The Protector

Friday (A week before prom)
11:15 P.M.
~~~

"Thank god I'm here, you definitely need a guy's opinion on this." Louis is going crazy on me. Since prom is next week, I decided to go shopping at the mall, and Louis insisted on coming with me.

Right now he has two beautiful dresses in one hand and two pairs of shoes in the other. He looked all over this store for these dresses. He wanted me to sit and relax and let him "work his magic" because when I go shopping I like to pick "old lady dresses" according to him.

"You will look so hot in these dresses." Louis says excitedly. The thing about Louis is, contrary to popular belief, he's not gay. He's not gay at all. He likes girls. He's 'metrosexual', that's what he likes to call himself. He likes to keep up with appearance; so that means he showers often, wears sinful-smelling cologne that makes girls jump all over him,dresses himself in fashionable clothing, and he's not afraid to walk around a girly store looking for dresses for someone that isn't even his girlfriend, he's a total catch.
I get off my butt to take the dresses and shoes from him. "Thank you so much Louis, I wouldn't be able to do this without you."

"It's no problem Athena. Now go try these one before I personally put them on you myself."

He pushes me toward the dressing room, waiting just outside incase I call him for help.

The first dress that I try on is a floor-length dress. It's chiffon fabric falls in beautiful swirls around my legs. The sweet-heart neckline is surprisingly flattering on me. As for the shoes, I guess that the black stilettos are the ones that Louis picked out for this dress. When I look in the mirror, my confidence level is high. Dresses rarely look good on me, but Louis managed to find the one that complimented my figure very well.

The second dress that I try on is completely different from the first. This dress is a black, backless dress.
The tight fabric hugs my thighs but flares out is it gets closer to the bottom, outlining every single curve on my body. The pair of stilettos that I'm supposed to wear are silver and decorated with shimmering sparkles.

The decision is hard, both dresses are stunning. I get dressed in my normal clothing and find Louis just outside of the dressing room.

"So..." He claps his hands together. "Which dress will it be?"

I pause, contemplating my options.

"Okay... since you can't decide. I'll pick for you... close your eyes...."

I do as he says, relieved that I'm not the one that has to decide this.

"Hold your hands out..."

I stand there, awkwardly holding out my hands, until I feel soft fabric drape over my hands. I open my eyes and immediately register that the black dress is in my hands.

"Lou, I don't think that I can wear this. It's too much..."

"Athena, you'll look great in it. I picked it out for you. If I didn't think that you could pull it off, I wouldn't have picked it out for you."

Louis is right. He's a good friend and he's only here to help me.

"Okay... I'll buy it... Thank you Louis, I couldn't have done this without you."

"Don't mention it." Louis engulfs me in a giant hug. "Now I have to go, I'll see you later."

Louis leaves and I bring all my stuff to the cash register.

The total ends up being $600. I pay with my credit card and head to my car when my phone starts to ring. Mr. Malik is calling me. I clear my throat and take a deep breath before I answer, not wanting to sound too manly when I talk to him.

"Hello?" My breath comes out breathless, which is extremely embarrassing.

"Hello my love. Would you like to come see me? I'm lonely and I would love to have some company."

My breath hitches.

"Um...uhhh... yeah... I would love to... Where are you?" I could not have stuttered more in that sentence, but Mr. Malik only chuckles.

"I'm at the Hilton Hotel... Suite 101."

"Okay cool, I'll be right there."

"I'll be waiting for you love."

When he hangs up the phone, I scream as loud as I can. This can't be happening. I'm just some ugly teenage girl, there's no way someone as perfect as him can feel
anything for someone like me.

Turning on my car, I pull out of my parking space, not bothering to check my surroundings around me.

Then a car collides with mine.

Notes