Chasing Butterflies Chapter 27: True Fashion (Patreon)

The two girls stared at each other in stunned silence. Compared to her normal attire, Trisha wore a loose hoodie and pants that hid her lithe figure. Her blonde hair had been pinned up in a simple but elegant bun that made her appear much older than a freshman. Without hearing her voice, Olivia might not have recognized her at all.

That's probably intentional. I don't know if the school's most popular girl would want to be caught dead in a thrift shop, not in this day and age. Heck, even I don't know what she's doing here.

But rather than feign ignorance, or try to hide, Trisha stood her ground. And to her credit, the blonde cheerleader recovered quickly. Her stunned expression disappeared and was replaced with a friendly smile. “Oh, hey Olivia! What are you doing here?”

Olivia blinked. Shoot. I should have pretended I didn’t see her…

It was too late. She’d already opened her mouth. There was no backing out now.

“Nothing,” she responded, trying her best to channel her inner Luna. She had to fight the urge to elaborate further and turn this into an actual conversation. Maybe she could still mitigate the damage by cutting things short…?

Trisha glanced at Olivia’s attire, then nodded sagely. “Gotcha. No need to be shy, girl. I won’t tell anyone, promise.”

Ah. Olivia realized. She thinks I’m poor.

To be fair, the massive holes worn in her jeans didn’t help that impression one bit. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit defensive.

“Fine. I’m dress shopping. But it’s not because I can’t afford any better,” she blurted out. “I just hate wasting money. That’s all.”

Trisha nodded, though whether or not she actually believed the explanation was another matter. Instead, Olivia tried to change the subject. “What about you?”

The cheerleader raised an eyebrow. She seemed to think for a moment, then shrugged. “Well, I guess I can tell you. I’m dress shopping, too.”

Trisha stepped around the rack to reveal an armful of cream, white, and gold fabrics. She presented the haul with a triumphant smile. “Tiny’s got a lot of good stuff, you just have to know where to look. She hides a lot of the best ones where you don’t expect.”

Olivia stared at her blankly. “Tiny?”

“Clementine? The old lady who runs this place? About this tall, always popping out when you least expect it?” Trisha held her hand about shoulder height.

Olivia continued to stare. Absolutely not. There is no universe where she calls that ornery old lady “Tiny” to her face. Maybe she does have a point about youth these days…

Shaking the thought away, Olivia brushed past the implication. “I’m… surprised. You don’t want to just get something at the mall? Most of the stuff here seems a little… dated.”

“Pfft. Absolutely not.” The blonde waved the suggestion off. “No way I’m gonna be satisfied with some boring dress anyone else can grab. Can you imagine if I end up matching with someone? Ugh. Total disaster. No, I need something different. Something unique.”

Olivia nodded along. It made sense, but still. Everything she’d seen so far was unique, but not necessarily in a fashionable way. Even the garments draped over Trisha’s arm, while they had their positives, didn’t seem like something a popular girl would be caught dead wearing to such an event.

Trisha must have read the doubt in her expression. The blonde raised a delicate hand to hide her smile. “Let me ask you something. Who’s more fashionable? Someone who keeps on top of the latest trends? Or someone who stays ahead of them?”

“Ahead, I guess?” Olivia shrugged, playing along. She didn’t particularly care about that kind of thing, even now. But plenty of people did, even well past high school. It never ceased to surprise her how much value grown adults placed on their ownership of whatever specific brands and goods were in style.

“Exactly.” Trisha snapped her fingers. “But how do you stay ahead? Simple. By making the trends.”

She gestured to the dresses in her hand with a grin. “And what better way than doing something no one else is? Something iconic. Something that can’t be copied by just buying the same designer brands as everyone else.”

Olivia eyed the dresses dubiously. “So… you’re staying ahead of the curve by going vintage?”

Trisha gave her a mischievous smile. “You could say that. Though not quite. When I’m through, it’ll be something really special.”

Her eyes sparkled—and not just with eyeshadow. There was a glint of genuine enthusiasm there.

Huh. I wonder what she’s got planned. Alterations maybe? Maybe she sews her own clothes.

The idea was surprisingly forward thinking for a high schooler. But at the same time, it seemed pretty clear the cheerleader had her work cut out for her. The garments didn’t look bad by any means, but they were pretty clearly dated. Olivia also didn’t quite see them being Trisha’s style.

Then again, it’s not something I particularly pay attention to. I’m better at fashion now, but in a more general sense. I’ve never been interested in it to the level she’s talking about. Maybe she’s got enough popularity to pull it off and force vintage to become the next big thing regardless? Half of fashion seems to be convincing people that you have taste, after all.

