The woman led me to the back corner of the store where Diana was examining a short pink tutu dress. The woman took the dress quickly out of Diana's hands, causing her to jump, "No. This colour does not suit your hair. You're better off with... this dark blue."

She thrust an almost identical dress into Diana's arms except for the colour. Diana nodded quickly, "Yes, ma'am," and rushed to the fitting room.

Poor Diana; I knew she'd been eyeing the pink one for weeks. 

"This one is for you," the saleswoman held out a long, elegant dress to me, "It should fit you. Go try it on."

I nodded obediently and headed to the fitting room, fumbling for the price tag on the way. My allowance from Mum used to be $15 a week but since she married Mr Trevor it's risen to $25 a week. I had about $1090 in savings since I put $7.50 away into my savings account each week. 

The dress itself was $324. I smiled to myself. For a dress so pretty, I'd pay that much money.

I stepped into the fitting room and locked the door behind me. I stripped to my underwear before taking the dress off the hanger. I unzipped the side of it and then stepped in, before zipping it back up.

I examined it in the mirror with a small smile. It was floor-length and strapless - I'd have to invest in a strapless bra... - with multiple layers of lace flowing as a skirt at the ribcage. The bodice was a dark purple but in the skirt it moulded into a very faint purply-white. 

I could probably go one size smaller but it was gorgeous. I could imagine myself dancing and twirling in this dress. 

With Christian.

Another thought to bring a grin to my face.

"How are we in there?"

"Good," I called to the woman, "Though I think I could go a size smaller."

"May I see?"

I unlocked the door for her and she scrutinised me through her cat-eye glasses, "No. Definitely not a size smaller. If you did, you'd lose support in your chest. It's a perfect dress the way it is. Are you going to buy it?"

Oh. Okay... not a size smaller then? Alright.

"Yeah, I think I will," I nodded.

"Just get changed and step into line at the counter," the woman ordered.

"Okay," I stepped back, closing the door. 

I stripped out of the pretty dress and hung it back up. I dressed into my clothes again and picked up the hanger and my handbag, moving to go to the line. 

Diana turned around from in front of me, "What did you get?"

"This," I showed her the purple dress. 

Diana grinned brightly, "Nice. Expensive?"

"Yeah," I twisted my nose up, "What about you?"

She rolled her eyes, "The saleswoman wouldn't even let me try the pink dress on. I had to get the blue. Though... it doesn't look too bad; I just liked the pink."

***

I hung the dress up on the furthest part of the rack in my wardrobe and then closed the doors with a heavy sigh. I'd spent the rest of the day at the mall with the girls whilst they shopped and let me tell you - clothes shopping is exhausting... especially when you aren't shopping yourself.

I flopped onto my bed with a heavy sigh. I really needed some sleep... but first, food.

I forced my eyes open and slid out of the bed, walking into the common room. Opal frowned, "You look deadbeat, Nat."

"I need food," I declared before scavenging the fridge. 

"Of course, you do," she sighed.

I'd gotten used to everyone thinking I love food. And I do - truly. I do. But it's only because that's what they drilled into me at the FSWC. They gave me so much healthy and junk food all the time that you learn to love food. They flip you around from hating eating to loving eating and that's why my stomach can hold anything. 

I pulled out a carton of orange juice and some leftover pizza, putting it on the bench. I called to Opal, "Want anything?"

"Just a glass of OJ please," she said from her spot at the lounge, studying. 

I brought a glass over to her before getting my own and the pizza. I joined her on the lounge, "I thought you had your last exam the other day?"

Opal rolled her eyes, "Mum put me into the SATs, can you believe? Anyway, it means I'm going to America after Christmas to study for another set of exams. All it does is open up more options for universities."

"Harsh," I said, "What do you wanna do anyway?"

Opal smiled shyly, "I want to be a psychologist..."

My eyes widened in shock. She wanted to deal with people's problems. Thinking about it, she was always able to help me. She could probably do that... I grinned suddenly, "Great! That's perfect for you."

