C h a p t e r 2 4

School hours was over, and we just got out of our classrooms. I hadn't seen Chase on our history subject. And I noticed that he had been skipping classes, lately. I wonder what's up

"Let's go shopping!" Hailey exclaimed, making all students nearby to stretch their heeds on us. .

"I'm in!" Torry beams excitedly, raising her hand.

Sandra grinned, "Me too!"

On our lunch time, the girls decided to go to the mall, and look for a white clothing for Nathan's upcoming party in white. Even during classes, I could hear a faint exchange of talks about the said shindig, which came out really annoying to me. Especially, what I had been planning was to keep my ears covered until no one speaks of it. My drama wasn't just because of the party itself, but also because of Chase.

"Hey, you're coming too. Right, Nikki?" Torry darted me a question, magneting multiple eyes to stare at me.

I chuckled nervously, "Uhm..."

I can't...

"So, what do you think of this?" Hailey asked, already wearing the white floral dress as she stood in front of the mirror.

"What do you got for your shoes?" I probed, as I rummaged each clothing racks for a white dress.

They said to wear casual clothing. I told Hailey I was much comfortable wearing white shirt and leggings for the said party, but she swats my idea, and went for dresses instead.

Are you wondering how I got here? Well, there wasn't actually any other reasons as to why they wouldn't let me go with them.

Sandra released a heavy sigh, hanging a teal coloured chiffon dress on the rack. "Can we try another store?"

"Yeah, we should try." Torry agreed.

"I don't get it." I uttered, walking over to Hailey who just handed the dress back to the sales lady.

"What do you mean?" Hailey questioned.

I breathed out, "I don't know... The theme, maybe?"

"Nathan always strikes for a wild party. So, why didn't he just name it something colorful? Fun, or even wild?" I questioned, taking a walk with the girls outside the shop.

"We don't know what got in his mind, but let's just go with the flow and see where it goes." Torry quoted.

"Besides, it's Nathan who's throwing a party, not some random cheap guy in school. He won't let anyone leave the party unhappy, and disappointed." Hailey pinpointed, while lifting her index finger in the air.

"And, wasted..." Torry grinned as Hailey agreed, giving her a smirk and a nod.

I don't feel convinced enough with everyone being cool with it. Even just imagining the picture, seeing kids dance in white was likewise seeing corpses rise from their graves. The whole idea of the said party was literally blowing my brain. Although, it wasn't like everyone of us speaks one in mind, however, my guts tells me not to go too.

"Okay." I gradually nodded.

"Let's go girls! We don't have much time to spare." Hailey grins excitedly, pulling me along with her in a fancy boutique, which to me won't fit in my budget.

We went inside the glamorous store with appealing layouts, catching any girls with the heart of pink and flowy fabric lovers. The dresses stayed still, hanging on each gold coloured racks along with their screaming price tags, while jewelries blings on the transparent glass box.

"Hailey, are you sure about this?" I whispered in doubt.

"Yes, of course! That's just a, marketing strategy." She giggled as she emphasized the last two words.

"Stephan?" I questioned.

"Yhep." She shrugged and turned to the sales lady for white dresses.

If I hadn't told you yet, Stephan was Hailey's brother and he was in College, taking a business related course. Both Hailey and Stephan looked quite alike, except his hair colour, eyes and of course his broad features.

"We're looking for white dresses." Hailey informed the sales lady wearing a formal yet fancy pink suit.

The lady nodded and assisted us. "This way, please."

"Guys, can we split here? I saw a shoes just there that I could match up with some of my clothes in my closet." Torry asked,

"Sure." I smiled, glancing at Hailey who just swam through the closet of dresses and glitters.

"I'll come. I'm going cheap this moment." Sandra laughed, gripping the strap of her bag hanging on her fragile shoulder.

"Oh, yeah... Cheap." I muttered the last word, and faked a laugh.

I thought this is cheap?

"We'll see you guys at the party then." Hailey appeared, already carrying a plain white dress with her.

Sandra and Torry nodded as they waved off.

"Hailey, are you seriously gonna wear that?"

The dress was just flowy but really plain, and simple. It has a spaghetti strap and was fully made with a glossy fabric. To put it all up, it looked like a night dress you'd wear on a honeymoon.

"Yes?" She half questioned while I raised an eyebrow, showing her how I disagreed.

"I mean, no. Perhaps, you will?" Hailey smiled, handing me the dress.

"Eww, no." I shook my head pushing it away from me.

