When the bombs dropped. (Kiyr GM)

[Arthur Woodson]

~Two Years ago~

"No!  Seriously Ashley.  Go!  It's freaking Ricky Delaney!"  Anna said in an exasperated tone.  She couldn't believe they were even having this discussion!  Ashley has the good fortune to get asked out by the cutest guy in their year and she isn't sure if she wants to go!  Life just wasn't fair sometimes.

"If you don't go with him I will."  Jamie said before all three girls erupted into giggles. The three of them were crowded under the big tree in the courtyard of their school.  The buses for after school activities were all lined up and loading up.  They didn't have much time.

"Hey Anna.  You should come over tonight.  We can have a sleep over, I'll run it by my folks and text you, okay?"  Ashley asked.  Giving Jamie a quick sheepish glance.  Her parents didn't really like Jamie, they said she was a bad influence.  

"Totally!  I'll run it by my parents tonight.  We can watch movies and figure out what you are going to wear to the dance."  Anna teased. 

She was rewarded with an eye roll from Ashley and a defeated sigh.

"Whatever.  I gotta catch my bus."  Ashley said with a roll of her eyes but the grin that cracked past her attempt to look pissed was all Anna needed to say.  Waving goodbye to her friends Anna slung her backpack over her shoulder and started to head home.  She only lived a few miles away anyways.  It wasn't bad and it allowed her to collect her thoughts and get some alone time before she got home.  

Her parents were always so needy.  Wanting everyone to eat at the table and talk about their day before sending her up to do homework.  They didn't understand that sometimes she just wanted to veg out in front of the TV and watch something mindless.  Parents were just so out of it sometimes.  She wondered if they remembered what it was like to be a kid.

The day was gorgeous though.  The sun was starting to be blocked by the trees and mountains in the distance and a crisp wind was blowing past her face and hair.  She waved at the bus as it drove past.  Her friends leaning out of the windows waving at her and making kissing sounds.  Giggling she blew them a kiss, running after the bus for a block before it turned down the opposite way that she needed to go in order to get home.  

It was Friday, the dance was next week, and she already had weekend plans.  As far as Anna was concerned today was a great day! 

[Kyrie Blaze]

It is indeed a great and gorgeous day! And even though the sun was playing peek-a-boo through the trees and mountains, the Californian weather was still stupendously warm.

Many of the shops on her walk back home are bustling and busy. People go in, come out, sometimes with bags, sometimes with nothing. Most people seem to be in a pretty good mood. One of the boutique windows has a shopkeeper setting up a few very pretty dresses in a colour that might just catch the young teen's eyes!

A dress was already hung up on one of the mannequins, and the nice lady was currently tugging on the pretty ruffles of another. A third mannequin was waiting to become a light green show stopper, as well!

[Arthur Woodson]

Her eyes lit up when she saw the dressed on display. Her pace slowed down and then finally stopped in her place. Leaning forward to gaze at the dresses, her mind working a mile a minute as she pictured first herself, and then her friends in the dresses. She thought that she would look the best in the first dress, which was the perfect shade of Green! The second dress, well that one screamed Jamie!

Pulling out her phone she took a few pictures of the dresses and sent them to both Jamie and Ashley. Just gushing about how she wanted to wear that first one to the dance! God she hoped that her parents would let her get it! If they didn't she would just die!

She had to know how much it cost though! Briskly making her way inside she checked on the price tag, giving the woman setting up the display a small hopeful smile.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Anna can take note that it seems to be a fairly new shop. "Lacey's Boutique" is scrawled upon the door's window as she pushes the door open. The lady catches sight of the teen and gives her a bright smile.

"Hello, young lady~ Are you looking for something particular? Maybe I can help you."

Currently leaning against the wall was a sign to be hung up in the window, claiming everything in the store was to be 15% off for their opening sale! It's supposed to last for a few days. Seems to be perfect timing!

[Arthur Woodson]

She almost squealed in excitement when she saw the sign! It was like the stars were aligning for her. If she got the dress then she would look super cute at the dance, and Justin would have to take notice of her then! Especially if she took Jamie's advice and danced with her on the dance floor.

Ugh, Ashley is sooo lucky that she got asked out already!

She kind of hated her a little bit. Jealous at least. She was a nice girl, and she deserved someone, but why hadn't she been asked. Her eyes flickered over to a mirror as she twisted her body to get a better look at herself.

Ugh...

"Oh, I'm just looking."

And she didn't have too much time to waste before her parents got worried and started to blow up her phone. Her eyes moved back to the first dress, biting her bottom lip just slightly. She wanted it so much! She could feel her heart tightening as she looked at it.

"Umm. Actually, how much is that dress?"

