Chosen (19 page)

Another was of Ana at her surprise twelfth birthday party. I'd taken it when Ana had walked through her front door and we, along with a few of our other friends, jumped up from behind her living room furniture, yelling
SURPRISE!
Ana had been so shocked, she'd almost fallen backward through the doorway.

The last photo was one Ana had taken of Brielle and me with our arms around each other's shoulders. We had sunglasses on and were posing for the camera with our
lips pursed—like we were posing for
Us Weekly
instead of Ana.

With a twinge of sadness and nostalgia, I put the photos in an empty folder so they wouldn't get bent. This was already harder than I'd expected. I'd tried, earlier, to pretend that I wasn't leaving Yates forever so I could get through the day without feeling any sadness. But with each moment that passed, it became more and more real that I wasn't coming back.

Ever.

“Hey,” Brielle said softly. She peered around my locker door, watching me. “We're going to make sure those are framed for your dorm room at Canterwood. You know, so you can remember how gorgeous your friends at Yates are.”

I blinked, determined not to break my no-crying-in-public rule. I managed to blink the tears away, but my smile was still shaky.

“We're going to clean out our lockers, return the books that made our backs hurt all year long, and then it's class party time,” Ana said, lightening the mood. “And then, best of all?”

“Dress shopping!” I said. “Talk about last minute.” Brielle snorted from her locker. “Puh-lease. We'd look
awesome in anything. With you and all your fashion knowledge, I don't have any doubts we'll find something perfect.”

“Is Will excited?” I asked, taking off my book covers.

“He's trying to act like a guy—not
too
excited, but happy to go with me.” Brielle said. “But I can tell he's as excited as I am.”

“I'm sure he is,” I said. “If only guys would just be, you know,
honest
about how they're feeling about stuff.”

“No kidding,” Brielle said.

“That's why I'm glad I'm not going with anyone,” Ana said. “I get to skip trying on a bazillion dresses, I don't have to worry about my date's feelings, and, most important, I don't have to dance unless I want to.”

Brielle walked around us to carry an armful of paperwork to the trash. “Let's see if you still feel that way next year.”

Ana glared playfully at her.

I pulled off all of my stretchy reusable book covers and put them in my bag. I stacked my books into a neat pile on the floor, took off my locker lock, and dropped it into my bag. A few stray pens and highlighters that had been lost all year rolled around in the bottom of my locker. I tossed them—they'd all dried up from not being used.

My locker was empty.

I stared at the blue metal, took a quiet breath, and closed the door.

The last day went by quickly. After my entire class had finished cleaning their lockers, we watched a newly released comedy in homeroom and ate Domino's pizza with soda. I'd only seen Taylor briefly today—he'd been on the way to the gym with guys from his swim team. He'd said hi and I could tell he'd wanted to talk more, but it wasn't the time. We'd talk tonight at the dance.

When the movie credits rolled, I got up with the rest of the class.

“I hope you all had fun on your last day,” Ms. Merner said. “Once you gather all of your belongings, you may leave. Have a fantastic summer, everyone! See you all next year.”

I realized I wasn't part of that “all.” Not anymore.

I'd never seen the class move so quickly. The exit was a flurry of activity as everyone grabbed their bags and bolted out the door.

I waved to Ms. Merner as I passed her desk.

“Lauren,” she said. “You've been a wonderful student to have in class. I know you'll excel at Canterwood. Good
luck, and feel free to come by and visit whenever you have time off.”

“Thank you,” I said, beaming.

I hoped she was right about excelling at Canterwood. And the idea that I could come back to Yates and visit somehow made me feel infinitely better all of a sudden.

It made walking out of Yates—my school—for the last time easier. The day had been bittersweet, but there was one thing that made me feel absolutely elated. . . .

I was
officially
a Canterwood student now.

“HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS WILL TAKE?”
Ana asked that question every single time we stepped inside the mall.

“Focus on Pinkberry at the end of the tunnel,” Brielle said. “Besides, it can't take too long—we have to save enough time to go home, get ready, and make our fabulous, fashionably late appearance at the dance.”

“At least we didn't have a full day of school,” I said. “Or we'd really have to rush.”

“We'd be going in dresses from
last season
,” Brielle said, making a face like she'd just had a gross bite of sashimi.

Ana and Brielle motioned for me to lead the way. I went straight for our favorite dress shop. Bella's Boutique was a local boutique-type store. It wasn't huge, so it didn't
have a
ton
of options, but what they did have was unique. Not many girls in our class shopped there. They flocked to the usual chain stores and bought dresses with expensive chi-chi labels that at least three girls in various grades showed up in. Brielle and I'd always had good luck with dresses whenever we'd shopped at Bella's Boutique.

A salesclerk welcomed us.

As we walked in, I realized I hadn't been here in a while. I'd missed shopping here. I loved everything about the place. It smelled like the caramel and vanilla candles that dotted several shelves throughout the store. There were always fresh, seasonal flowers on the counter (white tulips today), and none of the store's employees followed younger shoppers around as if we were likely to steal something. The boutique also had a fun assortment of locally made jewelry that sparkled in the track lighting. It was
so
easy to accessorize and buy your dress—plus, maybe buy some irresistible-smelling lotions to make a girl feel even more gorgeous.

