Chapter 17|I look like a banana

I think this is a pretty solid chapter, I'll let you guys be the judge of that though.

Completely, totally, utterly unedited (just like every other chapter).

~*~*~*~*~

I glared at myself in the mirror. What was I doing with my life?

I yanked the dressing room door open.

"I look like a banana," I said bluntly.

"A cute banana though," Tara offered.

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over the yellow frills that covered my chest.

"So yellow's not your colour, who cares. We're in a dress shop, there's plenty to choose from," Tara said, clearly trying to remove the scowl from my face.

"That's what I'm worried about," I muttered, shutting the door, and yanking the yellow monstrosity off.

We had spent the last three hours searching through every single item in the store and I hated every single moment of it.

Tara had forced me into a dressing room, claiming that I was hopeless and a disgrace to the female population. I didn't disagree with that, in fact it was pretty accurate seeing as shopping wasn't my forte. However, what I did disagree with was the mountains of lace and ruffles being thrown over my door at regular intervals. And to think I thought Tara had good taste.

I didn't want something that would attract too much attention, or so bright that it would burn everyone's eyeballs. I wanted something simple, clearly that's not what Tara had in mind.

I planted my hands on my hips as I exited the dressing room for what felt like the millionth time, and I was not impressed by this dress. Not even a little bit.

"Great, now I look like I've been dipped into a cotton candy machine. Where did you find this? Down a fucking rabbit hole?"

Tara rolled her eyes. "No need to be melodramatic, it's not that bad."

"Not that bad? Are your eyes open? I could go to prom in my birthday suit and look better than I do in this."

"Hmm, Ryan would like that," she muttered.

I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

"I didn't say anything."

That's what I thought.

"Okay, well I'm done with this," I said, gesturing to the fluffy pink material surrounding me.

I changed back into my own clothes, nearly tripping several times on the different kinds of materials that I didn't even know the names of, littering the floor.

Leaving the dressing room I sighed knowing that Tara was nowhere near done as I watched her rifle through one of the many racks.

I headed to the very back of the store, away from the rest of the shoppers. The majority of the shoppers being students from school. I halfheartedly peered at the dresses crammed onto one rack, which to be honest, I think were the rejects that nobody wanted. They were a little dusty.

I was about to give up when something caught my eye. It was shoved into a corner crowded by other garments, I wouldn't have a clue why though because it was beautiful. The top was embellished with glittery silver, creating intricate patterns which stopped at the waist, flowing down to the floor in a deep blue.

I smiled, searching for the size, which appeared to be nonexistent. Regardless to the fact that it would probably be ridiculously small, I took it anyway, locking myself in a dressing room.

I bypassed the mirror, deciding that it probably looked terrible, just like the rest. Tara and I both stepped out of our dressing rooms at the same time. My jaw dropped as I took in her choice of dress. It was white with silver detailing around the neck and two small triangle cutouts, one on either side, on her ribs.

"You look amazing," I gushed.

"No you're the one who looks amazing! Where'd you find that dress?"

"At the back," I said, running my fingers over the silky material.

"That's the one," Tara said. "That dress was made for you."

~*~*~*~*~

"I never knew shopping was so exhausting," I complained, falling onto a chair in the food court.

"Welcome to my world," Tara replied, sitting more gracefully on her chair.

"So," I said, taking a sip of my smoothie. "Are you going to talk to the donut guy?" I asked.

Tara shrugged. "Nah, I'm over him."

My eyebrows shot up. "You're over him? Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"

"Haha, very funny," she said sarcastically. "I'm serious though, he's not even that hot anyway."

I frowned, squinting to see him better. Tall, tanned, well built, good hair, pretty eyes. "Liar, he is hot."

She shrugged again. "He's alright."

"You have your eye on something better, don't you?"

"Pfft, no."

I grinned. "It's Kyle, isn't it?"

"You know what? I think we should go shoe shopping."

"You can't deny it forever," I said, following her in a singsong voice.

