The Outsiders Fanfic: Where Does the Time Go?

Chapter 21: What's so bad about greasers anyway?

Arie's POV-

A few days have past since that magical night at the prom. Looking back on it, it really was perfect... or really close to it. I just can't get the image of that boy out of my head. "You're the one who beat up Spencer?" He said. Spencer. I feel like I know a Spencer. It's been a kind of blurry few days. Ed walked me home after the prom, he told me I had nothing to worry about; I think he knew I was thinking about the whole Sodapop thing. Ed hit a girl.. He actually beat up a girl.. It's hard to handle. I just wish I knew more. Anyway, he kissed me goodbye at my doorstep that night, and I haven't heard from him since. I start my first day of work today, and boy am I nervous. Working with fashion... It's always been a bit of a dream of mine, but I never legitimately considered it. But thanks to Emelie, not only do I get to consider it, I get to actually help people understand fashion. Emelie's is a small boutique where you can shop for expensive things, as far as expensive goes in Tulsa, and where you can get fashion and makeup advice from a variety of staff members. I'm actually honored to be working there. I gather my things in a bag and start walking down the street. Emelie's is only a few blocks away, so it only takes me about 5 minutes to get there.

I walk into the shop, "Arie Quinn, reporting for duty!" I say.

"Oh, Arie, right on time too!" Emelie says, winking. "Follow me. Basically what you're doing is helping people find what they need, telling them how it looks on them, ect. If it looks really bad, tell them nicely, and suggest something else. If it looks good but they don't think it does, then you have to persuade them to see it your way. Got it?"

"Uh, I think so," I say.

"Okay, good. Cute outfit, by the way," Emelie says.

"Thanks!" I smile. I just wander around and try to get a feel for the shop. Pretty soon, a girl walks in looking extremely lost.

"Hey, you need help?" I ask.

"Oh, well, I guess... I mean... Yeah, I do," she says.

"Well, I'm Arianna. You can call me Arie," I say.

"I'm Riley," she says.

"So what are you looking for today, Riley?" I ask.

"Well, there's this guy that I really like, and he asked me out on our first date. I want him to remember me, but I don't want him to remember me in... Ya know... A bad way," she says.

"So you want to look good but not slutty?" I ask, bluntly.

Riley laughs, "yeah, basically!"

I smile, "So do you want a dress, a skirt, what?"

"I want a dress. Something to bring out my eyes, maybe?" she says. Riley's a pretty blonde with bright, gorgeous blue eyes. I search the store for a few minutes until I come up with three dresses; two shades of deep blue and one gold dress with blue specks.

"Here, our dressing room is over there. Just try them on and come on out!" I say, handing her the dresses.

"Thanks, be right back!" she says. She tries on the series of dresses, and when she finally tries on the deep blue one with a pearl necklace, I know it's the one.

"See, that one has a really nice neckline, and with the pearls it brings an elegant look to this stunning dress, you could definitely wear it without the pearls, but if you want that hot but elegant look I'd keep them," I say.

"Wow," Riley says, eyes wide, "you're like magic.."

I laugh, "not really, I just have an.. insight into the fashion of the future, you could say."

"Setting trends, I see. Well, I still think you're magic," Riley says.

"I'm really not, honest," I say, with a light laugh.