"I'm not wearing that," Cordelia said disgustedly, shoving the dress back at her mother. "It's a wedding dress."

Fiona sighed, as if Cordelia was the one being difficult and not the other way round. "Don't be ridiculous, Cordelia, it's not a wedding dress."

Cordelia scoffed. Because of course being in a shop called 'Belle's Bridal Boutique' would be a coincidence. "Not a wedding dress? This is a bridal shop, mother. Why did you take me to a bridal shop?"

"Bridal boutique, Cordelia, and stop talking back," Fiona said. "It's time you stopped questioning me. I'm your mother."

"Why won't you answer my question?'

Fiona pretended not to hear her. "Never mind, darling, white really isn't your colour."

"Mother!" Cordelia protested. God, was she sick of Fiona dancing around questions, merrily spinning a web of deception like some kind of spider.

The shop assistant brought out another dress, which was pale pink – so pale it was almost white. With its frilly sleeves and abundance of lace, Cordelia would rather wear a trash bag than be caught dead in the dress. "I'm not wearing that, either."

Fiona pretended not to hear her. "Go try it on."

"Mother-"

"Now!" Fiona yelled, pointing at the change room. People were beginning to stare at them, and heat rose to Cordelia's face. Of course, Fiona wasn't embarrassed, but she loved it when Cordelia was.

Cordelia sighed, and took the dress with her into the change room. She didn't want to make even more of a scene. Why was Fiona so insistent on her wearing a wedding dress? She didn't like it. She had a very bad feeling about this upcoming 'party' – Fiona was far too happy about it. What did she have planned? Cordelia resolved to do whatever she could to get the answers out of her mother.

After quickly pulling on the dress, Cordelia stepped out of the change room. "Mother?"

For a moment, Fiona actually looked stunned. "Oh, my darling girl. You're beautiful."

Cordelia felt her resolve crumbling. She hated Fiona, oh so much – but when was the last time her mother had looked at her like that? Softly, almost – dare she say – lovingly? "R-really?" Cordelia asked.

"Yes, my dear girl. This is the dress. Go get changed so we can buy it."

Cordelia found herself ushered back into the change room before she could protest. She caught a look of herself in the mirror and sighed – the dress did suit her, no matter how frilly or lacy it was, or how much she hated it. What would her friends say if they saw her wearing this? They would definitely, definitely laugh.

0o0o

"Ah, you settled on the pink?" the sales assistant said brightly as they made their way to the counter.

Fiona sneered. "Obviously."

"Oh, well-" The assistant's bright smile faltered at Fiona's cold reply. Cordelia felt a bit sorry for the assistant, whose name tag read 'Kaylee'. "Um, it's an excellent choice. One of a kind."

"Is it really?"

"Yes, the designer only makes one of each dress. Unfortunately, this also means it's on the pricier side-"

Fiona waved her away. "Price is no issue."

"Excellent! In that case, that will be $10,058, please."

Cordelia's jaw dropped. "Mother-"

"Hush, Cordelia," Fiona snapped.

Cordelia felt her suspicions about the party growing. Why would her mother spend $10,000 on a dress? It certainly wasn't out of the goodness of her heart. No, Fiona certainly had an ulterior motive – but what was it? I have to find out, she thought.

They headed out of the boutique, Fiona thrusting the shopping back towards Spalding. "Now for shoes."

"Mother, what is the party really for? I don't believe for a second it's business-related."

Fiona smiled – an evil little smile. "Well, of course it is."

"Mother, be honest."

Fiona sighed. "Do you truly want to know?"

"Yes."

"You're not far from eighteen, Delia dear, and I was married by then. It's your turn now."

Cordelia's blood went cold. "W-what?"

"You heard me, Delia. There's a lovely young man I want you to meet – his name is Hank Foxx. His father is a very successful businessman – "

"You're marrying me off?" Cordelia shouted.

"Shut up, Cordelia!" Fiona hissed. "You're making a scene."

