Chapter 13 CHAPTER 13
SERA'S POV
My own clothes.
New ones.
Not the ones dad bought for me the summer before he died, not the ones that I've been handed to by friends of the family who eventually stopped caring.
Not Tori's pitiful hand-me-downs.
I finally had my own clothes, which I bought with my own money.
As I said, life is getting good.
“Oh damn, that looks so good on you. Kane will lose his flipping mind!”
“You think?” I asked Naomi, my nerves returning for a different reason.
My classes with Kane had become a frequent thing and I had to insist that Naomi join us because he was taking away the only time I had to spend with my friend.
So she watched as he made funny jokes, as he got me food, as he asked about me, about my past, and I lied where I could and told him the truth about the rest.
He liked me, he'd said as much but we've been talking for only about a week and now he was planning on me being his date for the night.
He'd asked.
With a box of chocolates that I mentioned were my favourite.
Who can say no to that?
Not me, but now I'm standing here, rethinking every outfit I'd worn.
I was buying most of them since I wasn't just shopping for the party but I still worried about what to wear.
If he'd like it.
This was a blue gown, long, flattering to my flat stomach and wide hips but it had this shiny exterior that made my eyes hurt. But the parting by the side with my long leg peaking out had me wondering if a little eye pain wasn't a steep price to pay.
“He'll love you even if you're in a sack Sera. Stop overthinking it.”
Well, now I'm overthinking it.
“I'll try one more and that's it, if it doesn't work, I'll just tell him I'm not going.”
“Don't even dare, I've wanted to go to one of these secret parties for years! You will dress your hot ass self up in a carton if you must and you'll be at my gate this evening,” she warned, a smile teasing at her lips.
“Yes captain,” I chuckled and we went through five more clothes.
Till I wore a wine coloured piece.
Wine used to be my favourite colour, until I saw my mother's blood on the ground, when one of the men she brought over hit her.
I hit him back and saw more blood and then threw up and fainted.
I've avoided the colour ever since then but this gown was making me change my mind.
It was above my knees, long sleeves, a sweetheart neckline and a cinch at the waist.
Decent and equally sexy.
“There's no way you're shaking your head at this too,” Naomi groaned, already tired of my indecisive self.
“No, it's perfect.”
“Eureka!”
I laughed and we packed everything up and went to the cashier.
“Finally found what you're looking for?” The older woman asked with a smile.
“It took her wearing everything in your store but yes, my friend has found the dress she'll be getting her first kiss in.”
“Naomi!”
“Oh young love,” the woman laughed giddily. “I remember when I met my Caleb… Enjoy yourself while you can kids,” she finished, handing over the bag after we paid.
Aunt Kelly has been very busy so she won't see me coming home with bags of clothes.
But my cousins will and I still haven't come up with the perfect lie.
“I just got an idea,” Naomi gushed excitedly as we loaded our cars.
“I'm scared.”
“Shut up. You take only two clothes in, which won't draw much attention. Then when you're the only one home, you can take everything in.”
“You're actually brilliant whenever you stop thinking about men. Hmm.”
She whacked me playfully in the head and we broke into laughter.
When I got home, I did as she said, taking the wine coloured piece and then one more two-piece I planned to wear on Monday and went into the house.
Edgar was in the living room, playing a game.
“You're back, how was shopping?” Ryan, his opponent in the game asked me. “Hey man, what are you doing?!” He exclaimed as Edgar paused the game. “I was about to score.”
“Chill, I have to talk to Sera.”
I paused on the first step and turned to him.
Tori then poked her head out of the kitchen and my heart raced.
What do I tell them?
I thought this plan was seamless but they knew my father's money was finished.
Do I tell them Naomi bought two clothes for me?
No, that would look bad on the family, like I'm a charity case for strangers too.
“Just tell her Edgar,” Tori yelled from the kitchen.
“It's about the party.”
“Oh?” I gasped, my mind settling slowly.
It's not about the clothes.
But then…
“You can't come with your friend. I'm sorry, I couldn't secure an invite for her.”
“But… you promised. I've already told her. She got clothes for tonight, she's headed to the spa and she has clothes picked out, she got new makeup stuff, she has been way too excited for this for so long and you dangle it in her nose and now you're drawing away?!”
I was heaving, something scratching at my chest, tears pricking my eyes and I clenched my fists.
I don't know why, it's not like I can hit my cousin but the idea seemed so good the longer I thought about it.
He was speechless too, staring at me as though I'd grown a second head, not that he'd just messed up and made promises he couldn't keep.
“I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional. I really thought I could get her in.”
“Well like I said, if Naomi's not going, then I'm not going as well.”
“Oh, that's fine, next time maybe?” He said, sighing with relief.
Why was he happy that I wasn't going?
I ignored the burn in my chest and the gnawing hunger I felt even though Naomi and I had gotten a sandwich earlier and run upstairs.
I quickly grabbed a pillow and blocked my face with it.
Then screamed.
It did nothing to soothe the anger.
My body itched, I needed to do something.
When I called Naomi, she was disappointed but she took it too well.
“Do me a favour,” she said as I heard her lie down on her bed.
“Anything. I'm really sorry about this.”
“Pfft. As if it's your fault. But I want you to go. Nobody ever knows what goes on at these parties and I want to know. Just send me pictures? Besides, you can't miss out on your date with Kane.”
“I don't know… he hasn't even called me since then. He's supposed to pick me up.”
“You said the party is being held in his home, maybe he got too busy?”
“I guess so. Let me get dressed. I'll text you as the night unfolds.”
“Good girl. Remember to hold the camera still.”
“Sod off,” I chuckled, remembering her camera lessons.
I quickly dressed up and went down to meet my cousins.
“Where are you going?” Tori asked, her expression very harsh.
“I changed my mind. Let's go to the party, Naomi wasn't as upset as I thought she'd be.”
“Um, I'm sorry Sera but you can't um… " You shouldn't come with us,” Edgar muttered, fidgeting as he did so.
My heart fell.
I didn't even bother asking why, I just went back upstairs, a plan brewing in my mind.