“Well, good luck.” Olivia nodded. Her eyes fell to the red dress. “Do you want this one, too?”

Olivia lifted it from the rack… and felt her hope sputter out. The bodice had one shoulder strap instead of the two she’d been hoping for, but even that was all right. What wasn’t was the massive hole scooped out of the back and reaching all the way to the waistline. Worse, the bottom was a narrow tube of skin tight fabric that clearly wouldn’t even reach mid thigh. It was a dress made for standing, not walking, and certainly not sitting.

She wanted to hang her head in defeat. So much for that. And I really thought this could be the one…

“Here,” she handed it to Trisha without waiting for an answer.

To her surprise, the cheerleader didn’t take it immediately. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Very. It’s not my style.”

Trisha looked her up and down before frowning at the dress. “Too revealing? I get it. Still, that color works for you. And if you had something underneath… Hmmm…”

The cheerleader fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then a slow smile spread across her face. “Well, if you don’t want it, then I can definitely use it.”

Olivia shrugged. “Sure.”

She handed the garment over. It was no major loss, she wouldn’t be wearing the thing anyway. At least Trisha seemed genuinely excited about it. Though there was something about the look in her eye…

The blonde admired the dress for a moment longer before her eyes flicked back to Olivia. "Oh! By the way. Maybe don't tell anyone that you saw me here? Can't let anyone find out my sources, y'know? I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine."

Her tone was light, but the implication was clear. It also confirmed Olivia’s earlier observation about her attire. Trisha didn’t want to be seen at a thrift store.

Though it’s pretty obvious she’s not being entirely honest about the reason. I imagine her reputation could take a hit if rumors started swirling about her only being able to afford secondhand clothes like this. Regardless of whether or not it's true. 

Would it really matter if it was? Probably not. Kids could be pretty brutal when they wanted to be. And the popular crowd was not exactly known for its kindness. Though Trisha was certainly putting that stereotype to the test.

Olivia simply nodded. “No problem. I won’t tell anyone.”

Outing Trisha wasn't something she would have done in the first place, especially considering her past self's lack of friends to share such details with. Besides, the band kids and the popular kids didn't exactly have much overlap. But it was nice that the girl wasn’t being heavy-handed about it.

“Great!” The blonde clapped her hands together. “Well, then. I’m gonna head out. See ya Monday!”

With a final wiggle of her fingers, Trisha whirled and disappeared among the racks of knickknacks. Olivia let out an involuntary sigh of relief. She’d honestly expected the girl to try the red dress on at least, or maybe some of the others in her haul. Then again, the fact that she didn’t suggested that her theory about altering the garments was right on the money.

None of my business either way… Still. I think that went about as well as it could have.

First Luna, then Trisha—the deviations in this shopping trip just kept piling up. That wasn’t good. She really had to be more careful about stuff like this going forward.

Though this one wasn’t really my fault… Well, I guess it kind of was. I guess I shouldn’t have come here in the first place. Still. What are the odds?

Sighing, she eyed the dresses in her hand. Staying here longer would just invite more disaster. With her luck, she’d end up saving some poor person from being suffocated beneath a tower of Clementine’s so-called curiosities next. Not that she would just turn a blind eye if something like that were to happen in front of her…

No, cut it out. This is exactly the kind of thinking that got me in this situation.

With a quick shake of her head, Olivia whirled and headed further into the store. A single changing room peeked out from behind a collection of mismatched furniture, its patterned curtain a thin barrier between the cubicle and the world outside. As she stepped toward it, Olivia heard voices from elsewhere in the store.

“Tiny! Oh my gosh, you have so many amazing dresses today!”

“Trish, dearie! I see you have as discerning an eye as ever. Oh, that reminds me! I kept a few pieces back that I thought you might be interested in…”

Olivia’s head whipped toward the muffled conversation incredulously. She couldn’t see anything past the merchandise. But it sure did sound like the same crotchety old woman…

Shaking her head in disbelief, Olivia pulled the curtain shut behind her.

***

“Mission success?”

Olivia practically fell into the passenger seat of her dad’s sedan with relief. She held up a plastic bag. “Yup. Dress acquired.”

It wasn’t anything particularly exciting. Just a simple knee-length cream dress with ruffles at the shoulders. It would have looked a lot better without the floral pattern weaving across the fabric, but for two bucks? It was hard to beat.

