CHAPTER TWO
Eugene was roughly 56 miles from Reedsport, it sported the valley river center mall, which contained every type of store you could need from an Abercrombie and Fitch to a Macy’s and JC Penny. They searched for hours to find the right outfit for the party with and finally Jasmine picked out the perfect little black sequined mini dress and strappy heels to go with it. However Noel couldn’t find anything.
Jasmine made the suggestion to try a unique little second hand place she had seen last time she was here, and as it was on the way back home just on the outskirts of Eugene Noel thought why not. It was called rags to riches and when they walked through the door, a little bell rang and the smell of sandalwood and amber hit them. It was a musky intoxicating smell which seemed to envelope Noel in a blanket, it was vaguely familiar. The store was dimly lit but not dark at all, there were racks of clothes on hangers down each side of the room with a centre walkway, to the right hand side of the store were two changing rooms with lush velour maroon curtains covering them and directly opposite was a glass display cabinet with a till on the top.
An older lady came out from behind a beaded curtain covering a doorway towards the back of the shop. Her hair was in an old style beehive, and was dressed in a purple sari with a green shawl around her shoulders. She made her way to stand behind the display cabinet. “Do you need any help girls” she politely asked. “Well ….” Jasmine said “We’re looking for the perfect outfit for my friend”.
The lady then slowly made her way down the middle of the store casting long studying glances at Noel. “Well then….what size are we?” she said. “I am usually a …..” Noel tried to respond “never mind I know exactly what size you are, and I know the perfect dress”. After a few minutes of rummaging around in a dress rack to the left of the store she pulled out a denim blue satin dress, with spaghetti straps. It had a bra like top then flared out to a flowing dress which came to just above the knee.
“Ohh! It’s perfect!” Jasmine exclaimed. “Not quite” the lady said and she made her way over to the display cabinet, unlocked it and pulled out a vintage gold necklace and pendant. It was circular with blue gems inlaid in small flower patterns all over it and a large gem right in the center. Noel stared at the pendant, it was so familiar, yet she had never been in this shop before. She couldn’t for the life of her remember ever seeing any pendants like this in the family, so how come it looked so familiar?
“Now….” The lady said “Now it’s perfect, would you like to try it on, or do you trust me?” Noel looked at her and something in her face told her that it would be unwise for to question her sizing eye, and really if it didn’t fit she would just resort to jeans and a top. “No it should be fine” Noel said and the lady smiled large and wide. “I have the perfect shoes to go with that too” Jasmine said “we’ll go round my place and get ready for the party, and then you can try them on”.
They left the store and headed back to Jasmine’s. Her house was larger than Noels with a winding driveway through cherry blossom trees. When they reached the house they went straight up to Jasmine’s bedroom. Her room was large and totally perfect. She had a four poster bed with a gold satin bedspread, a walk in wardrobe which contained every type of outfit your heart could desire, her own bathroom, a vanity table with different sorts of makeup strewn across it and a desk with an apple i-book placed perfectly in the middle of. Jasmine walked straight to the wardrobe and flung the doors open, while Noel flopped herself on the bed, it had been exhausting following Jasmine around all day. Noel looked up when she heard the noise coming from the wardrobe and saw boxes of shoes come flying out. “Where are they, I know there here somewhere” Jasmine grumbled. “Ah ha, here they are” as she came out with a bright yellow shoe box. She shoved them under Noel’s face and said “here open it” as Noel opened the box there was a pair of black patent leather Christian louboutin heels. Even Noel thought they were perfect.
Two hours later they were nearly ready to leave for the party. Noel looked in the full length mirror and thought that she may have over done it a little bit. The dress was nice but she was still getting use to her new body and it made her feel self-conscious, the arms were exposed and her legs she thought looked all gamely in the short dress and shoes. “Your gorgeous” Jasmine exclaimed behind her. “Thanks” Noel responded, “It’s missing something, I know where’s that necklace” Jasmine said as she rustled through the bag from the store. “Here it is, lift your hair up and I will put it on for you”. As Jasmine slid it on to Noels neck a weird feeling came over her. It was warm to the touch and very familiar, it made her feel safe and she didn’t want to ever take it off. All of a sudden she felt confident and invincible.
Twenty minutes later Noel and Jasmine were pulling up to David’s place. Noel noticed how many cars were parked outside the house, on the lawn and down the road, there would have been at least fifty cars. She could hear the music before they were within forty feet of his house. “I don’t think this is a good idea Jazz” Noel said, “don’t be silly, of course it’s a good idea”. Noel swallowed and then a warm sensation touched her neck and filled her body with confidence yet again. They parked just outside the garage of the house and made their way inside. Just like it had been outside with the cars it was just as bad in here, wall to wall with people all drinking and yelling, all from school.
There was Peter Evergreen, the captain of the football team, surrounded by all the cheerleaders including Patricia Hopes, head cheerleader, leaning on the staircase banister drinking a beer. Jacob Lovedale the junior class president from last year was yelling something in a room to the right, which Noel thought was more than likely to be the living room. All the boys’ varsity baseball team was present, they seemed to be moving as one through from the kitchen to what looked like the family room on the left, closely followed behind by the girls’ softball team.
“Hi girls” said a voice from behind them. They turned around and there was David in all his pomp and glory. Wearing a Brave’s polo shirt with jeans, and his black cowboy boots, he didn’t exactly look like he was heir to his parent’s fortune. His skin was olive, blue eyes and he had curly blonde tousled hair, he also stood about six foot two which meant that even with the heels on Noel still only came to just below his chin.
“Hey David, looks like the parties going off “ Jasmine said “Yeah not a bad turn out, you look great Jazz…..” he then looked to Noel “Geez Louise look at you, Noel is that you under that fabulous dress?” David grabbed Noels hand and twirled her around, she could feel heat surge from the necklace and fill her body. “hmm not bad girl, shame I have my eye on someone else or I would snatch you up right now” David gave a hearty laugh and winked a Jasmine. Maybe Jasmine wasn’t just the only one who had thought she was now a woman and it was time to make a move. Suddenly there was a loud bang from over to the right of the room “There’s food and drink in the kitchen, Mi casa es su casa, so make yourself at home, will catch up with ya later”. He then left making his way through the party guests to the back of the living room. “Did you see that” Jasmine said. “Oh but I’m going to play it cool though” she politely followed up with. “Let’s go get a drink huh?” Noel said, and they made their way to the kitchen.