The Straight Crimes (19 page)

EIGHTEEN

“O
h my God, this is absolutely exquisite. Put it on.”

With her patience wearing thin, Harper groaned and pulled her hair into a bun on the top of her head. “Hold on. I’m still tryin’ to zip the last one.”

Traci cautiously placed the emerald and yellow toned dress on top of the mountain of discarded gowns while poking her head above the fitting room. “Need any help?”

“Damn it, Traci, do you mind?” Harper modestly covered her exposed chest. “I can dress myself.”

“I was only trying to help.”

“Just give me some privacy, okay?”

“Well hurry up, I love this one.” As she waited, she ran her hands across her bare neck, feeling around for Harper’s heart-shaped pendant. She snapped into panic mode, realizing it was missing.

Traci feverishly scoured the ground with her hands, too frightened to admit she may have lost something so sentimental.

Meanwhile, Harper sulked in annoyance in the fitting room. “You realize you’ve said that about every dress I’ve tried on in the last two hours, don’t you?”

“I have not.”

She slammed the door open. “Yes you have. Everything I try on is the wrong length, the wrong cut, or the wrong color. Look at this one. What’s the matter with this? I’ve liked over a dozen of these, but you keep makin’ me try on more.”

“There’s certainly nothing wrong with that dress. It looks quite lovely, but not good enough.”

“I don’t get it.”

“What’s that?”

“Why’s this so important to you?”

“I just wanted to have a fun girls’ day together.”

“Not the shopping trip, I’m talkin’ about the dress. Why’s it so important that 
my 
dress is perfect for 
your
 party? I don’t see why I can’t just wear my pink dress.”

“That thing? It’s so plain. C’mon, Harper, every girl wants to get a new dress.”

“But I told you I’m fine wearin’ it.”

“You can’t wear just any old thing. The crème-de-la-crème of the art society, along with several friends and clients of my deceased mother, are attending this charity event. More importantly, it’s been a year since she’s died. I’ve explained that countless times. Honestly, I’m upset that I have to go through all this again.”

“I know how hurt you are over Andrea’s death, but that’s the point, this is about her, not me. Why do you care so much what I’m wearin’? Are you afraid if I wore my pink dress I’d embarrass you?”

“Although your pink dress would be sufficient, if my mother were still alive, she wouldn’t find it appropriate for the occasion. Besides, you deserve the best, sweetie. I want you to feel totally comfortable on my arm.”

Harper’s stomach rumbled, feeling the overwhelming anxiety of Traci’s presumptions washing over her again. “On your arm, like a date?”

“No, I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I don’t wanna have this conversation again. We’re not datin’. I’m in love with Nik.”

“I haven’t forgotten that you like him.”

“Love,” she corrected her.

Traci rolled her shoulders back and exhaled to calm herself down. “You’re in love, really?”

“Yes. I love him.”

“Are you sure you know what you’re saying? You’ve only known him a short time.”

“I’ve known him longer than I’ve known you, but that hasn’t stopped you from pretendin’ like you know what’s best for me.”

Traci caressed Harper’s silky hair. “I’m just looking out for you.”

She immediately shrugged her off. “I know what I’m doin’, and I know how I feel about him. I’m sorry, but you’ve got the wrong idea about you and me.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then why are you talkin’ about me bein’ on your arm?”

“It’s an expression. I meant that you’d be by my side for support. This gala isn’t just an opportunity to hob-knob and sip champagne. It’s to commemorate the livelihood and spirit of my mother. These are people, including myself, who’ve mo
urned her long before her death. Don’t you remember? Mother ran off before she died.”

“No…”

“I’m sure I told you. Maybe you’d have remembered if you’d ever cared enough to pay attention.” Traci threw her hands in the air in disgust.

Harper released the tension in her weary face. “I care, but you’ve never told me that. What do you mean she ‘disappeared’?”

“Mother just took off one day and never looked back. She told me she found her 
soul mate
. It was embarrassing how much of a spectacle she’d made of herself, leading a double-life.”

“Why are you so ashamed of her?”

“Because,” she hissed. Traci put her finger to her quivering lip and closed her eyes. “You know what? Forget it. I don’t wanna talk about this anymore. I just want you to look your best and be supportive. Is that so much to ask?” Tears swelled beneath her eyelids as she began gathering dresses. “I’m sorry for making you do this.”

“You don’t need to be so sensitive, Traci. I wasn’t tryin’ to upset you.”

“I don’t want to talk about Mother anymore.”

“You’re the one who brought her up, not me.” Harper reminded her. “Look, can we just agree on a dress and get outta here?”

“All right, put this one on.”

“Let’s just pick one I’ve already been in.”

“You act like I’m pointing a gun at the back of your head. Most girls would jump at the opportunity to skip an entire day of school and go on a shopping spree. I don’t understand why you’re so upset. I thought we were having a good time.”

“It’d be fun if you weren’t so fussy.”

“I am not fussy. Now c’mon, one more.”

“Traci—”

“Last one, I promise.”

Harper snatched the dress out of her hands and brushed passed her into the fitting room.

Traci fell to the ground and desperately continued hunting the entire shop for Harper’s sterling silver necklace. While scavenging the floor, she tried retracing her footsteps during the course of the day, but couldn’t pinpoint a specific moment where she recalled having it on. She began to wonder how long it’d been missing.

In bitter silence, Harper reluctantly pulled the garment up her tight frame. She’d never pictured herself in a designer boutique, being faced with such inconsequential decisions. In the grand scheme of things, it seemed thoughtless. Never would she have been afforded such extravagance with her mom or her aunt. Being there without them made her feel heartless, especially since Mindi was still alive, somewhere.

