Wanderlust

CHAPTER 1: EVEN SHE GETS MORE ACTION THAN ME!!

I look through the racks of dresses, examining each one with close inspection. My eyes searching are for the dress I will wear when I become a famous author.

"Alya we have been in here for an hour and you haven't even tried anything on yet! Have you found a dress or not?" Whines my best friend, Charlotte.

"Not yet, these things take time, I need to look my best when going on this T.V show," I reply calmly, as my eyes keep scanning the dresses.

"How much time is it going to take exactly, because I have to catch a plane in two hours and I haven't even finished packing," Replies Charlotte as she takes a Selfie, showing a little to much cleavage. 

"Try not to show too much" I joke.

"Girls can have a bit of fun now and then," Says Charlotte with a wink. I roll my eyes and turn back to look at the dresses I grab a slim blue dress and head into the changing rooms.

"Hey Charlotte, you there?" I ask as I peek out of my changing room, I walk down the little corridor and walk into another room filled with changing rooms.

Where are you? I think to myself, then a curtain opens and a boy about 19 steps out, he was dressed in a light blue shirt, dark blue pants and black shoes. He gazes at me surprised and then smirks.

"Someone lost?" Asks the boy with a raised eyebrow.

"No sorry I was just looking for my friend," I say and turn to leave.

"Nice dress," Says the boy as he rubs the back of his neck casually. 

"Oh um thanks," I say as I turn around, giving myself a quick glance. "Nice shirt you should buy it, it looks good on you," I say as I notice the price tag on the collar of his shirt and then turn on my heel and walk out of the changing rooms and into the main shop.

"I have been looking for you everywhere," Says Charlotte frantically.

"Everywhere accept the men's changing room," I mutter as I pull up the long skirt of the dress.

"You met a guy?" Asks Charlotte her eyes lighting up and she licks her lips interested.

"Yeah I gave him advice on fashion," I mutter and roll my eyes, "So what do you think?" I say as I step back and let her examine the dress.

"Umm, you look like contemporary art, confusing and weird" Says Charlotte as she gives me the same look she gives when looking at optical illusions.

"A different one then" I say and walk back to the changing rooms where something catches my eye. I see a dress at the back of the shop so beautiful I almost choke on my own spit. I hurry over to the dress, its beautiful red fabric calling my name. I grab the dress and hurry over to the changing rooms.

"Alright girl, let's see this dress" Calls Charlotte. I take a deep breath, strut out of the female changing room, and almost walk into the men's again. I strut out into the main shop, Charlotte gazes up at me in what I think is...awe?

"H-how do I look?" I ask nervously as I twirl and beam at Charlotte.

"You look amazing," Says Charlotte with tears in her eyes, "it's definitely the one, and I think someone else agrees," Says Charlotte; I follow her gaze to see the boy from the changing room standing at the counter, our eyes meeting for a brief moment.

"Let him look" I say and brush it off smoothly.

"Wait is that the guy?" Says Charlotte her eyes bright as they follow him out of the shop.

"Maybe" I say with a smile, "Anyways I'm gonna get changed," I say and head back into the changing rooms.

                                                                                        *****

"Ok so the dress has been bought, you have matching shoes right?" Asks Charlotte as she checks off the dress on the checklist we put together on her phone. I glance around the almost full café taking in my surroundings and being glad that we chose to sit outside. 

"Yep, Elana let me borrow a pair," I reply as I watch the water fountain in the center of the square, the water droplets shining in the summer sun.

"Ok perfect, accessories?" Questions Charlotte as she goes through the checklist.

"Yes, I am going to wear the necklace with the Eiffel Tower on it that you got me from France" I say with a warm smile.

"Oh, I didn't think you still had that...thank you," Says Charlotte her cheeks turning a slight shade of red.

"No problem, anyways is there anything else because remember you have to be at the airport in an hour and twenty minutes" I say as I check my phone for the time.

"What? Oh sorry I have to leave now, I will call you on the plane ok? Good luck you will do great," Says Charlotte as she gets up to hug me, brushing her long dark brown hair behind her. I cuddle into her shoulder, not wanting to lose one of my best friends.

"I'm gonna miss you," I say in a quiet voice as we break away from the hug.

"Don't worry, I will be back before you know it, I always am. I will bring you back a souvenir from Italy" Says Charlotte as she packs up her things and begins to walk away, "You will be fine" Calls out Charlotte as she turns the corner and out of sight. I sigh heavily and sit back down at the little café table. Charlotte is always away traveling, off somewhere new each year, France, Australia, Germany, America, Japan, China, Canada, Africa and now Italy. She has honestly been everywhere.

I leave the money for the coffees on the table, Grab my purse and the bag with dress in it and head back over to my car. I walk over to my car to see a pair of high school kids around 14 making out on the front of the car next to mine. Geez, even she gets more action then me. I clamber into my car and drive home.