September Tango (14 page)

Chapter Eighteen
– Monday Evening

They pulled into the mall parking lot and Layla stretched. “Alright, let's do this. What size are you, Zoe?”

Zoe coughed nervously. “Sixteen.”

“Okay,” Layla said, tapping her chin. “We can hit some clearance racks and hope we hit it big from prom. I have a few stores in mind. You ready?”

“
Yeah, I just want my promised pretzel.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine, you can have one after the first store. What color dress do you want? We're probably not going to find a white one.”

“Good thing,” Layla smirked. “I look like hell in white.”

“
Yeah you are pretty ghostly.” She tried not to gawk at the mall, she hadn't been here in a couple years, and they'd definitely fancied it up. It was a two story building, and the inside was almost completely cream tile, with skylights and a gorgeous fountain standing in the middle of the food court. The scent of food made her stomach rumble. “Bring your ass!” Layla muttered, grabbing her arm.

She sighed and looked longingly over her shoulder. Finally, Layla went into a shop and zeroed in on the dresses. She pointed to the other side. “Find your size. I'll say yes or no.”

“Do I get no say in this?” She laughed.

“
Sure, after I do.” She pursed her lips as she looked at a fuchsia gown. “You know, this color would be pretty on you.”

“
Yeah, hell no.” She shook her head vehemently. “I don't like that color at all.”

Layla sighed. “Fine.” She flipped to another dress and pulled it out. It was a soft rose. “Oh, Zoe, this one is pretty.” It had a sweetheart neckline with a fitted bodice, flaring out to a soft, floating skirt that would hit her just below the knees. Small pearls trailed down the bodice and through the skirt.

Zoe tipped her head. “It is pretty. Do you think it's too fancy?”

Layla shook her head. “It is fancy, but if you do something really simple with your hair, you could pull it off.”

“Let's call it a maybe, okay?”

“
Okay.” She grinned and laid it over her arm. Zoe found a coral dress she loved; it resembled her peach sun dress. Layla frowned at that choice. “I don't like it. It's too simple.”

“
I just want to try it on.”

“
Fine...” She pouted. “Go try them on. I'll be over in just a second; I need to find something in my size too.” She was flicking through the racks and her brow was furrowed.

Zoe took the two dresses to the fitting room and pulled her clothes off. She slipped the coral dress over her head and frowned. Layla was right, it was incredibly simple and plain. She shook her head and pulled the dress off. “Layla?”

“Yeah, I'm here.” She replied.

“
You were right about the coral dress.” She unzipped the rose colored one and stepped into it. “I'm going to need help zipping this one up.”

“
Let me in, then.” Zoe unlocked the door and Layla stepped in. She adjusted the front of the bodice and Layla zipped up the back. Her eyes went wide in the mirror. Layla stepped back with a smile. “What do you think?”

Zoe turned and looked at herself at all angles. “Oh my god, Layla. It's beautiful.” The dress hung perfectly on her curves. Her skin looked like peaches and cream perfection and the rose highlighted her lips and the soft flush in her cheeks. “I love it.”

Layla nodded. “It's perfect.” She clapped her hands and unzipped the back of her dress. “That was so easy! We just need some pretty sandals to go with it.” She moved to the door. “Get dressed and I'll show you the dress I picked.” Zoe didn't reply, she couldn't stop staring at herself in the mirror.

She peeled the dress down and got dressed again before hanging both dresses on the hangers and stepping out of the dressing room. Layla was holding a warm orange dress, the color perfectly complimenting her skin. She held it up. “See? It's similarly styled to yours, just a different color.”

Zoe crinkled her nose. “Orange?”

Layla nodded. “You said wildflowers. Therefore, no color scheme. It will be great, trust me.”  She stood and smirked. “How about a pretzel before shoes?”

“God, yes!” They walked to the register and Layla whipped out Calvin's card. “Wait, how much are these?”

“
Cheap. They were on clearance.” Layla shrugged. “Calvin said don't worry about it. We still need to get some jewelry, makeup and shoes. We aren't done yet.” She put her dress up on the counter and the cashier smiled at them brightly, her overly white teeth flashing in her face.