"I don't care, mother, how could you do this to me?"

"I'm your mother. I can do anything I want to you. And the party is just so you can meet him, no need to panic – we can't have the wedding until you're eighteen of course, but we wouldn't want it to be much after that –"

Cordelia didn't stop to listen to a single more word. She stormed off before she did something rash, like punch Fiona in the face or rip her hair out.

"Cordelia! For god's sake, get your ass back here!"

Rushing down the street, Cordelia darted into an alleyway and crouched behind a dumpster. Peeking out, she watched Spalding speed down the street, Fiona's head sticking out of the window.

Cordelia buried her head in her hands and began to sob. That evil fucking bitch. How could Fiona do this to her? She had never felt more out of control in her life, not even when her father died. At least now she knew why Fiona took her to a bridal shop – bridal boutique, rather.

Get up off that dirty ground, Delia, and stop mopin'. The voice rang out in her head, clear as day, and for the first time, it wasn't Fiona's. She pictured Misty's face so clearly – and somehow she knew that if Misty were here, that would be the exact thing she'd say.

She allowed herself one more minute, crouching there in the filth of the alleyway, before standing up and brushing the tears off her face. I'm never letting Fiona make me cry again.

Heading down the street, she ducked into a dingy-looking diner, its only patrons a boy around her age and a group of kids sipping milkshakes.

"Can I use your bathroom, please?" The woman at the counter of the diner looked concerned at Cordelia's tear-streaked face.

"Of course," said the woman. Her name tag read 'Doris' and she had a friendly face – somewhat reminding Cordelia of her dead grandmother. "You okay, sweetie?"

"I will be. Thank you," she said, bobbing her head gratefully.

"It's just down the hall. First door on the left."

"Thanks," said Cordelia again. Following the woman's directions, Cordelia walked down the hall and pushed open the bathroom door.

She walked over to the sink and splashed her face with water. Combing her hair back from her face with her fingers, Cordelia doesn't immediately notice the movement in the mirror.

"C-cordelia?'

Cordelia felt her heart stop. Catching sight of the familiar person standing behind her, her jaw dropped. "Mabel?"

Mabel twisted her hands together, obviously uncomfortable. "Wow. Uh, it's good to see you, Cordelia."

"Yeah. Sure it is."

"Look, my parents made me write that letter. I didn't mean it."

Cordelia didn't say anything. She didn't believe Mabel, not for a second. She'd known Mabel since they were twelve – and she could tell when the girl was lying. And right now, Mabel was lying through her teeth.

There was a knock at the bathroom door, making them both jump. "Babe? You coming out anytime soon?"

"I-I'll be there in a moment," called Mabel, her face flushing red. "That's my… boyfriend. Charles."

"Oh, well, good for you," Cordelia said sarcastically, shaking the water from her hands into the sink.

"How's that new school of yours?"

"Cut the shit, Mabel. I know you meant what you said in that letter."

"W-well, I-"

Cordelia shook her head, that old anger coming back. "I can't believe I thought we had something. I loved you, you know, I really did. But why don't you run along with your boyfriend? I'm sure he's far better in the bedroom than I was."

"Not really," Mabel said, before clapping her hands over her mouth, looking shocked. "Wow. I, uh, didn't mean to say that."

Cordelia felt the sides of her mouth turn up in a smirk. "Off you go, Bel, don't want to keep dear Charlie waiting."

"Bye, Cordelia."

"Bye, Mabel." Cordelia watched Mabel leave. She felt lighter, somehow. She didn't know she needed closure with her old girlfriend – but apparently she did. Sure, Cordelia was stuck in a hellhole of a school, and sure Fiona wanted her to marry some bitch boy, but at the end of the day, Cordelia had Misty. And that was all she'd ever need.

Chapter title from Fleetwood Mac's "I'm so Afraid". So this isn't sung by Stevie Nicks, but I just love this song and I feel like it relates to how Cordelia's feeling in this chapter.