I heard a car sputter and a door close. I peered out the window to see Zane walking up the front drive. He knocked on the door smiling when he saw me. He waved and i waved back going to let him in. "Hey." He said once he was inside. I grabbed a notebook off the table. "Whats up?" i wrote.

"Just taking a break from my house. My cousin is getting married tomorrow and she is in full wedding mode. I couldn't take anymore." He said. "I'm in the wedding a grooms man and i have to do this special dance." "With who?" I wrote. "Um my grandmaw." I bit my lip to keep from smiling. "It's terrible, she gets tired so easily so I've had to practice with the broom and that's not even the worst part, it's having to dance with my grandmaw." I broke into a full on smile unable to stop myself. "I need to see this dance." I wrote.

"Oh no, it's bad really bad." He grimaced. I motioned with my finger to go head. He groaned. "Fine but no making fun." He said putting his arms out. He started dancing in circles and i recognized the dance from YouTube. He wasn't doing it very well though. Then i felt bad for saying so. I sighed standing up. I held my hands out. "You know this dance?" He asked. I nodded. He took my hands in his and i led him around the floor without you knowing i was leading.

"Wow you are really good at that dance way better than my grandma." I let go and found the notebook. "Why didn't you ask a girl your own age to go with you?" I wrote. "I'm new i don't know anybody but you...hey wait..." I backed way from him shaking my head. "Come on, you're really gonna make me dance with my grandmother. Do you know how embarrassing that is? And this is something a friend would totally do!" He said. "Yes but a friend wouldn't ask them to do something didn't want to. I mean i'm already friends with you isn't that enough?" I asked.

"Wait seriously? I'm making you be my friend?" He asked looking hurt. I sighed. "I don't have a dress." I wrote. "The wedding is tomorrow." I wrote. He perked up forgetting my dis. "I have an idea. Take a ride with me to wedding central, my cousin looks about your size. Maybe she could loan you a dress." He said. "Are you sure this whole thing isn't weird?" I wrote. "Why because you don't talk? And you'll be meeting all of my family and you worry they won't like you?" He asked.

Did i worry about people not liking me? No i never had. I huffed. "No! I don't care if people don't like me. It's just your family doesn't know me. And you're bringing some strange girl." I wrote. "That's why were going to get a dress. If you feel weird at any point you can back out okay?" He asked. Well fine i guess that was fair. I nodded. I tucked the notebook under my arm and followed him out to his truck.

I wasn't sure i should be doing this at all but if he needed me i'd do my best to be a good friend. We pulled into his drive way and he held the door open for me. Once we were inside i noticed an older lady sewing on a veil. "Grandma this is Lucy." He said. "Oh hi dearie." She said wrapping me into a hug. "She doesn't talk actually." Zane said.

"What do you mean she doesn't talk? She can't or she won't?" She said raising her voice. "Grandma be nice!" "I will not, if you can talk you should talk simple as that! And you know when you get to be seventy you can say whatever you want." She finished sitting back at the table. "No grandma it doesn't." He muttered. A young girl walked in looking frazzled.

"Addie! Hey. I need a favor." Said Zane. "Anything for my favorite cousin who's been helping me this week whatcha need? Oh who's this?" She asked looking from him to me with a knowing smile on her face. "Addie this is Lucy. She's going to accompany me to the wedding." Zane says. "What i'm being replaced with a girl who doesn't even talk?" Said Grandma. "Grandma!" Zane and Addie said at the same time.

"What? I told you when you turn seventy you can say what you want." She said. "I already told you no you can't." Said Zane. "ANYWAYS!! Is that your favor you wanna bring your girlfriend? I told you before you were cool to bring a date." "Actually she's not my girlfriend were just friends but the favor is. She kind of needs a dress i was hoping you had one she could borrow." This is weird isn't it? It's totally weird. "Oh of course. Let me just run home and i'll be right back." I think were close to the same size she said eyeing me.

