Rich enough
Katharine was in full-on shopping mode now. She flitted between racks, picking up dresses and skirts with the speed of a seasoned shopper, holding them up to Daisy with an exaggerated, "This will totally make you look fabulous!"
Daisy, for the most part, stayed patient. She wasn't in the mood to argue, and honestly, she didn't mind Katharine's energy. But as the pile of clothes grew, so did Daisy's unease. The dresses were beautiful—elegant and glittering, but they weren't her. She wasn't the type to wear something too flashy or too tight. She wasn't looking for something that screamed "look at me" tonight.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm, Kath," Daisy said with a small smile, "but I think I'm looking for something a bit more… you know, relaxed."
Katharine raised an eyebrow, inspecting Daisy as if she were a project. "Relaxed?" She clicked her tongue in disbelief. "No. You're getting something that turns heads, my friend."
Daisy shook her head, trying to hide the amusement that bubbled up. "I just want something I can move in, Kath. I want to be comfortable. And honestly, something a bit more… masculine."
Katharine froze, the clothes in her arms falling to the floor with a soft whoosh as her eyes widened. "What?" She stared at Daisy as if she'd just suggested wearing a paper bag. "Did you seriously just say that? Masculine?"
Daisy nodded, her smile widening at Katharine's reaction. "Yeah, like a button-up shirt or something. Maybe some cool pants."
Katharine's face contorted in mock outrage, her hands flying to her hips. "Oh, I knew you'd say that! I knew it!" She crossed her arms dramatically, shaking her head. "Fine. Go ahead. Wear something boring. It's not like you'll look amazing anyway." She made a show of turning away, but the smile tugging at the corners of her lips gave her away.
Daisy laughed softly, feeling a warm glow at the playful banter. "You know I'm not going for 'amazing' tonight, Kath. Just something that feels like me."
Katharine rolled her eyes in exaggerated exasperation, but she finally relented. "Okay, okay. You win. I'll get you something that fits your little 'I-don't-want-to-make-a-statement' mood." She walked briskly toward a section near the back of the store where more androgynous, looser styles were displayed.
As Daisy followed her, Katharine grabbed a fitted blazer with sharp lines and a pair of sleek black trousers that would definitely define her figure. "I suppose this will work," Katharine muttered, although her tone had softened. "But don't blame me if you end up looking incredible."
Daisy's eyes followed Katharine's movements as she gathered a few more items—a loose, crisp shirt that hung just right, a pair of polished boots. There was something about the way Katharine could always find the perfect balance of daring and functional that Daisy couldn't help but admire.
The store assistant, a friendly young woman, came over just as Katharine was handing Daisy a jacket. "You're going to look stunning in that," she said with a smile, clearly appreciating the mix of sophistication and simplicity in Katharine's choices.
Daisy smiled politely. "Thank you," she said softly, though she wasn't entirely sure she'd be able to pull it off. But there was something about the outfit that felt right, something that felt like her. Not a distraction, not a flash of attention—just a subtle confidence.
Katharine handed Daisy the last piece she'd picked out and looked her up and down critically. "Alright, you can try these on, but I know they're going to be perfect. You always manage to look great no matter what you wear."
Daisy tried on the outfit, stepping into the fitting room with a sense of calm. The clothes felt right against her skin—comfortable, yet sharp. She checked her reflection, adjusting the blazer just so. There was a quiet strength in the way the jacket hugged her shoulders and the trousers fell neatly over her legs. She looked different, but in a good way.
When she stepped back out, Katharine was already waiting by the door, arms crossed and tapping her foot impatiently. The moment she saw Daisy, her eyes lit up. "Well, would you look at you? I told you, babe. You look—" She paused dramatically, raising her hand to her chin like a queen contemplating her subject. "—damn good."
Daisy smirked. "You were right, it feels good."
"Of course I was right." Katharine winked, and they both shared a knowing look.
When it was time to pay, Daisy pulled out her wallet, ready to pay . But Katharine, in her usual style, swatted her hand away with a dramatic sigh. "Oh, no, no, no. You're not paying for this, I will text someone who is rich enough hehe." She whipped out her phone, texting furiously. "I'm texting my brother to send me the money. I am here to spoil you Bby. You'll thank me later."
Daisy's heart skipped a beat at the sudden shift, but she masked the brief flash of discomfort with a quick smile. "I'm sure you will," she replied, her voice strained but polite.
Katharine didn't seem to notice. "It's not even a big deal. I'll have him transfer it in five minutes." She turned to the cashier, completely ignoring Daisy's stiffened response as she swiped her card without hesitation.
Katharine finished paying and grabbed the shopping bag from the counter with a flourish, as if she were handing Daisy a golden ticket to a fabulous night ahead. As they walked toward the exit, Daisy couldn't help but glance at her friend, noticing for the first time that Katharine hadn't picked anything out for herself.
"Hey," Daisy said, pausing and giving Katharine a curious look, "I noticed you didn't get anything for yourself. What's up with that? You always have to have something new."
Katharine's eyes darted toward the ground for a moment, before she quickly flicked her hair back over her shoulder, as if shaking off the question. "Oh, come on. I'm not here for me today, I'm here for you." She shot Daisy a playful look, raising her eyebrows. "I'm the one who has to look stunning to show you how it's done."
Daisy gave her a skeptical look. "No, seriously. You always find the best stuff for yourself. I can't believe you skipped it."
Katharine hesitated for a moment, clearly avoiding her gaze, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, maybe I just wanted to focus on you today. You've been through a lot, and I figured it's your time to shine."
Daisy tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. "Okay, but I still can't believe you didn't get anything for yourself. I know you've got a ton of cute stuff already."
Katharine's lips twitched as she sighed dramatically, glancing down at her phone again. Then, as if she couldn't hold back any longer, she looked up at Daisy with a faint blush on her cheeks. "Okay, fine. You caught me." She paused, her smile turning a little bashful. "My Bby, Jace—he got me a dress for tonight. It's special, and I didn't want to spoil the surprise."
Daisy blinked, and smiled . " Really ? Nice " she asked, her tone softening.
Katharine nodded, a slight blush still on her cheeks. "Yeah, and it's actually perfect. He knows me better than I know myself sometimes." She gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. "But you're right. I do have a ton of clothes. I figured I could splurge on you for once."
Daisy smiled, touched by the sincerity in Katharine's voice. "Aww, that's actually really sweet. I didn't know you were all sentimental underneath that tough exterior."
Katharine rolled her eyes, though the warmth in her expression betrayed her usual bravado. "Please, don't go telling anyone I'm all mushy. But yeah, I guess I can be a little soft when it comes to him." She shrugged, clearly trying to brush it off. "Anyway, enough about me. You're gonna look amazing in what I picked out for you tonight. So, let's go show the world what they've been missing."
Daisy chuckled. "Your secret's safe with me," she teased. "But really, it's nice. You've got a side that's not all about drama and glitter after all."
Katharine shot her a sly look. "Well, don't get used to it," she said with a grin, clearly back in her element. "Now, let's get out of here and move to the hair salon.
As they left the store, Daisy's hand resting lightly on the bag with her new clothes, she felt a sudden sense of detachment—a brief moment of being outside of it all. But Katharine was already chatting away, pulling Daisy into another conversation about makeup and the party details. And just like that, Daisy slipped back into her usual rhythm, her smile back in place, even if it didn't quite reach her eyes.