My Psychotic Boss

"Friendship"

The soft afternoon light filtered through the sheer curtains of Seren's apartment, casting a golden haze over the modest space. Her usually neat living room was cluttered now with shopping bags, hangers, tissue paper, and a growing pile of pastel clothing strewn across the couch and armchair. Delaney was in her element, crouched on the floor with an almost obsessive energy as she picked through outfit options, holding each one up like a treasure before tossing it aside. "This one," she finally said with a sparkle in her eye, holding up a dress that looked like it had been stolen straight from a cupcake-themed fairytale. "Try this one, Seren. It's absolutely perfect."

Seren looked at the dress. It was baby pink, cinched at the waist with a delicate bow, and had embroidered daisies dancing along the hem. The material was gauzy and delicate, with fluttery sleeves and a neckline that plunged just a little too deep for Seren's taste.

Delaney had already changed into her own version, a mint green dress cut almost identically. The pastel clung to her in all the right places, making her look ethereal and carefree. She radiated charm, her confidence filling the room effortlessly. "I don't know," Seren said gently, touching the fabric. "It's really cute, but..."

Delaney's smile faltered just enough to register. "But?"

Seren hesitated. "It's just not really my style."

Delaney c****d her head and gave a lighthearted scoff. "Come on, Seren. That's the whole point! We always dress so serious for work, this is our chance to be fun. Look at this dress! It screams youth and confidence. It says, 'I'm here and I don't care what you think.' Isn't that what you want to say at the reunion?"

Seren bit her lip, looking down at the dress again. "I guess..."

Delaney stood, the skirts of her own dress swaying as she moved to Seren's side. She gently placed the dress in Seren's hands and nudged her toward the bedroom. "Just try it on. Humor me. If you hate it, we'll pick something else. Promise."

Seren gave a weak nod and retreated to her bedroom, closing the door behind her with a soft click. As she undressed, her eyes lingered on her own reflection in the mirror. Her body looked pale and tired under the unforgiving ceiling light. She slipped into the pastel dress, feeling the fabric snag slightly on her skin. It fit, technically, but it didn't feel like it belonged on her. The color made her feel washed out. The bow at the waist sat too high. The sleeves felt too delicate for her arms, like she might accidentally rip them just by breathing too hard. She stepped back and looked at herself in the mirror, trying to summon some sense of connection to the image staring back at her. It wasn't there.

She emerged from the bedroom slowly, smoothing the front of the dress with her hands. Delaney lit up immediately. "Oh my God, Seren. You look so cute!" Delaney twirled in her own dress like they were twelve years old playing dress-up. "We match almost exactly. You see? We'll walk in together and everyone will think we're the dream team."

Seren forced a small smile, folding her arms loosely over her stomach. "I feel a little silly," she admitted.

Delaney paused. "Silly? You look incredible."

"I don't know, it just... doesn't feel like me," Seren said quietly.

Delaney stepped closer, resting a hand on Seren's arm. "That's because the 'you' you're used to is stuck in corporate blazers and safe colors. This is new. It's freeing." She paused, then added more gently, "You've always downplayed yourself, Seren. This reunion? It's a chance to rewrite how people see you. Including yourself."

Seren looked away, her eyes flickering to the mirror above her couch. In it, she could see the two of them, Delaney with her natural poise and charm, and Seren in her too-soft dress, trying to disappear into the wallpaper. But she didn't want to disappoint Delaney. Not after everything lately. Delaney had been off, clearly anxious beneath the surface, bringing over wine too often, cracking too many jokes, staying too long after visits. And Seren knew, or at least suspected, that there was something happening behind the scenes that Delaney didn't know how to talk about. So she nodded. "You're right," Seren said softly. "Maybe it's time for something new."

Delaney's face brightened. "Yes! That's the spirit."

They spent the next hour doing makeup and hair in the bathroom, the space cramped and cluttered with curling irons, bobby pins, and eyeshadow palettes. Delaney worked on Seren's hair with practiced hands, adding loose curls and a braided crown. They laughed a little. Delaney poured glasses of cheap sparkling wine, and for a brief moment, Seren let herself enjoy the simplicity of it, the kind of evening they probably should have had long ago, before their lives became entangled with office drama, secrets, and unspoken tensions.

But every time she caught her reflection in the mirror, the dissonance tugged at her. The girl in the dress wasn't her. It was a version of her that Delaney liked better, softer, sweeter, more willing to bend. And Seren, always afraid to rock the boat, had let herself become that version. Just for tonight.

As they packed up to leave, Delaney twirled one last time in front of the mirror, her phone raised to take a selfie. She gestured for Seren to join her. "C'mon," she said brightly. "Matching outfits? We need a picture." Seren obliged, tilting her head toward Delaney and mustering a smile. The shutter clicked.

And just like that, the moment was frozen, two pastel-clad women, arms around each other, one beaming and confident, the other trying not to feel like a stranger in her own skin.