"No, Dad!" I groan. "I do NOT want to go shopping with you! No way, no how!"

    "Are you suuuure?"

    He gives me such a sad look that I almost say: "Fine, you can come." That's how incredibly manipulative he is.

    "Yes, I'm sure. Goodbye."

    I slam the door behind me, though it doesn't have the effect I hoped for, since I'm giggling a bit too much for it to come off as angry.

    But still, I just can't take my Dad with me dress shopping! What if a classmate saw me? Then I might die of humiliation.

Besides, I'm getting a ride from Nicole and her Mom.

When the car pulls up to the driveway, I notice that Nicole's late. At least one thing in my life is the same.

"Hello." I greet, stepping into the car.

"Hi." Nicole smiles.

For the rest of the car ride to the mall, we're both pretty quiet. I think there's some unspoken rule that you don't talk about things like school dances or clothes when parents are near.

Nicole's mom is perfectly friendly, but I'm still relieved when she drops us off.
We wave to her as she drives away, then turn to each other.

"So where to first?" I ask, rubbing my hands in anticipation.

I'm not really a person that likes to shop, but there are certain types of shopping that I really like.

My favourite type of shopping is back-to-school shopping. It's just so fun picking out all those school supplies! Although I frequently spend more money than I should on those shopping trips.

My second favourite type of shopping is clothes shopping, but only when it's clothes for ME. I have a certain checklist when it comes to the clothes I buy. They have to be comfortable, mature, (No cheesy phrases or childish pictures), and they have to be a good colour. (Unacceptable colours include: Neon shades, orange, yellow, etc.)

"How should I know?" Nicole laughs. "It's not like I'm some expert shopper."

"How about we start at Old Navy or something?" I suggest.

"For a party dress?" Nicole wrinkles her nose.

"Fine, you choose then." I grunt, a little miffed that she said she was 'no expert shopper', but then she has all these opinions.

"Let's go there." She points to a dress store that I've never even set foot in before.

"Sure."

I follow her into the store, which has a certain perfume-like smell. But other than the smell, I'm impressed.

The dresses are prettier than I would have expected. And cheaper too, which is good, since Dad didn't give me very much money.

And all the people working inside look very, well, chic.

Nicole and I walk to different sections of the store, since we have very different tastes when it comes to dresses.

Within five minutes, Nicole has already selected a turquoise dress that's a bit too long for me, but it's okay for her, since she's taller.

Meanwhile, I'm still considering six different dresses.

"Do that one." Nicole tells me, coming over.

She's pointing to one of the dresses that I thought was really nice. But somehow, her telling me to choose it makes it seem like...less.

"Maybe." I say, but I've already vetoed it in my mind.

After about thirty minutes, I've narrowed it down to two of the dresses. A medium length dark blue one, and a shorter black and white one.

I'm leaning more towards the blue one, when Nicole informs me of her opinion once again.

"The blue one is pretty."

So I choose the other one. Seriously, what's wrong with me? Why am I doing the opposite of what she suggests?
Maybe I just suddenly value her opinion less.

We stop at the food court quickly to buy hot pretzels.

We sit down at our spots and I blurt out what I wanted to tell Nicole this whole week, but just couldn't for no particular reason.

"I'm going to the Dance with Owen today."

Nicole pauses mid pretzel bite.

"Seriously?"

"Uh huh."

"Cool." She smiles, but I can tell that she doesn't really mean it.

"What's the matter?"

"It's just...Don't you think it's weird that right after you and Ava fight, you decide to go to the Dance with her long-time crush?"

"He asked ME!" I cry. "And we're only going as friends."

"Right, but how do you think Ava will see it? She doesn't even know yet that you and Owen are friends." 

"I don't care what she thinks." I mutter, kicking the table leg.

"Well, you should care. She's my friend. And no matter what you say, she's still your friend too."

I hate the tone Nicole's using. Why is she suddenly acting all peacemaker-like? She usually is the peacemaker, but her last attempt at fixing me and Ava's fight failed horribly. We ended up even angrier than we were before.

"Well-" I begin to speak, but apparently, Nicole's not done talking.

"And Tiegan hasn't done anything to you either. So why do you act like she doesn't exist? No wonder she doesn't like you!"

