70| Shopping Spree

Zoey walked past Althea who was sitting in circle with the rest of the student council, dividing tasks of arranging prom. She was a literal mess right now, barking orders at everyone to do their part correctly and not mess up anything.

"Zoey," she heard Althea call her name but she acted like she wasn't listening and continued walking. "I know you can hear me Zoe."

"What?" Zoey replied.

"Do you want to enter your name in Prom Queen nominations?" She asked.

"I haven't thought about it." Zoey replied.

"Decide faster. Prom is next week." Althea exasperated.

"I'll let you know." Zoey said and walked towards the basketball court. Zachary and Ethan were casually playing basketball there and Olive had joined them too.

"Your girlfriend is going crazy. She needs to get laid." Zoey said to Ethan and sat down in a corner.

"Do you think it's me who wants to wait till prom night?" Ethan rolled his eyes sarcastically as he scored a basket.

"Whatever. She needs to get unwound on immediate basis, one way or another." Olive added.

"What do you suggest? Should I throw her over my shoulders and take her to the Chem lab?" Ethan laughed.

"It's my sister, jerk." Zachary aimed the ball at Ethan's arm that caused him to wince.

While Ethan and Olive played, Zachary made his way to the bench where Zoey was sitting and wiped his sweat with a dry towel.

"Hey." Zoey acknowledged.

"Hi." He replied and sat down beside her.

"Travis told me that Maya was worried about you." Zoey said.

"So? It's her problem, not mine." He said dryly.

"That girl cares about you, Zach." Zoey said, putting her hand on his.

"Are you going to give me a lecture as well? Because I thought at least you would understand." He sighed in disappointment.

"I understand. Believe me, I do. You are hurt and you want to hurt others. I have been there but it's not worth it." Zoey muttered to him in worried voice.

"What am I supposed to do? Ask for her forgiveness. I'm doing what she wanted me to do. I am giving her space." Zachary huffed.

She stared at him in pity, not knowing what to say to him. She had been in his position before, where being a rebel was the only option left. Zachary was better than her in every aspect. He was the nice one and it hurts to see him like that.

She decided to change the topic. "Who are you bringing to prom?"

"Blaire probably." He replied.

"Oh, don't." Zoey groaned. "We both know she is annoying as hell."

"At least she won't reject me." Zachary replied.

When the conversation didn't do any good, Zoey gave up and stood up to leave. She made her way to the school library and searched for Travis, who happened to be sitting in the last row behind Physics section.

"Hey, hot stuff." Zoey plopped herself on the table in front of him.

"Hey." Travis put his book aside and lifted his head to look at her.

"So, do you have a date to prom?" She teased.

"No. Who will go with a nerd like me?" He teased back.

"Um... Let me think, I can manage to find you someone. What do you think about a hot 5'4" brunette?" She smirked.

" Brunettes are not my type." He replied. "The are uptight."

At this, Zoey hopped of the table and made herself comfortable on his lap. Placing her both arms on either side of his chair, she asked, "Uptight, huh?"

Travis looked around uncomfortably to check if anybody was coming their way. "We are in a library."

"Now who is uptight?" She grinned.

"Okay, jokes aside," Travis tucked her loose hair behind her ear. "What happened to you last night? Did your mother say something?"

Her mood soured at the reminder of her mother's proposal last night. She didn't want to tell him because there was no need. She wasn't going to leave everything behind for the same mother who left her when she needed her the most.

"Nothing important." She replied.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Pretty sure." She replied.

••••••••••

"Why are we even waiting for her?" Althea said in an annoyed voice.

"Because she doesn't have girl friends." Zoey replied. "And I'm sure Olive and Cindy don't have any issue."

"The more, the merrier." Olive said.

"Exactly." Cindy sided with her.

It was Sunday evening and all four of them were sitting in the food court of the mall. Prom was this Friday and they all were here to choose a dress. Zoey had invited Maya as well because she only had guy friends. Besides, she was sure this time, Zachary won't help her either.

"There she is." Zoey noticed Maya enter through the glass door. She shyly made her way to the rest of the ladies and muttered a small 'hi'.

"Thank God." Althea said and started walking. Cindy and Olive followed her and Zoey and Maya lagged behind the rest of them.

"Don't let Althea intimidate you into buying an expensive dress that is out of your comfort zone." Zoey said to her.

