Chapter 5: Because she wanted it

"I call dib on this;" Beth's voice rang in the mall, echoing and bouncing back. She held a yellow sundress that Mia had her eyes on the moment they walked into the mall. It was ladies' day, and it happened once a week. It was the day they all gathered to talk about their week's progress, struggles, plans, and everything they thought their friend needed to know.

Sheila tried to collect the dress from her, but Beth held it up.

"I'm not leaving this dress for anyone," Beth placed the cloth on her body twirling in front of the mirror. "It looks so good on me." She turned to Mia who was silent and staring at the dress in her hand. "What do you think, Mia?"

Sheila responded, "I think it would be better on Mia than you. Plus, it's Mia's second wedding anniversary soon. It would look nice for her and Jack's plan."

Beth rolled her eyes, "Are you saying I should drop this for Mia when I picked it first?"

Mia sighed, "Forget it, Sheila. I can surely find something else to wear for my anniversary."

Sheila groaned but said nothing. Beth linked her arm to Mia while holding the sundress in her hand like a trophy. She had seen Mia looked at the cloth immediately after they entered the store, but she wanted it for herself. She wanted it not because the cloth was that beautiful to her, but because Mia had deemed it beautiful.

The store was empty. Apart from them shopping, it was just the sales girls and the cashier. It was one of the most expensive stores in the city, so not just anyone shopped at Diva's Palace. It was exclusive to models, celebrities, tycoons' wives, and people who had expensive taste and wide pockets. The ladies walked in arms while glancing at different clothes as they passed by. Mia stopped in front of a peach-wrapped dress. She pictured herself in the dress, with a low black four inches heels, and the perfect makeup. She was trying to impress Jack. Maybe, it was because she hadn't been putting effort into dressing for him, that was why he had cheated on her. She was going to fight for her marriage.

That night, she hadn't said anything to him about catching him. She forced a smile at him, and he hugged her as if he missed her. He hugged her like he hadn't been banging some strange woman in their matrimonial bed. She had cried that night in the toilet before washing her eyes with clean water and promising herself, that she was going to do anything to make their marriage work. Anything involved dressing up for Jack the way she used to when they first met.

"Do you like this?" Sheila's voice brought her back to the presence. She held the cloth, and Mia observed it was backless. Just the right amount of sexiness she needed for her husband. She nodded, and Sheila smiled. "I think it's beautiful. Jack will be surprised when he sees you in this."

Beth scowled, "I don't think it's going to look nice on you. It doesn't befit your status as a married woman." She collected the dress from Sheila and focused on it as if she was scrutinizing a strange specimen. "It looks like something a whore would wear."

Sheila frowned and snatched the dress from her. "I don't think that. It will be perfect on Mia."

Mia frowned confused, who was she to believe? Beth was her best friend, and she wouldn't deceive her. She would want what was best for her. Sheila also wanted the best for her. They were both her friends. "I think I should find something else; something less revealing."

Sheila glanced between her and Beth, "I don't think you should let this cloth go. We can ask for one of the sales girl's opinions. This cloth is just for you, Mia."

Beth chuckled, gaining both of their attention. "You are funny, Sheila. What do you expect the sales girl to say? They are trying to sell the cloth; they will say it looked good on you."

Mia smiled, she felt as if two figures had appeared on her shoulder - the popular angel and devil – giving her advice. She had no idea who was the devil, and who was the angel. They were both her friends, and they wanted what was best for her. But she needed to get a perfect cloth for her second anniversary; it might be what was going to intrigue a change in her marriage.

"I think I will just leave the cloth for now. I still have two weeks before the anniversary; they might have new selections by then. We don't want to spend all our day shopping, right? There is so much catching up to do."

The ladies moved to the counter to pay for Beth's dress. Beth knew there was no way she was wearing the dress, it was just going to add to the collection of dresses she had in her wardrobe. Clothes she had bought because she didn't want to see them on Mia. Maybe, she might end up giving them to some upcoming model.

"So, where are we going now?" Beth said, grinning at the ladies.

Sheila frowned and shrugged, "I don't know. I'm fine with anywhere, as long as we are eating there."

Mia laughed, "You love to eat, Sheila."

Sheila shrugged again, "You guys are the models that have to watch what you eat. I'm not a model, and I don't have to watch what I eat or drink." She paused and shook her head at Mia. "Although, I have no idea why you have to do that, Mia. You are not a model anymore."

There was silence and then Mia's lips stretched into a smile, "I guess it's out of habit."