“
Hi, y'all. Find what you were looking for?” She rang up the first dress and put it in a dress bag. It rang up at $49.99. Zoe took a slow breath and let it out.

“
Yeah, we are good,” Layla smiled. “Give me your dress, Zoe.”

She handed it over and the woman scanned the tag. It was only $79.99. She let out a breath.
Totally reasonable.
The cashier took the card as Layla handed it over, and within a few minutes, they were done. She had a wedding dress. “Layla, this is nuts.”

“
Yeah, but it's fun. How many women can say they got swept off their feet by their high school crush?” She sighed and pressed a hand to her chest. “It's just so romantic.”

Zoe smiled. “It is romantic.” They walked back to the food court and she moved directly to the pretzel shop. Layla was rambling about makeup and shoes and she found herself nodding and just waiting patiently to get her mouth on a snack. She groaned as she bit into the salty treat. “So good.” They ate in silence and as she took the last bite she muttered, “Where to next?”

Layla threw her hands up and sighed. “Have you been listening to me at all, Zoe?”

She flushed. “Um, no, I'm sorry. I was starving.”

Layla rolled her eyes. “Fine. We are going to the shoe store over there. You need some cute sandals to go with this. Then we are going to the makeup counter at Macy's and see what we can get. We should go to Victoria's Secret and get you some pretty stuff while we are at it.”

“
Um, should we be talking about lingerie?” Her eyes were wide.

“
I'm not a virgin- I'm seventeen- and I know you and my brother are screwing. You need pretty stuff. It is just how it is.” Layla shrugged matter-of-factly.

“
Okay.” She took the last drink of lemonade. “Lead on then.”

They went into the DSW shoe store down the mall from the food court and found a pair of pale pink sandals with pearls and sparkles that Layla deemed perfect. Finally, they hit Victoria's secret, which proved to be an incredibly awkward experience. She ended up leaving the store with a new strapless bra to go with the dress, matching underwear and a few pieces of lingerie that Layla insisted she buy. They were finally done and she was exhausted. It was bordering on six PM. They headed out to the car and began the long drive home.

Layla was silent for most of the ride, which was a welcome relief from her chatter. She finally broke the silence. “Are you happy, Zoe?”

“
Yeah, I am,” she replied with a smile. “I'm really happy.”

“
Good. I am glad.” Layla smiled. “I've wanted my brother to be with you forever. Do you remember a soccer game he had? I sat with you and Callie. She was such a bitch to me, but you talked to me the whole time.”

Zoe nodded. “I remember that. God, that's been so long ago, hasn't it?” She smiled softly.

Layla nodded. “It's been years. But I always liked you more than her. I guess he just had to grow up and see how awesome you were.”

Zoe blushed. “Thanks, Layla.” They were just a few miles outside of Major and her chest tightened. “You know? I think that I'll be glad to leave here for a while.”

“I can understand that,” she said quietly. “It gets old.” They finished the rest of the ride in silence, both of them in their own little world. She pulled up in the driveway and Layla climbed out, stretching her arms high. “Come on.” She pulled their dresses and shoes out of the back of the car.

Zoe shook her head. “I am gonna go over to my house for a little while. I want to get a few things of mine and my mom's. I just want a few minutes to myself, that okay?”

Layla looked at her curiously. “You sure?”

Zoe nodded. “Yeah. I'm fine, if that's what you are worried about. There are just a few things of my mom's I want for tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Layla said slowly.

“
I'll be back in like thirty minutes. Does that make you feel better?”

“
Yeah, it does.” She started toward the house. “Thirty minutes. Or I'm coming to get you.”

Zoe waved and backed down the drive, driving the few minutes to her old house. The place looked barren as she drove up in the drive. She shivered as she stepped out and walked up the porch.
I'll miss this place,
she thought.
But there is nothing left here for me.
She walked into the door and headed to her bedroom, pulling a couple of suitcases out from the closet. She started packing her clothes in them. She went to the basement and found a couple boxes to put her toiletries and some trinkets she wanted to save in. Everything else would stay. She dug in her closet, finding the box that held everything left of her mother. She sat down on her bed and pulled the lid off the small shoebox. She smiled as she found the silver and sapphire chandelier earrings her mother had so loved. She squeezed them in her hand and closed her eyes. She touched the pictures in the box and a smile kissed her lips as tears filled her eyes. “God, Mama, I miss you.”  She lifted her prized quilt off her bed and folded it carefully before sliding it in the box.

