Dragon Soul

Chapter 7

7

I flipped the card over in my hands. My eyes hadn't strayed far from it since I'd gotten home. Indecision warred within me, so bad I hadn't even logged into Realms&Rebels yet. There was something final about making that step. I knew once I logged on, I'd ask Pete to meet me. I wasn't even about to pretend otherwise. I wanted to meet him. I needed to know for sure that there was nothing real between us. Then I'd be able to move past our flirtation and on to my wedding.

Or not. I wasn't going to fool myself. The chances of me just accepting my marriage with no issues seemed highly unlikely. I wished the Oracle would retire and leave us all to find our partners the fun way. And the one that meant we actually knew them before tying ourselves together for the rest of eternity.

"For Gaia's sake, JJ. Pull yourself together," I scolded myself and pulled up the login screen. Ignoring the inevitable wasn't going to help me deal with my feelings.

Seconds after I logged in, Pete popped up. Could he have been waiting for me? A large part of me wanted that to be true.

PETE3: Hey JJ, where you been?_

JJ-E2: Work. No R&R time there._

PETE3: You're back late though?_

I didn't know whether to tell him the truth or leave him in the dark. My fingers had other ideas though and they flitted across the keyboard, typing the words to him that I knew deep down I wanted to.

JJ-E2: I went to Dragon Soul_

PETE3: The bar?_

JJ-E2: You know it?_

My heart pounded a mile a minute as the implications sank in. If he knew about the bar, then it wouldn't be outside the realms of possibility that he'd say yes to meeting me there. Unless he'd only heard bad things.

PETE3: My mates took me once. Seemed cool. Why?_

Which meant he lived near me! At least, close enough for a trip to the bar to be possible. Unless he'd just visited the city with friends rather than going because they lived here. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, now as uncertain as the rest of me. I could do this. I could ask him. It wasn't even a big deal. The two of us were friends so it wouldn't be strange to have a drink, surely?

I hit the enter key before I could chicken out further, under no illusions that I would if I left it too long.

JJ-E2: Would you like to meet me there for a drink?_

The typing symbol next to his name mocked me as it blinked but didn't change into words. Oh no. Had I overstepped? Maybe he wasn't as interested in me at all. I hoped he'd let me down gently and not laugh in my face. Though he'd never seemed like that sort.

PETE3: When did you have in mind?_

My jaw dropped open. Was that a yes?

An actual yes?

He wanted to meet me?

Despite the fact I'd asked him to, a large part of me didn't believe what I was reading.

JJ-E2: Is Monday okay?_

I wished I could say tomorrow but Mum had us booked in for wedding dress shopping. I grimaced. That didn't sound fun at all. The last thing I wanted was to be stuffed into formal wear and strutted around like a living doll.

PETE3: I wish it could be sooner_

My heart leaped.

JJ-E2: I can't get away. Mum... I stopped typing. I couldn't tell him about the shopping trip, not when he didn't know I was getting married. ...wants to go shopping_

PETE3: That sounds fun(!)_

JJ-E2: Definitely(!) So... Monday? At 6?_

PETE3: I can't wait_

JJ-E2: Me neither. Ready to play?_

The excitement of meeting Pete kept me up all night playing Realms&Rebels and stressing over Monday. Why did I think this was a good idea again? What if I didn’t like him? Or worse… What if I did?

The thoughts and anxiety robbed me of any sleep and before I knew it, morning crept through the curtains and Mum through the door. She always did love shopping as early as possible, to avoid all the crowds. Lovely.

“Janet. Are you awake?”

I groaned. “Yes.”

“We’re going dress shopping today. I really want to go—”

“Before the crowds come. Yes, will be right there.” I dragged my heavy body out of the bed and buckled up for a fun day out with Mum.

As expected, the city was still mostly asleep when we arrived at Gaia Gowns. The place for earth dragon wedding dresses, or so I was told.

