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Grabbing her shoulder, I turned her around “You didn’t say anything about costumes”

She tilted her head to the side like she racking her brain to figure out how she otten such an important detail “Hmm, did I not? I swore I did It was printed on the invitation” A face of mock surprise “Oh yeah, the one you never picked up froly “It doesn’t matter Here’s your costume” She held out her hand and one of the event staff handed her a hanger She shoved the hanger with a black linen cover at me

“But I didn’t tell you my size”

“Moone, enveloped by her party planners and party goers

I stared at the hanger like she’d offered me a viper covered in razor blades I hated new clothes I hated everything about clothes in general other than the ninety percent of my body

New clothes hadn’t been tested fro room where they could be abandoned, not walked back out in front of everyone to tell them it doesn’t fit

New clothes hadn’t been broken in

New clothes ht not cover every part of ift They were just another way for the like them with their tiny bodies

Flashes of back to school shopping when I’d been growing up sent shivers of panic racing downback toward Berk like I was on the way to an executioner, I blocked out all the laughter and clinking glasses around me

Maybe it would actually fit

Maybe it wouldn’t look terrible

Mom wouldn’t want me to look terrible in front of everyone

No,the picture of perfection hat she lived for

Breathing a little easier, I slung the garht inside shifted

“I got you” Berk’s hand slid along my back