The only person who can diminish you, it's yourself.

Withine the budget lol
This is for the girls that want to look like the Duchess, but cant afford to buy Alexander Mcqueen dresses yet. So here are some nice options, less than 100 dollars dresses that are similar looks with the princess.
Brands : Forever 21, Zara, Mango, H&M

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge

Chapter 6
 
I felt a wave of dizziness once i entered the club. I had forgot the way it was. The closure of people dancing and chatting out loud along with the music. Drinks running every way and, one thing that i've remembered what i hated the most, the smoke floating around the room. The blinking lights almost blinded me, however luckily i had Jane to guide me through the crowd. I heard her saying something at me as she smiled, but i didn't catch at first. Looking at my confused face, she finally repeated.
 
" Look who is here" she eyed toward the direction of the bar, and i followed her eyes.
Once i found what she meant, i couldn't help the smile to come up. Keith was sitting at the corner of the bar only looking at the crowd as he seemed to enjoy the music. I could see he knew the lyrics as he mouthed each word with the rhythm of the song. I felt a funny feeling on my stomach once his eyes finally turned into our direction. He took a moment to recognize us with the poor illumination of the environment, as i saw he squeezing his eyes to see better, then, that perfect smile came up.
 
" Hey, i can't believe you actually came !" he raised his hands as in disbelief, then turned toward Jane laughing " i bet you had to drag her all the way here"
 
" Surprisingly no" she laughed back " I guess there was something motivating her" but this last part she left only for me to hear it. I elbowed her in exchange.
 
We three just set there and started to talk. Just normal and very obvious things like university, subjects we are taking, the projects we already have to be concern about. While those conversations happened, by the amazing idea of my dearest friend Jane, we took some shots of tequila. Well, since i am very week with drinks, i was already laughing for no reason.
 
" Hey you guys i am going to dance, alright. See you..." Jane jumped into the crowd without waiting a reply from us.
" She is just crazy" i laughed, more than usual " makes my life more interesting"
 
" Yes" he said as he sifted his chair closer to mine " What would Elizabeth Bennett be without Jane Austen, right" i could see he was amused by the openness that i was, now that i had a little alcohol running on my veins.
I laughed hysterically " Oh my god! You just keep talking about Austen just to impress the girls around, don't you? I seriously doubt you actually read it" i took a sip of the beer that he was drinking.
He looked at me in surprise. I didn't know if it was for the fact that i drunk the beer without any permission or for what i've said. Maybe both.
" Well, for your information, i have read twice Pride and Prejudice, and once Sense and Sensibility. Austen is a great writer and its impressive of how she became an independent women during that time"
 
"Oh no" I hit my hand at the table " Don't tell me! You are gay, aren't you?"
 
He was silent for a minute, then bursted into laugher " No. Just because i read Austen? You of all people should know that i am not" he grinned. I am not sure what he meant by that. But actually, my head was spinning around a little bit that i didn't even paid much attention.
 
I guess it was a special girls night or so, since i realized they started to give away free shots for the ladies around, and two more ended up on my hands. Then, thats was the last thing that i could remember that night.
Next morning i found myself with a huge headache and Keith sleeping on the floor of my bedroom.

Chapter 5
 
As the class was finally finished i started to gather my stuff, still a little shocked with Marcus' message. I looked up to find Jane looking at me with a smirk, as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't and, of course, i knew why. When i looked behind me, i found Keith somehow studying me. The corner of his lips a little lifted.
 
" What is it?" i raised an eyebrow.
 
He just laughed " You don't go out much, do you?"
 
I heard Jane giggling, but i ignored it " What makes you say that?" now the question was accompanied with a frown.
 
" Well... Since after we've met there were two parties with people from school. I haven't seen you in neither of them " he smiled in amusement, though i didn't see the point he wanted to give " I have seen Mrs Austen here" he pointed to Jane " But i haven't seen you yet. Don't you like going out?"
 
"  I do...I just..." don't go out because i have a boyfriend, I thought, but fortunately i didn't say it out loud. Thats what i usually to say, but since the situation was different now, i wasn't allowed to give this excuse anymore. Well, after all there was no actual reason for me not to go out anymore.
 
" See..." he smiled as he searched my eyes, in which was looking down at the emptiness as i was thinking. When our eyes connected, he continued " You can't even find a reason not to"
 
" See, Lizzy! Let's go next time" Jane jumped with the idea. She have been trying to take me out for ages " It will be fun!"
 
" See. Lizzy! " Keith imitated Jane's excitement but in a cuter way for a guy. Too bad, since it made me chuckle a little, making my famous automatic smile to show up.
 
