tell her I didn't want to see my reflection in it a moment longer.

"She's trying to be nice." Chandler stated, both of us turning around to face him. He sat comfortably on a dark gray armchair; a genuine smile spread across his lips. "She doesn't like it." At his statement, I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. Saria laughed, softly touching my shoulder as she began to lead me back to the dressing room.

"You don't have to worry; I promise I won't be offended. Besides, I had something else in mind anyway." To talk to someone normal, someone who knew nothing of my situation felt so surreal, but in a good way. Saria was incredibly nice, and it felt great to be treated as just another person.

She grabbed a baby blue colored dress from the hook outside the door, bringing it into the room with us. "You have the most gorgeous blue eyes, and I thought this color would really emphasize them."