Thank you to those who reviewed my story. Meant a lot at this point--i can't even say 'aha!' to the viewers not reviewing but are reading b/c my traffic thingy is having 'errors' (air quotes) Anyway, thanks so much! Hope you like this chappy-tar!! Team Jalice! :D
When the next day came , I moved at five in the morning and began my rounds about the town. I decided to look at the boutiques today. I was so often bored that I thought of boutique visits as a treat and only rewarded myself once a week to make them special. Of course, that was still enough that the clerks knew my name. I still put my imaginary human friends Kate and Will above them for some unexplained reason.
I was feeling odd today. I couldn't recall ever feeling this way before. Was today the day? I believed so. I tried not to think about it too much on the chance I could be wrong. I smiled faintly and turned into the boutique.
The two young ladies that worked there envied me, I could see it in their eyes. I wanted to tell them that I envied them! I didn't find myself vain or anything--I could care less about what I looked like. The only purpose it served was to please the blonde vampire. The first clerk eyed me as I entered, their silver bell tinkled as I shoved the heavy door agape. "Good morning, Alice!" She grinned at me merrily, and I could pick out a voice that had said the greeting in unison. Her co-worker was in the back of the shop, holding a couple new dresses, sheathed in plastic. I could see her teeth glimmer beneath the bright lights.
"Hey, girls." I didn't want to sound too out of place by knowing their names. They were Janine and Jocelyn, I knew. They were twin sisters, and both had pretty hair and cute faces. They reminded me of buttons--that phrase 'cute as a button' rang in my ears every time I saw their round little faces and skinny little limbs reaching out to always help me. It wasn't my place as a beautiful woman superior to them to know anything about them--except for what they worked as. I wasn't meaning to be vain in these thoughts--only normal.
"Oh, Alice, we just got some new dresses in stock today! I saw one and thought of you--it would look lovely on your cream skin." Janine, the one in the back, marched towards me with a long plastic cover still in her hands.
Her smile pinched her shiny cheeks, and her lips shone peach before my eyes. She was a darling little human, with her light strawberry-auburn hair and faint freckles spackled across the bridge of her nose. I smiled delightfully back. I took the garment from her, fully participating in their little game of dress-up.
"I'll go try it on right now!" I was actually rather excited about this trip--usually I would try on a couple dresses with them and leave when the next customer came along. I could always read their sadness in their shiny eyes when I waved goodbye to them, usually with nothing to show from the trip. I only owned perhaps four different pants, six different shirts, and two different coats. I never liked to carry my whole luggage around all day so I had a little bundle tied with string at the base of that silly little bridge. No one went down there but me in the dead of night, plus, it was disguised in shrubbery.
I walked to the dressing room, excited and hoping the girl's judgment was fair. The moment I unzipped the bag, however, I gasped in delight.
I felt my smile grow wider and wider as I slid it out. It was gray--surely that wasn't exactly a dress a girl would die over, but it matched me exactly. The color was sort of a bluish gray, and it had intricate white floral designs all over it in shimmer beading. The first layer was sort of like mesh, but it only added to the delicateness of it. Beneath was the same charcoal like color but a tad darker. The feel of it was silky smooth, it slithered out of my fingertips like fine sand or cool water. I had never felt such a wonderful sensation. It was below knee length, and the bottom sort of flipped out from the black tulle there. The divine little flowers traced up and down the dress from bust line to the tulle fringe. I adored it.
I ripped off my plain white shirt and black pants. They hit the dressing room wall with a muted thud and lay there lifeless, on the ground. The plastic dress cover also fluttered after it in my over excitement.
I raised my arms and dove into the luxurious fabric, the smile still plastered on my face. It fit perfectly, of course. Either the dress was made for me or Janine had estimated a size for me, which wasn't too hard. I was extraordinarily thin. I unlatched the dressing room door and hopped out, beaming. Janine and Jocelyn were out there waiting, of course. Their hands went to their mouths and they gasped in awe. I twirled, letting the ruffles catch the air and flutter back down gracefully. My eyes widened at them, my palms spread out. "Do you think it looks good?"
The broke into gales of squeals and swoons and shrieks. I was glad to make their day by wearing such a gem. "It looks fantastic, Alice. I've never seen a dress look so perfect on somebody." Jocelyn took a step forward, lightly touching the mesh material as if it had become more valuable from touching me. I felt a little vain when I wondered happily if she really meant that statement.
