𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐈; flipped

𝗦𝗜𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡; 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌

||꒰𝒋𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂꒱||

Bryce kissed me. But this time was more instinctive and familiar. Still just as sensational, though.

Our lips separated and I felt my cheeks go red.

"I hope that wasn't, like, obtrusive or whatever," he said. Of course, Bryce was worried about it.

I laughed. "No, it wasn't. If you hadn't initiated, I probably would have." True fact.

Shaking his head, Bryce said, "You're really amazing, you know that?"

"Oh my God, this is so cheesy," I countered. It was, but I honestly didn't mind.

"I'm sorry," Bryce replied. "I couldn't help but point out the obvious!"

I rolled my eyes, remembering the tasks for the day. "C'mon, let's go check on the chickens."

"Uh oh, I think they probably hate me." Right. That.

I smiled. "Are you sure you just don't want to get... what was it... salmonella?" I thought it would be best to make light of the situation.

Bryce acted out in a very obviously fake faint. "Your chickens are going to kill me!"

"Very funny. Haha." I wouldn't admit it, but it was sort of.. cute? "We should actually go outside now."

"Okay, I should probably apologize to them all, anyways," he replied genuinely.

Stifling my laugh, I said, "You know they can't understand you, right?"

"I know," he said as we walked to the yard. "But maybe it'll make you feel better?"

"Let's just forget about that, okay? The past is in the past." I desperately wished to stop thinking about that. He'd changed, right?

"Yeah, okay," he mumbled.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's okay. We don't need to fight over every little thing, I don't want to end up like my parents."

Now I felt bad. I didn't mean to upset him, but he was right. "You're right." He smiled. I smiled.

I tossed out the chicken feed. "Hey, Dexter, come here!" Picking up Dexter, I stroked her neck. "See!"

"Alright, they're actually kinda cute," Bryce admitted.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!"

•••

It was Friday, after school. "Bye, Bryce! I'll see you on Monday!"

"Bye, Juli," he replied as he walked out the front door. "Wait, what color dress are you gonna wear?"

"Huh?" Oh, the dance!

"The dance," he said confusedly. "We're going together, right?"

"Oh, yeah! Uh.. purple?" I wasn't really sure, but I guess I had decided now. Purple was a nice color.

"Okay, I'm sure you'll look beautiful," replied Bryce. He grinned at me and waved. "Bye!" My heart fluttered.

"Bye, I'll see you Monday!" I was still thinking about his compliment.

I walked back inside and my mom was standing nearby. "So, should we go dress shopping now?"

"I guess so," I replied with a laugh. For whatever reason, I didn't mind that she had heard my conversation with Bryce.

"He really likes you," my mother doted. "Bryce is a nice young man." Classic her, gushing over little things like that.

I rolled my eyes. "Stop being weird, mom!" She chuckled and grabbed the keys off the table.

"Let's go, then, shall we?"

"We shall."

•••

We had driven all the way to the next town to go to the "nicer" dress shop. "Tell me again, mom, what's wrong with the store in our town?"

She sighed. "This is a big day for you! I want you to look absolutely wonderful, and the clothes here are nicer. More options."

"Doesn't that make them more expensive?" I asked. I didn't want her to have to spend her hard-earned money on a dress I'd wear once. She now worked part-time at a preschool and at the grocery store on the weekends.

Shaking her head, she gave me a look of disapproval. "Yes. It does. But you've been so good recently, so kind and your grades are absolutely stellar." Okay, but when aren't they? "So this is my little gift to you."

Reluctantly, I agreed. "Alright, fine, let's go find a purple dress."

"Oh, the dance is going to be such a great memory for you!" I think she was more excited than I was.

My eyes scanned the racks until they landed on a lilac item. It was silky and quite gorgeous, but my eyes went wide when I saw the price.

"Go try it on," my mother commanded. I hadn't noticed her lurking over my shoulder.

"But the price-"

"I saw it," she said firmly. "You seem to like the dress. Go try it on."

I nodded. Removing a dress in my size from its resting place, I walked off to the dressing room. It fell just below my knees in the front, and halfway down my calves in the back. The asymmetrical gown was made of chiffon and had thin straps that fit snugly on my shoulders. It was tied up in a rose-shaped bow that cinched on my stomach. "Wow.."

"Come out and let me see it, honey," my mom said from the other side of the curtain.

I pushed the scratchy grey fabric to the side and walked out to where she sat. "What do you think?"

"You look perfect," she exclaimed. "Do you want that one?"

"Well, yes, but the cost.."

"Don't worry about it. As I said, I'll get it for you," she said sternly yet soothingly.

And so I went and changed back into my regular clothes, carefully carrying the dress back out to the register. I cringed as I watched the money exchanged to purchase the singular gown.

"Thank you, mom."

"My pleasure," she replied.