"Don't worry. I won 500 dollars in an interschool essay writing competition so safe to say, my budget is somewhat extended today." Maya grinned back as they both entered the first shop.

Zoey looked around to find a dress but she didn't find anything prom-worthy. Maya although found a pretty pink dress that she tried on and then walked out of the dressing room.

"Any comments?" She asked the girls.

"Sweetie," Althea contorted her nose. "No."

"But it's pretty." Maya said meekly. "Isn't it?" She asked Zoey.

"It is." Zoey said honestly.

"But it's not pretty enough to compete with Blaire Willow. Zachary is bringing her and she won't leave a single chance to mock you if you wear these kind of rags." Althea said and Maya felt overwhelmed all of sudden. She didn't know she was competing with Blaire, or anyone else for that matter.

"Yeah, Althea kinda has a point." Olive agreed and Zoey nodded as well.

"Stay there. I'll find something for you." Althea said and then looked around the store.

After five minutes of searching around and arguing with the store owner, Althea returned with a dress in her hand. Maya gasped as she eyed the beautiful dress with widened eyes. It was a pastel blue one shoulder A-line dress with some black detailing on it. The dress looked straight out of some fairytale and Maya swooned at its grace.

"It looks expensive. How much is it?" Maya asked the worker.

"300." The woman replied.

"I have never worn a dress worth 300 dollars." Maya whispered to Zoey. "But I like it. Should I buy it?"

"Do what you want. You deserve to treat yourself with the prize money because you worked hard for the competition." Zoey replied.

"You are right. I deserve to feel pretty on the most important night of the highschool." Maya said.

She paid for the dress and they went to the next shop. They didn't find anything good there, or in the next one, or the one after that. They were looking around in the last shop of the first floor when Olive came out of the dressing room all dressed.

"Wow. You look so badass." Zoey said as they all stared at her.

She was wearing a weird silver and black dress cum suit, that somehow fitted Olives personality perfectly. It reached her knees; one sleeve of the the dress was like a manly suit and the other sleeve was like a spaghetti strap dress.

"You should definitely buy this. I'll help you out of it after prom." Cindy teased her who herself had found a cute pink maxi dress. They both looked as opposite as possible but together, they complimented each other perfectly.

They all searched the whole second floor to buy a dress for Zoey but nothing suited her taste, until she finally stopped in front of a black dress. The dress was sexy and elegant. It had a plunging neckline and lace bodice, with a slit in the bottom.

"This one." She said excitedly.

"That's such a sexy ass dress." Olive commented. "I hope Travis doesn't rip it off."

Zoey chuckled and then paid for the dress. Althea had already selected a dress that her stylist showed so now, all five of them were done with their prom dresses. After buying matching shoes with their outfits, they reached the food court and ordered some fast food.

"I have booked Aunt Charlotte's salon for the prom. You guys can join me too. Her staff is really expert in hairdo's and makeup." Althea told everyone as she took a bite of whooper.

"Is it free?" Olive joked.

"Well, duh." She replied and turned her head to Maya. "You can come too."

"Aw. Somebody is making new friends." Zoey teased Althea who just rolled her eyes in return.

"As if." She responded.

She may act like the bitchiest person you have ever met but Althea had a big heart in reality, if only you ignore her occasional taunts and snobby attitude. Her upbringing had moulded her in an annoying person but she was a sincere person who always wants the best for her friends.

One by one, Althea, Olive and Cindy left with their respective drivers, leaving Maya and Zoey behind who were waiting for Travis to pick them up. Once he finally arrived, Zoey seated herself in the passenger seat and Maya slid in the backseat.

"How was your shopping spree?" Travis asked.

"We bought our prom dress. And mind you mister, you'll get a stroke when you see me in mine." Zoey smirked proudly.

"I'll be waiting for the stroke then." Travis winked at her and then looked at Maya from the front mirror. "How was Althea's behaviour with you?"

"She was nice, well as nice as she could be." Maya smiled, showing off her beautiful dimples.

"I have trouble believing that she can be nice. I mean she literally looks like she drinks blood in dinner." Travis chuckled.

Zoey kicked him on the shin. "Hey, you can't badmouth my friend," She said and then added. "Only I have that right."

They all started chuckling at this.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A sneak peek of their prom dresses

Zoey

Maya

Althea

Olive

Cindy