Calling from the Mist

Dress to Impress

Misty left her parents with a hug and a much calmer demeanour so they could head off to work and she could go out on the run she had planned. Of course, Jake would be accompanying her and had already tried to recommend a shirt go over her sports bra. Misty merely rolled her eyes and grabbed her shoes before heading out the door.

There was a fairly direct pathway from her house to the forest, including cutting through a few backyards. Misty was in the trees within five minutes as she started off at a light jog up into the mountains. Of course, this was another favourite spot of hers, the entire mountain was her favourite thing in the world.

“Why do I like this mountain so much, Jake?” Misty turned to her companion and asked, noticing that Jake had thrown on some shorts and a baggy t-shirt from who knows where. Wait… “Is that my dad’s stuff?!”

Misty absolutely cackled, not noticing before that Jake had apparently borrowed some workout gear from her father, a man that does not work out. Jake was wearing a pair of baggy canvas shorts with more pockets than was necessary, and a white shirt with a large-mouthed bass and the words ‘All the fish love me’ printed on the front. Yup, that was definitely her father’s fishing gear.

When Misty finally recovered and started off jogging again, she wiped a fake tear from her eye and smiled over at an adorably pouting Jake.

“Aw, come on man! Let me tease you a bit, that was just hilarious!” Misty grinned, bumping her arm against Jake’s as he sighed dramatically and shook his head, but was obviously hiding a grin. 

They ran together in comfortable silence for a while, up the mountain through the trees until Misty reached one of her favourite streams. There were fallen logs perfect to sit on and watch the water flow by as she kicked off her shoes to dunk her feet into the stream. Jake frowned at her again, something he seemed to do a lot.

“Let me guess what you are thinking, ‘that is not how a future queen should act!’” Misty snorted, a very ladylike sound indeed as she gestured for Jake to sit down on the log beside her. At the very least he did look sheepish in return, realizing his thoughts were definitely all over his face.

“I did not mean any harm, I am just not used to such… actions.” Jake chuckled, a comfortable sound that Misty liked quite a bit. She pointed at Jake’s feet, then at the stream with a grin on her face.

“Try it out, I swear you’ll love it!” She smiled, swishing her feet in the stream and gazing off into the trees. Jake did in fact take his shoes off, placing his feet into the water and humming at the sight. Misty wondered if he had never played in the woods as a child.

“So, you said you met me when I was six, right? Does that mean you are royalty too?” Misty asked out of the blue, not bothering to be tactful with Jake. 

“No, I was orphaned at a young age and was taken in by the Queen. She had been friends with my mother and had promised to take me in. I became a companion to the young prince, and have remained his loyal adviser now that he is the King.” Jake looked over at Misty as he spoke, a few unknown emotions crossing his features that were hard to read so quickly.

“Do you like them? The Royals I mean…” Misty shook her head, unsure of when she had accepted this strange situation but there was no use dwelling on what she couldn’t change. But when Jake did not answer her right away Misty turned to stare at him. Her companion was deep in thought when he finally sighed and answered.

“The King is a fair but stern ruler, his parents were much more… relaxed in their rule,” Jake spoke softly, almost as if he was unsure if anyone was listening in that should not have been. “As for the Royal Court, and I do say this with the utmost respect, but I would sooner trust a school of hungry piranhas after jumping into a river naked and covered in barbeque sauce.

Misty instantly burst out laughing, holding onto her stomach as tears welled up in her eyes. She could actually imagine what Jake had just said and knew that she could trust him with her life from that moment on. He had not lied, which he could have easily done, and Misty appreciated that more than anything else.

“I sort of figured as much, not as if I had any clue that these sorts of things existed before recently but I have watched enough fantasy and royalty dramas to guess that was the case!” Misty smiled over at Jake before taking her feet out of the stream and letting them air dry before putting her socks back on. She wanted to know more, to learn how to survive so of course, Misty asked the obvious, “What do I need to learn in the few hours before this meeting?”

Jake had taken Misty’s question seriously as he ran through everything she would need to know, from etiquette to royal titles and persons of the court. She had made a mental note of each and every single person that Jake spoke of, often asking questions in regards to who is related to whom and why one was more important than another. Jake seemed astonished that Misty managed to retain so much information, but she simply shrugged in answer; no need to give away her special secret after all.

“The King is very stoic and does not respond well to being spoken back to, or denied in any way…” Jake trailed off, donning his socks as Misty began to put hers on as well. He peeked over at the young woman who sighed in response.

