Light From Uncommon Stars(66)

A few minutes later, they returned.

“Here, try this. I think green would be good with your hair,” Kev said. “Green can sometimes wash out Asians, but your skin has such a great glow. And the fabric is bias cut. We might need a belt or sash to bring out your hips, but the bias cut will really show off those legs.”

Katrina blushed. Legs? Show off?

Katrina took the dress, went into the changing room, and closed the door. Her heart was beating quickly, and not in a good way. Changing rooms were never good places. She pulled the fabric over herself. Good, so far, so good. It had cleared her shoulders.

But then she reached for the zipper. Shit. The zipper was around the back. Desperately, she tried to twist it forward. Crap! Now the zipper bit into her skin. She began to perspire. What was she doing?

This was not good. These dresses were cut for women’s bodies … not like her, but the ones who were beautiful. The real ones, who weren’t born the way she was.

She had to get it off—maybe if she pulled it over her head? But what if she ripped it?

“Do you need help?” Kev asked.

“No, I’m fine!” Did her voice drop?

She began to breathe heavily. It sounded like boy breathing, didn’t it?

Someone came in.

“No!”

“It’s me,” Miss Satomi said. “You’re stuck. Let me help you.”

“Miss Satomi, the dress is for real girls. I—I just need to get this off.”

“Shh! Stop struggling.”

Katrina stilled herself, then felt the dress slip over her body.

“Okay, turn around.”

Katrina gasped as the zipper easily glided between her shoulder blades.

“Oh shit…”

She looked in the mirror. The dress fit!

“Raise your arms. Can you move?”

Katrina nodded. The dress fit! It fit! The bias-cut fabric seemed to shimmer and flow. The fabric was so slinky and gorgeous that for a split second she forgot she was looking at herself.

She lived in a world of loose skirts and tops, of baggy tops draped over her shoulders. Anything cheap, but more importantly … anything to hide the proportions of her frame. To think that she would ever fit a dress—a real legit fashionable dress …

“What do you think?”

“Oh shit … oh shit…”

“Is everything okay in there?” Kev asked softly.

“Yes, we’re fine,” Shizuka said.

Shizuka gave Katrina a handkerchief and stroked her student’s hair.

“What am I going to do with you?” she murmured.

Shizuka helped Katrina out of the dress, which was not difficult at all. She was about to put on her street clothes when there was gentle knocking on the door.

Kev opened the door slightly and gave them another dress.

“This one should look amazing, as well. I love how deep the blue is. Oh, and there are two other possibilities I want you to see. They are beautiful and just came in from Macau.”

An hour later, Miss Satomi purchased the two gowns they agreed were best and thanked Kev for their help.

“Break a leg, gorgeous!” they said.

Gorgeous? Did they mean her?

Miss Satomi laughed.

“Now let’s find some shoes.”

Unfortunately, shoes were more difficult; her feet were larger than what most of these stores carried. But with Miss Satomi helping her, Katrina was able to at least point out styles she preferred. Astrid would find the right sizes later.

After, Miss Satomi helped her find makeup, from a real store with makeup stations, huge mirrors, and full-spectrum lighting. A cheerful girl named Rocio matched her skin tone for foundation and helped her refine her contouring.

Rocio also told her she was very lucky she did not have much facial hair, but she might want to consider getting laser done soon.

“I tried waxing,” Katrina said. “With strips I bought from the Internet.”

Rocio cringed. “From the … Internet? Honey, were they at least for the face?”

“They make them for just the face?”

“I’ll have Astrid make arrangements for lasering later,” Shizuka said quickly. “But no more home waxing your face.”

“Yes, Miss Satomi.”

Katrina walked out of the mall with two large bags and a blank stare. It had been okay.

It had been okay?

Why?

Why was Kev like that?

Why was Rocio like that?

Why was Astrid like that, and Shirley?

Why, why, why?

Why was she born this way, a human being?

Why did being human hurt so much? Why couldn’t she have been different, without a soul, without worth? Why couldn’t she have been the thing her parents might have wanted?

Why couldn’t anyone have treated her this way this before?



* * *



“Mother. I have news from the Empire.”

“Yes, Shirley.”

“The High Council has decided to close all borders to the Home Quadrant. Their official reason is to prevent the spread of the Endplague, but they are halting departures, as well.”

Lan wasn’t surprised. They were fortunate to have left when they had.

“Are there any messages that you would like me to send?”