CHAPTER 16

Emmy I groan as Sam drags me out to her car so we could start shopping.

“I need coffee before you drag me all over tarnation,” I say hoping I could make Sam realize this is an ungodly hour to be up on a Saturday. I mean it was only eight in the morning. After not getting home until after midnight and not going to bed until almost two, it made getting up at this time hard.

Sam promises me we will be stopping for food, and yes caffeine. I didn't think I could do this day without it. Ugh, where was a damn energy potion when I needed one? I should have had Kenzie or Jason make me one last night knowing that I was going to feel like a zombie in the morning.

Sam is so chipper and I’m pretty sure she got the same amount of sleep as I did. Then again, she didn't have her body adjusting to magic like I do. Even though it’s been over a month, I was still having a hard time adjusting. Kenzie says it’s because I’m learning at such a fast rate that my body just can’t catch up. Who knew being a part of a powerful bloodline would be such a pain in the ass?

We stop at the local bagel shop in town that has a coffee shop attached to it. I get the biggest thing of iced coffee I can, along with a blueberry muffin. Sam orders some fancy blended thing with protein powder and crap; it’s supposed to be healthy or something like that.

She gets some egg white health sandwich nonsense. I don’t know how she could stand to eat so healthy all the time. Sure, I don't mind eating healthy, but damn I don't think I’ve ever seen her or Tori eat a damn thing that wasn’t. They need to learn to live a little. Carbs aren’t totally evil. In fact, carbs were my best friend besides Alice.

I down my muffin and half my coffee by the time we got to our first store. Sam has made it her mission to make sure we both find the perfect prom dress. Since this is my first prom, and I was going with Carter, I wanted to get something amazing. I didn't want crazy though. I’m a simple kind of girl, and I didn’t need a dazzled out dress. Although I’m sure Sam is going to stuff me in as many dresses as she can.

The store she has picked is specific for formal wear. I finish off my coffee and follow her as she has already started giving the women helping us orders of what she wants. While the women go to look for dresses, I browse around myself trying to see if I can find something on my own, but I have no damn idea where to start. This is so not my thing. I’m totally out of my element. Part of me wished I could just use magic to come up with the perfect dress, but I couldn't do that for many reasons. I give up my search and join Sam in the fitting room.

The women come back with about seven dresses for each of us. I stuff myself into the first dress and I hate it. It’s too tight and it’s a golden color. Nope, I refuse to even walk out of the dressing room with it on. Sam is trying on bright colors and I just want something dark. I like dark colors; they make me feel better. I don't even think I own anything bright.

The next few dresses are no goes as well, but Sam makes me come out anyway to show her. I grumble every time I step out in a dress that I hate. She doesn't make any comments other than the dress is no good, which I told her before she made me step out of the dressing room.

After another hour of stuffing myself into dresses and not liking any of them, I convince Sam to leave. Thankfully she agrees and hasn't found anything either. The next store is smaller but has a much better choice of dresses. I insist on looking for my own dresses since I now have an idea of what I’m doing and what I like.

The first dress Sam puts on is this beautiful fuchsia mermaid dress with a silver sparkle design. The dress fits her like a glove, and I can tell she loves it, but wants to try on a few more other dresses to make sure it is the dress.

I’m not having much luck until Sam comes into my dressing room and hands me a black sweetheart ball gown dress. The dress has pickups, much like Belle’s dress from Beauty and the Beast. It has a corset back, and the bodice of the dress has a white lace overlay. I put the dress on, and I’m blown away by how amazing it looks on me. I had my doubts but seeing it on myself I’m totally sold.

Sam squeals like a child when I walk out. She decides on the mermaid dress. With the dresses out of the way, we head to the mall to find shoes and jewelry to go with our dresses.

Now that I was done, the hard part was having fun. Sam is doing more shopping than she needs to and finds a reason to buy things that have nothing to do with prom.

I’m guilty of picking up a few things that have nothing to do with prom either. Sam just makes shopping so much fun, and I can't help it. She really knows how to pick out the best things for a girl to wear. She should totally be a personal stylist.

I settle on a black peep toe heels that have a white bow on the back of them. I pick up simple white pearls since they go so well with the lace on my dress. I get a necklace, earrings and bracelet set. Sam goes with silver sparkly peep toe heels, and the flashiest silver jewelry she can find. Leave it to her to show off. I wasn't surprised that she picked the flashiest thing she could find, because she loves to be the center of attention, which is just fine with me, she can have it.

After shopping we grab a late lunch at a cafe in town. I order a chicken caesar salad with iced tea. Sam goes with some chicken apple feta salad and water. We sit down outside in the shade. I suddenly realize how hungry I was. I didn’t know shopping could be so tiring, but Sam makes shopping a sport, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

“Hey Sam, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” Sam says with a smile on her face. She is so peppy.

“Why now? I mean why build a relationship with me now?”

I’ve been wondering about this for a while. I wasn’t sure if it was because I started dating Carter, or if there was more to the story. I decided Sam and I were in a good place for me to ask her this. I’ve been curious as to why she took a sudden interest in being my sister.

Sam sighs.

“I know I’ve been a royal bitch to you over the years, but that was mainly Tori’s doing and I just followed her. I’ve wanted to get to know you for some time now, but I just didn’t know how to do it with Tori up my ass. See, everyone thinks I follow her around, but the truth is she follows me around. Tori doesn’t have any real friends because she’s the queen of bitches. When I found out you were dating Carter, I knew Tori would go off the deep end because she really wanted to date Carter. I was right. That girl doesn't know how to take no for an answer. Anyway, I saw an opportunity with a double date thing so I could finally get to know you. Of course, when Tori crashed our date that was the last straw. I’m so done with her trying to control me. We are going to college in the fall, and I purposely picked a school I knew she couldn’t get in. I knew I had the grades, and she didn’t.”

“Clever way to get away from Tori. Does she really bother you that much?”

“You have no freaking idea. She drives me insane. I love her, and I always will, but I need space. I hope she can figure her shit out while she’s away at college.”

I’m glad to finally have an answer, and I’m happy Sam wanted to get to know me, and not just because I was dating Carter. We finish our lunch, and head home with our shopping bags in tow.

I have to do some stuff before I meet up with Carter. We are going to the movies tonight. I’m happy we would be going on a date just us. We’ve been doing the group date thing, and it’s nice, but I just want some alone time with Carter, besides I totally want to make out with him.