Havi is smiling content with herself when I open the door of the dresser. I have to be honest with myself; if it weren’t for Havi there’s no way I would’ve even looked at this dress. I tend to go for dark colours because I just feel more comfortable in them, but that does not mean I don’t wear light colours. Silver is my favourite colour and I have many light grey things. I also like green and blue and purple. And amazingly, my other favourite colour is pink. The walls of my room are pink, to be honest. That doesn’t mean I dress like Elle Woods, although I would like to. I have to admit that I once thought of studying law not only because I just find it interesting, but also because I wanted to be like her. I was very young, okay? Then I realised that studying law takes quite a few more years and I needed to be working soon.

So even if I like colours, I would’ve never picked a white dress for myself, and especially not one like this. It’s long and it falls with the grace of a Greek tunic. The straps also are like in a tunic and the waist. I actually look like a Greek woman taken from the ancient times. The fabric feels so soft and tender on my skin and I feel tall and powerful in this gown. It is definitely something that attracts everybody’s attention but at the same time is classy. I actually feel like myself and not like a cheap hooker that someone bought to go with him to a premiere.

It is true that clothes cannot change who you are, but they can give you the confidence to do what you want. In my case, to go to that premier with a jerk I can’t stand.

“Didn’t I tell you it was the dress?” Havi says folding her arms, her smile growing even more content.

I chuckle, turning around to take another look at the dress and how I look in it. Even if I would’ve never worn a white dress before I know this is the one for the premier. I wouldn’t use it for anything else. I think it was made for me and for this occasion.

“You gotta get your hair done in a Greek style, too. With like a braid crown or something. And golden jewellery,” Havi comments next, taking a step closer. Now I can see us both in the mirror. “You’re gonna take everyone’s breath away.”

“I have no idea how you found this one,” I whisper, my eyes still glued on the reflection. I can’t believe how well it suits me and how comfortable I feel in it. “Thank you. I would’ve never picked this without you.”

“I’m glad I was of help. I bet Liam will go crazy,” she jokes and I lose my smile.

“He’ll still be a beast,” I mumble and she places her hand on my shoulder, giving me a soft squeeze.

“I’m sorry you have to do this but complaining doesn’t help much. All you can do is just go through it and try your best to get along with him. It’ll be over before you notice it. But if you don’t try to get along with him it’s only going to be harder,” she tells me seriously and I know it, I’m very aware that I’m not making things easy for myself. Liam just brings the worst in me. “Plus, who knows? Maybe when he sees you in this dress he falls in love with you and becomes nice.”

I laugh at the idea. I don’t think Liam is the kind of man who falls in love. At least not anymore; maybe the old Liam could have. This new version only looks like a womaniser who can’t stand to be on his own. And there’s no way I would fall in love with a beast like him so that crazy thought will never happen.

“Hey, it was just a possibility,” Havi laughs stepping back, meeting my eyes in the mirror. “You never know.”

“Oh I know. Plus, I don’t even want him to fall in love with me because that would mean having him trying to win my heart and that is just absurd. It’s never gonna happen.”

Havi only shakes her head and steps even farther away.

“If you say so but you know what they say: never say never.”

I just roll my eyes and turn to close the door so I can take the dress off. I’m definitely taking this with me today so I just have to purchase it and end with this tortuous trip to find a dress and finally go home. It’s been a long day and I’m really exhausted. At least I don’t have to worry more about this until the next event, which I hope won’t happen anytime soon.

Once I’m back in my clothes I meet Havi to go to the cashier and pay for the dress. As Liam offered to pay and this is part of my new job, she is the one taking care of the purchase. “Do you have the shoes for the dress?” she asks me as we wait for the bag with the dress in.

“I don’t but I’ll take care of that tomorrow. I just wanna go home now,” I reply and she laughs.

“Okay, if you do come tomorrow for the shoes, let me know. The label will take care of that, too.”

Oh, the label. So it’s not exactly Liam’s trait after all. Not that I’m surprised or disappointed. In fact it makes more sense if the label pays for the dress because they hired me, not Liam. He requested a girlfriend and the label chose me.

“Fancy a cup of coffee?” Havi asks me bringing me back to the present and handing me the bag with my new dress. “I can tell you’re drained so a bit of caffeine would be good.”

I only smile at her and nod. The idea sounds delightful and I could really use a cup of something strong like coffee, not just tea.

So after when finally finish with the purchase we go to a nearby café. The first we find. We sit and ask for coffee and some biscuits. During that time Havi asks me a bit more about myself because as she will plan some dates for Liam and I, she needs to know what kind of things I would enjoy doing and what kind of things I would just loathe. She has to find a balance between Liam and I and I wish her good luck because that has to be a herculean task.

