Chapter 68

Aria

“Come on, Aria! This one is perfect for you!” Bella exclaimed, holding up a floor-length emerald gown that shimmered under the thrift shop’s dim lighting.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Bella, that dress would make me look like a sequined asparagus.”

She burst into giggles. “Yeah, but you’d be an elegant sequined asparagus.”

“Yeah… I think I’ll pass,” I snorted as I rifled through the rack of gowns.

The thrift shop was a treasure trove of forgotten gems and vintage wonders. Racks upon racks of dresses, each with its own story, beckoned to us. The air was filled with the subtle scent of old fabric, and classic rock played on the radio.

Bella and I often liked to visit this thrift shop whenever I felt like shopping. The majority of Bella’s wardrobe was thrifted, and she always knew how to find the best things—hence why I agreed to shop here for our masquerade outfits.

“Try this one,” I suggested, handing Bella a deep burgundy dress with lace sleeves. “The color would look amazing on your skin tone.”

She held it up against herself, her big brown eyes immediately gleaming at the sight. “Ooh, I love it! To the fitting rooms we go!”

We made our way to the back of the store, arms filled with dresses of every style and color. The fitting rooms were small cubicles with faded curtains that didn’t quite reach the floor. I headed into the one next to Bella, sighing softly as I hung up the gowns I’d picked out.

“Alright, let’s see the first one!” Bella called out from her stall.

I slipped into a navy blue dress. The fabric was soft and slippery, a vintage silk that felt like butter against my skin. But it was a little small on me, and just a touch too short for my tall frame. “This one feels tight,” I grumbled, trying to zip it up.

“Need help?” Bella offered from her dressing room.

“No, I’ve got it,” I insisted, tugging harder until the zipper finally relented. Stepping out, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The dress hugged my figure nicely, but it felt too restrictive for comfort.

Bella emerged in the burgundy dress, twirling gracefully. Of course, just as I suspected, it looked fabulous on her. “Well?”

“You look stunning,” I admitted. “That color is definitely your shade.”

She beamed. “Thanks! But I think it needs a little something.” She adjusted the neckline, pondering.

I glanced back at my reflection. “This one isn’t the one,” I decided. “Back to the drawing board.”

After several rounds of trying on dresses—some too big, others too frilly—we both began to lose hope.

“Maybe this was a bad idea,” I sighed, flopping down on a nearby ottoman.

“Hey, don’t give up yet,” Bella encouraged, nudging me with her foot. “We just haven’t found ‘the one’.”

Just then, a glimmer caught my eye from a high shelf near the back corner. “What’s that?” I asked.

Bella followed my gaze. “What?”

I stood up, weaving through the racks toward the mysterious sparkle. Reaching up, I pulled down an elegant black dress. It was simple yet breathtaking, with a V-neckline and delicate beading along the waist.

“Wow,” Bella whispered, her eyes wide. “Try it on! Now!”

I didn’t need further prompting. Slipping into the dress felt like a dream. The fabric draped over my curves perfectly, neither too tight nor too loose, and the plunging neckline was sexy without being overly immodest.

When I stepped out of the fitting room, Bella audibly gasped. “Aria, you look... incredible.”

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. “You think so?”

“Absolutely! That dress was made for you.”

I smoothed my hands over the skirt, feeling a newfound confidence. “I love it.”

“Then it’s settled,” Bella said, grinning. “I’ll get the red one, you get that one.”

As we headed to the register, something else caught my attention—a Venetian-style cat mask hidden behind a stack of old hats. Its intricate silver designs and tiny rhinestones perfectly matched the dress, like they were made for one another. I grabbed it immediately, not even thinking twice.

With our treasures in hand, we made our way to the cashier. As we stepped outside, the afternoon sun warmed our faces.

“Mission accomplished,” Bella declared triumphantly.

“Thanks for convincing me to do this,” I said. “I actually had a lot of fun. Honestly, I didn’t even realize how badly I needed to get out.”

She nudged me with her elbow. “Should I say it, or will you?” she asked, grinning.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Bella is always right,” I said in a monotone voice, although we both burst out laughing.

Just then, a familiar voice cut through the air. “Well, well, look who it is.”