“So what you’re saying is that he will not take kindly to my request to *not* be Claimed, hmm?” Misty scoffed, tying up her shoes before standing and stretching out her stiff muscles before they headed back. “I’m sorry Jake but I don’t work that way.”

“I did not wish to alarm you while we were in front of your parents, but I truly am unsure of how he would react.” Jake kept his gaze on the ground as they walked back through the forest but Misty had many other things on her mind.

For some strange reason, Misty could not help the smile that broke out across her face. All of her life she had felt a sort of boredom that could not be sated by any means, yet the prospect of finding her freedom through legitimate means was somehow exciting her immensely. Misty had never truly been challenged in such a way before. 

So, when confronting a challenge one would need the appropriate battle attire, right? Misty took off at a sprint back to her house with Jake now hot on her trail.

“Come on buddy, time to go shopping!”

~

Misty absolutely hated shopping with a passion, so of course, she called her best friend to help her. Micheal did not enjoy it either, but he had an eye for clothes and did enjoy finding cool new wardrobes, but usually for himself.

“Missy really??? Can’t you do this by yourself?” Micheal complained as soon as they stepped out of his truck and into the warm afternoon sun. Misty already knew exactly which shop she wanted to visit, and with Micheal driving and Jake in the back seat, they were soon at their destination.

“And not see you suffer alongside me??? No way!” Misty teased, slipping her arm into the crook of Micheal’s elbow and ignoring the growl Jake gave them. 

The shop had an original vintage sort of feel and was owned by the sweetest little old lady. Misty had bought most of her clothes there when in High School and she was so glad it was still open. 

“Hi, Missus Glenda!” Misty called out loudly to the white-haired lady slumped over in her chair as she instantly perked up and grinned towards Misty. She gave her a feeble wave that instantly transported the young woman back in time. “She can’t hear very well but would always give me a wave for saying hello~”

Misty made a beeline for the back, knowing that all the dresses and more formal wear could be found there. Nothing had changed at all. She took her time scanning the racks, with Micheal and Jake’s help of course. Somewhat shockingly Jake was quite good at finding nice pieces that matched and looked stylish. Misty grinned, liking several of the long skirt and blouse options that Jake had chosen.

There was a shimmer of red that instantly caught Misty’s eye as she pulled the hanger off the rack and grinned wickedly at the sight. It was a gorgeous retro-style swing dress with capped sleeves and a lacey skirt. A black bow decorated the waist and the bodice had a modest sweetheart neckline. It came to about the knee and Misty knew she needed to try it on immediately.

“Guys find me some shoes to match this dress! Something in black!” Misty rushed off towards the back where she knew there was a room to change and quickly got into the dress. It fit her perfectly, making her soft skin absolutely glow with the slightly darker red tone. As soon as she knew it was the one she quickly took it off and got dressed once again, exiting the change room to find Micheal and Jake standing close by.

“Awwww can’t I see it???” Micheal was pouting, ignoring the death glare from Jake who was getting used to the human boy’s antics. He sighed, c*****g an eyebrow in question as to whether the dress was the right one.

“You’ll see it tonight, did you find me shoes?” Misty asked, looking over the selection the boys had produced and ultimately picking a three-inch heeled shoe-boot in a shiny patent leather. Jake smiled, apparently, that was his choice.

Once they had paid and made it outside, Misty grumbled at the boys who fought to buy her dress and shoes. Jake had won, grinning over at Micheal as if it was some sort of strange contest. Misty had just rolled her eyes and let it happen, knowing that she would get them back at some point.

“I’m getting ready over at Micheal’s house, Jake, you can pick me up from there?” Misty turned in her seat as the truck roared to life and saw the instant look of concern on Jake’s face.

“That is not appropriate, Misty,” Jake spoke carefully, glaring daggers in the back of Micheal’s head. But Misty just sighed and turned back around to look out the window.

“I’m stressed enough as-is, can I please just get dressed at my friend’s house?”

The drive was silent for a few minutes, not like Misty cared to fill it as the boy’s made weird rumbly noises as if they were speaking some sort of non-verbal language. Finally, Jake sighed and relented to a smiling Micheal as they headed over to his house without another protest. The rest of the afternoon would be spent going over her plan, getting dressed and hopefully, finding a way to escape a life that had been decided against her will.

~