~*~*~*~*~

I was trying so desperately hard to stay awake. Who knew that shopping was such a tiring sport?

Usually, history was pretty interesting but I just wasn't feeling it. My brain was warping everything that Mr Garner said and some of it was just inappropriate for a teacher to say. It was making me silent laugh, and occasionally I'd let loose a snort, catching the attention of a few people. I just pointed behind me, blaming my fellow classmates.

It was probably forty five minutes into the lesson when my phone suddenly started ringing. It wasn't quiet either, it was like when you're listening to really loud music in your car and the next time you turn it on, it nearly blows you out of the vehicle. Don't even deny it, you've all done that.

Normally I would have had my phone on vibrate to avoid this very situation that we're talking about, however, I was so paranoid that if Caleb did call me and my phone was on vibrate, I'd miss the call.

The entire class turned to look at me, as well as Mr Garner.

I laughed nervously. Don't be mom, don't be mom, don't be mom.

"Miss Harper, a phone in my class. You know what that means right?" He kind of had to shout over the noise of the ringing. I fumbled to try and turn it down. Unfortunately, I did know what getting a phone call in Mr Garners class meant, he had one of those stupid rules where if your phone ring on class, you had to answer it on speaker phone.

Please god don't let this be my mother calling. Amen.

I placed the phone on my desk, answering it. The weird thing is that it was an unknown number, so for all I knew it could've been one of those stupid people who ring random numbers to try and make you buy stuff.

I cleared my throat. "Hello?"

"Is this Hazel Harper?" The voice asked. It was very clearly a man. He sounded maybe like he was from the south?

"Yes..." I replied skeptically.

I got a little bit worried then. Had I given my number to anyone? I mean that would be one hell of an interesting phone call.

"My name's Jeremy Johnson," the voice continued.

Thanks for sharing that personal information, bruh.

I rolled my eyes. "Good to know, how can I help you?"

"Right, sorry," he muttered clearing his throat. "Caleb told me that if anything ever happened to him, you'd be the first one I called."

I slammed a hand over my mouth, looking up at Mr Garner in horror. He drew an imaginary line across his throat with his thumb, signalling me to cut the call.

I switched from speaker phone, pressing it to my ear and swinging my bag over my shoulder. Mr Garner held the door open for me on my way out, if I wasn't about to bawl my eyes out I might've thanked him. But then again, I might not have.

I walked a few steps from the door, dropping my bag and sliding down the wall.

"Hello?" Jeremy called.

"What happened to him?" I sniffled.

"He was shot through his calf and his shoulder."

I shut my eyes. That was my worst nightmare.

"He's one of the bravest guys I know. And he was only shot because he went to save someone from our squad. Stupid bastard, and on our last day too."

My brother was dead, why was he telling me this?

"He was always talking about you, he's talking about you right now, probably that high dose of sedative they gave him."

I froze. "He's alive?"

"What?"

"Is he alive?!" I yelled.

"Yeah."

"You're an asshole you know, you're supposed to tell me that he's okay before you launch into the 'he was a great guy' speech. What the hell were you thinking?"

"Uh.."

"Not much, clearly." I sighed. "Sorry, I get it, you're just the messenger."

"It's fine, he told me before they sedated him that you'd go crazy."

"He has so much faith in me," I muttered sarcastically. "When's he coming home?"

"We're on our way to Fort Irwin now, probably five hours away from the military hospital there."

I mentally calculated how long it would take to drive from San Francisco to Fort Irwin. Considering traffic, a maximum of eight hours, a minimum of seven if I pushed the speed limit. That was not taking into account the probable flat tyre that I would get, and the certain snack stop I would need.

"I'll be there as soon as I can." I disconnected the call, taking a moment to catch my breath. That was the best, yet worst news I'd ever received. I knew I probably shouldn't have been, but I was hoping that Caleb's injury was bad enough that he wouldn't have to go back, ever. That was probably wishful thinking on my behalf, because if Caleb wanted to do something, he'd do it. And I knew he would want to go back.

