"Ulgh, red red red, and more red." Katie said disgustedly, flipping through the racks of dresses at the local mall the next day.
"Well duh, it's February." Nicole said.
"I know. But everyone is going to be wearing red."
"True. I'm opting for black myself." Nicole said, holding up at least seven black dresses to try on.
"Oh. Black just doesn't do anything for me." Katie said with a giggle. They had been at the mall for at least three hours going through all the stores just looking for dresses to wear to the dance, which was a week away.
"I'm gonna to try this stuff on." Nicole said.
"Okay. You know where I'll be." Katie said, flipping through the rack with a sigh.
"Okay. Good luck." Nicole called over her shoulder as she dissappeared into the dressing room.
"I'll need it." Katie said. She looked around for another ten minutes, not finding anything that caught her eye. She wandered through to the back of the section, where more dresses were. Suddenly a baby blue dress caught her eye. She rushed back to it, seeing that there were only two left.
"Ulgh. Figures. And neither of them are my size." Katie said. She looked at the dress, fingering the silky, baby blue material. It was short and silky, and it had a very plain but elegant look to it. It would be perfect with her blonde hair.
"Can I help you with something?" The saleswoman asked.
"Oh...No. I guess not."
"Sure? I could help with a size."
"I'm just looking for a dress." Katie said, letting the dress go.
"Do you like that one?" The woman asked.
"Oh, yeah, but they don't have it in my size."
"There's more in the back." The woman said. "Wait while I check."
"Okay." Katie said. What could it hurt? A few minutes later, the woman returned with three or four more. The last one was in her size.
"Oh my gosh! This is great!"
"I'm glad I could help." The woman said.
"Oh, thanks so much!"
"That will look so cute with your hair. This is for a dance, I presume?"
"Yeah." Katie said. "I'm gonna to try it on. Thank you again for your help. This is perfect." She said.
"You're welcome."
Katie all but skipped back to the dressing room. The dress fit her, and she knew she had some shoes at home that would match. Now all she had to do was buy something for her hair and a flower for Zac to wear.
"Hey." Katie said.
"Hey." Zac said, picking up the phone. "Thanks mom." He said.
"I get the hint, I'll leave. Don't be too long." Diana said, walking out of the kitchen.
Zac grinned. "What up?"
"Oh, nothin much. I got my dress today."
"You did? Cool. What's it look like?"
Katie giggled. "I'm not telling you. It's a surprise."
"Awwww...." Zac said. "I'll tell you what mine looks like."
They both burst out laughing at the idea of Zac wearing a dress.
"I'm really excited about this." Katie said.
"Me too." Zac said. "Let's just put all of........everything behind us and have a good time." Zac said.
"I agree. And there has been much to get in the way."
"Yeah. I know." Zac said sheepishly.
"I'm glad we're going."
"Yeah...I am too." Zac said.
Katie glanced at the clock on the wall above the TV. It read four o clock. Half an hour ago she had taken her sleeping bag and overnight bag to Nicole's for later that night. After going to dinner and then the dance, four or five of the couples were going back to Nicole's to watch movies. Then the girls would spend the night. Zac was picking her up at five thirty, and their dinner reservations were at six. They were first meeting at Nicole's with the other couples for pictures.
She forced herself up from the couch, then went upstairs to her room. She opened her closet door and looked at the light blue dress. The late afternoon sun was shining through the windows, shining light on the silky material. Katie smiled at it, fingering the silky cloth.
Katie went into her bathroom and showered quickly. She got out and stood in her towel for the longest time, trying to decide what to do with her hair and makeup. She was at a loss.
"Morgan?" She poked her head into her sister's room.
"What?" Morgan asked, looking up from her magazine.
"I need help." Katie said.
"Don't you have a dance?"
Katie nodded. "That's why I need help." She whined.
"I'm comin, quit yer bitchin." Morgan said, getting up from her bed. With her sister's help, Katie was able to find a look she thought suited her dress. She let her hair dry and naturally curl, and then Morgan took a sparkly barette and pulled one side back. She then did Katie's makeup mostly natural looking, but she added a light blue, sparkly eyeshadow that matched her dress.