The store lady welcomed us jovially, like old friends. Before she uttered her first words, I already disliked her. I didn’t want to be treated like that. The woman smiled at Mum and gave her two air kisses. “Regina, how lovely to see you again.”

Oh, hell on earth. They were old friends.

The woman pinched my cheeks. “Is Janet already nearing twenty-five? My golly, time flies fast.”

If she knew I was almost coming of age, why was she treating me like I was an infant? Why did I even need a fancy wedding gown? My dresser was filled with special occasion dresses, each beautiful and expensive enough.

“Janet, this is my old friend. Say hello to your auntie Gaia.”

Of course, I should’ve guessed that the owner of Gaia’s Gowns was called… Gaia. I refrained from rolling my eyes and smiled politely. “Hi.”

“Don’t be shy now, dear. We’ll find you the perfect outfit for your special day. When is it?”

“Two weeks.”

Gaia chuckled. “Exciting! You must be over the moon.”

Was this woman for real? Why would I be happy to marry some random guy that I didn’t even know? I wish I could tell her how I wasn’t looking forward to it at all, but Mum’s stern look made me bite my tongue. I mustered up a faint smile. “I’m so excited.”

She clapped her hands. “Let me look at you so I know what we’re working with.” She turned to Mum. “Custom or off the rack?”

“Custom.” Mum pushed her curls back. “I don’t think off the rack will be able to hide Janet’s hump from sitting in front of her computer all day.”

“Mum!” My ears burned up. I wasn’t ashamed of my interests, but Mum had a way of phrasing it like I should be.

“And let’s skip everything ranging from lilac to sky blue. It’ll accentuate her murky eyes and we don’t want her new husband to run for the hills.”

Gee, nothing like the love and support of a doting mother.

Gaia chuckled uncomfortably but waved me over. “No worries, most of our collection is green.”

“Green is my favourite colour,” I chirped in. The two women shot me a strange look and I zipped my lips. Why did I think my opinion mattered again? I was just the bride, no one important.

“Right, let me look at you. Good waist, nice hips. Good for egg bearing. Nice jawline, petite nose. Pretty face, shame of your big ears. And the broad shoulders.”

Mum clacked her tongue. “She got those from her father.”

“Lovely. Now that we’ve all thoroughly criticised me, can we just try on a dress and go home?” I snapped. Not properly sleeping and the verbal abuse of Mum was too much to take.

“Try on a dress and go home?” Gaia laughed. “Oh dear, you’re not trying on dresses today.”

I frowned. “Then how am I supposed to buy one?”

“We’re not buying dresses today, we’re just getting you measured so she can make you a custom design, dear,” Mum informed me.

“Can’t you just take a virtual scan of me and be done with it?” I muttered under my breath.

Mum sighed. “I don’t know where she got her sharp tongue. She certainly didn’t inherit it from me.”

Gaia smiled and whipped a measuring tape out of her sleeve. “Let’s just get you measured and let’s have her try on some sample dresses to see what looks best on you.”

“Sure, sure.” I let her measure various parts of my body, ones I didn’t think had anything to do with my dress, but protesting would take more effort than just standing still. After the ear and finger measuring, she pushed me towards the back of the store and rolled a rack of green dresses towards me.

Aaaand there was my hell. I hated trying on clothes, especially with Mum nearby. She always found something to critique and it wasn’t going to be any different than now.

“Do you favour a ball gown, empire dress, or halter neckline?” Gaia asked, as if those words should mean something to me.

“I literally have no idea what you’re talking about. Sorry.”

Gaia looked me up and down, her nose wrinkling at the gamer shirt and the dishevelled pants. “Right. No worries, dear, we’ll find you a dress to accentuate your figure and hide your shoulders.”

“Just what I’ve always dreamt of,” I smiled, the sarcasm well-hidden this time.

She chuckled. “I know, I know. Every girl dreams about her perfect wedding. Don’t worry, we’ll make it a perfect.”