I turned, and my stomach plummeted through the sidewalk. Sarah was sauntering toward us with a smug grin on her face, her perfectly styled blonde hair moving in the wind and her designer heels clicking against the pavement.

“Sarah,” I greeted coolly. “What brings you here?”

She eyed the bags in our hands, noticing the mask peeking out of mine. “Shopping for the masquerade, I see? How… quaint.”

Bella arched an eyebrow. “And what’s wrong with that?”

Sarah let out a mocking laugh and checked her nails. “Oh, nothing. Just didn’t expect to see you two wearing thrifted rags to such an exclusive event.”

“The event is just for fun, Sarah,” I retorted. “Besides, vintage gowns have far more character than something modern and mass-produced.”

“Like those tacky heels you’re wearing,” Bella pointed out with a smirk.

Sarah’s eyes flashed for a moment, Bella’s words having clearly struck a nerve. But then she scoffed and waved her hand dismissively. “Keep telling yourself that. Just don’t be surprised if they mistake you for the help.”

Bella stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. “You know, for someone so obsessed with status, it’s a little strange that you’re here—downtown, where girls like you typically turn up your nose at people like us—and just so happen to be standing outside the very thrift shop you’re complaining about. Isn’t that odd, Aria?”

I paused, pursing my lips at my sister. “It is, actually,” I said, folding my arms.

Sarah’s smirk faltered for a split second. “I’m just passing through.”

That was when Bella noticed something. Peeking out from beneath Sarah’s chic jacket was a small name tag. Bella’s eyes widened with realization.

“Wait a minute,” Bella began, reaching out before Sarah could stop her. She moved the jacket aside, revealing the name tag that read: ‘Sarah – Sales Associate’ with the thrift store’s name underneath.

“You work here?” I blurted out in surprise.

Sarah’s face turned a deep shade of red. “It’s temporary,” she snapped, yanking her jacket back into place. “Because you made me lose my last job!”

Bella couldn’t contain her laughter. “Wow, so you’re working at a thrift store and insulting the customers who shop here? How hypocritical!”

“Mind your own business,” Sarah hissed.

Before the situation could escalate further, an older woman poked her head out of the thrift shop door. I recognized her as the woman who just rang us up. “Is there a problem here?” she barked. “Sarah, you’re late for your shift!”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “Mrs. Jenkins, no, everything’s fine. I just got caught up with these—”

Bella crossed her arms and cut her off before she could finish. “Actually, there is. Your employee here was just mocking us for shopping at this store.”

The woman’s gaze hardened. “Is that so?”

Sarah stammered, “They were provoking me—”

“We did no such thing,” I interjected calmly. “We were just leaving when she decided to insult us.”

The woman looked between us and then back at Sarah. “We don’t tolerate that sort of behavior from our employees.”

“Wait, please—” Sarah began, but the woman reached up and ripped the name tag right off her shirt.

“You’re fired. Collect your things and leave immediately.”

Sarah’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “Y-You can’t be serious!”

“I’m very serious,” the manager replied firmly.

With a huff, Sarah shot us a venomous glare. “This isn’t over,” she spat before storming off down the street.

Bella and I stood there, momentarily stunned by what had just happened. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or feel bad for Sarah, although I was leaning more toward laughing. It really was her fault that she had gotten fired again.

“I apologize for that,” the woman said, turning to us. “Please, allow me to make it up to you.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary,” I assured her.

“No, I insist,” she replied, guiding us back into the store. “Your purchases are on the house today.”

Bella’s eyes lit up. “Well, if you insist.”

I gave my friend a gentle nudge. “Thank you, but really—”

The woman held up a hand. “Consider it a gesture of goodwill. We value our customers and want you to have a pleasant experience.”

After processing the refunds, we stepped out of the store once more, the sun now casting a golden hue over the streets. I still felt stunned. And oddly satisfied.

“Did that just happen?” Bella asked, shaking her head in disbelief as we headed outside. “Because that was way too satisfying to feel real.”

I chuckled. “I can’t believe Sarah was working there.”

“Talk about karma,” Bella mused. “All that high-and-mighty attitude, and she’s the one behind the counter. And she’s still looking down on you!”

I sighed, shaking my head and wrapping one arm around Bella’s shoulders.

“I guess what they say is true sometimes,” I mused as we headed down the street. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”