" I'll think about it" i said as i grabbed my books with one hand and Jane's arm with the other, walking toward the door.
 
" I'll consider this as a 'yes', alright?!" he yelled back as we left the room. I only responded with a sort of a wave, not bothering to look behind.
 
" Oh, you guys gonna totally hook up!" Jane said squeezing my arm, once we were far away from the room.
 
" What are you talking about? " i said, annoyed " My code, remember? And YOU supposed to support me with that!"
 
" Come on, Elizabeth" she stopped walking and looked at me " He is so cute, and he is into you. I can tell! Who knows? Maybe you both are meant to be" she smiled that hopeful innocent smile that only she could do it.
 
" The thing is..." i said, starting to walk again " I just ended a relationship"
 
" Yes. Almost two month ago" she completed, as she crossed her arm around mine.
 
" Still! Its too early to think about those things, Jane" my tone became serious now.
 
" Alright, alright" she didn't want to go farther with the subject, not to upset me " But one thing i say. There is no one's position to determinate if is too soon or too late for that. Everyone have its own time."
 
It was funny, how sometimes she could be so reckless and other times so wise-like, making up those quotes that seemed like some one famous made up. Anyways, i was stuck with something now that i wouldn't be able to scape. She wouldn't let me forget about going out, i was sure of it.
 
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As i stood in front of the mirror for the third time, thinking if the black not-too-loss not-too-tight dress with a heels up wasn't too much. Although there was a long time i didn't go out, i knew how those school parties were, and the girls there took it serious. Most of them would put a heavy make-up with colorful shadows and very small tight dresses to show more of what they have, and huge heels. Well, i had some self preservation, so my dress was pretty, but not vulgar, and the make up was a very basic one, not much different from what i would were during the day. The only difference was the hair. Since i used to put up a ponytail to go to school, this time i just let it loosed. I was finally pleased with what i saw on the reflection of the mirror.
 
I jumped when i heard my phone buzzing out loud. Probably is Jane saying she is coming, i thought. Without looking at the screen, i just pressed the green button to answer.
 
" Hey, Jane! I am ready now. You can come" i said, a little bit cheerfully.
 
" Umm... its Marcus"
 
My stomach froze, but i tried to act cool " Oh...Hey you" i said it awkwardly. Hey you? For heavens sake, Eliza! " Whats up?" i tried to redeem myself.
 
" Going out tonight?" he asked, ignoring my previews question.
 
" Yeah, just some party from school" i tried to manage myself. I don't know why i felt guilty by going out. I guess it was the force of habit.
 
" Oh i know those parties!" he laughed humorlessly " Don't get drunk, alright?"
 
" Hold on" i said, even though i tried to manage the irritation on my voice, it showed up a little bit " I don't think you need to worry about what i do or don't anymore"
 
" Hey i am just saying as a friend alright" i could also hear irritation on his " i still care about you, you know?"
 
" Yes, but don't get things twisted though" i snapped.
 
" You are the one getting things twisted, Lizzy!" he snapped back. I could feel the huge tension between us, even through the phone.
" Look, i got to go" i said, since i heard the knock on my door " Jane is here"
 
" Yeah, you guys have fun" he said it in such a heavy way that i guessed he didn't mean it.
 
Then i turned off with a bye that i thought i was the last bye i would ever say to him. My hands were shaking and i almost forgot that Jane was at the door, she had to knock twice for me to finally answer her.
 
" Hey, are you ready?" she said. All excited and looking gorgeous as ever. Once she saw my face, her excitement was gone " Whats wrong?"
 
" I just had an argument with Marcus" i sighed.
 
" Oh come on now!" she entered and looked around for something, until she grabbed my bag " Don't let him spoil your night! Tonight is girls night out!" her excitement was back.
 
She was right. I would not let this spoil my night. With a smile i took the bag from her hand and closed the door behind her. Now was time for me to think about myself and have fun!