She sighed and stood up, placing the shoebox into the big box. She slid the earrings into her purse. She heard a knock at the door and saw Layla standing there, her arms crossed over her chest. “You have been here forty-five minutes.” She came in the door and tapped her foot on the tile.

“Sorry, I got caught up looking at my Mama's stuff. Wanna see her earrings? I want to wear them tomorrow.”

Layla's face softened moderately. “Yeah. I'd like that.” She led her back to her bedroom and pulled the silver jewelry out of her purse. “Oh, these are pretty,” she said, holding them up and jingling them slightly. “They will be beautiful on you.”

Zoe sighed. “I guess I'm supposed to be staying with y'all the next couple days.”

Layla nodded. “I can help you tote this stuff back. I'm in Grams' car.”

“Okay.” Zoe replied. She zipped the suitcases and handed one to Layla, who toted it out the door. She took a last look around her childhood bedroom.
This is it.
Layla came back in and grabbed a box.

“
You okay?”

“
Yeah,” she said softly, for the first time in a very long time actually meaning it. “I'm good.” She lifted her suitcase and followed Layla out, turning the lights off in the house for the last time. She locked the door behind her and put the keys under the doormat. As she took the first step off the porch, she felt like she was leaving her old life and all the pain behind.
It's time for a fresh start.
Layla had already started Grams' old Cadillac and was waiting patiently for her to get in the little rental car. She stuck the suitcase in the back and climbed in, starting the car.

They drove back to Calvin's grandparents house, Layla leading. Once they arrived, she parked and climbed out. “What should I take in with me?”

Layla shrugged. “Your stuff? Calvin has plenty of space in his room. We want you to be comfortable. Come on.” She grabbed a suitcase and climbed up the stairs to go inside. Zoe picked up her suitcase and followed. Grams was asleep in the recliner and she moved quietly through the living room so she didn't wake her. Layla had already flipped the lights on in Calvin's room and was putting her suitcase down as she came in. “See? Plenty of room.”

The room was small, with a queen sized bed shoved against the wall, a plaid comforter in blue and green covering it, the room was spotless, no mess anywhere. A tall oak dresser was against one wall and had a small TV sitting on top. A desk with a computer was against another wall, the computer antiquated and yellowed with age. His closet was in the corner, and stood empty except for his uniform. She sat her suitcase down against the wall and looked around a few more seconds.

“Stay here, I'll get the rest,” Layla said as she went out the door. She sat down on the bed and waited quietly. Layla came back in with the box and sat it on the floor. “There, you're moved in!” She hung the dress in the closet and put the shoes on a shelf.

Zoe laughed. “It's nuts.” She shook her head. “I can't believe it.” 

Layla leaned against the wall and said, “Why don't you get a shower and then come to my room and we'll talk some more about the wedding?”

“
You saying I stink?” Zoe sniffed her pits casually. “Oh God, I do stink.”

“
Get a shower, and then come to my room. I'll leave the door open. The towels are in the cupboard by the sink.” She headed down the hall.

Zoe stood and rummaged through her suitcase, finding some pajamas and underwear. She got her body wash and shampoo out of the box, along with her deodorant and razor. She walked over to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She pulled the pink shower curtain back and turned the water to warm before stripping her clothes off and stepping under the spray. She felt like so much had happened since her early morning shower. She washed what felt like days of grime off of her skin. She shaved her armpits and made sure her legs were satiny still. She scrubbed until the water started running cold and guiltily shut it off.
I just drained the hot water heater. Oops.
She stepped out and dried herself off, braiding her hair and using one of Layla's hair elastics to finish off the end. She pulled on her pajamas and padded across to Calvin's room and put her toiletries away and her dirty clothes in the basket. She moved quietly down the hall to Layla's room. It was a typical teenager room, posters of shirtless guys all over the walls, and an explosion of pink and orange. It definitely suited her.