[Kyrie Blaze]

"Hmm? This one? It's seventy, so you would take ten dollars and fifty cents off with our opening discount." The woman smiled as she pointed to the dress and lifted the hem, offering it to the young teen so she could feel the soft fabric. "One of my favourite things about this dress is the bow. But more than that, it's that you don't necessarily need a big to-do to wear it. It could easily pass for a pretty sundress, with or without it."

[Arthur Woodson]

She gently took the hem of the dress in her hand, feeling the soft fabric and nodding as the woman spoke. It was only sixty dollars too, she might be able to get her parents to swing for it after all! Just do a few extra chores around the house. Be super polite and if all else failed she could ask her Dad with a pleading look and wide eyes. It didn't always work, but it worked often enough. But that was a last resort, she didn't like to abuse the look. It was for emergencies.

"Oooo it is nice. Really soft. Is this the only one you have of this dress?"

She bit her lower lip again and checked her phone quickly. Did she have time to try it on? Maybe...

[Kyrie Blaze]

"Well, this is the one I have unpacked. How about we take a look in the box with the rest, hmm~?"

With a wink, the woman moved around the mannequin to pull open the flaps of the box.

"What dress size are you?" She began to gently sift through the contents of the box, checking tags until she found the right one to pull out and offer it to the young brunette with another easy smile. "My name is Annabelle, by the way."

[Arthur Woodson]

She bounced on her heels in excitement when she said she would go through her boxes to see if she had one in her size. Ghosting behind the woman she stood on her tip toes to try and get a better look at all of the stuff!

"Oh, I'm a size eight..."

She said with a small frown, her hands moving to her stomach with a sigh. Ugh, she wished she was smaller. Ashley was a size six. It was no fair! She didn't even watch what she ate.

"No way! That's my name too!"

Wow, it must be fate, or something. That was really cool that they shared a name!

[Kyrie Blaze]

Annabelle clucked her tongue at the young lady's mournful sigh. "Now, now. There is nothing wrong with being a size eight. Or any size, really. You are a lovely young lady, just the way you are. The dressing rooms are off to the back."

She gave the girl a smile that quickly turned into a grin.

"Your name is Annabelle? Or Anna? Either way, it's certainly a small world. Now, go try that dress on and come back out so I can see it on such a pretty young woman."

[Arthur Woodson]

She gave the woman a grateful smile at the compliment, even if she didn't really believe it. She knew there was nothing wrong with being a size eight. But being a size six would be better. Or maybe a size four. Clutching the dress carefully she made her way to the dressing room.

Sliding her backpack off and putting it off to the side, before stripping down to her underwear. She took a moment to look at herself in the mirror and sighed again as she pinched her sides. A size six would definitely be better.

"Ugh."

She looked away from the mirror. Just done with staring at every little fault her eyes could find. With her back to the mirrors she put on the dress, taking a few moments to smooth it out before turning around and looking at it in the mirror.

It looked good! Maybe not as good as she would have liked in a perfect world, but the color was just to die for! And it was so soft and light. She gave her reflection a little curtsey with a giggle before opening up the dressing room door to show it off to Annabelle with a little twirl.

[Kyrie Blaze]

When she emerged, Annabelle was right there waiting. And upon seeing the teen, she beamed.

And applauded.

"Veeeeery lovely. The colour is so very becoming on you. Now, we can hold this for you until we close tomorrow at seven in the evening. Juuuust in case you need some time to think or convince your parents."

She winked.

[Arthur Woodson]

Her face brightened in to a wide smile and she couldn't contain herself enough to stop from giving a small jump of excitement! Now she just had to convince her parents to buy it for her!

"Thank you sooooo much! You are the best!"

She was practically gushing. With this dress she was sure to turn a few heads! Maybe she would even get Ricky to notice her. You know, if a certain someone was too chicken to make her move on him. He was fair game then right?

Totally.

She went and changed back into her normal clothes. Giving Annabelle the dress once she was back, her bag slung over her shoulder.

"Tomorrow at seven right?"

[Kyrie Blaze]

This girl was adorable! It was hard for the older woman - probably a bit older than Anna's mother, in fact - to stop smiling at her enthusiasm despite the natural self-image issues that accompanied that age.

And life in general.

She grinned and accepted the dress back, carefully draping the dress over her arm and smoothing the fabric so it wouldn't crinkle or crease.

"That's your deadline, yes~ Take care, have a good night, and good...luck..?"

There's an ominous rumble that rolls through the air. Too far away to make out what it really is.

[Arthur Woodson]

"Thank you again!"

He let out another excited hop before rushing out of the store. Now she not only needed to make better time to get home before her parents flipped out. But she also needed to figure out how she wanted to ask for the money for the dress. A lot of that would depend on how they were when she got home.

Holding the straps of her back away from her body to try and keep the book loaded pack from hitting her back with every step. She looks over her shoulder as she runs hearing the ominous rumble ripping through the air. Looking for storm clouds on the horizon.

God I hope it doesn't rain.