359: STYLE SEARCH ARIEL’S POV It was finally Saturday, a beautiful afternoon, and Tessa and I were headed to the mall. Of course, we all knew the business party would be taking place tonight. And so, I needed to find the perfect dress. Tessa, being the fashionista she is, insisted on coming along to help me pick the perfect outfit. Entering the mall, I was overwhelmed by the crowds of people and the endless rows of shops. “Where do we even start?” I asked Tessa, feeling a little lost. “Don’t worry; I got you,” she replied with a reassuring smile. “Let’s start by checking out some of the designer stores.” We made our way to the first store and immediately started browsing through the racks of dresses. Tessa pulled out a stunning red dress and held it up against me. “This would look amazing on you, Ariel.” I took the dress from her and headed to the fitting room. Tessa waited outside as I tried it on, eager to see the dress on me. “Well, what do you think?” I asked, stepping out of the fitting room. “It’s beautiful, but I think we can do better,” she replied with a thoughtful expression. ” Let’s try a few more stores, don’t you think?” “Ughh, fine,” I replied in hushed tones. We went from store to store, trying on different dresses. Some were too tight, others were too short, and none seemed to be the perfect fit. I was starting to feel discouraged, but Tessa’s positive attitude kept me going. Finally, we walked into a small boutique that Tessa had spotted earlier. As soon as we walked in, I saw the most gorgeous dress on display. It was a navy blue off–the–shoulder dress with intricate lace detailing. “That’s the one,” I said, pointing at the dress. Tessa’s face lit up with excitement as she grabbed the dress and handed it to me. I rushed to the fitting room and slipped it in. As soon as I looked in the mirror, I knew this was the dress I had been searching for. It hugged my curves in all the right places and made me feel confident and beautiful, When I stepped out of the fitting room, Tessa’s jaw dropped. “Ariel, you look stunning.” She gave me a hug. This is definitely the dress for you.” 359: STYLE SEARCH 2/4 A I couldn’t stop smiling as I twirled around in front of the mirror, admiring the dress. Thank you so much, Tessa. I couldn’t have found this without you,” said gratefully. “Anytime, girl. Now, let’s go find some accessories to complete the look,” Tessa said, already pulling me towards the jewelry section. Tessa and I continued our search for accessories. While weaving through the bustling crowd, I suddenly collided with someone, flying their shopping bags. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry!” I apologize and am reaching out to help gather the fallen items. The lady I bumped into, however, didn’t seem as forgiving. She scowled at me, her eyes narrowing with irritation. “You clumsy oaf, watch where you’re going!” she exclaimed as she seized her bags from me. “I really am sorry; I didn’t mean to…” I started to apologize again, but she cut me off. “Of course, y’all didn’t mean to. People like you never do,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. I felt a flush of embarrassment and frustration rise in my cheeks. “Look, I said I’m sorry. There’s no need to be so rude about it,” I retorted, trying to keep my tone calm. The lady huffed indignantly. “Well, maybe if you paid attention instead of prancing around like you owned the place, accidents like this wouldn’t happen!” Tessa stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation. “Hey, let’s all just calm down, okay? It was just an accident.” But the lady ignored her, continuing to berate me. Feeling increasingly flustered, I took a deep breath, reminding myself to stay composed. “I understand you’re upset, but insulting me is unnecessary. Let’s just move on, shall we?” Finally realizing that her tirade wasn’t getting anywhere, the lady huffed one last time before storming off, leaving Tessa and me standing there, feeling a mix of annoyance and relief. “Wow, what was her problem?” Tessa muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. I shrugged, still feeling a bit shaken from the encounter. “Who knows? I guess some people are just looking for someone to take their bad day out on.” Tessa squeezed me on the shoulder. “Don’t let it get to you, Ariel. Let’s just focus on finding those accessories, alright?” Nodding gratefully, I took a deep breath, pushing the encounter to the back of my mind as 359 STYLE SEARCH 3/4 we continued our search for the perfect finishing touches to complete my outfit for tonight’s party. Resuming our search for accessories, Tessa and I strolled into a chic boutique adorned with sparkling jewelry and elegant evening wear. Among the dazzling array of garments, a sleek black dress adorned with shimmering diamond accents caught my eye. “Tessa, look at this dress.” I pointed toward the display. “It’s stunning!” Tessa’s eyes lit up as she took in the dress. “Oh wow, that’s absolutely gorgeous, Ariel. And those diamond details? Perfection!” “No doubt about that. It’s really nice.” “Absolutely wonderful. Majestic, this is just the thing.” Tessa made the perfect gesture. Eagerly, we approached the dress, running our fingers over the smooth fabric and admiring the intricate embellishments. “I think this could be the one,” Tessa remarked. I imagined myself wearing the elegant ensemble. I did look like a princess. “Let’s try it on!” As I suggested, I was already heading towards the fitting rooms. With Tessa’s assistance, I slipped into the black dress, feeling its luxurious fabric envelop me like a second skin. As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, the diamond accents sparkled in the soft lighting, adding an air of sophistication to the ensemble. Stepping out of the fitting room, Tessa’s eyes widened in awe. “Ariel, you look absolutely stunning,” she breathed, her voice filled with admiration. A smile of satisfaction tugged at my lips as I twirled, feeling the fabric swirl gracefully around me. “I love it.” Tessa beamed with pride. “You’re going to turn heads at the party tonight, Ariel. This dress is perfect for you.” I hugged her, smiling. “Thank you, Tessa, for helping me find the perfect dress. I couldn’t have done it without you.” She returned the hug, her warmth and support filling me with reassurance. “Anytime, Ariel. NoLet’sind the perfect accessories to complement this stunning ensemble.” As Tessa and I delved into our search for accessories, we perused the boutique’s sparkling displays of jewelry. Each piece seemed more dazzling than the last, and I couldn’t wait to find the perfect accents to complement my stunning black dress. 359: STYLE SEARCH “Where do we even start?” I murmured, my eyes scanning the array of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets before us. Tessa grinned. “Let’s start with earrings. A pair of statement earrings would really elevate your look” Nodding in agreement, 1 followed Tessa’s lead as we began sifting through the selection of earrings. Gold, silver, pearls–there were so many options to choose from. Finally, Tessa’s fingers landed on a pair of exquisite diamond drop earrings, their brilliance catching the light.
