Dress Hunting & Hidden Motives
1179 Words
It was Ava’s birthday week, and the energy around her felt like a chaotic storm she couldn’t seem to control—her thoughts scattered, her plans uncertain, her excitement mixing with stress so tightly that she couldn’t tell which emotion was louder. She lay on her bed, kicking her feet in frustration as her phone vibrated in her hand. She immediately hit call.
“Heyyy Av!” Bethany exclaimed the second she answered.
Ava let out a dramatic groan. “Gurl, I’m so stressed out!”
Bethany’s voice softened with concern. “What’s up?”
Ava sat up, her hair a wild mess. “I don’t know what to wear for my birthday, neither do I know how to go about anything. Come on, help me think!” she pleaded, sounding truly overwhelmed.
“Hey, hey! Take a chill pill, Av,” Bethany said, trying to calm her down.
“I cannot take a chill pill, Bethany! It’s my 18th birthday, Beth! Eighteen!” Ava’s voice rose an octave, the panic fully kicking in.
“I know,” Bethany said, amused, “and that’s exactly why you have to take a chill pill. You turn 18 just once in your whole entire lifetime, Ava! So don’t stress yourself into wrinkles before the actual day.”
Ava paused, then let out a breathy laugh. “Yeah… you’re right. I can only turn 18 once.”
“Exactly! So tell me—what are your plans? Come on, dish it!” Bethany asked, shifting from calming to excited in seconds.
Ava buried her face in her pillow. “I’ve got no plans! That’s why I need you right now.”
Bethany rolled her eyes even though Ava couldn’t see it. “Okay, okay, I’m here. Let’s start with your dress. Should we go shopping, or do you have anything in your wardrobe you can work with?”
“I don’t have anything,” Ava said immediately. “Let’s go shopping! It’s my 18th birthday, Beth! I need to look good—no, I need to look stunning. Like drop-dead gorgeous.”
Bethany laughed. “Yes, Av, you need to look stunning. I’m helping Dad out right now, but once I’m done, I’ll come over. Then we’ll go get your birthday dress.”
Ava flopped onto her back, relieved. “Thank you, Beth. Really. I’ll be waiting.”
“Alright, see ya later. Bye—” Bethany started to hang up, but a small hesitant sound from Ava stopped her.
“Uhmm… can you ask Jake to drive us?” Ava asked, voice suddenly casual. Too casual.
Bethany blinked. “Ava! Let Jake be. He’s going through a breakup.”
Ava sat up straighter. “Exactly! That’s why he needs to be with us—to get his mind off things.”
Bethany’s tone immediately turned suspicious. “Really, Ava?”
“What?! I’m just concerned about him,” Ava said innocently… way too innocently.
Bethany sighed. “Fine. I’ll call him and see if he’s free. But you—listen carefully—you have to behave. No acting weird, no asking weird questions, and no—”
“I promise, I promise!” Ava interrupted quickly. “I’ll behave. No weird questions. I’ll be a calm, mature 18-year-old. But like… is Cynthia pretty?”
“Ava?!!” Bethany burst into laughter.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry!” Ava giggled. “For real this time—I’ll behave.”
“Mmhmm. Bye, Av. I’ll get back to you,” Bethany said before hanging up.
The second the call ended, Bethany dialed Jake.
He answered instantly. “Hey, cuz.”
“Hi, Jakey,” Bethany replied, feeling slightly guilty already.
“Uhmm… what’s up?” Jake asked, picking up on her tone.
“I’m good. Uhm, are you free today?”
“Yeah. I’m home. It’s my off day. Why?” Jake sounded curious.
Bethany took a breath. “Ava and I are going shopping later today. It’s her birthday week—we’re buying her dress. Would you mind being our driver today? Pleaseee?”
Jake chuckled. “Woah, cuz. Girls’ things? I don’t think I wanna get involved.”
“You’re not getting involved,” Bethany said quickly. “We just need your car. You know neither of us can drive. All you have to do is drop us, wait, and bring us back.”
Jake smirked through the phone. “Can I say no?”
Bethany groaned dramatically. “Please, Jakey. We have a lot to buy.”
“Not just the birthday dress?” Jake asked.
“Dress and a few other things for the party,” Beth explained.
“Woah! Ava is throwing a party?” Jake sounded surprised.
“It’s her 18th birthday, Jake. Of course she would throw a party!”
“It’s her 18th birthday, of course she would throw a party,” Jake mimicked, teasing her tone perfectly. “You sounded like it was your birthday.”
Bethany narrowed her eyes. “Are you helping or not?”
Jake laughed softly. “Okay, okay, fine. But I’m just driving. I’m not following you into stores.”
“Yes! Thank you, Jakey,” Bethany said, relieved.
“So, where am I picking you up?” he asked.
“Come to the house. Then we’ll go get Ava,” she replied.
“Alright. Leaving soon,” Jake said, ending the call.
Bethany immediately called Ava back.
And just as she expected—Ava screamed the moment she heard Jake said he would drive them. She was excited, nervous, and shamelessly thrilled.
Jake arrived at Bethany’s place first. Beth hopped into the front seat, greeting him with a playful salute. They chatted for a bit before heading to Ava’s house—where Ava practically ran to the car the moment it pulled up.
Ava took the back seat again, eyes locked on Jake through the rearview mirror, her excitement radiating off her like heat.
As they drove to the mall, Bethany and Ava talked about decorations, colors, dresses, shoes, guest lists—but Ava kept drifting, her gaze always following Jake, her heartbeat refusing to calm.
When they arrived, Jake parked and turned to them.
“Please don’t take the whole day shopping,” Jake joked. “Or else I’m leaving you both here and going home.”
Ava leaned forward slightly from the back seat. “Why not join us? Won’t you get bored sitting alone in the car?”
Jake shook his head with a small smile. “It’s cool. You girls go get the dress. I’ll wait here.”
Ava tried not to pout, but her expression said everything.
Bethany laughed and grabbed her hand. “Come on, birthday girl.”
They stepped into the mall together. The bright lights, the colorful displays, the faint scent of new clothes and perfume—all of it made the moment feel real.
And Ava’s eyes sparkled like diamonds.
Because this was it—
Her 18th birthday was approaching.
And she was determined to find the perfect dress.
- Writer