"But-"

"And Lillian tells me that you told her the other day that you're not sure she's even your best friend anymore! What is UP with you, Talia? Do you want everyone in your life to hate you?"

"No, I don't!" I finally cut in, pushing my chair back and standing up. "But it seems like people want to hate me anyways, so what's the point in trying to stop them?!"

Nicole says nothing, just stares up at me.

"I won't bother you anymore." I seethe icily. "See you at the Dance."

***

"How does the dress look?"

I twirl nervously in front of the mirror.

"It looks...like a dress." Austin drawls. "Can I leave now?"

He doesn't wait for my answer. Just gets up and closes the door behind him with a huff of annoyance.  

"You're just jealous of my beauty!" I call through the door.

"Am not!"

I'm glad that only grade seven and up were invited to the Winter Dance. I feel like if Austin were invited, he'd somehow humiliate me. And imagine if he knew I had a DATE. I'm terrified just imagining it.

Lillian doesn't have someone to go with. Neither does Nicole. I don't know if Ava does. It's not like I ever bothered to ask her after the fight.

The other people who I know are going together are; Shay and Arit, Kendric and Candice, Finn and Isabelle. Those are all the couples of my grade.

If anyone asked anyone else as their date, I'll either hear it through the grapevine or see it tonight at the Dance.

Also, I'm pretty sure Jared isn't going with anyone. Is it weird that I still feel excited about it, even after he made it clear he doesn't like me?

I'll just mark it down as another one of those charming quirks of mine.

I yelp when I notice the time. The Dance already started! And without me? Unbelievable!

I quickly run a brush through my hair, which I've decided to leave down. I get a ride from Dad, while trying to dodge his questions about who my date is. Really, I hope I'm never that nosy of my children.

I skip into the school and head to the gym.

My first glance of my first school dance is not great. It's too dark. I can barely see anyone's faces. It's too loud. The music practically shakes the entire gym. And it's too hot. But what should I expect of a room filled with sweaty tweens and teens?

But it's still a Dance. Which makes it amazing.

I look for my friends first. I texted Nicole earlier and gave an apology for getting angry at the Mall. Well, a half apology. I'm not actually sorry, obviously. I'm just trying to avoid yet another fight. 

But when I can't find them, I search for Owen instead. He is my date after all.

Hmmm, I should stop thinking of him as my date. That sounds like we're a couple.

When I find him, I give an enthusiastic thumbs up.

"You look good! Well, better than usual." I tease.

"Right back at you." He winks.

Turning around, he gestures to the snacks that are laid out on tables, for very "cheap" prices. (I'm being sarcastic. Since when does a chocolate bar cost five dollars?)

"Have you seen the refreshments they chose? Unacceptable!"

"Is there ever a time when you aren't thinking about food?"

"Never!" Owen gasps, looking extremely affronted.

"Forget I asked." I laugh.

"Gladly." He huffs. "Want a drink?"

"Sure." I smile, handing him some coins. "I'll have the orange soda."

He nods and disappears from my view.   

I decide to do one more search for my friends. They shouldn't be too difficult to spot anyway. (Nicole's blonde hair, Lillian's bright clothes, and Ava's loud voice make them pretty easy to find. And if Tiegan's with them, it'll make it even easier, because I'll be able to sense her evil aura.  Kidding! Well, maybe.)

So when I spot the neon yellow dress, I follow the girl wearing it, almost certain it's Lillian. When the girl turns around, I'm proven correct. Her hair is in a (shocking!) braid. Her dress is even brighter than I first thought against her dark skin. Basically, she's dressed exactly how I predicted she would be.

I'm about to call out her name when her green eyes flash in recognition at the sight of me. In a blink, she's gone.
What in the world? Why did she just run away like that?

I'll just ask her later, I suppose.

I continue looking for my other friends instead.

It takes only two minutes before I see the blonde hair pass by my right. As to not repeat the encounter minutes earlier, I call out her name as quickly as possible, before she leaves.

"Nicole!"

She slowly turns around and gives me a small wave. She's wearing the turquoise dress she picked out earlier at the mall, and her short hair is in a loose side ponytail. I think she shined her glasses as well. And I almost laugh out loud when I notice she's wearing running shoes under the dress.

