15. Walking tomato

"She looks so pretty." Mercedes smiled up at me. I stepped to see myself in the mirror they had available and from the looks of it. I could suffocate on the sparkles alone.

It was a pretty dress and in starting to lean into a red dress, but this red dress made me look like a walking tomato that got into a pile of glitter. It felt more like a prom dress to me with all this excess fluff in it.

"Mercedes how about you try it on?" Tara smirks before handing her another copy of the dress.

We walked in, I changed back into my clothes and Mercedes changed into the dress.

When she walked out, she did a little princess twirl as I like to call it. It looked way better on her than me that's for sure.

"That's so gorgeous don't you agree Julia?" Tara turns to me.

"Stunning." I say without my usual sarcastic remark.

I want to die.

"Come on, I saw some cute dresses over here." Charlie grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards a row of colorful dresses. I guess I was the only one that thought it was strange that all the greens matched her eyes as of they were related. No one seemed to notice. I sure did.

She pulled out a red dress that looked like more like my style and held it up against me.

"Perfect." She smiled.

Finally something I can try on and feel comfortable in.

"I don't think so," Tara walks into the perfect picture I created. Burning it to a crisp.

"I think she'll look beautiful." Mercedes adds.

"Yeah but I would look amazingly gorgeous." She grabbed the dress out of my hands and hung it in front of her. "See?"

Charlie and Mercedes hesitated a bit before answering. The of course agreed and Tara flashed me an evil smile before handing it to Mercedes to hold for her.

Lovely. Anyone need a red-headed brat? Got one right here.

Of course I didn't find a dress, I mean they didn't find a dress for me. I found a lot of dresses I would wear, but either Tara would shut it down or say something that drops my self esteem a few levels. So when it was time to leave. I was ecstatic. Finally I will be able to go home, watch Netflix, and celebrate my birthday with Rebecca over video chat.

My mental plans came crashing down in front of me when Tara turned around to face me.

"Hey Julia." She said. Mercedes and Charlie hung out by the door, holding bags filled with dresses, shoes, and somewhat expensive jewelry that they'll never wear ever again after this dance.

"Yeah?" I asked.

We we're just about to leave. What does she want now?

She grinned at me before saying whatever she wanted to say. "You see that guy over there?"

She glanced over at one of the workers. His blonde hair falling​ slightly in his what looked to be ocean blue eyes.

"Mercedes is too scared to talk to him. Would you go get his number for her?" She asked as if we've been friends our whole life. Also we're seniors in high school, not middle schoolers.

"Fine." I whisper.

"Mercedes will love you forever." She whispered, walking back over to the rest of the group.

"Well forever is a long time," I mumbled to myself as I approached this stranger of a man.

"Excuse me." I said just loud enough so he could hear.

He looked up and smiled, showing me his perfect row of teeth. I was right about the dark blue eyes. It felt like I was looking​ into the deep blue ocean.

"My friend over there," I looked over to where Tara, Mercedes, and Charlie were standing to find that they're nowhere in sight.

"Looks like they left." He pointed out as if it wasn't obvious. "Nice friends you got there."

I turned back to face him. Feeling my cheeks burn slightly from embarrassment for the fact I fell for that. "Uh. Sorry for wasting your time."

"It's fine." He smiled kindly.

I started to walk away.

"Hey wait!" He called.

Turning around slowly, I looked to see what this guy wanted.

"That dress would look gorgeous on you." He pointed to the rack of dresses.

I walked over to the colorful dresses, my eyes landing on a snow color white. I pulled it out and examined the slim smooth strapless dress.

"Thanks." I smiled.

"I'll start a dressing room for you." He grins, walking to the dressing rooms. With me following close behind.

"What size are you?" He glanced down at me feet.

"Excuse me?" I shot back.

"Your shoe size." He chuckled.

"Oh." I say trying to laugh it off. "Size seven."

"Heels?" He asked.

"Flats."

"Be right back." He flashed me a no the smile before walking towards the shoe section. Acting like he knows what shoes I like to wear.

During this time, I slipped on the white dress and examined myself in the mirror they had available. I was lost for words looking at myself. It looked like I was staring at a winter wonderland. The sparkles were scattered across the dress, looking like tiny snowflakes.

The employee placed the shoes under the dressing room door.

I took them and placed them on my feet. They weren't anything fancy, unlike what Tara and her posse got. Just simple silver flats that matched the dress perfectly.

"Can I see?" The employee asked.

Smiling, I walked out and his eyes widened.

"I knew you would look stunning with that dress." He smiled. "Except we're missing something."

He walked over to be jewelry rack and grabbed a short golden necklace with the letter J connected to it.

Now I was freaked out.

"How do you know what letter my name start with?" I asked, trying to not sound as creeped out as I was.

"You've been here for two hours. I picked up on all your names." He smiled. "And you're wearing pajama pants, so I connected it to that."

"Right." I saw grinning down at the floor. "Let me go change back."

"I'll be at the cashier." He smirked, walking away.

I smiled while walking into the dressing room. Quickly changing back into what I was wearing. Going from looking like a goddess to a hot mess.

I placed the dress on the counter along with the shoes and jewelry.

"Your total is 35.12." He told me.

I pulled out my wallet and handed him the cash. Not only did it look nice, but it wasn't expensive. Until I looked at the receipt and saw he gave me a discount. Making me feel like a charity case for some reason. Then again I did show up it pajama pants.

"I'm Luke by the way." He smiled.

"Julia." I stopped myself, "you already knew that."

He chuckled slightly. "I may or may not put my number in the bag."

"So smooth." I smile.

"Have a good day." He grins, moving onto the next customer who just showed up in line.

I stopped by Starbuck to grab myself a drink since there weren't any café's in this mall. Shame.

If I didn't have hot chocolate I would of froze on my walk home, which is about two miles away from the mall. Then I guess also Blake finding me walking kind of helped too.

"Oh my god, Julia!" He yelled through the car window. I stopped in my footsteps and looked at him. "Get in you're gonna freeze."

I would be smiling at him. I wasn't. Because of his girlfriend that left me, put me in this position.

"Where Tara?" He asked. Grabbing a few blankets from the floor and handing then to me.

I didn't realize I had a blueish tint to my skin until I looked at the side mirror.

"She left me." I glared.

"What?" He seemed so shocked. Surprise Blake, your girlfriend hates me. "What the hell?"

I pressed my head against the window. Staring at the snow falling to the road.

"I'm so sorry Julia." Blake said. A hint of frustration in his voice.

Good.

"I'm gonna talk to her." He then says. This is where I looked back up at him.

I pulled the blanket tighter around me. Watching everything except Blake.

There was a giant brown package sitting at my door. The words happy birthday Julia duck taped onto it in a sparkly gold.

"Someone didn't forget about you." Black said behind me.

Blake handed me his keys to open up the package.

A giant balloon flew out of it to the roof with a tiny note at the end of it.

Dear Julia.

We miss you so much. I wish I could say this in person, but happy birthday. Because of you, me and Lexi got through our emotional stress. Can't wait to see you next week.

Sincerely, Logan.

I smiled down at the note.

"Logan huh?" Blake asked.

"Jealous much?" I grin.

"I would use the word protective." He jokes.

"Logan is my stepbrother." I explain.

"Oh." Blake looked shocked at the answer.

"Yeah."

We stood there in silence for a while.

"Goodnight Julia."