Sam's POV

"Mom," I grunted. "I hate this dress."

"But I believe it looks good on you," mom replied. She's always trying to get me to wear dresses that she thinks will look good on me. When I try to resist, she would either say that she's doing things for my own good, or I would not be getting dinner.

"Mom," I called again. "If this looks good on me, I'm sure it would look better on Melanie. She hasn't even tried any of the dresses yet."

"Hm, you're right," she agreed. "Come here, Melanie. Try this on, and this… and this."

With that, mom took a few more dresses and pushed Melanie into the fitting room. I tried to run away while she was distracted, but she noticed me and pulled me back to her side.

"And you," mom pointed at me. "Don't even think about it." She tossed a few more dresses and pushed me into the fitting room beside the one Melanie was in.

While I was fitting in all the dresses, I remembered that I was supposed to get one for Carly. As I stood in the room and thought about all the dresses I have tried and how each would look on Carly, I realized that the first one mom tossed me was the perfect dress for her. The deep pink strapless dress with jewels on the end of the skirt would compliment her curves and her skin tone.

When I got out from the fitting room, I ransacked the entire store to find that the dress was in Melanie's arms all along. I took it from her and raced to mom, telling her that I wanted that dress.

"But it's mine," Melanie protested, unhappy that I took the dress that I rejected before. "You were the one who didn't want it and now that I've chosen it out of so many dresses, you want it back?"

"What?" I replied. "I didn't like it before, but I like it now."

Mom was elated that I finally thought it through and chose a dress for the ball, so she decided to give in to me. I was so excited to tell Carly about the awesome dress that I got for her that I almost told mom and Melanie about my plans. Luckily, those words never escaped my lips.

Later that night, before 'we' left for the ball, I brought the dress to Carly.

"Oh my god!" Carly was elated. "This dress looks gorgeous!"

"I know," I replied. "Do you like it? I was hoping that you wouldn't mind that it was kind of second-hand since Melanie and I tried it on before and due to the time constraints, we didn't manage to wash it."

"Wouldn't mind? Of course! In fact, I love it so much that I wouldn't even care if you got it from the garbage can outside!"

"Really?" I was glad that she liked it. Looking at the face that she was giving me was the best return I could ever get from her. As soon as I was about to return to my room, Carly called for me.

"Sam?" Carly called.

"Yeah?" I responded.

"There's something I want to give you," she said. With that, she pulled out a box from under her bed and gestured for me to sit by her side. "I made this today while you guys went out shopping. It took me quite a long time but it's worth it."

I opened the box to find a white dress that was of knee-length, strapless with a sash across the waist. I was caught speechless as I opened my mouth, but no words came out from it. When I regained my composure, I thanked her.

"It's beautiful," I said. "But why did you make me get one for you if you are so good at making dresses? You could have made one for yourself!"

"But if I made a dress for myself, I wouldn't have an excuse for you to go to the ball, would I?" she grinned. "I expected you to sit out on this one."

I gave her a big hug and thanked her. "You're the best stepsister anyone can ever have," I said.

"You too," Carly returned the compliment.

Soon, the both of us got ready for the ball and were about to leave. But when Melanie saw Carly in the dress that I had, she grew jealous of her.

"You!" she screamed. "Return me my dress!"

Melanie started tearing the dress into shreds, leaving Carly defenseless and helpless. As soon as she was done, mom gestured for us to go. Carly had no choice but to return to her room, crying.

"Wait, I forgot something," I lied as I ran upstairs. When I reached my room, I opened the drawer at my bedside and took the box that had lain in that drawer for years. Then, I raced to Carly's room and knocked on her door.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine," Carly sobbed. "Shouldn't you be leaving by now?"

"Yes, but before I go, there's something I have to give you," I handed her the box. She was still unsure if she should take it, but I insisted that she did. She held onto the box and hesitated about it at first, but then I started rushing her, using the ball as an excuse. She then opened the box and her face turned from sad to glad.

"Sam!" she shrieked. "That's your…"

"I know," I interrupted her. "My mum bought it for me last year. You know I never liked it."

Carly changed into the dress as I waited for her outside the door. In a matter of seconds, she was out. She was gorgeous; the colorful dress with a jeweled belt, beaded straps and frilly ends would compliment her curves and made her look beautiful. It just occurred to me that this dress looked better on her than before.

"Now, it's time for the ball…"