Returning from school I check my phone to find twelve missed calls from Grace. I put it back in my bag, ignoring, as I've been doing since the day before yesterday. Melissa smiles at me, but for the hundredth time for the past two months, I can tell it doesn't reach her eyes.
"So, what have you thought about your 'date' with Shahbad?" she grins; which looks more like a smirk as she put an unnecessary stress on 'date'. She looks angry.
"Why?"
"What wh-"
"Why are you angry at me?"
She looks a little disconcerted, but hitches up her smile at once.
"Are you crazy? I am super excited for your date. So, you guys are going to... you know?" She grins conspirationally.
I know there is no way to discuss it further, so I give in. She continues in an over-the-pitch high voice, "Anyway, we need to choose a nice dress for you. And that's why I called you here." She pulls me towards the spinning doors.
"Mels," I try to stall her, "you know I cannot afford this place. Let's go down to that thrift shop down the road."
"Az, you cannot be serious!" She shrieks. "You cannot go to meet Shahbad in those cheap dresses. You realise what his status his, right? His family owns the biggest automobile company, not only in this city, but so many more."
She pauses to take a breathe, and my heart sinks. She is right, of course. But I don't have that kind of money, and father will be paying off for one dress for a few years. Shahbad won't mind, he loves me for who I am, a voice says in my head. I turn to go.
"Fine, go!" Mels shrieks in uncharacteristically rough voice. "Go, and don't come crying to me when Shahbad starts going out with some other girl; one who can match his standards."
Melissa marches away as I stand there and look at her. The only girl who would have me as a friend, and now I am on my own.
My phone rings again. And I don't pick it up. Nothing Grace says now will be a comfort to me, especially since she has been betraying me for all these years. Grace knew, and if she didn't think I deserve the truth, the she definitely doesn't deserve the chance to explain herself.