The Girl Before

Chapter Six | The Dress

Veronica jumped upright as her phone rung. She fumbled for it tiredly, smashing the accept button, all to make the ringing stop. "Will, what the hell. It's like-" she began to pull her phone back to glance at the clock.

"Actually," the voice interrupted. "This is Zelda, from Finch's Fashions?" Her voice slid into a mildly seductive tone. "Why, were you expecting someone else?" She added a quiet purr to the end of her words.

"Zelda, it's like 6 AM, why are you calling me? And how did you get my number?"

"Lifted it from Will. Anyways, you need to get down here. The dresses are ready." She sounded almost bored by it.

"It's like 6 AM," she repeated. "And I can barely stay awake. I can't drive down there right now." She rubbed her eyes and blinked quickly in an effort to stay awake. Whatever jump start the mid-night phone call had given her was gone now.

Zelda laugh was mocking. "Call an Uber, and get your ass down here." The call ended with a resounding dial tone.

Veronica blinked, glancing down at the screen.

Well that was short.

Fumbling to get up, she searched through her dresser drawers for something to wear.

You want a Chamberlain at 6 AM, Finch?
Well you'll sure as hell get one.

It was a universally acknowledged rule in the Chamberlain household that no one woke up before the sun rose.

'Laws of nature' As her mother had aptly put it. 'God didn't make us a natural alarm clock so we could blow out our own eardrums.' The woman was insane, but she had a point.

About half an hour later, Veronica stood, fuzzy pajama pants and all, outside the door to Finch's Fashions.

Snow seemed to fall in blankets, and Veronica found herself shivering in the cold.

In a seemingly calculated slow pace, Zelda unlocked the door. "Jesus, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." She muttered when Veronica pushed past her into the barely heated shop. "Wake-up calls not your thing?"

"Shut up." Veronica snapped quietly, shaking the snow off her thin tee-shirt. "I was trying to follow instructions."

Zelda ignored her and walked back into the back room, whipping a stray towel at the still-shivering girl. "Dry off. I won't allow you to ruin my creations with snow." She called back.

Veronica scowled, wiping herself down with the-frankly filthy- towel. Following Zelda finally, she was surprised to see the work room in a clean condition. "Wow, you cleaned up?"

Zelda gave an artificial and mocking laugh. "Yes. Contrary to popular belief, I am a professional." She nudged a garment rack with her foot. "Put one on. Whichever one catches your eye."

Veronica approached the rust covered rack, examining the four garment bags. Each was dusty, and one of them had a long slash down the side. Through the slash she could see something bright and... yellow? She barely recalled their conversation a few weeks ago, and could vaguely remembered what colors the woman had muttered under her breath.
She quickly undid the zipper, pulling out the gown. It was surprisingly professional looking, and she ran her fingers along the well stitched seams. She really was the best.

"Well? You going to try it on?" Zelda's voice was smug as she noted how starstruck the girl seemed to be.

"Can you..." she trailed off, her cheeks flushing slightly as she undid the buttons on her shirt slowly.

"You want me to leave? Right now? Honey, I've got the same things that you've got." Zelda clicked her tongue, releasing an exaggerated sigh. "I suppose you may have privacy." She dragged out the vowels, snapping the curtain shut behind her.

Veronica finished undoing her shirt; kicking off the damp pajama pants next. Miraculously, she managed to stay mostly dry beneath her clothes. With precarious fingers, she undid the small garment zipper, stepping into the gown.
She took a breath before she pulled it up her body. This was, without a doubt, the most expensive thing I've ever worn. She continued to pull it up, slipping her arms into the sleeves. Her finger had barely touched the zipper when Zelda chimed in again.

"Hey, is this one of those things, where you get the perfect dress, and you let your hair down, and suddenly realize how beautiful you've always been? Because I have the emotional range of a teaspoon, and I just may barf." Her voice originated from just outside the curtain.

"No, just," she sighed quietly, her fingers still hovering over the zipper. "Just shut up, okay?"

"Why? Are you having a moment?"

Veronica, with care and grace, tugged the zipper up, effectively sealing her in the dress. "It's on." She grumbled. "You can come in now."

Zelda pushed open the curtain, examining her work. "You look like you're going to prom." She snarked in a quiet way.

"Oh..." Veronica was a bit quiet. "I didn't-"

"No, no. Prom is a good thing." She concluded, shoving the girl towards a mirror. "I suspect you'll look better when it isn't 6 AM, and you aren't soaking wet?"

God, I hope.

"Alright. Take it off." Zelda announced, clapping her hands once.

"What?"

"You didn't think you were keeping it, did you?" She asked, lifting a brow. "I'll drop them off at Will's later. In the meantime, go home. Take a shower; get a cup of coffee." She waved her off. "Go on, go."

[You'll see an image of 'The Dress' in an upcoming chapter. I have plans. :)]