between two beauties, so why me?!

"We came here for tailoring," I started, my voice laced with equal parts exasperation and disbelief, "and we have you, Claire, who is undeniably beautiful without even trying—just naturally pretty in every way. Then there's Tessa, who literally exudes this aura of cool, mystery, and elegance that practically screams 'fashion icon.' So why, I ask, are we using me for measurements?!"

Claire giggled, clearly unfazed by my protests, her violet eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, Sera, you're just being modest. Besides, you're the perfect canvas for the outfits we're designing! It's about balance. We already know Tessa and I look great, so we want to make sure the designs work for someone more…" She trailed off, her head tilting as if searching for the right word.

"More…?" I prompted, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.

"Relatable!" Claire finished, clapping her hands together as if she'd solved the world's greatest mystery.

"Relatable?!" I sputtered, my voice a pitch higher than normal. "Are you saying I'm plain?"

Tessa snorted from her spot by the wall, clearly enjoying my reaction far too much. "I think what she's saying, Sera, is that you're approachable. Like the girl-next-door vibe, but with a twist."

I turned to Tessa, my face heating. "That doesn't make it sound any better!"

"Oh, come on," Claire interjected, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Sera. You're gorgeous—seriously, you don't even need to try. That's exactly why you're perfect for this. If the outfits look amazing on you, they'll look amazing on everyone!"

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped when I saw the genuinely earnest look on Claire's face. Her smile was so warm and sincere that it was hard to stay mad.

"Fine," I muttered, crossing my arms as I let out a resigned sigh. "But only because we're running out of time, and I don't want this to drag on any longer than it has to."

"See? I knew you'd come around!" Claire beamed, squeezing my shoulders.

The attendant, who had been patiently waiting for our exchange to finish, stepped forward with a professional smile. "If you're ready, Miss Vandren, we'll begin with your measurements."

"Great," I said dryly, letting myself be ushered toward the fitting area. "Let's get this over with."

As I stood still, arms outstretched, while the attendant worked, Tessa leaned casually against the wall, her arms crossed and a smirk firmly in place. "For what it's worth," she said, her voice low enough that only I could hear, "Claire's right. You're going to steal the show."

I glanced at her, taken aback by the softness in her tone. "I—uh… thanks, I guess? But these are maid outfits. For a festival. I'm not trying to steal anything."

"Hmm," Tessa mused, tapping her chin. "I don't know. Something tells me you're going to turn a few heads, whether you want to or not."

My blush deepened, and I avoided her gaze, instead focusing on the attendant, who was taking my measurements with a calm professionalism I desperately wished I could emulate. "It's just a festival," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anyone else. "Nothing to get worked up over."

Claire, of course, overheard me and leaned in with a wide grin. "That's the spirit! But just so you know, Sera, you'll probably be the star of the show. Everyone's going to love how you look."

"Why is this suddenly about me?!" I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

"Because you're the one we all want to see shine," Claire said matter-of-factly, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Tessa chuckled, her voice low and amused. "And because it's fun to tease you, of course."

I sighed, resigned to my fate as the group's apparent centerpiece. Between Claire's endless energy and Tessa's relentless teasing, this festival was shaping up to be more chaotic than I'd originally anticipated. Still, a tiny part of me—one I wasn't quite ready to admit existed—felt a flicker of excitement. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be so bad after all.

And with that, I stepped into the private fitting room, where the store attendant—a poised woman in her mid-thirties with an air of quiet professionalism—waited to take my measurements.

"Alright, just stand still," she said, her tone calm and businesslike.

I nodded, fidgeting slightly. "Okay."

She began her work, measuring my shoulders and arms with efficient precision, the soft rustling of the tape measure filling the otherwise quiet space. For a moment, everything was normal—until she broke the silence with a hesitant, almost curious tone.

"I don't mean to intrude," she began, her eyes flicking up to meet mine briefly before darting away, "but… do the three of you happen to be…?"

"Be what?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she cleared her throat. "In a romantic relationship?"

I froze, the blood rushing so quickly to my face that I was sure I resembled a tomato. "Wha—No way!" I blurted out, waving my hands defensively. "Absolutely not! It's not like that!"

The attendant smiled politely, though the glimmer of amusement in her eyes was impossible to miss. "My apologies. It's just… the way they look at you. It's very… affectionate."

"Affectionate?!" I echoed, my voice a pitch higher. "They're just… friends! We're all friends! That's it!"

"Of course," she replied smoothly, though the subtle curve of her lips suggested she wasn't entirely convinced. "Forgive me for assuming."

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "No, it's fine. It's just… they're a handful, that's all. Always teasing, always causing chaos."

She chuckled softly as she continued her work, adjusting the tape around my waist. "Well, if I may say so, it's clear they care about you a great deal. It's rare to see such close bonds."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I opted for silence, focusing instead on not spontaneously combusting from sheer embarrassment. After a few more moments of measuring, the attendant stepped back, satisfied.

