Little Leaps

Chapter Twenty-One

I plonk onto the carpeted flooring and stretch my legs out. As I wiggle my toes, my ankles throb from the pain of standing. I knew dress shopping would be exhausting but it's our first store and I anticipated this feeling coming towards the end, not the second hour into it.

Oddly enough, I thought it would be fun. I blame the movies for ruining the experience with their happy montage of pop-music and funny outfits. I thought visiting the higher ended bridal shops would include champagne but I can't get a cup of water in here.

"Why aren't you trying the next dress on?" Char leans against the opening of the change room.

"Because it isn't for me, and neither were the last two dresses. My feet hurt, I'm tired and I want to leave. Can't we just go to K-Mart and find a cute dress there? Blake wouldn't care if I got married in my pyjamas."

"It's okay if you don't like the dress, we'll find something else. Wearing anything but a wedding gown isn't okay. If you rock up in your pyjamas, you're going to regret it." Char raises her eyebrow.

"Hm, maybe I'd regret it a little bit." I sigh.

"How's the dress coming along?" Mum pokes her head in. "Is there something wrong with it?"

"Ava doesn't like it," Char jumps in. "But I think she's willing to try on one more dress before we leave."

"No." I shake my head. "I want to leave. There's heaps of shops along this road, can't we try another one down there?"

Mum grabs her phone and frowns. "I've only got time for one more dress, then I have to leave for lunch with your father. Are you sure you can't muster up the strength for one more dress?"

I can't say no to my mother – especially when she has that hopeful look in her eyes. A pain of guilt rattles through me. One more dress can't hurt, especially with the secret I'm keeping from her.

"Okay." I nod. "One more dress since you're leaving."

"Yay," Charlotte squeals with happiness.

The pair grin at each other which is sickening. What happy pills did they take and why didn't they share them with me? The two disappear and I remain slouched against the wall because there's no way I'm walking anywhere unless it's necessary.

Soon enough, the pair return with a dress. It takes me a second to realise why they were so happy – it's the dress from the previous store – the one I told them I'd think about it.

"How long did it take you to scheme this up?" I frown.

"Not long." Char smiles. "We checked around for the best price, then let you wear yourself down so that you'd finally admit that this dress is perfect for you."

"You're wasting your time."

"Stop lying to yourself and try the dress on." Charlotte hangs the dress on the hook and swings the curtain shut. "If you're not wearing that dress in the next five minutes, then I'm coming in there and dressing you myself."