I hurried to Tara's locker, right as the bell rang, hoping that I'd catch her before her next class. I quickly called dad, filling him in on the details. He wouldn't be able to make it to Fort Irwin because he was working and we couldn't afford for him to take a day off. Then there was also the issue of Jasmine, somebody had to take care of her. Dad had agreed to let me drive there on the condition that I took someone with me, safety in numbers I guess, hence the reason I was rushing to find Tara.

I rushed down the hallway, accidentally knocking someone's books out of their hands as I shoved my way past.

"Sorry!" I called, not stopping to offer them a hand. I'm not sure that would've anyway, but that's besides the point. I was in a rush.

I caught sight of her red hair in the crowd and I grabbed her shoulder. Her shoulder actually turned out to be his shoulder. I let go quickly as if I held on any longer my hand would go on fire. The guy turned around, glared at me, and continued walking.

I was left there wondering, since when did Tara have a male doppelgänger?

"Why did you just touch James Burton? He's like, overrun with lice."

"I was looking for you," I said, turning around to find Tara watching me. I then looked at my hand. Could I get hand lice? Is that even possible?

"Why?" She asked, adding an 'ew' when she realised I mistook James for her.

"It's a long story, but Caleb's at Fort Irwin and I need you to come with me. I'll explain on the way." I grabbed her arm, tugging it to encourage her to move, but she wouldn't budge.

"I can't," she protested.

"Why?"

"Look, I'm not as smart as you, so my grades aren't all that dandy right now. If I miss one more class from now until prom, they're not going to let me go."

"Shit," I cursed. "Well who else will want to go on an eight hour road trip with me?" I was getting flustered at this point. I didn't want to break the one rule that dad gave me, but I was going to Fort Irwin with, or without a passenger.

"Call Ryan, he'll go," Tara suggested.

"I can't just demand that he has to go to a military hospital with me. Plus, its not like I've got his number."

"Don't worry, he won't mind. And you actually do have his number," she slammed her locker, sending me a wink. "Good luck."

"I'll need it," I muttered, leaning against the wall. I scrolled through my contacts, not that there were many to scroll through, but I couldn't find his name anywhere. How did Tara know I had his number in the first place?

I frowned when I saw a name that didn't quite fit in with the rest. I shrugged, dialling the number.

"Sunshine, how can I help you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Where are you?"

"Detention."

"Good, meet me at my jeep in five." Then I hung up.

I hurried out to my jeep, shoving the key in the ignition, pretending like I'd been waiting forever. Ryan emerged from the building not long after, climbing in beside me.

"You seriously put your name in my phone as Simba?"

He shrugged. "I put you as Nala in my phone, so I guess I have to be Simba."

"Nala? Really?"

"Hey now, don't hate on The Lion King."

"I'm not hating on it, I just didn't know you had a fetish for cartoon lions," I said, pulling out of the parking lot.

"Like I said, there's a lot you don't know about me."

"Like what? Do you have deep dark secrets or something?"

"I don't know, I guess you'll just have to stick around to find out." He grinned creepily.

"Right," I rolled my eyes.

"So where are we going?"

"Fort Irwin."

"Why?"

"Caleb's there."

"He's back from Iraq?"

"He got shot, that's why he's back."

"Shit," he said, letting out a low whistle.

"I know, sucks huh?"

"Oh, no I'm not cussing about him getting shot. I'm freaking out because he's going to staple my balls to a tree and leave me for the crows."

"Wow, graphic." I blinked. "Wait, why would he do that?"

"Because I'm taking his baby sister to prom." He gave me a 'duh' look.

"You better hope he doesn't pick a tree with a nest of fire ants under it."

~*~*~*~*~

I was deliriously happy when I wrote this because I just got a massive full length mirror put in my room, now I can be even more vain the usual. XD

Oh, and I had a really strange dream that I was doing karaoke and I had to sing the jellybean song. What even is the jellybean song? I have never heard of that in my life.

Might as well add that to my to do list; google jellybean song.

Just thought I'd share that.

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Until next time.