“Omigod,” Brielle breathed.

I looked away from the jewelry and laughed. Brielle already had three dresses over her arm. Ana, smiling, reached out and took them from Brielle.

“Go ahead,” Ana said. “Load me up.”

Grinning, Brielle tugged on Ana's arm. “Well, if you're offering . . .”

“Before I leave you to find my own dress, B, I want to assess your dress sitch.” I looked her over carefully. “So far this school year, you've worn a yellow dress and a black dress—both great for your coloring. With your dark hair and fair complexion, I vote you look for either light purple or silver, preferably form fitting, and . . .” I walked a circle around her. “Simple. I love strapless, spaghetti strap, or halter on you. Kitten heels for sure.”

Brielle sighed. “What will I do when you're gone?” she asked.

“Ever hear of online shopping and a little thing called
e-mail
?” I laughed, leaving a very relieved-looking Brielle to browse so I could do the same.

I walked over to a rack of dresses and looked through them. I already knew I didn't want anything in a print. Nothing pink or purple. I'd worn both colors to other dances earlier this year. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a swatch of ice-blue material. I walked over and lifted it off the rack.

“No way,” I whispered.

The first dress I'd picked up was
it
. I knew I didn't have to look at any other dresses. This one was
the
one.
It was a slim-fitting, sleeveless dress with a sweetheart neckline. I held it up, and it skimmed a few inches above my knees.
Parfait!
With my silver ballet flats, it would be lovely. The size was exactly right for me.

I inspected the pale blue material. It was raw silk and, in the right light, had a silvery sheen that shone brilliant, like the shadow of a full, blue moon.

“Guys.” I walked over to Brielle and Ana. “Look!” I held the dress up over my body and they both smiled.

“Wow. Laur, that's going to look amazing on you,” Brielle said. “You found that so fast!” She turned to Ana. “She's got paranormal abilities when it comes to fashion, I'm telling you.”

Ana shifted Brielle's half a dozen dresses in her arms. “Love it. Go try it on!”

“Okay! Be right back.” After promising Bri I'd help her when I was out, I headed for the dressing room. Locking the door behind me, I put my backpack down and slipped out of my summery gray skirt and pocketed baby-chick-yellow tissue tee and into the dress. It zipped up the side easily. I turned to look in the full-length mirror.

The dress hugged my body in the right places and, at the same time, wasn't too revealing. The color made my fair skin look like it was carved from ivory rather than
the cadaver pallor I sometimes had with the wrong shade of blue. My dark hair was stark against the silver blue of the dress. Even in its current disheveled state, it looked glamorous and shiny, and it even brought out the pale, pale blue of my eyes. I looked in the mirror even closer. My eyes matched my dress exactly. I only hoped Bri and Ana felt the same as I did about the dress.

Okay, here went nothing.

I stepped out of the dressing room where Ana and Brielle were waiting.

“Buy it!” Brielle shouted, seeming unable to control herself.

Ana nodded furiously. “Don't even try on another dress. It's perfect!” She'd never just say that to speed up our shopping—I knew she meant it. Aside from the fact that Ana didn't care much for dresses, and she obviously cared for this one, she also tended not to say anything unless she felt she had something valuable to contribute.

I didn't need any more convincing—this was
the
dress.

“Thanks, guys! I love it. I'm thinking a new pair of crystal drop earrings and a simple silver necklace from home—oh! The blue topaz pendant my mother bought me when I started at Yates.”

Brielle was already nodding her head in agreement. “Tay is going to pass out when he sees you.”

We all giggled until a salesclerk with pretty blond highlights and a stunning sapphire sundress came up to me. “Excuse me for interrupting, miss,” she said finally.

“I was just about to change out of this,” I cut in. “Don't worry, I'm buying it.”

“No,” she said, holding out a hand defensively. “I just wanted to tell you that dress is beautiful on you—it fits like a glove. I'm
glad
you're buying it. I was coming over to tell you that the dress sometimes finds its owner. A lot of people think it's the opposite—but, looking at you now—I'd say that dress has found its home.”

I knew I was blushing, but I didn't even care. I felt like Cinderella finding her prince. Only, according to Brielle,
I
was the fairy godmother and instead of my prince, it was the dress I'd found. Or maybe the other way around.

Once I'd purchased the dress and a pair of sparkly crystal drop earrings that were
très chic
and lovely, I was ready to focus attention on Brielle.

I looked at the dresses that Ana and Brielle were carrying.

“You find anything to try on yet?” I asked.

“Three,” she said. “But I need your opinion.”

“Definitely,” I said. “Go put one on and we'll wait out here.”

Brielle took her three dresses into the room with her, and Ana and I sat on a cushy vintage settee with gold trimming and upholstery that looked like it was straight out of
The Great Gatsby
.

While we waited, my phone chimed and I grabbed it out of my purse.

It was a BBM.

Taylor:

What time should I pick you up?

Lauren:

7:30 ok?

Taylor:

Perfect. Can't wait 2 c u
.

Lauren:

Thanks! Finishing up last min shopping with A and B then going home 2 get ready
.

Taylor:

LOL. Good luck w B. I know how much she needs u 2 choose her whole wardrobe. Don't let her keep u
.

Lauren:

Not 2 worry—she'd never b late 2 a dance
.