Chapter 6

I’ve been sitting at the Book Nook for over an hour and all I’ve accomplished is a sentence. Plus drinking my favourite drink here: Chocolate fudge frappe. Along with a piece of raspberry cheesecake though I doubt they’ll help me pass the history assignment.
I promised myself when I got off the train that I would stay focused and get my work done. If it isn’t already obvious, I’ve failed majorly.
I hear a noise and look across the table to see Cassie chuckling to herself probably some Percy Jackson meme. Another series we both like.
She’s wearing a grey band tee with some blue jeans and this really cute brown jacket that has loads of pockets. She wears the jacket all the time out of school and I have become so jealous that I’m tempted to steal it.
“You alright?”
Shit. I realise I’ve been staring.
“Yeah…sorry in the clouds.” I gesture to my head.
“Anything juicy?”
Well, where do I start I’m planning on stealing your jacket because I have wanted one forever or that only a couple hours ago, I was kissing the one girl you warned me not fall for.
Though I doubt both of those would go down well so instead I say, “Pretty hectic morning; had training.”
“Nice but just a little guess there’s something more to it.” She says this while giving me am-I-right look.
I’m hesitant to tell her but maybe she can give me some advice. “I kinda… well… I did kiss Rosalie-Mae this morning in a supply closet and it’s not uh…the first time shall I say.”
“In a supply closet?” Surprisingly, her tone seems amused not angry.
Not able to help myself I burst out laughing; how does she always make me laugh without even trying.
“I am that funny?” She asks while laughing herself.
“Yes…yes…yes.” I gasp out in between my bouts of laughter.
Once I’ve finally sobered up, I fully explain how I met and now fallen for Rosalie-Mae Bradford.
“So that’s why you’re always checking her out at school.” She says with slight tease to her voice.
I choke on my drink mortified. Is it really that obvious that I like her? Can Rosa tell?
As if reading my thoughts “Don’t worry, it’s not that obvious.”
I internally breathe a sigh of relief.
“That’s good, but I don’t even have an outfit for the dance.”
I hadn’t been planning on going to the Halloween dance with it not being the big P-R-O-M I didn’t see the importance of going. It wasn’t like I even had anyone to got with. Until now.
“Well, I’m no fashionista but I’m gonna take an educated guess and say you can’t go in a hoodie and jeans.”
I pout.
“You sure?”
“Unfortunately, so.”
I sit there debating what to do when suddenly Cassie speaks again “Let’s ditch this.”
She can’t possibly be serious we have to present our PowerPoint on Wednesday.
“What?”
“You heard me let’s ditch this.”
“But what are we gonna do?”
“Shopping, of course.”
                                              ***
“I’ve read that one.” I say pointing to a murder mystery, “And that one.” An enemy to lovers “Oh and- “

“Hold fire. Let me take a guess that you’ve another one in here and all the rest.” Cassie says with a cheeky smile on her face.

It’s not even humanly possible to read all the books here but it would be fair to say I am one of those who have tried. Every time I go anywhere, I seek out a Waterstones and go and add to my never ending tbr. This time I’m doing it to avoid going shopping. Don’t get me wrong I love new clothes but, a very big but, I can never find clothes that suit me and make me feel good. I don’t even have a style unless you count wearing hoodies 24/7.

“I just don’t like shopping.” I mumble to myself.

“What did you say?”

“Just how I bet you have too.”

“Blasphemy, that would require me to actually live like a normal person.”

I start giggling. I’m seriously never going to be able to get rid of the ‘giggling gremlin’ nickname.

“C’mon we can come back later.” She tells me before grabbing my hand and dragging, willingly, me out of the store and onto the Highstreet.
“Where are you taking me?”
“The cheapest, always changing, keeping up with fashion better than any influencer…Primark.”
Okay, okay I can get behind Primark. When my mum eventually convinces me to go shopping Primark is my go-to; I always end up leaving with my bag feeling like bricks.
The shop is bustling with so many people I wonder if the fire safety number is being breached.
“Go nuts.” Cassie tells me as she hands me a basket.
I head to the top section and pick up anything that’s remotely cute, a few experimental pieces, and a couple that I’ve seen online as being popular. I don’t really care about fashion trends but maybe that’s where I have been going wrong all the years.
Next, I pick up this really cute army green denim skirt along with, of course, a bunch hoodies.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cassie trying to discreetly slip in what looks like a cat meme top.
I internally roll my eyes.
Finally, we head over to the changing rooms, and the queue is enormous but the moment I try and make an excuse to leave Cassie just pushes me forward. Who knew she could be so determined.
After what feel like an eternity we reach the front of queue.

