Love J

Seriously In Love

"Jessie I can't believe you're actually going to go!" Aria squealed as we walked into the huge store. It wasn't as busy as I expected it to be but I was kind of late looking for my dress anyway. Most girls got their dresses weeks ago or at least ordered them weeks ago, I was just starting to look. I wasn't sure what I wanted in a dress, just that I had to look stunning in it or this whole thing would be for nothing. The weight of Aria's words registered in my mind and pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Oh um yeah. He wanted to take me but I couldn't let him do that. He can't find out who I am," I mumbled when Aria's squeal drew attention to us. She looked at me with a mix of understanding and disappointment. She knew my worries, I had explained them over and over again when she repeatedly tried to convince me to tell him who I was. She also knew how much I liked him. I say liked because 'love' sounds like a stretch considering we've talked in person once. But every time his name pops up on my screen, it makes my day, over and over again. The way I feel when I talk to him, that more than just liking him, I know I'm in love. The words just add weight to my mind and I don't need that, especially when I won't ever tell him who I am.

"Why not Jay?" She asked, her voice strained and borderline annoyed. "I mean seriously, you are like in love with the guy and if he was going to ditch you, he wouldn't have talked to you for a year before doing it."

"He is the most popular guy in school Aria. He can get whatever girl he wants, he is almost always surrounded by a group of friends or followers. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a fan club because he genuinely deserves one. He is that good a person. And I love talking to him. If he found out who I was, then the whole mystery of it would be gone and then he wouldn't care enough to talk to me because the appeal is gone. I can't lose him Aria. He means too much," I explained desperately once again, my voice lowering to just above a whisper when I said that I couldn't lose him out loud. That I'd never said before. I'd never even said I loved him out loud before, that was all Aria.

"Okay, whatever. Deep down you know I'm right. Come on, let's go look for a dress," Aria said, her tone promising an 'I-told-you-so' in the future before she grabbed my elbow and pulled me to look at a long row of dresses. Aria was the opposite of me. She was bubbly and outgoing and loud and confident. She didn't over analyse things and get all nervous. She could talk to people without stuttering her heart out, unlike me. I could barely form a sentence around people I didn't know.

We looked through hundreds of dresses. I'd pick out a few, Aria would pick out a few. We didn't really talk, we were both in the zone, searching for that perfect dress, that dress that would make me look gorgeous. Everything was going fine until a sales assistant decided to come over.

"Are you girls looking for something for the Masquerade Ball?" She drawled, her accent carried a distinct southern twang to it. She looked between the two of us with a perky smile. Everyone knew about the ball around here, it was bigger than any other school event. Like Prom only much more elegant. My shoes suddenly got a lot more interesting and I was relieved when Aria started talking.

"Actually, just my friend here. We're looking for something to impress a certain someone," Aria answered, raising her eyebrows suggestively. The woman's smile only widened at that. She turned to face my directly and looked my up and down, taking in every inch of me.

"Are y'all looking for anything in particular?" She asked, her smile not faultering even a fraction.

"N-n-n-no," I stuttered, shaking my head in case she couldn't hear me. I wouldn't be surprised if she couldn't hear me with how low I spoke. Why was I shy like this? I even stuttered on a two letter word thanks to it. I couldn't remember having a stuttering problem with strangers when I was a kid, I couldn't remember when it started.

"We're gonna go try some of these now but if you think you know something that would make Jessie here look ravishing then please help," Aria excused us with a charming smile and guided me to the back of the store where the changing rooms were. I wished I could be more like Aria, more confident. I don't even know why I lacked confidence, I just did.

Aria handed me her stack of dresses and pushed me into a room. I tried on dress after dress, only opening up the curtain for two of them. A pretty baby pink one that was too poofy for my taste but looked nice and a forest green one with a really low back that made me feel like I would be uncomfortable if I wore it all night. It seemed like there was so many dresses until I came to the last two. I immediately put on of them down. It was a hideous hot pink that must have only made it into Aria's pile by mistake because even she would never make me wear something so loud. The other one was gorgeous though so I put it on. It was beautiful on with it's sweet heart neckline, a corset back, layer of thin, soft fabric making up the skirt that was not too poofy. It was powder blue with silver embellishments and bead work on the bodice. I was in love. I opened the curtain to show Aria already feeling like Cinderella. Her jaw dropped as she looked at me.

We were both gushing about how gorgeous it was when the sales assistant from earlier came rushing up to us with another bag in her hand and a mask. My insides tightened and my eyes dropped to the floor as my words died off. She was handing me the bag and I shakily took the two of them. "Here. I think it will look perfecet on you," she told me warmly with a bright smile. She started talking to Aria, obviously planning on waiting till I changed. I really wanted that blue dress, it made me look like a princess but I figured one more wouldn't hurt after all the others.

I was in love. In complete love with this dress. It was strapless with a sweet heart neckline. The top of the bodice was black sequins but it was adorned with black and white sequined floral appliques cascading down the white skirt. It wasn't poofy at all and I was so glad. In fact, the fabric just flowed as if it was made for me. The back reached my mid back, just under my shoulder blades. It wasn't so low that it made me feel uncomfortable. It was just right in every single way. It made me look slimmer without looking sickly thin and exaggerated my almost non existent curves. I pulled my long, hazel brown hair over one shoulder and picked up the mask that she had given me. That was stunning aswell. It was black and covered in thin lace with sparkling white gems around the eyes and a slight point at the point of it. There was a black flower at the side of it, making it look like a hair accessory rather than part of the mask because of my side swept hair. It covered enough of my face that I was hardly recognisable but showed enough that I could look pretty too. I pulled back the curtain and was greeted with two gasps.

"C isn't going to know what hit him Jessie! You look amazing! Oh my gosh you look gorgeous!" Aria squealed as she looked at me, her eyes still wide.

"Stunnin' Jessie! Just stunnin'!" The woman cried as she smiled victoriously, knowing she had found the perfect dress.

I had to agree, I looked considerable better than usual. Now I was all excited for the ball, I just hoped that Chris liked me enough that he wouldn't press for who I was. J could handle Chris but Jessie McClain couldn't.