I have a confession…I don’t know that this chapter is fully done. I am thinking about adding more to it next week. I’ve just come off a great book weekend with fellow authors and in making sure I stick to my goal of getting a blog to you every week, sat down to write. This is as far as I’m able to get today. Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven

            Jen pulled up to the salon a few minutes later. She tried to calm herself before going inside. She laid her head back onto the head rest, closed her eyes, and took a breath. Was she really strong enough to face Thomas alone?

Knock, knock, knock.

Jen jumped to the sound of Lynn knocking on her car window.

“Hey,” Jen said getting out of her car. “Can you get away early?”

“I actually just finished my last client.” Lynn answered. “I’m done for the day.”

“Want to go shopping?” Jen asked.

Lynn raised an eyebrow at Jen.

“Shopping?” she asked. “Here? What are we shopping for?”

“An outfit for homecoming.”

Jen watched as Lynn stared at her for a minute.

“What’s going on, Jen?” she finally asked.

“Get in and I’ll tell you on the way to the boutique.” Jen said as she got back into her car.

In the two minutes it took to get from the salon to the boutique, Jen filled Lynn in on everything. Thankfully, Lynn had listened without interrupting while Jen let it all spill out. By the time Jen pulled into a parking space, she was ready for Lynn to respond.

“Well,” she said as she put the car in park and turned to look at her friend.

“So, we’re shopping for a new outfit to impress Thomas? To make him jealous?” Lynn asked. “What exactly is the point of getting a new outfit?”

“We’re getting new outfits because I’m tired of how I have been and how I have let one person run certain, critical parts of my life. My outfit will be to celebrate my awakening, to embrace me, who I am no matter who is around me.” Jen answered. “Your outfit will be for the date you’ll be on with Mike.”

“What!” Lynn said. “I don’t have a date with Mike!”

Lynn’s phone started to ring. Lynn answered.

“Hello.”

Jen tried to hold back laughter as she listened and watched her friend accept the invitation from Mike to be his date for homecoming. When Lynn hung up, Jen let all the laughter out. Lynn reached over and pinched her on the arm.

“Ouch! What was that for?”

“For being a smartass. For knowing about my date before me.” Lynn said and then got out of the car. Jen followed her lead and went around to the front of the car where Lynn was waiting.

“Are you really mad that I knew about the date before you? He had to get your number from somebody, you know.”

“Nah, I’m not mad,” Lynn said as they walked into the boutique. “But now we have some serious work to do. I have a date and you have a world to show you’ve woken up and are ready to move forward.”