It's been a bit, but here's a new chapter!

Audrey stood on the circular dais in the center of the fitting area. Five mirrors surrounded her, enabling her to examine her dress from all angles. It was a sleeveless pink ballgown. The top of it was a corset studded with pink gems. Behind her, her mother, who sat on the couch some distance from the dais, was reflected in all of the mirrors as well.

"The hem will have to be adjusted," said the seamstress that crouched beside the dais, a pincushion of needles bound to her wrist like a fat, bulbous corsage. She took one of these pins and slid it into place in the hem, marking where she would adjust it with a sewing machine later.

Audrey nodded. She had expected this. Back when she had picked out the dress, she had worn flat sandals to the first fitting. Now, she had finally selected the right heels to match the dress. This had caused a change in where the edge of the dress would need to be adjusted so she wouldn't trip over it on the night of her party.

As the seamstress progressed around Audrey in a circle, her fingers working to pin the dress evenly, Audrey's gaze flitted to the reflection of a clock in the mirror. Jay was running late. Maybe he had backed out. The thought sparked panic in her chest. She couldn't go to her own party without a date.

But just as the seamstress completed the pinning, a chime from the front of the shop sounded. Jay soon stepped through the doorway that led into the fitting area where Audrey stood and four fitting rooms made up the wall behind her mother. The panic in Audrey's chest instantly quelled.

Jay strode over to the dais. "You look beautiful." He held out a single yellow rose to her. Its petals had just begun to open, so the center was still curled in on itself like a cozy swirl of yellow blankets.

Audrey blinked at it and slowly reached out to take it. "Thank you," she whispered uncertainly. They had agreed to go to her party as friends, so why was he bringing her flowers? "Jay, I-"

"Yellow roses are for friendship," Jay explained, seeming to read her mind. "Just like white tulips are for forgiveness." He raised an eyebrow as if daring her to challenge him.

She nodded and twirled the stem of the rose slowly between her fingers. Then she blinked as if just remembering they weren't the only two people there. "Uh, Mom, this is Jay," she said hurriedly, looking over to the sofa.

Aurora stood and walked over to them. She shook Jay's hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you, Jay. I wanted to let you know that I'll take care of all the expenses." She turned to Audrey. "I still have to run to the bakery to make sure preparations for the cake are on schedule. Can you finish up here?"

Audrey nodded. "Yeah, that's fine."

"Good. Meet you at the cafe for lunch then." Aurora swooped down and kissed her on both cheeks before leaving the store.

Audrey turned to the seamstress. "Marsha, we're going to need everything for Jay. Pants, jacket, shirt, tie, shoes. Are we done with the adjustments for my dress?"

The seamstress nodded. "Yes. Just return it to the hanger, and the adjustments will be finished this afternoon." She then disappeared through the doorway to the front of the store to retrieve all the clothing items for Jay. This left Audrey alone with Jay, and the thought was both terrifying and exhilarating. Audrey couldn't place where the latter emotion was rooted, and it irritated her.

"So, I'm guessing pink will be the theme of this party," Jay said. His gaze slid up and down the silhouette of her dress. "You really are...beautiful."

Audrey hated herself for blushing. To shake off this embarrassment, she cleared her throat and walked over to the couch her mother had recently vacated. She laid the rose down next to her purse before straightening. "Thank you," she said. "Anyhow, I need to get changed. Just wait for Marsha to get back."

She hurried into the first dressing room where her clothes that she had originally worn into the boutique were laid over the back of the fitting room chair. Her hands slid behind her back and began unlacing the corset of the dress. After several minutes, she had only managed to loosen it enough to allow herself one inch of wiggle room. Her arms were hurting from the twisted positions she had put them in just trying to undo more of the laces so she could get out of it.

"Having trouble?" Jay's voice came from the other side of the door. It seemed he had positioned himself just beyond the door.

Audrey frowned. "No, but...uh, is Marsha not back yet?"

"No. You did give her a lot to find though," Jay said pointedly.

Audrey huffed and considered her options. She could wait until the seamstress returned to help her out of the dress. But she was already tired of standing and trying to get herself out of it. Now, it just felt suffocating, as if her inability to get it off was making her panic. That meant that her other option was the quickest way out of the dress: to simply ask Jay for assistance. He had helped her with one of her dresses before the morning after the coronation. But, actually asking him was a different story.

A moment passed with Audrey waging a mental war with herself. Then, Jay made the decision for her. "Would you like some help?" he asked.

Tight knots of nerves and panic seized Audrey's chest. But she slowly reached forward and unlocked the fitting room door. "Yes," she said, having opened the door.

Jay stepped into the small space and shut the door behind him. Having the door open actually made it more cramped. He did not lock it. "Just undoing the laces?" he asked, moving to stand behind her.

Audrey nodded, her hands pressed to her sternum to hold the dress up against her chest. Once he got the ties loose enough, the dress could slip off her easily, and she didn't want it falling and leaving her virtually naked.

"Got it," Jay said softly.

Audrey watched him in the mirror in front of her. His gaze started at the base of her spine where his hands were. As he worked the laces looser and looser, both his gaze and his hands traveled up to where the dress stopped just below her shoulder blades.

"There," Jay said. His gaze met hers in the mirror, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. There was a momentary pause, and he said, "You act as if I'm going to eat you."

Audrey frowned at him in the mirror. "Just because you've seen me naked once doesn't automatically make this ok."

"That's not the point. Why are you trying so hard to resist this?" He rested one hand on her waist, and when she didn't object, he slid his arms around her waist from behind. "What's wrong with this picture?" he asked, nodding to their conjoined reflection in the mirror.

Audrey considered it for a moment, her eyes traveling from her reflection to his and then taking in the sight of them together. "Because it isn't right," she mumbled.

"Give me a reason it's wrong," Jay countered. "If you don't feel anything for me, then fine. But I need to hear you say it."

"I-"

"Alright," came Marsha's voice from somewhere in the small store. Footsteps on the hardwood floor sent the message that she was approaching the fitting room area. "I've got several jackets, and-"

Audrey and Jay didn't wait to hear the rest. Jay slipped out the door with surprising agility and shut it behind him just as Audrey caught sight of Marsha entering the fitting area. Audrey shut the door of her room and slid out of her dress. She replaced it on its hanger and changed back into her ordinary clothes.

As she adjusted her skirt in the mirror, Audrey couldn't help but feel relief and gratitude toward the friendly seamstress and shop owner. She hadn't been prepared for Jay's request. How could she tell him that she had feelings for him but didn't wish to act on them? Sure, Jay was nice enough now, but he was still a Villain Kid. That would never change. And she had standards. Standards that demanded she marry well. She couldn't waste her time with someone like Jay. Yes, these feelings...they would just have to go away.

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Foarrin