"How do you do it?" Katie asked as morgan finished her eyes.
"Do what?"
"Creat miracles." Katie said. Both girls giggled.
"I didn't. I added a barette and some eyeshadow." Morgan said.
"Thanks." Katie said.
"No problem. What time is Zac picking you up?" She asked.
"Five thirty." Katie said. She grabbed her watch off the bathroom counter and looked at it. Five fifteen.
"Oh shit!" She exclaimed. "I have to get going!"
"Scoot then." Morgan said. Katie rushed into her room where she pulled on her nylons and slipped on her dress. Then she slipped on her shoes and fastened them. Five twenty. Perfect.
"You look great." Morgan said.
"Thanks." Katie said.
"Yeah, now wait here, and I'll go down and answer the door." Morgan said.
"Why? I can just go down too. That way I'll be ready." Katie said.
"No, you have to make your big entrance." Morgan said. "Make him wait a few minutes too. Taylor's taking you guys, right?"
"Yeah." Katie said, nodding."
"Great. I'll come up and get you when he's here, okay?" Morgan said.
Katie nodded. As if on que, the doorbell rang. Morgan ran to Katie's window and saw Taylor's car in the driveway. "He's here."
"Oh my gosh! I'm nervous!"
"Don't be." Morgan said. "I've gotta go answer the door. I'll be right back." She said. Morgan dissappeared downstairs, leaving Katie to pace around her room. Katie poked her head out the door and heard voices downstairs in the foyer, and soon Morgan came racing back up the stairs.
"Oh!" She squealed once the door was shut again. "He looks so cute!" She exclaimed. "He's nervous too, you can sense it. Now go!" Morgan said.
"Are you sure? Oh my gosh..." Katie said.
"I'll be right behind you. Here's your purse, and hold the railing when you go down the stairs." Morgan said.
"Okay." Katie said, taking a deep breath. She opened her door, then walked down the hall and down the stairs. She saw Zac, standing in the foyer, turning in circles. Taylor was standing not far away, watching in amusement. He stopped when he saw her, and he smiled. Katie gripped the rail of the stairs, and it seemed like an eternity before she reached the bottom.
"Hi." She said quietly when she got to the bottom.
"Hi." Zac said. He swallowed nervously. "You look great." He said.
"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." Katie said, giving Zac a once-over. He had his shiny hair pulled back in a low ponytail at the nape of his neck, and he was wearing a blue button down shirt and black dress pants.
"Thanks." He said, grinning so that his dimples showed.
"Oh, look at this." Judy said, coming into the foyer with Ben on her hip. "This is precious." She said.
"Um, here you go." Zac said, handing her a box.
"Oh, thanks." Katie said. She opened the box and pulled out a white rose corsage with baby's breath around it. "Oh Zac, this is beautiful." She said.
"I thought it looked neat. I'd never seen a white one before."
"Thank you." She said. Morgan raced into the kitchen to get Zac's flower, which had been in the fridge for the afternoon. His was also white.
"Want me to pin it on you?" She asked.
"Uh..." Zac eyed the large needle.
"I'll do it." Katie said, grabbing the box from Morgan. Morgan giggled then walked over to Taylor to say hello.
Katie carefully took the flower out of the plastic box and held it against his shirt. "This okay?" She asked, looking at him.
Zac inhaled, and he could smell her purfume. He hadn't been this close to Katie in weeks. She was just inches away from him...
"Zac?" She asked. He was staring at her blankly.
"Yeah that's fine." He said quickly, trying to compose himself. He watched learily as she removed the pin and first stuck it through the stem, then through his shirt. He waited for the prick of the little annoying needle on his chest, but this time it didn't come. Morgan had suceeded in gauging him at least six times at their fall homecoming dance trying to get his on. He wasn't about to do that again.
"There." She said, standing back to admire her work.
He glanced down, seeing the white flower successfully pinned to his shirt. He smiled at Katie, and she grinned back.
"That's cute." Judy said. Katie slipped hers on, then they were ready to go.
"This is gonna be fun." Katie said as they walked out to the car.
"Yeah." Zac said, opening the car door for her. "It's gonna be a blast." He grinned at Katie, and she blushed at him before climbing into the car.