***********************************
I looked across at the table from the top of my menu. They were staring at each other. They made me really nauseous.
"Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Yes?" I asked absent-mindedly.
"What do you think? Red roses or white?" Harry asked.
"Frankly, I don't care!" I snapped and left.
************************************
I arrived home shortly after ten and Tara was the only one left up.
"Hermione!"
"Tara." I nodded, flinging my purse halfway across the room.
"Didn't go well, did it?" She observed my slumped over purse.
"He's....getting married, Tara." I said quietly.
"WHAT!?!?" She said, her eyes bugging out.
"In three weeks." I continued, looking down so she couldn't see the tears forming in my eyes.
"That snot of a....BITCH!" She fumed, kicking the table.
"Carmen?" I asked.
"Yeah...her." Tara said gritting her teeth.
"Don't be mad to side with me." I said sighing.
"I'm not mad to side with you! I'm mad because Carmen is stealing away your key to happiness!" Tara said.
I looked at her.
"Yes! I want to see you happy, Hermione. You've been just simply almost unbearable to live with the last two weeks and I know it's because of Harry." She continued.
"I'm miserable because I'm confused! I'm torn between emotions!" I said dramatically.
She gave me a funny half-smile look.
"Admit it." She said.
"Admit........what?" I said.
"Admit you love Harry."
"NO!" I said, shocked.
"YES! SAY IT!" She screamed.
...
"OK! I LOVE HARRY!" I shouted, and suddenly I felt this HUGE weight lifted off my chest.
Tara gave me a satasfied smirk.
"Goodnight!" I said, dragging my feet and my purse.
" 'Night." She yawned.
I opened my door and then slammed it shut. I pulled off my clothes and searched around and found my cow pajamas shoved into a corner. I settled into bed and soon fell fast asleep.
*******************************
"BRRRRRRRRRING! BRRRRRRRRRING!" The phone rang and I blinked my eyes open, rubbing sleep out of them.
"H-Hello?" I said, stifling a yawn.
"Hermione?" It was Harry.
"You call people this early?" I groaned, getting up.
"No, but I have to ask you something. Well...Carmen wanted me to ask you."
"Yes?" I asked.
"She wanted to know if you'll be her bridesmaid for the wedding." Harry told me.
"Bridesmaid?!" I said, falling off the corner of my bed.
"Are you ok? What was that thud?" Harry questioned.
"Window! It...gets stuck a lot." I lied.
"Ah."
"Sure....I guess. What do I have to do?" I asked.
"We're shopping for...I mean, they are, going to pick out dresses." Harry said, as though this wasn't his favorite subjects. For once I had to agree with him.
"O...K..." I trailed off.
"She'll just pick you up, I told her where you live." Harry replied before I could reply.
"How do you know where I live?" I asked.
"Ron told me."
"Right...I knew that."
"I'd best be going, more shopping for the guys." Harry complained.
I smiled, "OK, I'll....see you....soon."
He hung up before he could say anything else.
*********************************
Carmen squealed as me and a couple other blondes followed her through the overly-rose scented store.
"OHH! Isn't this just perfect?" Carmen squeaked, holding it up to her.
I rolled my eyes. This wonderful Saturday I had planned out to sleep in with was turning into a total nightmare.
"Hermione? Do you simply love this light green? Or this blue?" Carmen asked.
"Don't ask me, I wouldn't know. I'm fashion impared." I said, and everyone's eyes flicked over my outfit of Sketchers, a light blue ribbed shirt and L.E.I white jeans.
Carmen looked strained and let out a strange laugh.
All the other women whispered.
Then Carmen went back to her "ooohing" and "aaahing." Finally she streaked back, breathless, with a pink silk dress. It was full length, and to my dismay and horror, had a train and a full skirt. There were rosebuds framing the shoulder straps and the waistband. The train was made out of elegant pink lace that looked like the doilies my grandmother set out on her tables.
"Lord! That's like a miniature wedding dress!" I exclaimed.
"Duh! We're taking it!" Carmen said happily, "Now go try these on, ok? I need to see them before I purchase them."
I grumbled but took one.
**************************
"Hermione? HERMIONE!? Come out now!" Carmen asked, knocking on the dressing room door.
"No way." I said through gritted teeth.
"Yes way! I need to see it!" Carmen hollered.
Reluctantly, I came out, that stupid train trailing behind me and I tripped on my matching satin shoes Carmen slipped under the door.
I teetered over to the mirror to have a good look at myself. I laughed. I looked so stupid! Standing there in all that...pinkness.
"You look fantastic!" Carmen cried, hugging me.
This was awkward. Being hugged by Harry's girlfriend...that is.
"Ok! Everyone! Change out of your dresses and shoes! We'll take them. Now, don't dry clean them or wear them!" She barked.
I trudged back into the dressing room and peeled the dress off slowly. Then handed it to Carmen in the bag and she purchased it and sent it with me out the door.
I drove as fast as I possibly could towards my safe haven, my home....my non-fashion obsessed haven.