Chapter 4: An Eventful Day of Dress Shopping
Cagalli stared wide-eyed at the large racks of elegant white dresses. "And..." she paused, awestruck. "I have to pick one of these?" She gently touched one with her fingertip, winced, then turned to Lacus. "Can't I just wear pants?"
Lacus giggled at her best friend's remark. "Of course not, silly. It's your wedding, you want to look pretty, don't you?" Cagalli said nothing.
"It won't be too hard finding a dress," Stellar reassured her. She patted Cagalli gently on the back.
"Too hard?" Cagalli repeated. Her eyes were sharp as daggers. "Too hard? This will be like trying to find a needle in a haystack!"
"That's why I'm here to help you."
A somewhat curvaceous brunette stepped out from behind the racks. She looked very professional in her pencil skirt and white, button-up blouse. Her half moon spectacles sat at the end of her nose.
"Cagalli, this is Autumn," introduced Lacus with a smile. "She's here to help you."
"I can't believe this," said Cagalli. She shook her head.
Autumn laughed softly. "Overwhelmed?" she asked.
"By what?" asked Cagalli. She placed her hands on her hips. "Do you mean by all the frilly dresses or my best friend?"
"I see," smiled Autumn. "Girls?" She pointed at Stellar, Meer and Lacus. "Would you like to look for bridesmaid dresses while I help this young lady?"
"Definitely!" beamed Meer. Lacus tapped Cagalli on the shoulder as she was leaving.
"Good luck," she whispered in her ear.
"I'll need it..." Cagalli whispered back. Meer, Lacus, and Stellar left the room.
"So," said Autumn as she picked up a clipboard. "What kind of wedding gown do you think you're looking for?"
Cagalli blinked a few times. "I don't really know..." she answered. "I'd prefer wearing pants...do you have any of those?"
Autumn laughed. "Only if you want to wear a tuxedo, darling," she said. "Now what size are you?"
"Maybe an 8...?" answered Cagalli, her arms folded tightly over her chest.
Autumn tapped her index finger against her chin a few times, then smiled. "I think I have a few ideas. I'll be right back."
The first dress was an absolute no-go. It was designed to be a low, strapless gown with a tight bodice and a long, full flowing skirt.
"It's strapless..." complained Cagalli. She was constantly pulling the dress up, though it wasn't exactly falling down. "I don't think this will work..."
"I think it overshadows you a little..." said Autumn. "Okay, you can take that off now. I have another one."
The dress Autumn returned with was slightly better than the first. "It's okay, I guess..." said Cagalli, smoothing out the skirt with her fingers. It was a plain, straight, long, white dress.
Autumn made a rueful face. "No offense to you, but I think it's horrid..." she said, shielding her eyes. "It looks like an oversized T-shirt! Take it off!"
Cagalli took one last glance in the mirror before slipping the dress over her head. "Do you have anything else?" she asked. She was desperately hoping that a 'no' would come out of Autumn's lips. Then maybe she could wear pants...
"Yes, we do!" smiled Autumn. She turned on her heel and ran to the back room.
"Damn..." murmured Cagalli.
Several hours later, Cagalli collapsed into a chair, her blonde hair a mess and her clothes rumpled. "I'll never find a wedding dress that's right for me!"
"Don't worry," said Autumn. She felt somewhat sorry for the tomboy in front of her. She placed her hands on Cagalli's shoulders. "There's a dress in the back. It would be a little big, but if it were altered, I think that it would be absolutely perfect for you!"
As soon as the dress slipped over her head, Cagalli knew it was the one. The dress was a brilliant snow color, with a neckline that scooped just low enough to show her shoulders. The front was designed like a corset with emerald ribbons that tied up the front and down the back. It had a full, but not too full, flowing skirt.
"It's perfect..."
"Great!" smiled Autumn. "Go put your clothes back on, and I'll take care of it for you!"
This Chapter Updated 11/10/2010
