Free Escaping Perfect by Emma Harrison

fun.”
    *  *  *
    Half an hour later I was standing inside a small dressing room, checking out one of my new outfits—low-slung jeans, a studded belt, black vintage Converse, and a white T-shirt with a blown-out stencil of the Eiffel Tower on the front, plus a gold chain with a little bird pendant on it, the wings spread out like it was taking flight. Tammy had seen me admiring it and had thrown it in for free. It was pretty and delicate and seemed symbolic of my new situation. I was still getting used to the sight of myself in glasses again, but generally? I looked frickin’ awesome. My mother would have retched if she could have seen me.
    â€œThe beginning is always today,” I whispered.
    Outside my little fashion cocoon, Fiona and Tammy were chatting, while Shelby continued to hide somewhere on the premises. I was just loading up my arms with the two other pairs of jeans, three summer dresses, one long gray skirt, two sweaters, and stack of T-shirts I’d picked out, when I heard the front door open. Heavy footsteps tromped in and I froze, imagining FBI, CIA, some kind of acronym in sunglasses and a gray suit. Until I heard Jasper’s voice. And then my wrists began to hum.
    â€œGood mornin’, Miss T.,” he said, and I imagined him touching the brim of his cowboy hat. “Fiona.”
    â€œHello, Jax . . . Fitz,” Tammy said. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
    â€œJust stopping by to check in about my plans with . . . hey! Who’s trying on clothes?”
    I glanced in the mirror. Did I look okay? What if the shirt was all wrong?
    â€œIt’s Lia. She’s giving herself a makeover.”
    â€œLike Lia really needs a makeover.”
    â€œJasper, don’t—”
    Suddenly the curtain was jammed aside, and there stood Jasper. He wasn’t wearing his cowboy hat after all, and his blond hair fell adorably over his forehead. His smile slowly turned into a frown.
    â€œShucks. I was hoping to find you at least half indecent,” he said, blue eyes merry.
    I tried hard not to blush, but it didn’t work. Then the curtains to the back room opened, and Shelby stepped out, her slim arms crossed over her chest. “Real nice,” she said, scowling at Jasper.
    He gave her a look I couldn’t decipher, and they stared each other down. Weird. Awkward. Unsettling.
    â€œSorry to disappoint,” I told him, suddenly just wanting out of the line of fire.
    Jasper turned to let me pass as I made my way to the counter with my new clothes.
    â€œYou could never disappoint, no matter how much clothing you do or don’t have on,” Jasper said.
    Fiona stared at me as I pretended to not be affected by him. I was certain I was failing miserably. Shelby, meanwhile, walked over to a stack of jeans and started to unfold and refold them, snapping each pair as loudly as possible. The tension was thick enough to gnaw on.
    Oh, God. Shelby and Jasper weren’t, like . . .
    â€œSpeaking of little to no clothing, I hope you bought yourself a bathing suit,” Ryan Fitzsimmons said, thankfully obliterating a highly disturbing image that was trying to form itself inside my mind. Without the spotlight onhim, he looked entirely different. He was a little skinnier than I’d realized last night, his skin darker and his smile blinding. But the energy was the same. He looked like he was set to pop at any moment, like he was the kind of guy who was up for anything. “Mischievous” was the word that came to mind.
    â€œI don’t sell secondhand bathing suits, Fitz. It’s unsanitary,” Tammy said, shuddering as she began placing my things in a paper bag.
    â€œWhy would she need a bathing suit, exactly?” Fiona asked. Then she took one look at Ryan’s face, and hers flooded with understanding. “Oh, crap! It’s Fun Run tonight!”
    â€œYou know it, baby!” Ryan said, pointing