Hunter

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten:

I do wonder if I'll ever see him again. I mean, Alec was my first true love. If I do see him, I don't know whether or not I'll have the guts to challenge him. What if Joel and I manage to pin him down? Then what? Will I be able to kill--

"Kate," Joel whispers, startling me out of my reverie. He squeezes my hand, and I look around. No one is staring at me. But then again, normal humans are fairly clueless. They don't notice anything they don't want to. Right now Joel and I are shopping for my dress for the dance. He thinks I need a distraction. Meh.

"I don't think, I know," he jokes, nudging me. He points to a black dress that looks a little too sexy. I pretend to gag, and Joel looks hurt. "What's wrong with it? You'd look absolutely sexylicious in that dress!" He laughs, and I glare at him. "Oh God, you thought I was serious," he adds. "No, I think I should be the only one allowed to see you with that little clothes on." I slap him on the arm.

"Naughty boy. You're so dirty, Joel."

"I can be bad if that's what you want. I can be very bad." I close my eyes and shake my head in disbelief.

"Why do I put up with you?" I ask him.

"Because you love me."

"Yeah, I do, but that's not my point."

"Look, are we going to do this or not?" Joel asks. I nod.

"But... I haven't worn a dress in six years," I warn him. 'Good luck finding one I'll feel comfortable in,' I add in my head. Joel seems to accept my challenge.

"Come on," he says, pulling me along. For the next two hours, we march along on our fruitless endeavour to find the perfect dress. I haven't even tried one on, let alone considered buying it, but he shows no signs of giving up.

"Joel," I whine. "Can we please go back to the school?"

"No. Not until you choose a dress." I sigh and continue to trudge along after my pushy boyfriend. Joel stops in front of a mannequin displaying another dress, and he gapes. I look up, and my eyes widen.

"No, no..." I trail off hopelessly. Joel has a steely glint in his eye. Guess I'm trying it on then.

I tug and pull, and struggle as hard as I can, but I can't get the damn piece of fabric on my body. I swear several times, and I call out.

"Hello? Can I please get some help in here?" A shop assistant opens the curtain and steps inside, then laughs at me.

"Honey, your head goes in this hole." Once the dress is on, I look in the mirror and almost throw up.

"Oh, God, this is--"

"Amazing!" exclaims the woman.

"Terrible," I finish. "No way. This was a stupid idea. I'm not wearing a dress. No." Suddenly Joel walks in, and I squeal. "Joel! What are you doing? I look ridiculous. I don't want you to see me looking so... girly."

"Kate, really? I wish you'd dress like this more often. You look amazing."

"Fine," I snap. "If you want someone girly who will wear this piece of crap--"

"That is two hundred dollars!" the shop assistant cries.

"--expensive piece of crap, sorry, then you need to find a different girl. I'm not girly, Joel. This doesn't feel right. I don't feel comfortable." I look down. My breasts are half hanging out, my ass sticks out like nothing else, and my legs are on display. Yuk.

"Fine," he says. "We'll look for something you'll feel comfortable wearing. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. Heaven forbid you show some skin. Why is it such a big deal?"