As soon as Claire and I entered Chic City, an excited sales assistant dressed in a trendy pink top and black miniskirt greeted us. 

"Welcome!" she beamed, smiling with her entire face. "I'm Emily!"

My eyes widened as I tried to hold back an amused laugh. Bubbly and enthusiastic, Emily from the clothing boutique was the polar opposite of Emily from Java Lava.

"Hi, we're looking for dresses for her," Claire gestured to me, her voice deep and mellow in comparison to Emily's.

"Great!" Emily chirped, her ponytail bobbing as she nodded. "Casual or formal?"

"Casual," I confirmed.

"Fantastic!" she said. "Come with me, ladies!"

Emily lead us further into of the store where a dizzying array of dresses hung from hundreds of rods mounted to the walls. Clean white shelves were decked with handbags and shoes that sparkled under the flattering yellow lights.

"I can assure you, Chic City has the best clothes in all of LA," Emily enthused, wringing her hands together and smiling at me expectantly. "Is there anything you're looking for in particular?"

Before I could reply, the sales assistant spoke up again. "A little black dress? Or a white one? Low back? Sleeveless? Sweetheart neckline? A fitting bodice? Straight cut or a little flare?"

"Uh," I hesitated, my head spinning from the endless list of choices.

Suddenly, a memory from the recent past surfaced. Jason and I were sitting inside his car, our faces partially illuminated by orange sunlight.

"That colour looks beautiful on you," he had said about my turquoise top. 

A hopeful smile edged my lips when I asked Emily, "Do you have any dresses in turquoise blue?" 

Claire glanced at me questioningly, but remained silent.

"Yes!" Emily grinned, seemingly overjoyed by my choice of colour. "I'll find some dresses for you! Be right back!"

Claire headed over to one of the shelves, examining a pair of shoes closely while I slumped onto the beige loveseat nearby. 

Claire and I had spent an exhausting three hours at the Walk of Fame and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Both legendary attractions had been fascinating, but I understood why Jason preferred the quieter side of Los Angeles.

After roaming two heavily crowded public places -- filled with people of all ages laughing, talking, and taking selfies -- I yearned for an eccentric candy store and a tranquil rose garden. Most importantly, I craved Jason's company.

"Hi!" Emily suddenly materialised in my field of vision, making me jump. "Let's try some dresses!"

My eyes drifted to her arms, laden with over a dozen blue dresses.

"Whoa," I blurted, horrified by the prospect of having to try each one. "Are all these dresses my size?" 

"Yes, they should fit you perfectly!" she giggled. "I promised you some of the best dresses in LA! At Chic City, you'll never run out of choices!"

"I'll say," I huffed, taking some of the dresses from her arms to relieve her burden.

"Let's try some dresses!" Emily repeated, clapping her hands as she led me towards the changing rooms.

I lost track of time as I flitted in and out of the changing room, trying on dress after dress. Emily and Claire sat outside the room, scrutinising each outfit with great care. 

After I had tried on five dresses, Emily handed me a small bottle of Cola and said, "Drink that! You'll need it!"

I looked at her with newfound admiration, realising that I could drink all the caffeine in the world and not be half as energetic as her.

Twenty minutes later, I found the perfect dress when I pulled on a soft, pretty number that ended a few inches above my knees. The entire dress was made of turquoise lace, a thin layer of lining running underneath. With a high back and wide neckline, the dress fit me like second skin.

I smiled at my reflection, running my hands along the smooth greenish-blue fabric. I didn't possess a conventionally "perfect" body or a coveted "thigh gap", but the dress accentuated my best features, drawing attention to my slender shoulders and lower legs.

"This is the one," Claire smiled, standing up when I stepped into her view.

"It's perfect!" Emily gushed. "Give us a twirl!"

I spun around slowly, extending my arms to show off the delicate, lacy sleeves that reached my elbows.

"Wait right here," Claire said, hurrying towards the other side of the boutique. 

She returned moments later, clutching a pair of pristine white stilettos.

"Oh my god!" Emily shouted when she noticed the shoes. "Those heels would be perfect with that dress!"

"Claire, those are so high," I said, studying the five-inch heels dubiously.

"Yes, but they're just two inches taller than the ones you wear," she smiled. "Try them."

I took the shoes from her hand, stepping out of my short wedges and slipping the shiny stilettos on. I straightened, feeling infinitely taller.

"Whoa," I breathed, teetering to the side.

"You look stunning!" Emily complimented, smiling at me appreciatively as Claire reached out to grab my hand for support.

"She's right, Lee," Claire grinned. "You have to get these shoes."

With slow, deliberate movements, I walked over to the nearest mirror. I had gotten so accustomed to seeing myself in jeans and shirts, my trusty backpack slung over my shoulder, that I hardly recognised the girl in the mirror. The brand new dress and high heels gave me confidence that I did not have. 

"Okay," I conceded with a smile. "I'll take the dress and the shoes."

***

At exactly 7:00 PM, the doorbell rang. 

My fists clenched as I stood in front of the mirror, a hundred worst-case scenarios running through my head. All of a sudden, the dress was too short, the heels were too high, my hair was too curly, and the minimal makeup that I had applied seemed overdone.

"Lee, darling," Claire's voice floated from downstairs through the open bedroom door. "Jason's here!"

It's too late to change now.

I swore under my breath nervously, spritzing myself with lavender perfume before grabbing the white purse and cream coat that Claire had lent me for the evening.

Okay, think positive, I told myself as I descended the stairs. The dress is great, and you practised walking in these heels for hours. You can do this!

Jason was sitting on the couch, chatting to Claire casually. But his words got caught in his throat when his eyes landed on me. 

A gasp escaped my lips when he rose to his feet.

Jason looked striking in a crisp, white button-down shirt tucked into a pair of dark jeans. The pristine white shirt accentuated his mismatched eyes while a dark sports jacket emphasised his broad shoulders and his tall frame. His face was clean-shaven and his hair was combed back, making him look a few years younger and as handsome as ever.

"Leena," he gasped when I walked over to the couch.

My skin tingled under Jason's admiring scrutiny as his eyes took in my uncharacteristic outfit.

"You look incredible," we both said at the same time, causing Claire to laugh with delight.

"I, uh," Jason faltered after a few moments of silence. "I brought you these."

He reached back towards the coffee table, producing four gorgeous white roses similar to the blooms at the Exposition Garden. 

"Roses are red," he whispered with a conspiratorial smile.

I accepted the flowers with a laugh, bringing them up to my nose to inhale their scent.

"You two should get going if you want to be at the restaurant by eight," Claire spoke up, clutching her hands to her chest. 

Her eyes glistened oddly, her lips curved in a genuine smile. My heart melted at the thought of Claire growing teary-eyed with happiness for me.

Do not cry, I tried to tell her with my eyes. If you do, I will, too.

Claire nodded and blinked rapidly as though she understood my silent message. 

"Shall we?" Jason asked, lending me his arm.

This date is going to be fun, I thought to myself reassuringly as I looped my arm through his.

I was wrong.

It was better than anything I had ever imagined.