“How many items have you got today?” a bored worker asks.

“15.”

“Sorry you’re only allowed ten items.”

“Oh okay, give me one second.”

I start sifting through the bag hyperaware of the impatient queue behind me. My palms start to sweat. I’m about to say forget it completely when Cassie speaks from beside me “Oh the other ones are mine.” Giving the lady a conspiratorial wink.

The lady winks back and hands me the tab “Number 12.”
I thank her and make my way to the cubicle; Cassie follows me inside.

The second the door shuts I shout in a whisper “What did you that for?”

“You looked like you were about to bolt and wasn’t about to miss out on the opportunity to see you in the most amazing cat top ever.”

“Okay but why did you follow me in here then?” I’m not going to let her off the hook that easily.

It’s her turn to roll her eyes, “Because I want to see you in that cat top and I don’t trust you not to try anything on if I’m not in here to keep an eye on you.”

I give her a look.
“The eye will be closed.”
I internally chuckle.
Why am I always laughing when I’m around her? I’m starting to think she’s the one whose put a spell on me.
“Fine but if I catch you peeking even once I will kick you out and you’ll never hear from me again. Understood?”
“Yes ma’am.” She says with a salute like she’s a solider.
First, I try on the skirt only to realise that you can’t move without flashing people. After that I give the tops a go but all of them end up going in the no pile and only a much-needed pair of joggers for after swimming make it into the yes pile.
I save the best for last the cat meme top; it’s a super cute cat eating ramen out of a bowl with a symbol in Japanese in the background. It’s so adorable!
“You can look now.” I tell Cassie; she’s sitting on the stall with her hands covering her eyes, waiting, strangely, patiently.  
The moment her eyes open so does her mouth, “You have to get it.”
“Absolutely. I really did save the best for last.”
“Well about that…” She starts pulling a dress out of the very bottom of the bag. “The price is a little higher than your normal price but it’s just stunning and I couldn’t not pick it up. You have to try it on.”
I’m about to protest but she gives me the mother of all puppy eyes, and I simply can’t say no.
She hands it to me and once again closes her eyes. I shimmy into it.
I turn back to Cassie, “You can open them.”
Her eyes bulge so big I think they’re going to pop out of her head.
“Is everything alright? Do I look like shit?”
“Uh…just look in the mirror.”
I slowly turn scared about what I’m going to see and once I do, I’m left breathless.
It’s so dark a blue it looks almost black. There are tiny silver specks scattered across the fabric that look like someone has stitched stars into the fabric. There is also a slit that goes to the bottom of my thigh that looks right. In this dress I feel confident. I feel like a goddess. In the ranks of the cool girls. Unstoppable
I mange to pull my gaze away from the mirror and back to Cassie.
“I know it doesn’t give Halloween vibes as- “
I cut her off “It’s amazing.”
She smiles.
“You look magnificent and that’s not even adequate enough word for how you look.”
Any breath I had regained disappeared once more. I feel tears springing to my eyes; I’ve never had a compliment as amazing as that. Before I can get lost in the meaning behind her words my phone pings.
Rosa: Oh, by the way, it’s a masquerade. Hope you haven’t bought anything yet. Xx
My stomach sinks.
“It’s a masquerade.” I tell her defeatedly.
“It will still work.” She says quicker than the speed of light.
“Are you sure? Still feeling sceptical.
“Absolutely.” She persists with such confidence any doubts are washed away.
“Well, next mission: find the mask.”
                                         ***
  As we walk back to the train station Cassie keeps insisting that she is the best wing-woman this world has ever seen. Her reasoning being on top of finding the dress and cat top she managed to find the perfect mask. The mask and the dress match so well they look like they’re set.
“I pulled it off with no notice, I’m sure that deserves medal.”
“Fine you can have a medal, Wing woman.”
“Yay! Also talking about last minute I’m having my eighteenth party after school this Friday and I was wondering if you wanted to come.”
“Definitely! Where are you having it?” I’m ecstatic to be invited but at the same time already combing through all my memories of us hanging out and chatting to think of a gift she would love.
“At Lucky Pins, the bowling place just a couple streets over from the train station. Then dinner afterwards.”
“Sounds perfect. Now I just need to come up with another outfit.”
“You could where the cat top.” She says grinning.
“Maybe.” I tease.
Cassie argues the top’s case the whole train ride home and until she drops me off at my door. For the rest of the evening, I try to imagine a better day than todays, but I can’t. Today was perfect and all because of Cassandra Anderson.

To prove to a certain someone, you know who you are, that I can spell absolutely I have included 3 in this part alone. 🙂
– I.B