Emma and Rydel spent about an hour inside of Forever 21 before tiring down. While Rydel purchased a few new tops, Emma hadn't found anything too special. Emma felt a bit disappointed about leaving the store without purchasing anything new. That is until they headed for the exit and Emma spotted a dress. No, definitely not a dress for prom. 'But it's really cute.' Emma thought, eyeing the garment. The dress was a little black cocktail dress, one of those skintight ones that could look gross if you didn't get the correct size. It had three-quarter length sleeves, which Emma thought made the dress look updated and chic. She tried to think of what she could ever possibly wear the dress to as she began walking past it, then had an idea; the party to celebrate R5 signing with Hollywood Records. 'That could be perfect.' she thought, then turned to Rydel. "Hey Rydel, do you think I could try on this one dress? I think it might be just what I want for the party in a couple of nights." Rydel's face, which just moments before looked ready for a nap, brightened up once again. "Of course, you can try on a dress for the party! Oh my gosh, you have no clue how excited I am for it." Rydel continued to tell Emma about all the celebrities she had heard may come to the party as the two headed for the dressing room, Emma carrying the little black dress.
Emma walked into the waiting room where Rydel sat, and looked in the mirror. She felt unusual. The dress was slimming, much more slimming than what she usually wore. Sure, it showed off her curves, and Emma noticed that her stomach, which was her usual problem area, didn't look too bad. "How perfect!" Rydel commented. "Wow Emma, you're going to look sexy in that dress." "Sexy? Great, I'm going to look like one of those make-up-covered, fake hair-and-nails girls from my school that I always make fun of." Emma told Rydel, recalling some teens in her school that would push the limit of the dress code by wearing a short skirt and low-cut top. Emma had never been like those girls. She had always been a minimalist when it came to make-up, and she had never gotten highlights in her hair before. "No way, Emma, you'll look totally normal. Trust me, other girls will be wearing much skimpier clothes, especially if they're only there to flirt with my brothers. And trust me, there'll be some of those girls." Rydel said, sticking her tongue out in disgust. "But you, you'll look chic and sophisticated! Especially in a pair of sparkling heels and some pretty jewelry. By the way, I think I have the perfect pair of heels for that dress." She told her friend with a smile. "Really?" Emma asked, still indecisive about the dress. "Wait, what are you wearing to this party?" "One of my classic tutus, of course!" Rydel said, a big smile on her face. Rydel was known to wear a different tutu while performing in all of R5's concerts, so of course she'd want to wear one to the party. Emma smiled, then looked in the mirror one last time. 'Well,' she thought. 'This whole week has been full of new experiences. Why not add just one more by wearing a dress that's out of the ordinary?'
Moments later, Emma and Rydel left Forever 21, both with bags in their hands. Emma was excited, not only to be leaving with a new dress, but also excited that the dress was only the pretty price of $16.50. Emma knew that, with the help of the shoes and jewelry that Rydel had agreed to let her borrow, the dress would look like it cost far more than what she had payed. The two headed for Rydel's car now, both feeling tired and ready to rest their feet. Rydel continued to tell Emma more about what she knew so far about the party as they drove to Emma's hotel. She told her about the extravagant building it would be held at that sat right on the beach, next to the water. While Rydel spoke, Emma continued to get more and more excited for the party. Rydel finished telling Emma what she knew about the party as they pulled up by the entrance of the hotel. "Anyway, it's going to be so, so fun." Rydel said excitedly. "I'll get those shoes and that jewelry to you before the party, by the way. Oh gosh, you're going to look so good!" Emma laughed. "Thanks, I know you'll look great too. And thanks for taking me shopping today, it was really fun." Rydel smiled. "I had a lot of fun, too. Wish we could do it again sometime." Rydel added. It reminded Emma that she would, in fact, be leaving in only a few days. And after that, she wasn't even sure if she'd ever see Rydel again. Or the rest of her family. 'Including Ross." Emma thought, feeling a bit sad suddenly. She tried to smile anyway. "Yeah." she told Rydel. "I'll see you later, okay?" Rydel smiled and nodded, then waved as she drove off.
Emma got inside her hotel room, then walked straight to her bed and lied down. Then, it was quiet. The most quiet it had been all day. And Emma was alone, with only her thoughts. 'It's bittersweet.' she began to think. 'I mean, I'm excited to get to go back home and see my family and friends again. And I miss them. I'll have so much to tell them all.' Emma frowned, knowing the break-up wouldn't exactly be the most wonderful news. 'But I'm really going to miss it here. Los Angeles is so different for a suburbs girl like me, it's so extraordinary. And the people here...' her mind trailed on, thinking of the Austin and Ally cast and crew, the Lynch family... "And Ross." She said aloud, a bit surprised at herself. Who would have known she would miss one person so much after only knowing them for a week?
Emma's thoughts were interrupted suddenly from a vibration in her pocket. She had received a new text from... "Jackson?" Emma pressed the open button immidiatly, then read the screen. "I was wrong, Emma. I'm really sorry. Want to get back together?"
Emma's mind was blank. She couldn't think straight. She almost couldn't believe her eyes. This guy, who only a couple days before decided to break her heart by telling her that he'd found another girl and that it was over, wanted her to forgive him and start dating him again. 'How... how could he do this?' she thought. He broke her heart. He cheated on her. And now he wanted her back. Emma continued to stare at her phone screen. 'Should... should I text him back? What should I say? What should I do.' It was so overwhelming, and Emma felt her eyes become moist. It was odd, she was almost completely sure that after she'd cried so much a few days earlier, she'd be finished. And she'd have moved on. And she'd text back immidiatly with some spiffy message about how she was too good for him and he had lost his chance with something great. But that girl wasn't there. Instead, there was a confused, unconfident girl, with trembling hands and a throbbing mind.
Finally, she couldn't take it. She had to get out of that room. Go somewhere. Anywhere. Get her mind on something else. Through the blurriness in her mind, she had an idea. She sent a quick text, fingers shaking as she did so. It was to Ross. "Hey, can we go to a party? Like a real party." It was something she had never done before, go to a party in a huge house with loud music and alcohol. It wasn't something she was into either. But right then, she just wanted to get away. And that seemed like the best possibly way to at the time.
Ross texted her back a minute later. "I can ask around. You really want to go to a party? Doesn't seem like your thing." 'That's cause it isn't.' she thought, but just texted back quickly. "Just thought it sounded fun." Emma went into her bathroom and fixed up her hair some. She didn't want to change clothes. She had never taken off her shoes since she'd gotten back. Her phone finally vibrated, and her hand shook as it opened the phone. "My friend Andrew has a party going on tonight. You sure you're up to it?" Emma quickly responded. "Yeah. I'll pick you up in a few?" She didn't wait for a response. She put in different earrings and a headband so that she wouldn't look so pathetic. She grabbed her purse and was about to leave. But she felt so awful. She felt like her self-esteem had plummeted. She sat on the carpet of her hotel room and cried for a few minutes, then got up and left through one of the side entrances of the hotel to avoid anyone seeing her. As she walked to her car, she turned off her phone and threw it in her purse. She wouldn't be looking at it for the rest of the night. She wouldn't think about Jackson any longer.