Tug Of War - Coming Back Soon

Chapter Eleven

"I've found the dress!" three female voices called at once as Inaaya rushed out of the fitting room, wearing a burgundy dress. The chiffon skirt whirled around her feet as she met Dielle and Talisa halfway, both women hurtling towards her with a dress in hand. It appeared all three had found Inaaya's perfect dress each.

Inaaya tugged down the long lace sleeves of her dress, straightened her back and sucked in her tummy as the two women scrutinised her choice. She aimed to impress.

"Pretty," Talisa commented but brought up the off-shoulder black gown she was holding, "but this is better." Inaaya appraised the piece of cloth; the straps exposing the waistline capturing her instant attention. It was a beautiful, bold dress that screamed Talisa, not Inaaya. She chanced a glance at Dielle, letting out a relieved breath as the red-haired woman shared her opinion. At least her raised eyebrows and averted gaze seemed to indicate that much.

"Talisa..." Inaaya began with a timid voice, rubbing the soft black cloth between her thumb and two fingers. "This is a really nice dress but way too daunting for my tastes."

Talisa looked at the dress she had chosen, then back at Inaaya. She considered Inaaya for a moment before turning to Dielle, "You're buying me this."

Inaaya's eyebrows raised while Dielle rolled her eyes heavenward. When Inaaya turned her questioning gaze towards Dielle, the woman murmured, "That's just Talisa."

"Hey, don't give me that. You wolves make me work plenty in return," Talisa said, shrugging her shoulders unabashedly as she handed the dress to a nearby employee. "We'll take this."

Inaaya chuckled, brushing away non-existent wrinkles on her burgundy dress. "I think this is the one," she said, looking at her reflection in a mirror. The dress had a lace bodice with a V-neck displaying just enough cleavage. The back of the dress, however, was what had Inaaya falling in love with it. The lace bodice of the dress was held upright by a clasp at her nape, leaving the majority of her back exposed. It wasn't exactly a poised number but more chic and peppy in style. Not to mention its affordable price.

"This dress is lovely but way too simple for the occasion, Inaaya." Dielle brought Inaaya's attention away from the burgundy dress and towards a navy sheath gown. Graceful, sophisticated and cultured were some adjectives that came to Inaaya's mind. "There'll be more than three-hundred people attending the ceremony. You definitely want to wear something more elegant and formal," Dielle said, smiling in compassion. "Perhaps something like this?" She offered Inaaya the navy dress along with an expectant smile, "Why don't you try this on?"

Inaaya gave her a half smile as she went back into the fitting room. The dress was supple under her fingertips and the white beaded halter neck added to its glamour. Changing into it, Inaaya felt nothing short of royalty. The navy sweetheart neckline accentuated her bust and the length of the dress emphasised her figure.

"Ooh-la-la," Talisa exclaimed when Inaaya stepped out. "Don't you look polished!" Talisa circled Inaaya and began tying her hair up in a high ponytail. "I think this look would be perfect for her initiation into the hoser-dom, don't you, Dielle?" she asked, smirking. Dielle rolled her eyes while Inaaya chuckled. She knew well by now Talisa's word of choice for the wolves— hoser, meaning an unsophisticated person in a Canadian expression, as Inaaya had come to learn.

"Isn't this a little too fancy?" Inaaya asked, biting her lower lip as she scanned her reflection in the mirror. Beautiful as it was, the gown didn't quite make her feel like herself anymore. She felt transformed.

"It is," Dielle said, wrapping an arm around Inaaya's shoulders. She too appraised Inaaya's reflection in the mirror. Inaaya bit her lip, waiting for Dielle to continue but Talisa spoke instead.