Emily couldn't wait until the Christmas break. School had been a hard two weeks. In the halls people kept elbowing her bruised ribs. She noticed it was the cheer team and a few of the football team who were Ben's friends. How they knew her right side was bruised she didn't know. But when they elbowed her they would hiss nasty things or call her names.

The last few days Emily's stomach started to twist again, the anxieties started to settle in. The big fundraiser ball for the football team was coming up. The last day of school was the big day. Mama Lee promised to take her and Sonya shopping, claiming she also needed a dress for the event. All parents were coming to the event as well, as were some other big wigs from the area. A few scouts were also coming. It was a big social networking time for colleges and universities.

But Emily was becoming more anxious. She knew Teresa was going to do something. She had been too quiet the last few weeks. She brought it up with Minho but they both had no idea what to do. They couldn't prove anything or have her banned for no reason. So Emily just had to live with nagging anxiety.

She wasn't going to ditch and leave Minho alone at the Christmas fundraiser. He had formally asked her to be a date, even though  they were already dating he made it really cheesy and Emily blushed and giggled the whole time.

The football team had convinced Coach to cancel the auction. There was enough protest that it wasn't going to happen. Teresa and Brenda and the rest of the cheer team were not happy about that. But Minho pulled a lot of weight, and he was admitted he was not going to participate in it.

The Coach threw his hands in the air and finally relented.

"Coach, I love the game, but you try that kinda a klunk again, find another QB. I have dignity and self respect, I ain't gonna pimp myself out just so this school cane make a few bucks." Minho growled and slammed the door behind him.

~•~

Sonya had Emily's arm looped through hers as they walked into the mall, Bear hugging her leg tightly. Mama Lee and Mrs. Isaac were chatting away just in front of them.

"Okay girls. First stop... coffee." Mama Lee smiled.

Now that they had coffee, Emily followed like a list puppy. She had no idea what she was doing or how to start.

"What'll it be girls?"

They stood in the middle of a store with racks of different kinds of dresses.

"No idea." Emily said, her eyes wide slowly taking in all the different dresses, "I'm no good at this."

"Just like shopping for your birthday! Minho made you try on like the whole store before he actually found the perfect dress!" Sonya said poking her side.

"Really?" Mrs. Isaac raised an eyebrow, "he picked that dress? It was beautiful on you Emily!"

Emily nodded, her cheeks flaming up.

"You raised him right!" Sonya chuckled, nodding at Mama Lee who had a bit of a smug look.

"Well step one. Find your size and go from there." Mama Lee and Mrs. Issac shoed them over to the other side of the store where their size was and they started going threw it.

"Wanna look like a disco ball?" Sonya giggled and held up a dress so covered in sequence Emily threw up a hand.

"My eyes! My eyes!" Emily threw her hands over her eyes and glasses dramatically, while Sonya howled with laughter. "It's blinding me!"

"Oooo how about this one? Look like a vampire?" Emily held up a long sleeved high necked black velvet dress. Sonya made a face and stuck her tongue out.

"What's Minho wearing?"

"He said find the dress and he'll match. Which is not helpful..." She frowned flicking threw the dresses, "what about Gally?"

"Black. So...that's easy."

Emily threw her hands in the air, "if it could only be that easy."

In the end Mama Lee picked a few, Sonya picked a few and Emily, hesitantly picked a few for her to try on. Sonya had an arm full and Mama Lee and Mrs. Isaac had a few.

The dressing room try on went better then last time. Both moms found their dress by the second or third try on, and then sat on the big squishy chairs in the Chang room area and watched as the girls tried on their finds. Bear sat by Mama Lee's feet, patiently waiting.

Emily emerged in one dress, throwing the door open dramatically, and cat-walked into the area and up to the mirror. Sonya burst into giggles and Mama Lee and Mrs. Isaac tried to contain their laughter. Emily struck a ridiculous pose and then couldn't contain her giggles, and burst out.

"Okay Sonya..this is the most rediculous dress I have ever seen! It's like a multing chicken!"

Sonya was just about rolling around on the ground.

