Legacy by Calista Anastasia Page A

size and began sliding the hangers along the rack. When she found a dress she liked, she checked the price tag before deciding to put it over arm to try on. The variety was endless. She could dress up and become whatever she wanted. She slid a hanger forward. This one looks like a fluffy lamb. The dress was white with a tiered skirt. No thanks.
    She skidded more hangers along the rack. Slut dress. Slut dress . She pushed past dresses that were too short or too clingy or looked like Lady Gaga would wear them.
    “Wait!” Felicity shrieked. “That one would look so sweet on you.” She grabbed a deep pink dress and held it up to Mercy’s chest. “Ooh, that’s really pretty. You’ve got to try on this one,”
    Mercy thought the color was nice, but wasn’t sure she wanted to look sweet. She reluctantly slung it over her arm and continued her search . She added a teal green paisley with a sc attering of sequins on the top.
    She caught her breath. There! I found it! The perfect dress. It was a soft peach with tw o layer s of material. It was beautiful . The neckline was scooped and draped and it looked feminine. Reverently, she removed the hanger from the rack. Perfect. Just perfect.
    She and Felicity took their selections to the dressing room. “Try on the pink one first,” Felicity directed.
    Mercy eyed the tiers of pink ruffles and felt a shiver creep along her spine. But faced with Felicity ’ enthus iastic urging, she tried it on.
    “Ooh, that looks so sweet,” Felicity cooed when she stepped out of the dressing room.
    “I think I wore something like this to your eighth birthday party. I look like a cupcake.” She returned to the dressing room and removed the layers of pink fluff. Way too sweet . She reached for the teal dress next. It slid on easily, the silky fabric felt cool against her skin. She turned around to see the back and liked the way it looked. The sequins were under a layer of sheer fabric, which made her look like a shimmery merma id. Yes, this dress would work.
    But she removed it and reached for the peach dress. It was beautiful and she felt beautiful when she put it on. The color reflected back into her face and the soft dra ping flattered her slim figure.
    “Come on out so I can see,” Felicity called.
    Mercy stepped from the dressing room, smiling. “I love this one.” She went out to the three-way mirror to admire herself. This dress was great from all angles. She twirled around, but her grin froze in place when her eyes met those of Lindy Boyd. She was wearing the exact same peach dress. Becca and Amy clustered close to her, their faces a parody of horror.
    “No!” Lindy shrieked. “I cannot believe you’re wearing my dress.”
    Mercy stopped breathing right then and there, the vision of the outraged Lindy in the peach dress burned into her brain. Lindy’s face was red, clashing with the delicate peach tones . S he stood with her hands fisted on her hips. “I’ve been here for hours looking for the perfect dress and I found it. This is my dress. Now you’ve ruined everything.”
    “Well, I didn’t mean to…” She beg an, but Lindy shouted over her.
    “Shut up! You don’t get to wear the same dress as me to the dance!” Lindy turned and stomped back into the dressing room.
    Mercy turned back to the mirrors, her reflection now mocking her. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, as red as Lindy’s angry face . H er hands sh oo k as she took a deep breath and expelled it. “ I can get the teal dress instead. It looked pretty good.”
    “Too bad,” Felicity said. “I really think this one looks fabulous on you.”
    “Yeah, well. . .” Mercy went back to the dressing room just as Lindy came storming out. She had dozens of dresses in her arms, including the peach one.
    “I don’t want any of these,” she shouted to the startled sales woman. “They’re all too ordinary for me.” She dumped the dresses on the counter and turned to glare at Mercy. “I want something