"Summer!" Anna called down the hallway at the end of the day of Tuesday. The petite brunette turned around as Anna hurried towards her. "Hey, I was wondering if you were busy this afternoon - maybe we could go shopping for dresses for the Winter Dance?" Anna asked her, hesitantly. She and Summer were friendly now, but they hadn't spent much time alone together.

Summer smiled at the blonde. "Sure," she agreed. "Fashion Island?"

"Is there anywhere else?" Anna valley-girled back.

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The best thing about shopping at Fashion Island was that every boutique had great dressing rooms, complete with benches and shoes, so a prospective buyer could see the full, accessorized effect of the outfit. Summer smoothed the skirt on a potential dress and called for Anna to come in.

"I'm not sure." Summer frowned at her reflection.

"I would kill to look like that in that dress." It really wasn't fair, Anna noted. Summer looked incredible in just about everything. Now, she was clad in a fitted red dress that traced her enviable curves.

"I kind of want something more romantic," Summer noted. "I mean, this dress is more 'hey baby' than 'hello sweetheart' - do you know what I mean?"

"Hang on-" Anna dashed out of the fitting room and returned with her hands behind her back. "What do you think about. this?" She pulled a dress behind her back and held it out for Summer's approval.

"Ohmigod." Summer's voice trailed off as she eyed the gown. It wasn't like anything she'd typically pick out, but it was perfect.

The dress was long, a gauzy pinkish cream dashed with tiny crystals on a filmy fine lace. The bodice was a deep v-neck, offset by tiny lace cap sleeves. It was Eliza Doolittle becoming My Fair Lady. It was Versace. Summer reached for the tag and gasped. It was more than she had ever spent on a single item of clothing. She took the dress from Anna reverently.

Anna kept speaking on the other side of the room after Summer closed the door between them. "Now, of course, that's way too much for a high school dance, but I was thinking that we could footnote the style and look for something similar, maybe a knock-off around-"

Anna stopped talking as the door swung open. Summer stood in front of her in the dress, glowing.

"Or you just buy that one."

"Girl after my own heart." Summer looked at her reflection and squealed. "Now, Miss Anna, it's time to find something for you. Let me just pay for this and the mission begins!"

Anna laughed as Summer quickly slipped out of the dress and back into her regular clothes. "You're the boss, after all."

Summer emerged from the dressing room, the gown draped over her arm.

"Or should I say, you're soon to be the queen." Anna corrected with a smile.

"I don't think so." Summer and Anna stopped laughing at the sound of a tight voice behind them.

Marissa.

She smiled a fake smile at the two girls and raised her eyebrows at Summer's dress. "Summer, interesting choice? Going for the undercover slut look for once?"

Normally, Summer would have responded with a sharp, feisty comeback. But this was Marissa. the girl who'd been her best friend. Thankfully, Anna jumped between them.

"No, but I can see that you're going for the stuck-up bitch look," Anna remarked. "That style really works well for you."

"Please." Marissa rolled her eyes. "Like any insults from the Pittsburgh Reject really sting. And Anna - why don't you try to find a guy who actually likes you, instead of hanging around Ryan, trying to get with my rejects? Or did you not learn your lesson with Seth?" With that, Marissa spun on her heel and strode out of the boutique.

"Oh, god." Summer slid a comforting arm around Anna. The small blonde was visibly shaken. "I'm so sorry, Anna. She's just jealous because it's obvious that Ryan is interested in you."

"What?" Anna looked at her questioningly.

"Oh, do not play dumb with me," Summer teased gently. "You know, Miss Anna," she remarked as she paid for the dress, "I saw the way you used to look at Seth. It was obvious that you thought he was a great guy, which, of course he is." She paused. "But when you're with Ryan, it's like you two are giving off heat - your energy just feeds off of his."

"Kind of like you and Seth," Anna remarked.

"Exactly." Summer grinned triumphantly. "So, you admit that you're into him?"

Anna blushed a deep scarlet. She gave Summer a small nod.

"Alright, Miss Anna." Summer swung the garment bag with her dress in it over her shoulder. "Two step plan: first, secure the dress, and second, secure the date."

Anna laughed and agreed as they headed into the next boutique.