Dear Diary

Chapter 99

It was mid-afternoon by the time Sophia finally made it home, completely exhausted. The whole day was a killer on her feet; going between different shops for hours on end. Susan was determined to find Sophia the perfect dress (even if it killed Sophia in the process) and finally – after six hours - they found it.

It was a full-length black dress with a criss-cross pattern running down her back. It was simple yet elegant and although Sophia wasn't overly-keen on dresses, she had to admit that she liked this one. But she drew the line when Susan offered to get her a pair of black stilettos. She was tall enough and didn't need them, besides she didn't even know how to walk in them. Not that she was going to admit that to them.

After dropping Sophia off at her house, Susan said that they would return in a couple of hours to get ready for the dance. Sophia wanted to pull her hair out at the thought of them coming over, but she knew that they were all going to the dance together and would not meet up there. So, Sophia made the most of her time alone by catching up on some sleep that was so rudely interrupted that morning.

It was just after five o'clock when Susan arrived with her two daughters. Susan was dressed in her formal army uniform, while Rachel wore a shimmery silver dress that she picked out earlier that day. Sophia didn't even bother to look at what Ashley was wearing.

A minute after they entered, Sophia heard her father's Mercedes pull up the driveway and he soon appeared with his freshly pressed suite in a protective bag.

"Hello dear," Susan greeted him warmly and he nodded in response, his eyes flickering to his daughter. He frowned slightly.

"You should start getting ready; the limo will be here in two hours. Let your partner know about that too," he said solidly and Sophia nodded while Ashley gasped.

"A limo?" she squealed in excitement, her eyes growing wide.

"Yes," he replied.

Sophia pulled out her phone and quickly sent Luke a message. 

Luke had finally agreed to go with her to the dance, after much convincing, but what sealed the deal was the fact that Luke could meet the president. Sophia's father has worked with him on several occasions, elevating her father to the privilege of sitting at the same table as him.

"Rachel, why don't you go and help Sophia get ready?" Susan suggested and both Sophia and Rachel looked at her in alarm. 

Rachel opened her mouth, about to protest, but Susan sent her a look. Sophia glanced at her father to see him sending her a similar look.

Grumbling under her breath, Sophia turned and walked up the stairs to her bedroom. Leaving her door open so Rachel could enter, she grabbed her dress and walked to her bathroom, locking the door behind her.

She took as much time as possible in the shower, trying to delay the inevitable, but eventually she forced herself to get out and slip into her dress. When Sophia walked out the bathroom, she saw Rachel standing in her room awkwardly. She noticed that she had already spread out different cosmetics on her dressing table. Rachel already had her make-up done so she knew that it was meant for her.

She pursed her lips and ignored her as she began blow-drying her hair. The awkward atmosphere was stifling around them, but Sophia made no attempt to ease it. She wanted Rachel to feel uncomfortable, to know that she wasn't welcomed here. When Sophia was satisfied with her hair being dry enough, she reached for her curling iron only to find Rachel holding it.

"May I?" she asked, a little timid and Sophia scowled.

"I can do my own hair," she said with a glare.