“All right, what do you think?” Harper emerged from the dressing room, only to find she was alone. “Where’d you go?”

She walked away from the fitting rooms and found Traci scouring the floor. “What the hell are you doin’?”

“I lost one of my contacts,” she lied. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Well?” Harper asked, motioning to the gown. “Let me guess, you don’t like it?”

“No, I love it.” Traci’s eyes gleamed. “It’s perfect.”

“You really think so?”

“Are you kidding me? Look how it hugs you in all the right places—and the way it makes your eyes sparkle. You’re a raving beauty.”

Harper sauntered over to a full-length mirror, admiring the flattering cut of the short, tight dress.

“What do you think, sweetie?”

She squinted, trying to see it in the same light as Traci. “I guess it’s fine.”

“Do you love it?”

“Yeah,” she lied. “This is the one.”

“I knew with a shrewd eye and a little patience we’d find something perfect. This is definitely it.”

Traci’s leering gaze was the closest thing to a visual rape that Harper had ever encountered. She felt uneasy by the weight of Traci’s stare.

“I’m gonna change so we can bag this up and go home.”

“Wait just a minute.” Traci put her hands on her hips. “We still need to accessorize your shoes, clutch, earrings, necklace, makeup—”

“Can’t we do that later?” Harper begged.

“Of course not. The party is this weekend.”

“But we’ve been here forever. I’m ready to go.”

“What’s the big rush?”

“I’m meeting up with Nik in a lil’ while.”

“But you saw him last night.”

“So?”

“So?” Traci’s mouth dropped in utter disbelief. “You’re just gonna rush off on me?”

“I ain’t rushin’ off. We picked a dress. We’re done.”

“No we’re not. Your look’s not nearly complete.”

“I already told you I can take care of that stuff later.”

Traci held her breath, desperately trying to maintain her decorum. “You don’t get it. I just wanted us to bond and forget about everyone else. I’ve been put on the backburner too many times for Nik Roberts and enough is enough. You’ve been seeing too much of each other. It’s beginning to interfere with your other obligations.”

“What obligations? He’s my boyfriend.”

“What about our friendship and your schoolwork? I want you to call him right now and cancel your plans. Today is supposed to be about us. I’ll be damned if I’m robbed of that.”

“Traci—”

“Please don’t test my patience any more than you already have. I’m still very emotional about the significance of this event and I don’t want to relive that all over again. I need your total cooperation. Just do as I say, Harper. Please.”

“All right,” she surrendered and turned back to the mirror. “Accessorize me.”

She grinned from ear to ear and shouted, “Thank you!”

Traci’s mood swings were unprecedented—and drove Harper crazy.

“Wait here. I’ll be back in a moment.” Traci rushed across the shop to peruse the jewelry counter.

“Well look at you, glamor puss…”

Harper glanced over her shoulder and saw her tormentor, Daisy Holloway, waiting with her arms folded.

They’d seen each other several times since school started, but hadn’t come face to face since the summer—when Harper yanked Daisy’s hair in self-defense.

“What’d you call me?”

“I called you glamor puss, ‘cause you look so fancy.” She snickered. “You’ve stepped it up a few notches in the fashion department, probably ‘cause you’re living with a sugar mama now. At least that’s what everyone’s been saying...”

“Traci’s just a friend.”

“That’s right, you don’t like chicks. I’d say I almost forgot, but Nik won’t leave your side. He’s just like a little lost puppy…kinda pathetic if you ask me.”

“No one’s askin’ you anything. I haven’t given a shit about one thing you’ve said since the day we met.”

Ignoring her, Daisy ran the palm of her hand down her silky-brown mane and grinned. “So what are you getting all dolled up for? Are you actually taking Nik to the school dance on Saturday? You know, you’ll be the only 
straights
 there. It’d be pretty embarrassing for you guys.”

“We ain’t goin’ to that lame dance. Besides, Traci’s hostin’ a party at her house that night.”

“Good, I was afraid you’d make a spectacle of yourself in front of the entire senior class.”

Harper uncharacteristically restrained herself from pouncing on Daisy and breaking her porcelain face. “Why do you gotta be such a bitch?”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re a total bitch! Since I moved here, you’ve done nothin’ but make life a livin’ hell for us. Are you so insecure about your crappy life that you have to make everyone else miserable?”

Daisy fluffed the oversized neckline of her chartreuse sweater and giggled. “You’re getting way too worked up. I’m just looking out for you, Harper.”

“By bullyin’ Nik and me? That makes a lot of sense.”

“Don’t you realize people aren’t comfortable with you two being together?”

“I stopped carin’ what other people think of us, especially you.”

Daisy shrugged nonchalantly. “Most of the things I say come from a place of concern.”

“I highly doubt that.” Harper crossed her arms and scowled. “All you do is take pleasure in makin’ other people feel like shit. Well I’ve got news, honey, you ain’t better than anyone else. I don’t need your
 
‘concern’.
And just so you know, people don’t worship you like you think. They’re either afraid of you or they pity you. That’s it.”

“People don’t pity me.”

“’Course they do. You’re a low-life, piece of trash who only cares about herself. It’s the end of October. Senior year’s gonna go by real quick. It’s time to open your eyes and see yourself for who you really are. Otherwise you’re gonna be all alone.”

“No I won’t. I have tons of friends.”

“You really think they’ll care about you after graduation, you know, when no one’s around? When people stop watchin’ you?”

Daisy glared at her. “Well that was certainly a mouthful, especially for someone who doesn’t have any friends.”