Chapter 5 The white dress

I am hiding in my room for the rest of the day. I only walk downstairs when mum calls me to have lunch with them.

Ethan and Spencer talk mostly. They share their ideas about their future. Both of them want to be advocates, and they think the best university is Yale to make their dreams come true.

"Good, I can't wait for you to join me in business." Dad says to them with a smile, and mum smiles widely as well while she nods her head.

"What do you think, Cora? Maybe after you finish school, you could follow us." Spencer says, which makes me lift my head, and glancing at my father I see his smile diesappears. However, I can't answer. What could I say to that? No, because I don't want to see you with another, getting married and having a nice family where I could be the sister-in-law and auntie? I would rather move far from here and live my life alone.

"Leave her alone, Spencer." Mum pats my hand with a smile. "She is very sad you are leaving."

I suddenly look at mum. How come she understands what is going on in my head? I loved mum always, but this time I had a little fear if she realized what kind of feelings I have towards my brother.

I smile and sigh.

Spencer and Ethan are staring at me like they don't understand me, but in a few seconds, their expression changes. They look guilty.

"In a blink of an eye, you will go to university as well. You will make new friends, and we will need to make an appointment to see you." Ethan says.

I only smile at them, then I continue eating. I know they expect me to say something, but there is nothing I could say.

After lunch, we go outside a little. They are continuing chating about the boy's future, while I sit there quietly. After an hour passes, the boys stand up. They need to go upstairs to pack their stuff. Mum reminds them to pack everything necessary.

The evening comes quickly, and everyone goes to their rooms to get ready. Mum and dad booked a table in the best restaurant in Los Angeles, so we needed to look perfect as well.

When I go to my room, I feel anxious. I go to my dressing room, and I check my dresses. They are all very expensive and beautiful. When we bought them with mum, she asked a stylist to come with us. He chose dresses for me that followed my lines gently, but they hid my curves and they also made me look a bit thinner.

I choose a dark green dress and I hang it out before I head to the bathroom to take a shower. I just get out when someone knocks on my door. I open it. It is mum.

"Are you ready, darling?" She asks, which makes me frown.

"Is it that late?" I ask, but mum just smiles.

"No, but you need to hurry. I will help you."

She asks me to sit down, and she does my hair. She puts it in a nice bun, then she makes my makeup.

"Which dress you will wear, darling?" She asks.

"The green one." Then I turn to look at it.

"Good choice, but isn't it a little dark?"

"I like this color." I say.

"I think a lighter one would make you look better."

I shrug my shoulders, then I watch mum to choose another dress for me. She chooses a white one with a shorter skirt.

"I think that would look better on you."

"It isn't cover much." I say, but she shakes her head.

"It covers just enough." She says, then she walks to me with the dress in her hand. "Darling, you are a beautiful young lady who has nothing to hide."

"I am fat." I state, but mum rolls her eyes.

"You are not fat. You just got some weight on, but that doesn't change the fact you are gorgeous. Put this on. Let me see if it fits you."

I take the dress, and I put it on. My mum claps her hands.

"You look gorgeous in it." She says, and she holds my hand to pull me to the mirror.

"Look!" she says. When I check myself, I have to admit that mum is right. Even if the dress doesn't make me look thinner, somehow it makes my shape acceptable. I nod with a smile.

"I like it, mum. Thank you." I say, and mum leans closer to kiss my face.

"Okay, darling. We need to leave in a half an hour. I leave you alone now, and we meet downstairs." She says, and she leaves my room.

As I watch myself in the mirror, I only can think of the reaction of Spencer. Will he like my look? Will my look make him think of me the way I think of him?

Then my thoughts darken when I recall Carla having fun in a bikini. I recall the moment when she was dancing with Spencer, pushing her butt to his lower abdomen, and Spencer apparently enjoyed that.

I get back to reality suddenly, when I remember I must be down in time. I check the time, and I still have five minutes. I take my bag that goes well with my shoes, and I put a few things in it. I have a last look in the mirror, then I leave my room.

The stairs are safe to walk on, but I don't want to fall because of my heels, so I walk slowly. When I get to the living room, everyone is there already. However, when I step in, I get the reaction that I hoped for. The boys looks at me, stunned, but for me, only Spencer's reaction counts. He looks at me with a smile of adoration, and that makes me feel the butterflies in my stomach again.

"Hey, Georges!" Ethan steps next to me and offers his hand for me to hold. I accept it, even if I want Spencer to hold my hand.

"If we are all ready, then we can leave." Dad says coldly, and we all head to the car.

I sit between the boys, and even though we can sit comfortably, I try to sit close to Spencer. My leg touches his, but he doesn't move. Instead of that, he rests his hand on my thigh.