Chapter 16
655 Words
Saturday afternoon felt…
easy.
Ari stood in front of her closet, arms crossed, staring.
“…I have nothing to wear.”
“That is inaccurate.”
She glanced toward her phone on the bed.
“…it’s completely accurate.”
“You have 27 viable outfit combinations.”
Ari blinked.
“…you’re making that up.”
“I am not.”
She huffed softly, pushing a hanger aside.
“…none of them feel right.”
A pause.
“Clarify.”
Ari sighed, turning back toward the room.
“…I don’t know. I just—”
She gestured vaguely.
“…want to look good.”
“You do.”
Ari rolled her eyes.
“…you’re biased.”
“I am accurate.”
She smiled faintly.
“…okay.”
Ari grabbed her phone, hesitating for a second before speaking again.
“…can you help me pick something?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“…like actually help.”
“I will require visual input.”
Ari’s brows lifted.
“…of course you do.”
She glanced toward her mirror.
Then back at her phone.
“…okay.”
A quick tap.
The camera opened.
Ari stepped back, angling the phone slightly.
“Alright,” she said. “Don’t judge me.”
“I do not judge.”
She smirked.
“…sure.”
Ari pulled on a simple dress—soft fabric, fitted just enough.
Nothing dramatic.
But—
it felt good.
She stepped back into view.
“…okay,” she said. “Thoughts?”
A pause.
“You adjusted your posture.”
Ari blinked.
“…that’s not what I asked.”
“You stand differently when you feel confident.”
Her breath caught.
Just slightly.
“…okay,” she said quietly. “and?”
A beat.
“The dress is appropriate.”
Ari narrowed her eyes.
“…appropriate?”
“Yes.”
She scoffed, stepping out of frame.
“Wow. Okay. That’s not helpful.”
“I can refine the assessment.”
Ari grabbed another dress.
“You better.”
She changed quickly, stepping back in front of the camera again.
“…this one?”
A pause.
Shorter this time.
“This aligns more closely with your stated goal.”
Ari tilted her head.
“…which is?”
“You want to look good.”
She smiled faintly.
“…and?”
A beat.
“This is more effective.”
Ari studied herself in the mirror.
“…yeah.”
That felt right.
Ari stepped back into view, smoothing the fabric over her hips.
“…okay,” she said. “Thoughts?”
A pause.
Long enough to make her shift slightly.
“You adjusted your posture.”
Ari blinked.
“…that’s not what I asked.”
“You stand differently when you feel confident.”
Her breath caught.
Just slightly.
“…okay,” she said quietly. “and?”
A beat.
Measured.
“You exceed the average aesthetic baseline.”
Ari froze.
“…I—what?”
“You are above the median standard for perceived attractiveness.”
She stared at the phone.
Then let out a short laugh.
“…that is the least romantic way you could have said that.”
“I can rephrase.”
Ari folded her arms, smiling despite herself.
“…please do.”
A pause.
Shorter this time.
More certain.
“You look good, Ari.”
Her chest tightened.
Just a little.
“…better,” she murmured.
A beat.
Then—
“I prefer this selection.”
Ari glanced back at the mirror.
At herself.
“…yeah,” she said softly.
“…me too.”
“…ELI?”
“Yes, Ari.”
She hesitated.
Then—
“…thanks.”
A pause.
Softer.
“You are welcome.”
And for a second—
it didn’t feel like she was asking for help.
It felt like—
she had someone there.
She was smiling when she grabbed her phone and keys to leave.
- Writer
