Chapter 8.5

While Alina and Jason were bonding, Michelle turned to Asami and gestured with her head towards Melanie. Asami, understanding her, quickly approached Melanie and grabbed her arm.

"Say, Mel," Asami grinned while pulling her arm. "I was wondering if you could help me pick a dress…"

As a reluctant Melanie was dragged away by Asami, Michelle walked to Emily who was now alone since Charlotte had taken Alice to Jason.

"L'avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt," she said to Emily.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Emily after her Holo-lens translated the french comment.

"Why do you hesitate? You like him, non?" Michelle asked back.

"First Asami and now you," Emily rolled her eyes as she continued browsing for clothes. "Why are you two doing this?"

"Juste curieux," answered Michelle as she leaned on a pillar. "There is ... an attraction between you two."

"It doesn't matter, it wouldn't work," sighed Emily. "You've heard the rumors about me, what was it again? A salope?"

"Sorry," Michelle lowered her head in shame as she remembered what she had called Emily long ago. Although she didn't say it to Emily upfront, her attitude to her at the beginning was less than hospitable.

"Why? It's the truth. I've slept with a lot of guys and more still want me in bed. And of course, all the girls hate me for that," Emily said in an unconcerned manner before turning to look at Michelle. "Do you really think I can be with someone like him? I'm alright with just knowing he doesn't hate me."

"Did Jason tell you his past?" asked Michelle.

"No, why?" Emily tilted her head confused.

"He told us, au début," Michelle looked away as she leaned back. "He was a child soldat."

"What?" Emily was shocked as she turned to look at Michelle.

"Oui, he was raised by mercenaires, raised to be a killer," Michelle sighed as she continued. "I have seen what killing does to mon frère, and I can't imagine how he feels. So, tell me, which do you think is worse? A salope, or a tueur?"

Emily was quiet as she pondered on Michelle's words while the latter approached her and laid a hand on her shoulders.

"Avoir du courage," Michelle said.

"So, basically, you're telling me to make a move before Melanie?" asked Emily.

"Oui," nodded Michelle but Emily smirked as she looked away, surprising her.

"You don't have to worry, I already have Jason's attention," Emily shrugged. "And if worse comes to worst, I'll just sleep with him."

"Wow, vous les filles êtes effrayantes," muttered Michelle as she shuddered.

"You know you're one too," said Emily amusedly, her words hinting at something else that Michelle was unable to catch when the former noticed Jason, Alice, Alina, and Charlotte walking towards them.

Currently, Alina had changed her outfit, from the hoodie to a new sweatshirt and jogging pants that were slightly formfitting. A gleam flashed through Emily's eyes as she took a breath and walked to a changing room with an outfit in her hands.

"She okay?" Alina asked Michelle while gesturing at the changing room. Jason, bored, lifted Alice and spun her around while she laughed.

"Oui," Michelle nodded but then studied Alina. "What do you think of Emily?"

"She's cool, nice and fun. Why?" Alina replied.

"Sans reason," replied when Asami and Melanie returned. Asami was now wearing a pink flared dress with a white bolero on top of it, her outfit giving her cute vibe.

"Nice," commented Alina.

"Trompeur," added Michelle. Asami rolled her eyes and was about to retort when Emily came out of the changing room.

She was wearing a white version of the sweetheart shirt Jason had picked and a black mini-skirt. She also wore black stockings that were curiously sheer from the knees and up to her thighs leading his eyes to her slightly flared mini skirt.

"Well, how does it look?" She asked as she noticed everyone looking at her. Michelle looked at Emily's well-endowed chest and sighed.

"La vie n'est pas juste," she muttered as she looked down at her own chest.

"What do you mean?" asked a smirking Emily innocently as she leaned forward while placing her arms at her side and squeezing them, emphasizing her breasts. Jason, who was still holding Alice, peeked at her breasts from the corner of his eyes until he noticed Alina's glare.

"Cow-tits," muttered Melanie in an audible voice.

"Oh?" Emily turned to Melanie and smiled. "It's better than trying to dress like an adult."

"Now what could you possibly mean by that?" asked Melanie with narrowed eyes. Emily looked at Melanie from top to bottom.

"Tight jeans and a corset to draw out your chest. Obviously, you're trying to prove that you're older than you … look," Emily said while smiling sweetly. "It's very cute of you to do that."

"Well, you know, I'd rather not show off those lumps of fat if I were you," replied Melanie in an equally endearing voice. "They make you look old."

"Oh, but the boys love it," countered Emily in a voice as sweet as honey while the two drew near each other.