Tell It Like It Is
Chapter 20
It was out of Lizzy's reach. She tried jumping, and even with a running start she still couldn't reach it.
"What are you doing?" a round woman asked, standing in Lizzy's doorway with and amused expression and a sparkling glow.
"I can't get this damn shoe box," Lizzy growled in exasperation, not even bothering to turn and face the woman.
She crossed the room and grabbed the chair from Lizzy's little desk. She placed it beside her and stepped up onto it, easily grabbing the shoe box from the top shelf of Lizzy's closet.
"Erin! You shouldn't be standing on chairs in your condition. What if you fell?" Lizzy grabbed her hand as if steadying her or acting as her safety net.
"I'm pregnant Liz. Not handicapped. I think I can manage myself when I'm only a foot above the floor." She smiled down at Lizzy then wobbled, pretending she was about to fall. Lizzy jumped forward as if to catch her, Erin just laughed. "What are these anyway?" she asked looking at the shoe box and taking off the lid. Her eyes bulged as she beheld the most breathtaking vibrant pink shoes she'd ever seen. "Oh god I want them," she groaned looking at Lizzy with pleading eyes and stepping down from the chair.
"No way," she replied yanking the shoes from Erin's hands. "I bought them to wear with my dress."
Erin's shoulders sagged. "They wouldn't have fit my swollen feet anyway," she said pathetically.
"Shut up. You love being pregnant," Lizzy snapped airily back as she pulled her pink dress from the hidden depths of her closet.
Erin immediately gasped. "I'd love it even more if I could fit into that dress." She quickly rushed over to Lizzy and ran her fingers over the fine silk material and sighed again. "How can you afford this?"
Lizzy shrugged. "Signing bonus type thing. Want to see it on?"
Erin nodded eagerly as Lizzy quickly slipped into the dress then felt herself writhe in jealousy when Lizzy turned to her. "Oh god I wish we could trade places. You were born to wear that dress."
Lizzy spun again and the floating pink skirt twirled around her; it was perfect for dancing in. She turned to the mirror and ran her hands along her stomach, feeling the soft fabric. She could touch this dress all day. She could wear it all day too. It looked amazing on her. The pink lit up her complexion and was sharp enough to make her distinguishable in a crowd. The cut across her stomach squeezed her in and presented her to be as skinny as she could ever wish to be. She slowly stepped into the strappy matching stilettos and smiled at Erin. "So what do you think?"
"I think you should never take it off. You shall get married, create your first baby and be buried in that dress."
Lizzy giggled and checked herself in the mirror again. "Not quite my old layered tank-tops from high school now, is it?"
Erin shook her head. "Not even close."
"Lizzy, I'm home!" they heard Corey shout then moments later she barged into the room and stopped in her tracks. "My god! Is that the wedding dress?" she asked excitedly, her mouth hanging slightly agape.
"Wedding dress? Oh God, please say you're wearing it to Darcy's wedding!" Erin, although she'd never admit it, was a bit cruel sometimes. She would take great pleasure in watching Darcy squirm his way up to the aisle when Lizzy would be sitting there in that dress. When she pictured the scene Lizzy sat in the front row, where she was clearly visible, and Erin spent the next thirty seconds maliciously plotting ways to actually get Lizzy into the front row for the ceremony. Maybe say something about getting pictures of Eddie in a tux.
"Yes I am. In large part to make him jealous, but mostly so that after it's over with I'll be able to find someone to help me get over this whole ordeal."
"So that's it then? Are we finally getting over Will?" Corey asked sounding almost slightly disappointed.
"Yes. This weekend will provide ample closure and now that I've finally admitted that I need him, I can learn to get on without him," Lizzy said, smiling resignedly and stepping out of the shoes.
"I'll never understand your logic Lizzy," Erin sighed shaking her head and attempting to bend over and pick up the shoes. It was proving to quite difficult seeing as she had a forty pound lump on her stomach. Eventually, while Lizzy was changing out of her dress, Corey bent over to grab the shoes for her.
"Seven years," Lizzy hissed. "Need I say more?"
"I know," Erin replied, awkwardly trying to climb onto Lizzy's bed. "I'm just saying that you and Will were meant to be together. It may not seem like it now, but everything will work out." She smiled at Lizzy who only scowled in reply. "It's like when Eddie and I broke up after high school. Neither of us expected it to work out and the next thing I know, I'm hitched and towing around this giant lump."
Corey smiled secretly and sat beside Erin. "She does have a valid point."
Lizzy's mouth dropped in indignation. "You have to be kidding me! May I remind you Corey, as you so often did for me, that he's getting MARRIED. This weekend nonetheless. So you two, like I, need to stop wishing and even thinking that I'll end up with Will. We are two very different people, going in two very different directions and I think it's time that we all accept that!"
"I'm just saying-" Erin began in a sing-song voice.
"Well stop saying because it's not helping anyone!" Lizzy growled shoving her dress back on the coat hanger and angrily back into her closet. "I'm getting over it."
Corey and Erin shared a very secretive smile and both giggled. Lizzy tried not to act put out; she'd always been a horrible actress. "What's so funny?"
Corey sat up on the bed, where she'd collapsed with laughter. "You may be getting over it Lizzy, but is Will?" she asked as if there was something Lizzy had missed out on.
Lizzy rolled her eyes, in other circumstances that comment might have thrown her over the edge. "Well if he's not, getting married to someone else sure is a funny way of telling someone you still love them."
Ok! I'm apologising in advanced because I'm gone for the next 2 weeks as of tomorrow, so unless there is some kind of miracle in the next day I wouldn't expect any update.
But there are only 5 chapters left (and an epilogue) so you should be really excited about the end. I know I am.
Anyway I've been outlining new stories and the major problem is that I have so many of them. I really want to finish Dont Panic because it's actually a really cute plot and I have the rest really set so it should be easy to write. Then I have another P&P that has similar events but Lizzy and Will have a slightly differant view of eachother and Lizzy is kind of crazy. Then I have a P&P from Darcy's POV (but his name is Pat) and finally a weird Reversi-Cinderella story. I like them all but the Cinderella will probably go after Don't Panic. ( I hope)
Ok No more rambling.