Then again, it's funny, but not exactly surprising.    

"Hi." Nicole greets me shortly.

"Um, what did I do to you guys to make you so annoyed at me?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yeah, you do. Lillian ran away when she saw me, and you tried to do the same. So tell me-What terrible thing have I done now? Because I sure as heck have no idea."

"You. Did. Not. Do. Anything." Nicole fumes. "Okay? Just drop it already."

"Fine." I snap.

We stare at each other for a few moments, some annoyance in our glares.

"I'm going to get some chips." Nicole informs me after a bit.

"For four dollars?!" I blurt out. Why, oh why did I not just let her go, without making things more awkward than they already are?

"FOUR dollars!" Nicole exclaims. Then her eyes widen. "I mean, I knew that already. So yeah. I'm going to buy chips for four-" She winces. "-dollars."

"Okay..." I regard her strangely as she slips away.

Now I HAVE to follow her. Because she's obviously not going to get chips. Nicole's a really terrible liar.

I see that she's at the corner of the gym and, ugh, Tiegan's with her. And so is Ava. Ugh.

Whatever. I'll just ignore them.

I'm striding over there determinedly when a certain redheaded figure blocks my path.

"Oh, hi Owen."

"I brought drinks!" He says happily, handing me the root beer I never asked for.

"I thought I ordered orange soda." I frown at the brown liquid, which is most definitely NOT orange. 

"You did." He grins cheekily at me. "But I decided I have better taste than you, so I got something else."

"Right." I roll my eyes, then stick out a hand. "Can I have a refund?"

"No can do." He shrugs. "I spent it all on the drinks."

I groan. Then, remembering my unfinished business with Nicole, I hand Owen my drink.

"Sorry, but I need to talk to my friends quickly."

"Sure." He smiles. "I'll be right here."

So I continue my mission, stomping as quietly as I can as I head towards my friends, frenemy and enemy.

I consider just grabbing Nicole and Lillian, then make a break for it before I even have to look at Tiegan or Ava.

But I still have my pride and ego to think of, so I'd rather not be a coward in front of all my classmates.

Or...Maybe I can ask Owen to distract everyone as I embarrass myself. That's an idea.

Or...I can just stop trying to talk to my friends since they're most definitely up to something. That's an even better idea.

And yet, my brain ignores these excellent suggestions and sneaks over to them, hiding behind a group of eighth graders.

I'm able to listen in on their conversation from my spot, so I do, rather shamelessly.

"-and I was able to get away at the last second."

"Well, I had to have a conversation with her before I could leave! It was really uncomfortable."

Are Lillian and Nicole talking about ME? How rude.

"Poor you." Ava laughs sharply.

I glare at her, although I have to admit, the girl does look good in red. That's the colour dress she's wearing.

Tiegan stands beside her, smirking. She, on the other hand, does not look good in the green piece she has on. Or maybe I'm just a little biased.

"Did you see the dress she has on?" Tiegan snickers. "So...boring."

You must have no fashion sense.

"Definitely." Lillian agrees. "And she came here with a BOY."

Nicole and Tiegan spin around to face Lillian, eyes wide, making gestures for her to be quiet. Ava stills, her hands slowly drawing into fists.

I think you said the wrong thing, Lillian. I guess Ava knows I went with Owen. Or else she wouldn't look this angry. Ha, take that!

Suddenly, Ava grabs a cup of grape juice from the table next to her and thrusts it into Nicole's hands.

"Here." She breathes, eyes gleaming. "Throw this all over her hideous dress."

None of them have to ask who she's talking about. They all know it's me.
Then Tiegan and Lillian break into devilish grins.

"That'll be hilarious!" Lillian cackles.

"Oh, let me be the one who does it! Please?" Tiegan begs.

"Why don't we all get a cup?" Ava suggests and everyone but Nicole cheers. 

Nicole just stands there, cup in hand, staring at the contents.

Don't go along with it, Nicole. Please don't go along with it. For the sake of my dress, for the sake of my reputation, for the sake of our FRIENDSHIP. Just don't do it.

Nicole finally jerks her head up and it looks like she's made a decision.

"You know what?" She jeers. "Let's do it."

And that's when I turn on my heel and flee.