"You look so pretty!"
"Y-ya really think so?"
"I know so!"
Dollface blushed, swaying in a sundress as Laura bubbled around her.
She was so glad Frankie had been paired up with Anit. Frankie seemed to be the only one immune to verbal abuse.
"You think we should go with this one?" Laura asked. Dollface studied Laura's face. Round, soft, timeless….
Laura was perfect with her brunette hair in pigtails and hazel eyes.
So perfectly symmetrical.
How would imperfect Dollface even have a chance?
And why did Laura choose her of all people to go on this trip?
"I'm not sure." Dollface mumbled, "It is November."
"Yeah, in California. Southern California." Claudine said. Claudine fluffed her dark curls.
Laura turned to Claudine. Dollface took that as a chance to study her high-bridged nose.
"You're right. But it is getting dark…"
Claudine smiled full lips. "Get what you want, girlie."
Dollface shifted in her black boots.
"Definitely need new shoes." Laura said, "I think you'd look great in Louboutins!"
Dollface's breath caught in her throat like cold fish.
No.
She couldn't.
Not again.
Never again.
"I-I can't walk in heels!"
Laura blinked.
Claudine kept looking through the rack of furs. She always had a fur stole around her neck, adding a classic Hollywood feel to her animal patterned aesthetic.
"I don't feel quite right." Dollface said, trying to change the subject. She couldn't take advantage of these people. And she just knew they thought she was some dirty whore among their immaculate perfection.
"I have an idea." Laura smiled, "And I think you'll like it!"
…."'Baby the Stars Shine Bright for You'?"
Dollface looked up at the sign.
Laura grabbed her shoulders. Dollface didn't feel her usual need to shake it off, and instead welcomed and relished the feeling. "I think that one's perfect for you."
Dollface felt the whispers in her ear and gulped.
It was pretty.
Very pretty.
"A big heart on your chest, overall straps, some extra petticoats and that pretty pink blouse to offset the matching lace…." Claudine sighed, "Lolita's perfect for you."
Dollface shifted her feet, looking at the dainty baby pink boots with gold heart buckles that would go up her calves. She looked at the chunky, Go-Go boot heels.
"Okay." Laura scooped her into a hug, squealing happy, "I've been wanting to come here since they opened their first overseas location!"
Dollface glanced at the bows on the shoe straps.
And then the little teddy bear purse across the mannequin's chest
"Yeah, I can see why!" Dollface let out a giggle, wanting to be held by Laura forever.
Hell, she'd even convert to be with Laura!
Laura held Dollface's hand and walked into the store, Claudine holding the glass door open and enjoying the little jingle bell's merry tune...
...Dollface crested the stairs of the restaurant and onto the greenhouse roof.
Anit waved, sitting across from Frankie. She smiled at Dollface.
Did Anit just have really bad blood sugar problems?
Dollface sat at the table, Laura following next to her in a hot pink dress with corset laces and all the other fancy gothic details left to think up.
Claudine sat down soon after and commented nicely on Frankie's new outfit.
It may as well have been her school uniform.
Claudine fluffed her ruff and looked at the menu, nibbling her appetizer bread roll. "Anythang look good today?"
Dollface spaced out while the girls chatted about food she couldn't pronounce. Dollface looked at her menu.
The only thing she recognized was the steak.
Fair enough, a decaf, black, and a steak would be a nice enough dinner, plus it was the cheapest thing there, making the bill less offensive.
"Promise t'pay ya back." She murmured to Laura, playing with the stuffed bunny cross body bag from the store.
"Don't worry, it's on me!"
They ordered their meals, and after mild conversation, of which Dollface teetered on the edge of, not really part of it.
She found Laura's hand.
And found it squeezing back from under the table.
Dollface felt...
Whole, again.
Dollface got weird looks for ordering a medium rare steak while the others ordered amazing dishes with unpronounceable names, mostly including lavish things like 'Kale' and 'Alternative Meat'.
And then they went home, laughing and joking and considering their day to have been a good day.
even if the morning had been pretty rough.