"I'll take it." I breathed. They grinned at me, their hands clasped beneath their peachy chins. I giggled. "But you can't make me take it off!"
We were all laughing as I slipped off my shoes and climbed onto the boutique counter. Jocelyn lightly took the tag in her hands as if were also a delicate artifact, and checked my dress out to buy.
My throat suddenly burst into unpleasant flames--more than that, harsh and sore. I swallowed and touched my neck softly, noting to hunt as soon as possible. I could feel the heated excitement bouncing off the two girls, and I was suddenly tuned close enough to hear the blood sloshing through their veins. I shook it off, not wanting to spoil my day with thoughts of drinking their little bodies dry. I decided to set off an hour or two early to go hunting, so I didn't keep the blonde vampire in suspense. I didn't want to hide my golden eyes in black onyx, plus Figgie had only seen my eyes while I was not thirsty--so I'd be confusing him, as well.
I paid her with such flourish--and believe me, it wasn't exactly a cheap little dress--that I could feel their confused stares. I hadn't bought anything from this store. Not ever. My only plain clothes were from the cheapest stores, and they were all coming apart at the seams. I leapt off the counter and hooked my fingers into my little black ballet flats on the floor. "You really look stunning, Alice." Janine whispered to me, still smiling. I smiled back, my spirits soaring. Jocelyn looked a little nervous but still eager when she asked, "What's the occasion?"
I pondered for a moment whether or not I should gush over my imaginary man, and decided it wouldn't harm anything. Surely they already had confirmations that I was a little loony. I probably wouldn't ever see them again before seeing my love, and then I could let them meet him. I realized this because I was somewhat positive I'd meet the blonde vampire tonight--and that was occasion enough for me. I smiled at them a little shyly.
"This may sound silly, but I had this dream, you see." I began, widening my eyes for exciting emphasis. The girls leaned forth, their mouths open with suspense.
"In this dream, there was this man." Jocelyn squealed softly before her sister elbowed her.
"He was simply the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen, and I saw him at the diner down the street. I know he has to be real, I can feel it! He had this wonderful golden hair and beautiful cream skin and the most perfect features anyone on earth could ask for. I think an angel carved his face from clay, and was perhaps envious of the being he'd created." The words I'd thought so many times sounded luscious and pure as they spilled from my lips. The girls sighed at my description. My face fell a little, for their sake now, for I couldn't care less about the next thing I described, but a normal girl would: "The angel must've been so envious that he tried to ruin the face with his fingernails. He ravaged the perfect face before anyone could stop him. Finally, the face tumbled to earth, becoming a man, perfect despite the scars." I smiled at the final part.
Jocelyn sighed. "That was an amazing story. You think he'll be there tonight?" I could see her pity in my belief very faintly, because I knew a part of her yearned to believe in it herself. I probably over exaggerated the tale, what with the angry angel and all. It was a graceful way to mention the scars, though, because it didn't feel like I was describing the right person without that.
"I have a feeling he will be. I hope so. I want him to see me all dressed up for tonight when we first meet."
"That's so romantic. Do you know his name?" Janine asked, breathless. I was flattered that she enjoyed my storytelling so much.
"I don't. I wish I did, though. Maybe I'll find out tonight. I really hope it's tonight."
"Will you move away after you meet him?" Jocelyn asked, fear staining her happy voice. I frowned. Then smiled.
"I'll go wherever he wants to go. I will follow him anywhere--to the ends of the world or to hell or to heaven." I think that was a good, honest response because they both sighed at the romance involved.
I gazed through the store window. The sun was beginning to set behind the cloudy blanket--it was three hours past noon. Still daytime, but I liked to believe night was near. "I have to go, ladies." I hitched my purse on my shoulder and smiled. They wilted. "Isn't it exciting, though?" I asked frantically, not wanting to see their saddened faces. They looked up, doubtfully.
"When we get married, I will be sure to get you invitations, no matter where I am." I promised. They smiled to each other and nodded. I stepped out of the shop, feeling lovely in my new dress. The bell tinkled to signify my departure.
I never saw Janine or Jocelyn again.
Inspirational tuneage: Daisy by The Maine
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