Page 21 of Falling for You
I look at the photo. It’s a gorgeous, pale pink, floor-length silk dress.
Penny catches my expression. ‘What?’
‘Nothing,’ I say, suddenly feeling ridiculous standing up in front of them in my bat costume like a five-year-old. ‘I just thought we’d all go in fancy dress together.’
‘We are!’
‘Properfancy dress,’ I say, flapping my arms stupidly. ‘You know, scary Halloween costumes.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ Guilt sweeps across Tanya’s face. ‘The theme is masquerade ball, so I just thought I’d wear a dress this year. There will be lots of other people in scary costumes, though!’
Penny frowns. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah! They’ve hired performers and I’m pretty sure the waiting staff are all dressing up as witches.’
I raise my eyebrows at her. ‘So I’ll look like I’m working there?’
Penny snorts and I kick her.
‘You’ll look like the best-dressed person there,’ Tanya says, her eyes earnest. ‘Honest.’
I shrug, flopping onto our lurid pink beanbag.
Penny puts her phone down. ‘You are still going to wear it, aren’t you?’
I look down at my fingernails, and for some ridiculous reason I suddenly feel like I might cry. ‘Well, if I’m the only one I’ll look a bit stupid.’
‘No, you won’t!’ Tanya says at once, and I see the protective-older-sister side of her take over. ‘It’s so incredible that you can make these costumes. If you let me pass on your Instagram to some of my clients, you’d be working in Diorlike that.’ She snaps her fingers with such conviction I can’t help but smile.
‘You have to wear it, Annie,’ Penny says. ‘How long have you been working on it for?’
‘About six weeks.’
‘And you’re seriously not going to wear it because we aren’t wearing fancy dress?’ She raises her eyebrows at me. ‘That’s ridiculous.’
‘That’s easy for you to say,’ I say childishly. ‘You’re going to look like a princess.’
‘I’m wearing Uggs underneath.’
‘No, you’re not.’
‘Comfort is key.’
‘Annie, if you don’t wear your costume I’ll be really upset,’ Tanya says. ‘And actually, we won’t go to the ball.’
She folds her arms triumphantly and I resist the urge to point out that this would work in my favour, as I’d much rather stay in and throw our annual Halloween party like we normally do.
‘Okay, fine,’ I say, giving in to their intense stares. ‘I’ll wear it.’
‘Yay!’ Tanya claps her hands again. ‘Now, who wants a biscuit?’
I nod and get to my feet, my costume suddenly feeling hot and a bit too tight around my body. The bodice feels itchy and the trousers, which a moment ago felt loose and freeing, now feel as though they’re gripping my thighs and splitting at the seams.
I shut the door to my bedroom and carefully peel thecostume off and step into my normal clothes: baggy trousers and an oversized hoodie. To my annoyance, I can feel the tears burning behind my eyes again. I blink them away crossly.
‘For goodness’ sake, Annie,’ I say to myself, turning to look at myself in the mirror. ‘Just because they don’t want to go in fancy dress it doesn’t mean you have to have a meltdown. It’s no big deal! It’s just one night of the year! Get over yourself.’
But I somehow can’t shake this cold feeling in my gut that this is about more than a Halloween costume. It’s the first time they’ve both gone along with the grain and I’ve been left to be the odd one out. We’re usually the odd ones out together.