I rummaged through the racks and grab hold of a pink dress, not without glancing the tag. Not pricey!

Hailey looked at me while raising her eyebrow. "It's pink, Nikki."

She then turned her back on me and went back on picking a dress.

I shook my head in disbelief as I turned to face the sales lady. "Excuse me miss, what other colours does this dress have on stock?"

The sales lady took the dress, and excused herself for a moment. After a few more minutes, Hailey approached me excitedly with scintillating eyes and beaming smile on her face showing another dress hanging on her hand.

"Nikki, look what I saw!"

"Now, that's pretty!" I grinned, lifting the hem of the dress.

The sales lady popped out holding two dresses on both of her arms. "Ma'am, we only have pink and white."

"I'm taking this, please." I said, taking the white dress and smiling to myself.

Before we purchased the dresses, Hailey and I made a quick move to the fitting room with classical bulb lights surrounding the full body length mirror.

"Are we done?" I asked, taking my change from the counter.

Hailey nodded as we walked out the store and went straight to the parking lot with the 'full parking' signage blocking the entrance.

"So, where to now?" I asked, opening the luggage compartment of the car and stuffing in everything we bought.

Aside from the dresses, Hailey and I fetched a few clothes to fill our closets in. Worthily traded a hundred dollar for a couple of clothes. I unlocked the car and hopped in.

"How about we get a lite snack and go for a drive thru to McDo?" Hailey suggested, lifting her butt on the passenger seat.

"Sounds good to me." I started the engine and hit the rev, then quickly drove to the nearest McDonalds.

This ain't the same summer song that you used to know

'Cause Jack left Diane thirty years ago

The world is spinning too fast for you and me

So tell me whatever happened to the American Dream

We sang the lyrics along with the tune up high while chowing our large fries, freely moving through the beat of the music regardless the fact that we were inside the car.

Hailey rolled down her window and whooped with joy, popping her head outside with her hair flying in places as the cold wind struck her. The warm fan of the A/C and the outside air intermixed, turning it to something more natural with the autumn breeze, free-passing on two open windows.

"This is awesome!" I inhaled the fresh air, with a full on glee eyes, giving the motorcycle rider a grin as he overtook us. Yhep, still the careful driver, I am.

"Now, you're talking!" Hailey threw her head back laughing, as she sat back down and collected her curled hair in a bun.

The road awoken as we drove with the speakers on, diminishing the silent souls loitering around and giving them a colorful pastels to spend with.

That sun soon vanished on the picture when I parked my car in the garage. I skimmed for the time on my phone and let out a weary sigh.

"Nine o'clock." I mumbled, adjusting my rear view mirror before jumping outside before walking at the back of the car, taking my stuffs out of the compartment.

With both hands full, I walked through the front door and opened it. The vision of Aunt Crissa on the table eating dinner with her phone sticked to her ear was never astounding. She took a leave from her work in a couple of months but that never stops her boss on calling her for other negotiations concerning the business firm where she works. It was like, she was just working from home but less stressed.

As soon as she noticed me entering with shopping bags she quickly disconnected herself from her phone.

"You shopped without me?" She asked, covering the speaker of her phone.

"Aren't you speaking to your boss?" I asked back, setting down the bags on the living room before strolling through the kitchen.

"It's passed working hours, and it's your uncle Steven." She said, going back to her phone.

Uncle Steven was her German husband she met via dating online who was currently in Texas for business purposes, which supposedly was staying with Aunt Crissa if it weren't because of my case, losing my grandparents. She was just twenty nine after she met uncle Steven. Over thinking about herself growing up unmarried alone with her carrier, caused her to have a deranged state of mind.

I grabbed a slice of egg pie and poured in a grape juice in my glass while overhearing Aunt Crissa working on her German language for me not to understand them talking about s*x. Walking over to her while taking a bite on my pie, I sloped downwards to reach Aunt Crissa's phone.

"Hey, uncle Steven!" I greeted before taking a step towards the living room, hooking the shopping bags and giving a small bag to Aunt Crissa, after inclining to give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodnight." I smiled, straightening before sauntering to my room.

A/N: So how much shopping have you done just to find that perfect dress on the biggest party coming up? XD

Btw! Can you guess what kind of surprise is there at the party? Don't forget to vote/comment down below! :*

Also I have a special mention to Aubscuria for a non stop support you are giving me on this story. :) I love you and hope you're having a great day! :*

(Republished)