Chapter 10

Pulling up to the shopping district was an event in and of itself. The freshly paved street was lined with beautiful luxury cars, and the buildings looked like they were carved from marble by Michelangelo himself. Each well-lit window was surrounded by perfectly manicured rose bushes.

I couldn't help but wander to a tailor shop with neatly tailored brocade in the window. Before I could reach it, my mother pulled me straight into a boutique that looked like it was owned by Jackie Kennedy herself. Inside, a young woman with honey-brown eyes and deep auburn brown hair pulled into a perfect bun welcomed us. She handed my mother, Rosemary, and me champagne in a crystal flute.

"Amanda," My mother said reading the girl's name from the golden nametag on her chest. "We need some wardrobe basics that would look good on my daughter and flatter her. . . " She glanced at me with distaste before continuing. ". . . .physique. She will need blouses, dresses, jackets, and a couple of pairs of heels"

Turning to me she lowered her voice," Lucky for you your father found a man tall enough to look good beside you even in heels."

Rosemary and I shared a glance that said everything we were feeling, the way good glances do. With my eyes, I told her. "Ugh, I hate this, even if it is for pretending to help us escape."

Her eyes were apologetic. " Sorry, I swear we can destroy them before we leave," her eyes said.

The woman nodded attentively as she took in my mother's request.

"What colors do you like?" she asked Rosemary probably assuming my mother meant the clothing for her.

Rosemary laughed, but my mother was not amused.

"This is my daughter," my mom motioned toward me.

Amber's face blushed bright red. " I am so sorry" she stated," I thought. . . . . . . "

She trailed off but all four of us knew what she was going to say. She thought I was a man. It was a common enough mistake, after all, I had dressed especially masculine today in defiance of my mother. When I want to look like a girl I look like a girl, when I don't, I don't.

The lady looked between my mother and me, probably puzzled about what to do next. I decided to let her off easy.

" I tend to like dark colors," I say answering her earlier question. She took a breath of relief before going to various shelves and racks and sliding clothes off of them.

We then followed her to a large private dressing room with soft pink walls and a gold velvet couch. She set all the clothes out for me on little hangers.

"Please tell me how you feel about each piece," she said before closing the door on me, trapping me in the bubble gum room.

Alone, I stared at the clothing she picked out for me. She did a good job the clothing she picked gave me Grace Jones vibes. I was surprised they even had clothing like that in the store. I started with a black faux leather shirt with large puffy sleeves and a tight brown floor-length skirt.

I gave myself a quick glance in the mirror before I swung open the door. Three expectant pairs of eyes fell on me at once.

" I like the shirt," I say to Amber, hoping to ease some of the concern off her face.

"Amber" my mother called with a slightly annoyed tone. "I was hoping for something a little more. .. Feminine"

I smirked. Happy that the saleswoman was obviously more concerned about me than what my mother wanted.

I waltzed up into a navy blue suit. "How about this mother, I heard a woman's power suit is all the rage now." I mocked.

My mother shot me an angry look.

" How about we just take her measurement? We will just have a wardrobe made for her." My mom said sounding suddenly tired. I smiled.

"That is an excellent idea," I say smiling at Amber.

Out of the corner of my eye, Rosemary shoots me a look, she's obviously trying to remind me to stick to the plan and not push my mother so far.

I sigh, " I do like some dresses. . . They just have to be very structured and show off my arms."

My mother instantly perked up at the sound of dresses. She is so relieved that she didn't even complain about my arms being too muscular to look good in a dress like she normally does.

Amanda comes back moments later with a black sleeveless sheath dress that goes down to the ground, faux leather accents shining under the shop's lights. The dress is structured yet sleek and looks like armor, the perfect mix of masculine and feminine.

I can't help but smile once I try it on. I look sexy but strong. My favorite way to look. It stands out against the soft pink of the dressing room. A showstopper through and through. I can already imagine it with a pair of black combat boots and a silver chain.

I don't show my entourage. This dress speaks to me, and I refuse to let my mother tear it apart.

" I'll take it" I say as I emerge from the room " and my mom can get whatever else she wants for me"

I walk out of the store bag in hand and head towards our waiting car.

I feel strong, I feel ready.

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Back at home, Rosemary and I finally find our moment to run. My father got called by the governor to deal with some issues while we were out shopping. He took his Beta with him, leaving just my mother. Thanks to me granting her complete control of my wardrobe she is taking her time going through samples and only the goddess knows whatever else she does.

Rosemary and I slip on our prepared backpacks and tell the guard out front we are headed out to the bookstore and dinner at our favorite local spot. He nods without a second glance.

My heart beats quickly as we get on our bikes. Its over 50 miles until we get out of our pack's land and another 20 til we get to the next major city. Rosemary and I decided it would be best to travel by bike through the night so we can get to a bus stop in a small city half the country away.

I expected to feel sad when I left our territory behind. Instead, I just felt relief.

With every mile we go down the seemingly endless tree-lined highway, I feel my soul getting lighter. By the time the sun starts to rise again, we already have a thousand miles between us.

"I've never been this far from my mom before," Rosemary says quietly as we sit at a small cafe just off the interstate waiting for our meal and coffee.

" I am so sorry you were dragged into this" I answer sympathetically. " If I know your mother, she is probably thinking and worrying about us this very second."

Rosemary just nods sadly.

"As soon as we get to our hotel in the new city we will buy some phones so you can call her," I say in an attempt to be positive.

"We can't. It's not safe to contact her that soon. We can't let them know she knew."

We sit there in silence for a couple of more seconds.

"Do you regret coming with me? "I ask shyly.

Rosemary shakes her head no, but also stays silent. I don't know what to say or do to comfort her.

I left behind oppression for freedom, but she left behind love and family, just for me.

The waitress comes and gently slides our food in front of us. Neither of us is in any mood to eat now, so we just pick at the food on our plates.

"Astra" Rosemary gasps suddenly.

"What!"

"We got to go. Now!" As she jumps up from the table her chair flies back crashing to the floor. I stand up immediately afterward and throw $50 on the table before running after her.

"I smell your father," she says her eyes wild.