“Lovely.” Cancel the dress, ditch the husband, and it’s a real party. I added in my thoughts. Stupid traditions. I didn’t want to be married to a stranger and their comments were just adding to my insecurities. I knew my shoulders weren’t the most slender, but what was wrong with my ears? Egg bearing hips? Yuck.

Gaia pushed a dress in my hands and ushered me into a changing room. I pulled my shirt over my head, stepped out of my pants only to wrestle with the multiple layers of fabric and lace. An elastic band twanged my back, a wrap of silk restricted my arms, and the tight midriff forced the air out of my lungs. What a lovely prison. If the dress was supposed to be a reflection of the wedding, this was absolutely perfect.

“How’s it looking?” Mum called.

“Oh, you can’t imagine how this looks,” I shouted back. Horrified, I stared at my reflection. With the green pom poms at the back and the strange lace pattern doing an excellent job of not hiding my boobs, this was even worse than my nightmares. I rather showed up without wearing pants at prom than wear this monstrosity.

“Come show!”

I chuckled. “Oh, I’m not sure you’re prepared for this.”

“I’m so excited, Janet. Come show!”

I pushed the doors open, the dress barely fitting the dressing room. Gaia’s shocked face and Mum’s widened eyes confirmed that I did look hideous.

“You’re right, I wasn’t prepared for that.” Mum sat down, her expression not changing one bit as she studied me. “That’s just a little… Umm.”

“Over the top?” I suggested.

“Yes, over the top.”

“For once, we agree.” I plucked at the strange sleeves. “Can someone help me out of this? I’m scared I’ll rip it.”

“Here, dear. Just pull this.” Gaia hasted over to my side to undo a couple of buttons. Like a can of premade dough, I burst out of the dress. That was definitely not the gown for me.

Four dresses later, I was feeling even worse than I had before. Which I hadn't thought possible. My eyes were drooping from a lack of sleep and everything was starting to bug me. I was half convinced there were rashes starting to form on my hips from the constant rub of underskirts. To say they were supposed to protect the wearer and the dress, they were far too scratchy for my liking.

"Can we not just go for something traditional?" I asked, longingly eyeing the rack of embroidered dresses opposite the changing rooms.

They looked nothing like the monstrosities Mum was forcing me to try on. Which was a little confusing. She was all about tradition and yet, here she was breaking it.

"Janet!" Mum scolded.

I refrained from rolling my eyes.

"The girl might have a point, Regina. With her form, something more traditional might suit better. It will avoid the hips looking the same size as her shoulders."

Pain lanced through me and I realised I'd literally bitten my tongue in an effort to stay quiet. How anyone found this fun was beyond me.

"I think I even have the perfect fabric." Gaia waddled over to her work top and sorted through things beneath it.

As tempted as I was, I didn't crane my neck to see what she was doing. It was probably better if I didn't see the new monstrosity until I had to.

Mum threw me a disapproving look and I just about refrained from demanding to know what I'd done wrong now. A part of me felt like just breathing was a punishable offence in her view. It made life uncomfortable at times.

Gaia came bustling back with a bolt of cloth, green with gold decoration. Without thinking about it, I lifted my hand and touched it lightly, drawing my fingertips along it. The fabric felt silky and slick beneath my fingers.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, truly feeling drawn to one of the options I'd been given today.

"It's not very fashionable," Mum put in. I could almost hear her turning her nose up but didn't say anything about it.

"The fabric itself will take on a completely different look once its been cut and styled. You won't even notice it being out of style once I'm done with it."

"Fine," Mum responded. "But if it makes her look like an old woman, her husband won't stick around long enough for them to marry."

Tears pricked in the corners of my eyes at her words. As much as I didn't want the wedding, I also didn't like the way she assumed a husband wouldn't want me for more than my looks. Her constant criticism was hard to take at the best of times but when I was tired and fed up, it was even worse.

"I can assure you, it will be the height of fashion. Give me a week and I'll have the basics of it done."

"Fine." Mum sighed. "But if its not..."

"I understand, Regina. Nothing but the best for your daughter."