"Do you like this colour?" Ari asks, holding the gown before her body.

"I do, it's kind of an off-white, but it's still pretty," I tell her.

"I think I should go with something a bit more colourful, though."

"Like this?" Mary asks, handing her a light pink gown.

"Yes, oh my god, I love it!" she gushes, admiring the dress.

It's a floor-length A-line dress, only slightly widening at the legs. It's strapless, with silver sparkles around the waist.

"You would look amazing in that!" I encourage.

"What about you, Lucy?" Mary asks. "Something colourful?"

"I think so yeah," I nod.

Mary's already chosen her dress, which of course, is black. She only ever wears black. She's chosen a sheath dress, with a split on the leg. It's a fairly simple dress, but very classic.

"What do you think of green?" Ari asks, pointing one out on the mannequin.

"I don't mind," I say. "I definitely want an A-line or princess, though."

"This is a princess," Mary says, pulling out a ballgown from the racks.

"Ari should try it!" I say. "I don't have the body for that."

"Nah, it's too dark for me," Ari frowns, not like the grey colour.

"What do you guys think of red?" I suggest.

"Bright or dark?" Mary asks. "You know I don't like anything bright."

"Like a burgundy?"

"Yes! With gold shoes!" Ari gasps.

"Gold?" I frown. "Where the hell will I find gold shoes?"

"We can figure that out later, but I'd definitely support a burgundy dress!"

"Do you like this one, Ari?" Mary asks, holding up a short white dress.

"It's really pretty, but is it formal enough?"

"try it on!" I encourage.

Ari takes the dress, and hangs it on her trolley. Well, it's more like a luggage carrier they have in hotels.

The place we're at is so useful. It's a warehouse for designer dresses, seeing as that's all we can afford. They have heaps of choice, and their prices are great.

"Holy shit, try this one," mary shoves a dress into my arms.

It's a maroon coloured satin dress, with a low V neck and spaghetti straps. It's a ballgown, but it's not too big and heavy. It looks light and simple, but very elegant.

It's probably the best option so far.

I hang it on my trolley, and tug it along with me.

"Guys, I'm getting really tired," Ari sighs.

"Me too," I complain. "Change rooms?"

"You guys go to the change rooms, and I'll finish the round," Mary says.

Ari and I have been at work this morning, while Mary had the day off. I guess that's the difference between working casually versus full time. Weekends off.

Maybe I should drop out of college and work full time in a café or something. The thought gets more and more appealing.

Ari and I both have a whole stack of dresses to try on, but I doubt I'll try on all of them.

"What are you starting with?" I ask Ari, calling through the thin wall of the change rooms.

"The gold one," she responds. "What about you?"

"The blue one."

"Oh, I like that one!"

"We just need to make sure we don't end up wearing dresses that are too similar."

"Ha!" she laughs. "I can already imagine the headlines."

I slip into the first dress, but it won't fit over my butt. The second and third one have similar issues. They won't fit over my boobs.

"How are you doing?" Ari calls.

"No luck so far."

"Same here," she grumbles. "I have one maybe but the rest are no's."

"How many do you have left?"

"Three more. What about you?"

"Two."

"Lucy? Ari?" Mary's voice rings through the change rooms.

"We're here!" Ari calls.

"I didn't find any good dresses, but I found shoes!"

"Oh hell yes!" Ari calls. "That means we don't have to find another store."

"Thank god," I laugh.

I slip into the red satin dress, zipping it up at the back. It's not actually floor length like I thought. It's tea length, I don't mind that at all, but it's not what I expected.

My real issue is something else.

"Guys?" I call. "Do you know how to hide chest pimples?"

"Ugh, I get them on my period all the time," Mary grumbles. "I have no idea what to d with them."

"You bitches know I've been blessed with flawless skin, so I can't help you," Mary teases.

The dress fits fine, but it does accentuate my chubby arms. And of course, my chest pimples stand out. I can't wear a bra with it either.

I pull open the changing room curtain, showing Mary the gown.

"Oh, tea length!" she says. "I love it."

"Does it make me look extra fat, though?"

"No, girl, you look great!"

"What about the chest pimples?" I frown. "I can't wear a bra either."

"I have a solution!" Ari says, opening her own curtain. She's wearing the short white dress, which looks great on her, but I'm not sure it's formal enough either. "Do you like lace?"

"I love lace," I nod.

"If we find some fabric in white, or a matching red colour, I can sow it on to the bottom. You could wear a strapless bra, and it'll cover up some chest pimples?" she suggests.

"That's a great idea!" Mary grins.

"I like it too," I nod.

"Perfect! It's a yes," she ducks back into her change room. "Try on the final dress, too!"

The last dress I have to try on, is a blush coloured long sleeve dress. It's a ball gown as well but the sleeves don't fit over my arms.

So, that decision is made.

I quickly slip back into my normal clothes, and hang the dresses back up on the trolley.

"You're done?" Mary asks.

"Yep, I'm going with the red one."

"I'm going with the pink one," Aretta says, sliding open her curtain as well.

"You guys are so quick," Mary laughs.

"Well, we need accessories now," I say. "But I'm only getting a clutch and shoes."

Liam gave me a gold bracelet for my 17th birthday, which would look great with this outfit. I might need to buy some earrings, but I could borrow some from Mary, or even Stacey, if I have to.

My budget is thin.

"I'm going all out for this," Ari grins. "I want to feel like a queen."

"Girl, you're already a queen!" I encourage her.