Making Plans That Somehow Include Fancy Dresses

\~\~\~Present Day\~\~\~

After waving goodbye to Declan, Scarlett went back to her house. She had left in the morning feeling like a wreck but after talking to him, she felt a lot better. She had some work planned out but she was sure she was not gonna get anything done. If there was one thing she had learnt since she started coding is that writing code when under stress was worse than not writing any at all. You would spend hours later debugging some errors just to discover you used a comma instead of a dot in one of the lines.

She was glad that Declan was going to accompany her to her hometown. She had to make plans and text him. Declan being there meant that she wouldn't be the awkward single girl at the wedding. She wouldn't be stuck with strangers during the inevitable couple games.

She called her team leader and informed her that she would not be in town the next week and therefore she could not manage to get much done. From her mum's text, the bridal shower would take place on Tuesday. The wedding party would meet at their house after which they would all take a flight to a private island where the rest of the celebrations would take place. Scarlett had the half mind to ask her mom for the location of the island so that she could book a direct flight and avoid going back home. However, she was sure they were going to use private jets to get there. Her family was a bit showy that way.

She would book a Sunday flight. As much as she would have preferred to prolong the wait, she was better off getting home before everyone else.

She booked two Sunday evening tickets. The flight was about 10 hours. She planned it such that she would get there at night. She was sure her father would be asleep by then and she wouldn't have to see him until the following day.

Seeing her mother and sister was one thing. Facing her father though, was her current nightmare.

After booking the tickets she took her phone and texted Dec.

s: Hi stranger, did you get to work

d: ...

Declan had been at work physically but his mind was on one particular person, Scarlett. He did not know where the ceremony would be, but from what Scarlett had told him, it had to be a fancy place. He would take that opportunity to confess his feelings for her. After she made up with her family of course. He knew that the first few days would be stressful for her so he would just offer his shoulder.

He had wanted to text her since he left her that morning but he knew better than to show just how happy he was to accompany her. When he saw her text, he started to reply instantly. He loved how she called him 'stranger'. He also secretly hoped that it was only him she called that. It was weird but he liked it.

d: Hi Scarl, yeah I got here a while ago

s: Cool, I booked a flight on Sunday at 5 PM hope that works for you

d: That's fine... how are you feeling

s: A bit better, but I will be fine... I hope

d: I know you will... so what're you doing now?

Scarlett had realised that she would not do anything constructive. So she was going to make some popcorn and spend the rest of the day on Netflix.

s: Am making popcorn and start binge watching big bang theory reruns

d: Wish I was you, I have to tie up some loose ends here before we leave

s: Goodluck, I have talked to Anna, she is cool with me taking off next week

d: You have a cool team lead, I would have refused to give you the week off

s: No you wouldn't

She was right, there was no way he could say no to her.

d: I so would

He replied sounding like a child

s: Yea right... the popcorn's done Sheldon here I come, talk later

d: Later...

What Declan really wanted to do was ask her if he could join. They had binge-watched movies together before in all good fun but after this morning he felt that doing that would hold more meaning. Earlier his feelings had exploded, maybe Scarl opening up to him raised his hopes. He felt like a teenage afraid to ask his crush to the prom.

Scarlett did as planned she started from season one. 11 more to go.

Two hours into the NetflixandChill her phone buzzed.

Lou was calling. As soon as she placed the phone in her ear before she even said hello, she heard her best friend screaming.

"Shoooooooopppppppping....."

Scarlett was sure she would go deaf soon if that kept happening.

"Lou, you've got to stop that"

"Stop what?"

"Screaming in my ear"

"Whyyyyyyyy" Lou screamed in reply.

This time Scarlett pulled away in time to save her ears. After a few seconds had passed she put it back.

"So what are you so excited about?"

"We are going shopping, am picking you up in five"

"Shopping?? Lou, you bought a bunch of stuff last weekend. What could you possibly still need?"

"A white dress for the white party. You are getting one too"

"I have a white dress I can wear"

"It has to be a classy one sweetie, we don't want to look like we don't belong"

"But we don't belong" Scarlett quipped.

"Fake it till you make it" was Lou's comeback and slogan.

Scarlett was thinking of a comeback when she heard her door open. She knew it was Lou. She was the only other person who had a key to her place.

Within seconds, Lou was standing in front of her looking ready for a party, like she always did.

"That wasn't five," Scarlett said hanging up her phone.

"I know" May was as chipper as usual. "Whatchu doingggg?" She inquired as she looked at her best friend. Popcorn and binge-watching big bang theory in the middle of the day meant her best friend was dealing with something sad. After a keener look at Scarlett, Lou could tell that she was sad even beneath that smile she was currently displaying.

"Nothing, just thought I would watch some reruns"

"Yeah right... What's actually going on?" Lou asked with her serious face. Beneath all that prep was the girl who cared about her best friend because she knew she was the only family Scarlett had.

"Nothing"

"Nothing?"

"Aha"

"Well go get ready, we have to get me a fancy dress, I want all eyes on me at that party," Lou was not stupid she knew pushing Scarlett would just raise her walls further. She would talk to her later and indirectly. Lou initially thought that she would have to pull her best friend from work which had not always worked out in the past. But now that Scarlett was only watching TV, it would only take some pouting to get her off the couch.

"Do we have to buy new dresses? Am sure you have like three white dresses you can wear and I can borrow" this was Scarlett's last attempt at dissuading her eager friend.

"Those are old"

"Okay fine," Scarlett said as she stood to go get ready. She knew there was no changing Lou's mind once it was made up. That was also how she failed to get out of the white party plans. Come to think of it, Lou was just like Vic, stubborn, always happy and always getting what she wanted. The two would definitely get along.

She took a quick shower, threw on a white t-shirt and blue jeans. She pulled her hair into a messy ponytail and was ready to go.

She found Lou on the couch watching some reality show she wasn't sure about. "Am done, let's go."

Luo looked up at her. She sized her friend up like she was some model on a runway. Her facial features turned into disappointed ones.

"What are you wearing?" Lou asked with a serious face.

"We are only going shopping Lou, this is fine"

"No it's not, the place we are going to pick out the dresses is as fancy as the party, one look at you and they will kick you out. Trust me"

With that, Lou started pushing a bored Scarlett back to the bedroom. After rummaging through her closet, May found a dress and heels for her to wear. If that is what they had to wear to go shopping for a party, what were the actual party dresses going to look like, and how much would they cost?

"Lou, if the dresses we are going to get are that fancy? How the hell are we going to afford them?"

"Don't worry your little heart sweetie, I have a plan" That was all Lou said and Scarlett knew that she definitely should be worried, but did not argue with her.

After Lou forced her to apply some makeup, they left her apartment.

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