"Really?" Opal raised an eyebrow, "You're the first person to not argue with me about this..."

"We argue about everything else," I chuckled slightly, "I'll let you have this one."

I finished my pizza and quickly downed the orange juice before nodding my head to her, "I've eaten. Now I can go sleep. Night night."

"Sleep tight," she murmured, going over the notes before her. 

***

"Hi, everyone! I hope you're all doing well," I said at the beginning of the assembly, "I'm just going to go through the school pledge and then welcome our lovely principal to address us. Please repeat after me..."

I finished reciting the pledge to the two-hundred and forty girls before taking a seat beside Dr Fredstone. 

Principal Wednesday stood up and made her way to the podium. She nodded out at all the already-bored faces, "Good morning, girls. I've called this assembly just to address a few things. Firstly, the Year Twelves have all finished their HSC. Well done to all of you for trying so hard. The Year Twelve Farewell Ceremony will be on the 2nd of December, 3pm. Next, the Seniors' Formal will be on the 3rd of December, 7pm at the Rogue. Please organise your own transportation there. The school won't be providing transportation this year. Finally, there's been quite a few confrontations in Year Eight. I can name and shame you but I'm not that cruel. Instead, you all have a Girls Be Girls Seminar tomorrow, 11am. Be prompt, please. Now, I believe Coach Ashter has a few Sports Awards. Welcome Coach Ashter, girls."

***

I smoothed down my plaid skirt as I sat on one of the chairs on the stage, next to Rose. She whispered, "It's so warm our here. I'm sweating through my blazer."

"It's only the start of December. Yesterday was still cold for Spring..." I whined in agreement. 

Rose nodded minutely, "Why did she make us wear blazers for today?"

I looked across the sea of girls and parents sitting on chairs on the lawn, "Half of the girls have taken them off..."

"I know, right?" Rose sighed.

Principal Wednesday approached us and took a seat, "Hello girls."

"Hi Principal Wednesday," we said in chorus. We exchanged a look and then broke into a small peal of laughter.

Principal Wednesday just shook her head before standing, "Quiet now." She approached the podium and smiled - the first time I'd seen her do that at school, "Good afternoon, everybody. Today we're gathered to..."

And from there I zoned out. 

***

"Where's Opal?" I gripped Whitney's hand.

She shrugged, "I haven't seen her since she got her certificate."

"Helpful," I sighed and let go of Whitney, looking wildly around. 

I caught a flash of two brown braids but frowned when I saw it was Kayla, not Opal. I looked around more but couldn't find her. I walked up to the stage and stood on it, looking down across everyone. 

There! 

I found her standing by the apple trees talking with her parents. I jumped off the stage and rushed to her before realising I could be interrupting something. I paused as Opal and her parents looked at me and blushed, "Am I interrupting something?"

"No," Opal said quickly, too quickly, "Hi Nat!" 

I gave her a big hug, "Congratulations, Opie."

She ruffled my hair, "Thank you, Nattie. Like my certificate?"

She held it out for me to see and I laughed, "It's got a little flower on it and everything.

"It's a waratah," she said, as if I was clueless, which I probably was. 

"Cute," I nodded at it, "And hello, Mr and Mrs Jenkins."

Her dad gave me a brief smile but her mum just nodded her head. 

Slowly, I turned to Opal with a question in my eyes, "I guess I'll leave you now?"

She gave me a subtle wink, "Actually, can you show me to where Whitney is? I wanna say bye."

"Sure," I smirked and turned around, Opal right behind me. Once we were out of earshot of her parents I whispered, "Your parents barely acknowledged me!"

Opal nodded, "Those are my 'rents for you. I needed to get away from them. Where's Whitney, actually?"

I pointed to where she was standing with Kayla and we made our way over there instead.

***

Song: I'm From Another Dimension - Brad Breeck. 

Follow me on Instagram! : amateurinresidence. 

Short chapter, I'm sorry :}

xx Sharky.