“Nice!” Her dad gave her a thumbs up. “Took you long enough.”

His tone made it clear that he was joking. “Sorry. I think I underestimated how excited high school girls get about clothes shopping.”

She didn’t admit that she’d gotten lost inside Clementine’s Curiosities for at least twenty minutes before eventually being rescued by Clementine herself—who did not, in fact, grow any less sour when it became clear that Olivia was a paying customer. Whatever mind magic Trisha had done to extract a good mood from the woman faded as soon as the cheerleader left.

Her dad chuckled. “Newbie mistake. That one’s definitely on you. Well, did you have fun at least?”

She thought about it for a second, then nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.”

It certainly was eventful.

“Good. I’m glad, sweetie.”

The car pulled away from the curb and began cruising off. The soft sound of its engine rumbled in their ears as they left the mall behind and joined the main road. Her dad glanced over. “Well, since it’s getting late… You wanna go out to eat tonight? I don’t really feel like cooking.”

“Sure. I’m down. Where are you thinking?”

“Ricky’s? It’s been a while since we’ve stopped by. They probably miss us.”

Olivia smiled. “It really has. Ricky’s sounds great.”

They turned at the next light and began meandering through Ridgeview’s hilly roads. It wasn’t long before they pulled up to the diner and made their way inside.

Ricky’s was one of those restaurants that seemed to defy time itself. The checkerboard tiles and borderline garish red seating tapped into a nostalgia that Olivia had never known, giving off the impression that one had been transported right back to the fifties upon stepping through the door. Despite that, the place remained immaculate, with hardly a single sign of wear to indicate that it hadn’t been built yesterday.

The place was crowded on a Saturday night, but not so much that they had to wait. The red plastic cushion of the bench seat squeaked as Olivia slid in, her head on a swivel. It really did bring back memories. The framed records, the tall metal milkshake cups stacked behind the counter, the jukebox… She’d seen this place far too often to forget.

“Hey!” A woman in a pristine white skirt and lipstick that matched the chairs called out as she bustled toward their table. “Is that who I think it is?”

“Evening, Ruby.” Her dad smiled. “How’ve you been?”

“How’ve I been?” Her penciled eyebrows shot up. “That’s what I wanna ask you, hun! Though since you’re asking, I’ll admit the day’s been a bit of a whirlwind. We had a customer earlier who absolutely insisted that his steak was underdone, and simply would not hear a word to the contrary… I swear I must’ve taken that thing back three times, it looked like the sole of an old boot when Sharla was done with it but sure scarfed it down, happy as a clam.”

Ruby talked as fast as one of those old-timey auctioneers with a southern accent to match. Olivia smiled at her politely. A long-forgotten memory of the woman bubbled to the surface. She was a bit too bombastic to really forget, though the details remained elusive. Hopefully her younger self’s general aversion to conversation would cover for that.

Her dad chatted with Ruby for a little while, making small talk and catching up about recent events. Olivia listened in what she hoped was appropriately awkward silence, hiding her interest in the conversation. The tinny sound of a toy train drew her gaze upward. She smiled, watching it chug along the tracks that hung from the ceiling to encircle the entire restaurant.

Cash would have loved that.

“Well, then, what’ll it be? The usual?”

That brought Olivia right back to the present. Ruby produced a pen and a pad of paper from an apron at her waist. Her dad nodded in response. “You know it.”

The waitress was already writing, as though Olivia’s dad answering was a mere formality. Which, given how often they frequented this place, it honestly was. She might not remember the server, but she did remember her order. And that was the problem.

Nope. A massive bowl of alfredo pasta is the last thing I need right now. I'll be depressed for days. 

"Actually," Olivia cut in quickly, speaking for the first time since Ruby appeared. "I… want to try something different." She paused. "If that's ok."

The woman's eyebrows rose. "Oooh, feeling adventurous today? Well I’m certainly not the kind of gal to complain about that! What’re you thinking, hun?”

Olivia bit her lip. Well, if she was already committed…

“...The steak and eggs, please.” She replied. “Medium rare. With just water to drink.”

Ruby’s eyebrows climbed even higher. “Whew! Someone’s getting her protein fix tonight!”

She scratched something out on her notepad and dutifully noted down the order. Then, she clicked her pen decisively. “I’ll get that right in for y’all. Be right back with the drinks!”

With a friendly wink, the waitress turned on her heel and strode away. Olivia turned back to her dad and found him staring, his eyebrows even higher than Ruby’s had been.

“Are you ok, sweetie?”