"There we go," she said, jotting down a few notes. "You're all set. I'll make sure everything is tailored to perfection."

"Thanks," I mumbled, eager to escape the room and the lingering awkwardness of her earlier question.

As I stepped out, Claire and Tessa were waiting just outside, both lighting up as soon as they saw me. Tessa leaned casually against the wall, her ever-present smirk firmly in place, while Claire practically bounced in excitement, her violet eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Done already?" Claire asked, clasping her hands together. "How was it?"

"Fine," I said quickly, waving her off and doing my best to avoid their gazes. "Anyway, let's just pay for everything and move on. Six maid outfits… How much is this going to cost us?"

"We'll find out now," Claire said cheerfully, leading the way toward the counter.

I followed reluctantly, mentally bracing myself for the impending number. The shop attendant greeted us warmly and handed over the bill with a polite smile. I took one look at the final price and immediately felt like my soul had left my body.

"It's this expensive?!" I exclaimed, clutching the counter for support. "Are these outfits made of gold or something?!"

Claire winced but tried to remain optimistic. "Well, they're custom-made, high-quality fabric… and, uh, you know, the shop is kind of fancy."

"I knew this store looked too luxurious!" I groaned, staring at the outrageous total as though sheer willpower alone could shrink it.

"Don't worry about it," Tessa said smoothly, stepping forward with a confident air. She reached into her coat and pulled out a sleek, magical black card—the kind that practically screamed I'm from a family so rich, this is pocket change.

"Of course, you would have that," I muttered, crossing my arms as I glanced at her. "Is there anything you don't have?"

"Modesty," Claire whispered conspiratorially, earning herself a sharp look from Tessa.

Tessa's smirk grew wider as she handed the card over to the attendant. "What can I say? Being prepared is a strength, my dear Sera. Besides, we can't have our little maid café idea falling apart over something as trivial as cost, can we?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help feeling a twinge of relief. "Fine. Just… remind me never to underestimate you again."

The attendant processed the payment with an elegant flourish and handed the receipt back to Tessa, who took it with a casual flick of her wrist. "All set," she announced, turning to face us with a self-satisfied smile. "Now, shall we head back? Or do you two have more shopping to do?"

Claire tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, we still need some decorations and supplies for the café. And maybe some snacks… you know, for energy while we're setting everything up."

Tessa raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Snacks for energy, huh?"

"Yes," Claire replied, completely earnest. "It's important to stay fueled!"

I sighed, already anticipating the chaos ahead. "Fine, but can we please make it quick? I feel like we've been here forever."

The three of us stepped out of the shop, the afternoon sun warming the cobblestone streets. As we weaved through the bustling marketplace, I couldn't help but glance at the sleek black card tucked back into Tessa's pocket.

Rich, smug, and entirely too charming for her own good—Tessa Vale was definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pinch on my cheek, jolting me out of my thoughts. "Ow!" I yelped, turning to glare at the culprit. "What was that for?"

Tessa, the obvious offender, smirked mischievously, her crimson eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're thinking something bad about me, aren't you?"

"What? I'm not! I swear!" I protested, waving my hands in front of me as if to ward off any further attacks.

"Hmm…" Tessa leaned in closer, inspecting me with mock seriousness. "I don't know, Sera. That guilty face of yours says otherwise."

"It's just my face!" I shot back, feeling my cheeks heat under her teasing scrutiny. "Now, will you stop pinching me?"

Before Tessa could retort, Claire stepped in, placing herself between us with a dramatic flourish. "Leave Sera alone!" she declared, puffing out her chest like a knight ready to defend her honor. "She's been through enough today!"

"Oh, please." Tessa rolled her eyes, though her smirk didn't falter. "Sera can handle a little teasing. Right, Sera?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but Claire cut me off, throwing an arm protectively around my shoulders. "She's off-limits, Tessa! If anyone's going to tease her, it's me."

"Excuse me?" Tessa raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You're claiming rights to teasing her now? Since when?"

"Since forever!" Claire shot back, sticking out her tongue. "She's my best friend, after all."

"And what does that make me?" Tessa asked, her tone deceptively light as she tilted her head.

"A headache," I muttered under my breath, but both of them caught it.

Tessa laughed, leaning in closer. "A headache, huh? You wound me, my dear Sera."

"You're impossible," I grumbled, shaking my head. "Can we just get moving before you two start a full-blown rivalry in the middle of the street?"

Claire gave a huff, still clinging to me like a stubborn child, while Tessa merely chuckled, clearly enjoying the chaos. Together, the three of us resumed our walk through the bustling streets, their playful bickering filling the air like background music.

As exasperating as they both were, I couldn't help but feel a small smile tug at my lips. Moments like this—filled with laughter, teasing, and a touch of chaos—made this strange new life a little brighter.

"By the way, Claire. When were we ever bestfriends?" 

-innocent face- \ (•◡•) /