SOPHIE'S POV

It was the weekend, and I found myself waking up earlier than usual. My hair was sprawled across my pillow, and I knew that that was going to change soon. So I started playing with it. I was going to miss having long hair. I was going to miss it a lot. Then there was a knock on my bedroom door.

"Soph? You in?" I heard Ashley's voice. I clambered up and opened the door. She was stood there, holding two chocolate muffins in her hand.

"I thought we could spend the day together. I need a mall buddy."

I raised my eyebrow. "Are those triple chocolate?" I asked. She nodded frantically.

"I smiled. "I'm in."

So Ash and I headed for Seattle. She was rambling on about how her and Embry were planning to do something or other that evening. She was saying how she wished Jacob and I could be like that and then they could go on double dates. I was only half listening really. She looked over at me.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"Why are you not freaking out? You saw me yesterday." I tried to understand. Ashley nodded.

"Embry explained everything to me." She told me. "And I trust you guys. Which may seem insane. But I love Embry. And you're the first friend I've ever had." I cracked a smile at that.

"You guys seem so happy." I admitted.

She nodded. "That's because I didn't reject the imprint." She explained knowingly.

I stared at her. "I… I…"

"Don't worry about it. I get it. Your scared."

I raised my head indignantly. "I am not scared."

"Then what is it?"

I sighed. "I don't want my life decided for me."

"So you're stubborn."

"I am not stubborn!" I yelled. She rolled her eyes. I proved her point well.

"Fine." I pouted.

Ashley parked the car in the parking lot outside the mall. Ugh. The mall. Ash's face lit up. So I forced myself out of the car and headed inside with her. I watched as Ashley did a little happy dance. "I love the mall."

I hate the mall. But she loved it, and I owed her for being so awesome.

She led me straight to the hair parlour. "Embry said that all wolves have short hair." I felt immediately panicked. I didn't want to lose my hair. Ever. But she sat me in that damn chair and the guy came over. He was obviously gay, but I loved that about him.

"Darlin'. Why'd you wanna cut this gorgeous hair off?" He asked. I didn't. But I didn't want to give up shifting. Not since yesterday. So I shrugged.

"It's time for a change." I told him. He nodded and pulled out his large scissors.

I couldn't look. I could hear the scissors cutting, and felt the hair falling down the back of my shirt. I wanted to mourn the loss of it.

But once he was done, the guy held up a mirror.

Wow.

I had a long fringe covering my right eye, and it barely can down to my chin. It had been layered, long in the front and short in the back. Backwards mullet hair. But it was super cute. For some reason, I actually really liked it.

"You look so cute." Ashley complimented. I swept the fringe out of my eyes and messed up my hair a bit me.

"I love it." I grinned. "And it's so much less work." I realised.

The guy just grinned and skipped off into happy land. I payed for my hair, and then followed Ash out of the salon. We then headed for the dress shop. I threw up inside my head. Ashley saw my expression.

"It's not that bad." She tried to comfort. I just sighed and hung my head.

She dragged me inside. Obviously, she had more of a fashion sense than I did. She began shoving dresses and shoes at me. I groaned as she piled them up, a huge smile on her face. I didn't want to kill her joy, but I had to be honest.

"Wait!" I stopped her. She turned to face me.

"This is stupid. I'm not even going." Her face dropped.

"WHAT?!" She screamed. Everyone in the shop turned and looked at us.

"I wasn't gonna go to the dance." I admitted. "I don't have a date."

"What about Jake?"

"He's going with Brittany."

Her eyes widened, and then she frowned. "He's a moron." I laughed.

"I'm not going then." She threatened.

"But … But Ash…"

"Embry has patrol on that night. He swapped so that Quil could go." She wanted us to go together? Awww.

"Fine. But nothing pink and frilly." She didn't listen to me.

She brought out every colour. There was even a bright pink one, which I snuck back on the rails while she wasn't paying attention. I made her try them on two. She wanted to go in the first place. So we both were changing into different dresses, taking pictures together. It was so… girly. But I had to admit it was kind of fun. Finally, Ash found a dress.

It was a dark green, which went with her eyes. It was floor length and was covered in lace. The dress underneath had a straight neckline, with lace going above and as long sleeves. She looked like the forest queen.

"Awww, Ash. Embry is gonna be so sad he can't go." So I sneakily had a plan. I would let Embry go, and take his patrol shift. I let her force me into another dress, and I saw her tear up as I walked out.

It was a blue dress with a netted, puffy skirt. It had a sweetheart neckline and a ribbon below the bust in black. It was… pretty. Not that I was gonna wear it. So I bought it, knowing I could send it back later, and we headed out of the shop.

That's when I crashed straight into Brittany.

"Oh wow. Look at the lesbian and the slut." She laughed. Lindsay and Missy giggling behind her. I just smirked.

"Slut? At least Ash can keep her legs shut longer than ten seconds." Ash smiled at me. Brittany then flicked her hair.

"Have fun at the dance. I know I will." She implied a lot with just that one sentence. And it made me mad. But I took a deep breath and ignored her.

"Don't listen to her. She only has him for the dance. And then he won't talk to her again."

I doubted that somehow, but it didn't matter. We climbed back in the car, and I quickly pulled out my phone.

'I will take your patrol shift on the night of the dance. Surprise for Ash. Show up at her house at 7.'

I sent the message and turned to her. "Pick you up at 7?" I questioned. She smiled and nodded. The plan was in place. Now, all I had to do was wait two weeks for the surprise to come to light.

I was looking forward to this.

I let Ashley drop me back and rushed into the house, where Paul and Rachel were snuggled on the couch. Dad was on a business trip again, and wasn't going to be back till next Friday. They stared at me as I came in.

"That's new." Paul commented. I rolled my eyes.

"It was for Ashley. Don't start thinking I am a girl."

He grinned at my mistake. "Don't worry. I won't be making that mistake any time soon."

I looked at Rachel for help and she hit him in the face with a pillow. Paul then tackled her and pinned her to the sofa. They started kissing.

"Ew." I felt sick. "Get a room."

Paul grinned cheekily. "We have one."

I then made a vomiting noise and went into my room, hanging the dress up.

Maybe I'll keep it. Just in case.