"She lives just right over there. Not far at all." He nodded. And he was right Addie came in minutes later with an arm full of dresses. She led me to the bathroom. "Well upon closer inspection you look like a double D so jealous. So these may not fit so good. But it's last minute so we'll make due." She said stepping out of the bathroom. I hung the dresses on the shower rod and pulled a blue strapless dress on. It fell down my boobs nearly popping out of the dress. I sighed opening the door shaking me head.

"I was afraid of this. No worries we have others." Said Addie. I went back in and tried a pink halter top with a V neck and frilly skirt. I came out. This one was even worse. I mean it was cleavage city. I sighed. "What's wrong with the dress...whoa." Zane said his eyes dropping down to my cleavage. I tried my best to fix it. "Were not exactly the same size." Addie shrugged "I see that." Zane said. Finally his eyes met mine. "I'm sorry. Try again?"

I nodded and closed the door. The third dress was purple and it had a higher neckline. My cleavage was still on display but not nearly as bad. This one was suitable. I just didn't want to embarrass Zane or Addie on her big day. I stepped out and put my hands out by my sides. "This one looks like it's a winner." Addie said. I nodded and gave a thumbs up then went back inside. I changed back and handed Addie the dresses. I gave her a hug. "Oh hey, you're welcome. I'm happy to help." She said pulling back and smiling at me.

"I'll take you home now." Zane said nodding. We walked outside and almost bumped into an older man. "Oh this is my grandpa he'll like you. He's quiet himself." He whispered. "Grandpa hey, this is Lucy." He said. He looked at me and smiled and offered a wave i smiled and waved back. "She's not a woman of many words eh? I like that." He said nodding. "Yea?" Zane asked. "Mhm so many people talk just to talk i say if you have nothing important to say then that's okay too." He nodded.

I beamed. My thoughts exactly. "Well Grandpa i'm gonna run her home and come back to finish helping Addie." He nodded at Zane and waved. "I like him." I wrote once i was seated in the truck. He smiled "Me too. My grandma is a little crazy. Some days i wonder how he does it." He pulled out onto his road and it was silent for a while since he couldn't read while he was driving. As he pulled in he turned to me.

"So the wedding is at six. Then we'll do dinner and cake and finally the dancing part will commence. She'll let us know when it's our turn. I can't thank you enough for stepping in. I was a little nervous because we hadn't practiced enough and i'm not the best dancer." He said putting the truck in park. "I think you did lovely." I wrote. "Thanks." He said. I hopped out with my dress in tow. "Tell Addie thanks again and i'll wash this and get it back to her." I said. "Okay, have a good day." He said.

After i got inside i felt bad. Had Zane come over to hang out? I didn't think so. It felt like this was his plan all along. But i guess i couldn't blame him. Dancing with his grandma might've been a little weird. I guess i just needed to stop worrying about something i couldn't control and go with it. I hung the dress in the back of my closet. I was eating a bowl of cereal at the table when my dad walked in.

"Lucy. Your mother used to wear jeans...why are you doing this to me?" Wait my mother used to wear jeans? Was he being serious? I mean the lies and excuses aren't even good anymore! But lame or not he was looking at me. I quickly got up and ripped the jeans off as fast as i could. I ran to my room and threw them in the closet out of sight. I put on a pair of pajama pants and came back to finish my cereal but it as too late. I saw the look. He in one fail swoop knocked me from the bar stool knocking the wind out of me. I curled up in a ball to hide the area of impact but it didn't work. After he kicked me a few times and punched up and down both arms. He started to cry and went to take a shower. And just like that i was done.

I stood up on shaky legs, glad it was over. I hobbled to the bar to finish my cereal feeling pathetic as i ate the rest. When i had finished the bruises were already starting to show up. I needed ice to help hide them. So i fixed two bags and got ready for bed. It was late and going to sleep usually mean he'd leave me alone. But it seemed he'd already gotten his anger out for the night.