"You....you should...take a picture and tell Min this is what you picked!" Sonya gasped between laugher.

"Yes!" Emily grinned mischievously.

Mama Lee was laughing, she took Emily's phone and snapped a picture for her. Emily took it back and with a "look! I found my dress. Don't you love it?" And sent it to Minho. They all burst into giggles again.

"Okay, okay...go find a real one." Sonya waved her back into the change room.

Sonya found a pretty black simple floor length black dress with a slit up the side. Emily on the other hand felt like she was trying on every single dress in the store. And she was starting to get frustrated. Emily sunk to the little chair in the change room. And held her head in her hands until Sonya knocked on her door.

"Hey, Em?"

"Ya?" She called dully.

"Lemme in."

Emily unlocked the door and Sonya came in and sat down beside her.

"What's up?"

"I... don't even know. I have all the confidence in the gym. I can wear the sports bras and shorts in the gym. I can get into a ring and kick butt. But when it comes to this kinda stuff...' she waved her hand at the pile of dresses she already tied on but didn't love, "I dunno. I get so self conscious and freak myself out."

"You know you have a body most girls would die for! Come here."

She pulled Emily up and made her face the mirror in the little room. Emily looked at herself skeptically, she was just standing in her black bra and underwear, but Sonya had seen her in this so often, and Sonya was someone who was so whatever and comfortable about bodies, Emily was comfortable with her.

"Okay, look at that rediculously flat and toned stomach! Girl you have better abs then some of those football players!"

The corner of Emily's mouth twitched into a small smile.

"And shuck girl those damn legs! Look! Look how long and lean they are, know how drop dead sexy those legs are gonna look in a dress? Maybe a little slit up the thigh? Okay, also...you got a better rack then most of the cheer team!"

Emily's cheeks flushed and she looked at the floor.

"Bet Minho likes it." She whispered with a wink.

"Well...we haven't really...only...once...and... Umm, I still had a umm bra on." Emily said quietly, she felt her chest and neck and face turning pink.

"Doesn't matter. Bet he loves it either way. And. He loves YOU. Your body and your mind. I've seen the way he takes care of you; girl, your boy is so head over heels, so smitten, so whipped, his eyes are going to fall out of his head when he sees you in any dress."

Emily looked up at her best friend.

"Seriously. Girl, your body is shucken drop dead gorgeous. You work hard for it. I know The Crank and Wicked Witch made you think otherwise, and it's going to take some work to unthink what they told you for years. But girl! I'm telling you, as your best friend...you got curves in all the right places. Boobs, ass, legs, big beautiful brown eyes...if I swung this way, I'd fight Minho for you."

Emily snorted.

"No. For real."

"Sonya...what would I do without your pep talks?"

"Be a quiet little hermit in sweat pants and gym t shirts." She gave her a cheeky smile.

Sonya stood up and held Emily's face.

"Girl. If you don't believe me. Send a picture to your boy and watch him drool over you."

She grined and then went to the door.

"A few more to try. But chin up, rock that body, Shanket. Take a minute, collect yourself and we'll find you the perfect dress, ya?"

Emily nodded, with a small smile. Emily inhaled, held her breath and exhaled. She lifted her head again and ran her eyes over her own body. She ran a hand through her curly hair and flipped it out of her face as she picked up her phone. There was a message waiting from Minho.

😳 ...it's lovely.

Emily snorted and giggled. He was such a sweetheart.

I look like a multing chicken!

But a very cute multing chicken! Am I going as a dishevelled Rooster?

That'll get you that scholarship!
Ha.
But no. NOT the dress.

Oh thank shuck!

Ha! As if.

😉

But how's the dress shopping going?
I miss your cute little face.

Umm. Feeling...I dunno...

Talk to me Baby.

This kind of thing is so...not something I grew up with. It's hard to break out of that mental box I was shoved in

Do you need a pep talk? Cuz I'll pep you so hard!

Sonya already gave me one.

Good.

But umm..maybe you could help with something?

Anything! What can I do?

Emily took a deep breath. She glanced in the mirror. She had never done this. Minho had never seen her full body. They had ended up with shirts off a few times when they got heated in their make outs. He had seen her at the gym in short shorts and sports bra, but she had never done something like this. They had slept in the same bed, but he'd never seen her body.

