Page 1 of My Fake Fiancé

Chapter 1

Juliana

“Hey! You get off soon, right?” My gorgeous best friend, Tatyana, struts into the store like she owns the whole world and greets me with a quick hug. then steps back to let me continue working.

“Hey, T! What brings you by?” I chuckle, shaking my head at her as I get back to work, ensuring all the dresses are hung correctly, in order of size, and with their price tags facing outward. “But yes, I’m just straightening up here, I’m off in a few minutes.”

I shift to another rack and she follows alongside me, touching each dress along the way. I smack her hand away from the next dress, laughing. “Quit touching things. What’s up?”

“Mike and I are going to this new club and want you to come with us.” I hesitate and Tatyana keeps talking before I can say no. “You haven’t been out since, like, the first night you moved in. And honestly, it is time to take a break from working so hard and have a little fun. You need to go out and get over that lousy ex of yours. It’s been, what? At least five months. And it’s been a month since you’ve moved in so who knows how long you were moping around at your parents’ house.”

“Fine, fine,” I interrupt, mostly to get her to stop talking. “Okay, I will go out with you guys tonight. But nothing too crazy right?”

“I heard this new club is amazing and that can be our one and only stop for the evening. Just one simple outing. Just to check it out.” Tatyana leans against a rack of clothes while I rehang and fix items.

“Okay, just the one club.”

I quickly finish cleaning my section of the store, grab my things, and say goodbye to my manager. I run out the door with Tatyana by my side.

“We’ll meet you guys there,” Tatyana says to her boyfriend, Mike, and another one of their friends as we catch up with them near the exit of the mall. They both say a quick “hi” and “bye” to me and then leave the mall, as I give T a quizzical look.

“Why aren’t we going with them?” I ask.

“Because Juli, you haven’t been out in a long time and I think it’s time for some new clothes.” I laugh as she grabs my arm and pulls me back into the depths of the mall.

We hit every store we can think of, tossing aside most items because they are too expensive. And by ‘tossing aside’, I do mean that we respectfully rehung and folded each item. Tatyana was not too thrilled at how neat I wanted to leave everything, mostly because it took extra time but as a retail worker, I know how frustrating it is to come into the changing room or even out on the floor and see a huge mess.

Eventually, we find the right store and after a couple of failed outfits, I come out of the dressing room in a vintage, floral t-shirt, faded black jeans, and red velvet ankle booties. I stand in front of the long communal mirror, looking at myself in the outfit. Tatyana steps out of her dressing room. I see her in the mirror behind me and she is wearing the most ridiculous muumuu.

“What the heck are you wearing?” I turn to look at the outfit and Tatyana cackles. She lifts her arms to spread the outfit and shows me the whole crazy design on the fabric.

“What? You don’t like it?” She gives me a spin then doubles over, laughing. “It was already in the stall when I went in. Someone must have decided they did not want this beautiful masterpiece.”

“Yeah, I don’t know why they wouldn’t want that thing.” I laugh with her then she turns serious and focuses on the outfit I am wearing.

“Perfect!” Tatyana announces and makes me spin for her. I oblige and laugh then pause to let her check the price tags. “Oh! And it’s cheap! You’re getting that!”

I quickly change back into my work clothes and bring my items to the checkout counter. Tatyana waits semi-patiently beside me while I check out then she tugs my arm, yanking me out the door and back to our apartment to get ready for the night.

“I’m going to take a shower!” I call out to Tatyana and make my way back to my room. Tatyana goes into the kitchen and makes a shot for herself. “Don’t do too much pregaming!” I add as I hear her glass hit the counter again.

“Shhhh! Hurry up and shower, I think I need to rinse off too before we go.” Tatyana calls from her perch on the counter and I look down the hallway at her.

“Yes, please,” I tease then run into the bathroom before she can say anything or throw something at me. I can hear her laughing before I turn on the shower and fan. I try to shower quickly and when I get out I towel off my hair and add a bit of product.

“Hurry up!” Tatyana knocks on the door. I fling the door open making her stumble a bit.

“I’m done,” I smile then scoot past her. “All yours.”

“Thank you.” Tatyana waves me off and shuts the door behind her.

Chapter 2

Juliana

Back in my room, I flop on my bed, already feeling tired and regretting that I agreed to go out. I lie on my bed coming up with different ways I can try to convince Tatyana to let me stay home, or that it’s best if I stay home. When I hear the shower turn off, I immediately hop up and start getting dressed. She’s been wanting me to go out for such a long time and since I actually agreed and we’ve gotten this far, she’d probably kill me if I backed out now.

“Hey, outfit check.” Tatyana barges into my room, dressed in her robe with a towel wrapped around her hair, piled on her head. “Hmm, I thought you’d be further along in the dressing stage.”

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