We don’t stay for much longer so once we finish our orders we say our goodbyes and each takes a different road. I head home because I’m dead on my feet and I just want to rest and forget all the things I have to do. My life was hectic before, with my job in the school and trying to keep my father afloat, but now I have this other job, which is highly demanding. Now I remember why I never even tried to pursue a relationship. It’s not only my lack of commitment for interaction, it is also due to the fact I just don’t have time to waste in a relationship.

Oh Dad, the things I do for you.

•••

“Belle, sweetie, I’m home,” I hear my father calling above the sound of the door opening.

I leave the book I was reading aside, careful to put the bookmark between the pages I last read and head to welcome my father. He always spends loads of his time in the label, but since I agreed to this new job he spends even more time there. I hope he is doing well.

“Welcome home, Dad. How was work today?” I ask helping him to take off his blazer and scarf. I hang them as I usually do when I’m home to receive him, which is almost all the time.

“It was good, very good. How was your day, sweetie?” he asks me because that’s my father. He likes knowing how I’m doing before we talk about his issues.e

“It was good, too. At least at school. I had to go buy a dress for the premier I’ll go with Liam,” I tell him and my expression must tell him that I didn’t go willingly.

“Did you find a dress or would you want me to take you?” he asks and I smile. Father, for some reason, loves to take me to buy things. I don’t like him spending money on things I don’t really need, but he gets some satisfaction from knowing he’s providing his daughter with nice things.

“I did so no worries there. When you have time, though, we can go eat or something,” I offer because it’s been a long time since Dad and I went out together. “Havi helped me to find the dress. It’s really pretty. I bet Mum would’ve loved it… now that I think about it, it’s the kind of dress she would’ve picked for me.”

Dad smiles sadly at me. No matter how many years pass, it will always be hard for him to talk about Mum.

“That’s wonderful, Belle. You’ll be the prettiest in that premiere,” he says with confidence and I smile at him before I kiss his cheek.

“So, how is work going? How is Ariel?” I ask him to change topics and because I’m more concerned than ever to know how things are going this time. This is Dad’s last chance, he can’t blow it up.

“Oh, she is a wonderful girl, adorable. Very young and extremely inexperienced but so talented. I know she is going places because without any formal training she is astounding!” Dad exclaims and I start to feel excited, too. “But she is so shy, so extremely shy. She can’t talk to me without stuttering or blushing and I can tell she tries really hard. She shakes and breathes heavily when she has to meet someone new. Today I introduced her to her vocal coach and the poor girl could barely hold herself.”

“Oh, that sounds complicated for someone who is trying to become a singer,” I comment and Dad sighs heavily. Clearly, he has also thought of that.

“But she wants to and she really tries and if she weren’t trying it would be such a waste, Belle. She is incredible and she has so much potential.”

I nod because I heard her demo so I know she has an incredible voice and I can imagine what she could become with the help of the professionals, but then being a singer is not only being talented.

“It’s not going to be easy but she is willing to try and she is a good kid,” Dad continues talking about Ariel. “I know we’ll manage to make a memorable album, I’m just worried I won’t be able to handle a girl like her.”

“It’s not going to be easy. Shy people suffer a lot and we tend to underestimate their situation and only make things worse for them,” I speak thinking exactly of Noelle, one of my students. She is painfully shy and at the beginning of the year her classmates bullied her because she wouldn’t say a thing. It was hard for me to make the rest of the class understand that Noelle had it hard to express herself and that they should be patient with her.

“That’s why I thought that maybe you could help me with her. I remember you mentioned a student who was very shy, as well.”

“Noelle,” I supply for him and he nods.

“Maybe you can help her and me to understand each other better so we can work out. I know she is under treatment because she actually has a condition, or that she told me, but I also have to try to make things work. I can’t let her do all the work, right?”

I smile warmly at him because his behaviour makes me proud. This is a man committed to his work and I can really tell he’s doing his utmost best to make this work, and seeing him like this makes everything worth it.

“Of course, Dad. I’ll help you. I can go with you in your next meeting. I’ll teach you how to deal with her condition so it doesn’t jeopardise your work together.”

“You’re wonderful, Belle. Thank you,” he says kissing my cheek in that fatherly way. I only smile, happy to see my father really trying this time.

-:-:-

Hehehe, it wasn't yellow :p anyhow, I'm thinking that from next week onwards I could try to play with votes for more than one update per week. Let's see how my schedule is working by then.

Bel, xx