She did her best, changing room lights are awful, but she took a picture as best she could, keeping the phone blocking her face. And before she could second guess herself, sent it.

Body confidence at an all time low.

Holly shucken...dang...shuck...dammit.
ummm. 😳

*Pulls self together*

Whole shuck Em...

*Gulps*

Emily Victoria Fitz you have no shucken idea how beautiful you are!

Like do you actually notice when you look in a mirror?

Bc I do. I notice every time I talk to you.

Shuck sakes i wish I was kissing you right now.

I'd give anything to kiss you.

*Blushes aggressively*

Like dammit Emmy. I honestly don't know what you're self conscious about. But that's not something I need to understand. ❤️

I just want you to know...

Hot damn girl! Now...if you will excuse me, I need a cold shower before I meet the guys. 🥵

I love you.

I love you more.

No.

Emily, you are shorter than me so your love capacity isn't as strong as mine so it's physically impossible for you to love me more.

It's just scientific fact.

Your rediculous.

Rediculously good looking.

Now that is a scientific fact.

😎 I love you baby. Have fun. And remember... HOT DAMN GIRL!

And I think your beautiful in anything you wear. Or don't wear...

Emily put her phone away and shook her head. Her face had heated up and her heart had fluttered. But he always had a way to make he feel loved and valued, not that Sonya's pep talk wasn't helpful. He was just... different. So taking another deep breath she pulled another dress, the one from the back, one that caught her eye, but she was apprehensive to try on, just because the style of it. But with Sonya and Minho's little boost she pulled it on and zipped it up.

Slowly opening the door she stepped out and up to the mirror.

"Shuck." Sonya gasped.

"Well now! This one is beautiful on you." Mama Lee smiled so big it made her eyes sparkle as she got up from the chair and came over.

"Emily!" Sonya squealed. "This one! This one! If you don't get this one we can't be friends! 'Cause like dang girl!"

"It fits like it was made for you." Mrs. Isaac agreed.

Emily lowered her head and felt a blush rise in her cheeks.

"Nah uh uh!" Sonya scolded and lifted Emily's head. "Head up. You got a killer body, and this dress...dang girl!"

Emily looked at Mama Lee, she smiled at Emily, and nodded. "Absolutely. This one."

Emily felt a little bit of confidence. She stood a little straighter, and lifted the corner of her mouth into a small smile.

Emily tried to pay for it. Jorge had given her the winnings of the fight, but Mama Lee swatted her away.

"I never get to go shopping with a daughter, you are now my daughter. Now shoo. I love you, but shoo."

Emily was dragged around the mall, finding all the accessories and the right shoes and purse and everything else needed. Mama Lee also called the salon she owned and booked the four of them for tomorrow for hair and makeup and manicures and pedicures. It was a long day. An exhausting day. Mama Lee and Mrs. Isaac took the girls out for super before going home.

"Thank you Emily. It was a shopping day I always dreamed of doing, but never had a daughter to do it with." Mama Lee said on the drive home.

"None of Minho's girlfriends would go?"

She shook her head sadly.

"Unfortunately he was a teenage boy, and the girls he dated... weren't...they weren't you."

Emily was quiet, listening, and waiting for her to go on.

"He was the school sports star. He dated the girls that were expected. None of them lasted, only a few were introduced to us." She paused, "like I told you at the beginning of the year, he has a tight group of inner circle friends. None of those girls made it there. He never talked about them at home, he never got as smiley or flustered."

Emily glanced at her hands in her lap. Mama Lee reached over and took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"You are something different, my child. You won him over, he is more comfortable being the goofy soft loving boy I always knew he was. You definitely have won of Ki and that in of itself has sealed your fait. You are never leaving this family. Even if, for whatever reason, it doesn't work out with you and Min, you are our daughter. And we love you, child."

Emily had tears burning her eyes, but these, these were happy tears. There was a warm burning in her chest. Emily could feel it spreading through her body. Emily squeezed Mama Lee's hand.