Chapter 4
“And he was just staring at you?” Jane was smirking at me with a disbelief expression on her face as I told her what happened a couple of days before, as we were sitting waiting the first class to start. The class was packed and most of the students concentrated at the back part of the classroom, differently from me and Jane, since we were trying to be ‘good students’, we sat at the second row.
“Yeah. It was very strange” I looked at the blackboard with an empty look as I remembered the blue eyes staring at me.
“Very…” she smiled “especially when he asked to be in YOUR group, right? Very strange” she laughed.
“Well… He might be one of those guys that love attention, since there were a lot of silly girls on my group it would be perfect to feed his masculine ego” I sniffed. Probably it was true. For this kind of good-looking guy, it’s all about the attention.
“OR maybe, just maybe” she started, pointing her finger all over around “he wanted YOUR attention”
“Don’t be silly, Jane!” I laughed a long with my usual back-hand slap. Then for a second, I froze as I glanced at the long hallway outside of the classroom “Oh my god” I looked down on my desk, pretending to be ridiculously interested on my text book as a whispered to Jane “It’s him, down the hallway”
And of course, with much discretion as Jane could manage (in which was not as a normal person would have), she twisted her head to look at the boy coming. As I saw it, I deepened my head into the book, embarrassed. Of course he would realize that, everyone with a normal sense would.
“He’s hot” she turned back at me and whispered a little too loud. Luckily, since the class was noisy, I hoped nobody heard it.
For my surprise, he didn’t pass directly by the classroom, instead, he entered it. And for the way he grinned, he recognized me.
“Hey!” he said in an unusual friendly way, as if we were friends since forever. Also, I don’t know if it was the way he said it, but the whole class went in silence as he did “Lizzy, right?” he smiled as he took an empty seat on my right side, since Jane was already on my left.
“Um…Yes, Elizabeth” I smiled awkwardly. I don’t know why I had to correct him, although it was right. I preferred people to call me by Lizzy then my old-fashioned long name. But I guess he took me out of guard, as he has been doing since the first time I met him.
“Oh… Elizabeth! I see.” He grinned amazingly “As the character of Jane Austen”
I turned fast to glare at him with an astonished face. Was he for real?
“Jane Austen, you know?” he continued, probably by seeing my half-retarded half-confused look “From Pride and Prejudice. The heroin is called Elizabeth Bennet”
Just… unbelievable! Was that a pick up line to impress girls or what? It must be!
“Talking about Jane Austen… I’m Jane” a voice came out from my other side “I am a friend of Lizzy” as I looked her eyes I saw that he also bewitched her, but Jane was like that though, fearless.
“Oh, how interesting!” he said, and I heard an actual honesty in his voice as he chuckled “Elizabeth and Jane together. What are the chances?” He smiled and turned his eyes toward me “Well, then she can call you Lizzy but I can’t?”
“No…” I bet my lower lip, half smiling “That’s okay. Lizzy is fine” There! You can be friendly, Eliza! How funny was that I was all spiky with him. I am usually a very friendly person with everyone.
My thoughts were interrupted by a vibration I felt on my desk. When I looked down I saw that the name ‘Marcus’ was blinking across the screen. I felt butterflies on my stomach all over again, as the way I used to fell during the start of our relationship whenever I got a text from him.
I saw Keith glancing at the screen as well when the desk vibrated. I took the phone on my hand as soon as I got myself together. Then I pressed the bottom ‘Read message”
‘Hey. Just checking on you.
I hope you have a good day.
I miss you.
Marcus’
I sighed as I finished. Damn it, Marcus! But its fine, I mean, I can miss him too. We are friends and friends can miss each other right?
“Boyfriend?” I heard a soft chuckle on my right, bringing me to reality.
“Umm?” I looked at him, until I finally digested what he just asked “Oh…No. I mean…” I sighed “Its complicated” I looked down, trying to swallow the sadness my voice sounded.
“It always is” he said, now with no smile.
“Professor Johnson is coming!” Jane said, taking away the phone off my hand. Though I knew it was not the reason for her to take it.
Once Prof. Johnson got inside the classroom, he apologized for the delay and started his lecture. Although for the rest of the class, we didn’t talk, I swear I could feel Keith staring at me sometimes. OR maybe, it was my mind playing with me again.

Chapter 3
As I placed myself at the part of the auditorium where I should be, imitating the other leaders, I glued on my shirt a sticker that was with a number 2 written on it. As I stood there for couple of minutes, the new people started to show up, and all at once, people started to pour into the room. As I saw the other leaders screaming out their own numbers and direct the freshman to go toward them, I did the same and an automatic smile showed up on my face. That was just me; whatever I was passing through in my life, the smile just formed itself without any trouble and it was as if it made all the worries to vanish for a while. Well, as long as I was focus on something else than myself. I don’t know how I could do it though, that’s why they used to say that I had a great communication skill or so. But that could be a lame excuse to drag me to do stuff like that for our school.
The good thing about my automatic smile was that it would be mirrored by the people around, I realized, as I saw the people that appeared to be numbers 2 as they approached with the same smile.
“Hey there. Welcome” I said cheerfully as I waited more others to come. Once the twelve people appeared, as I was expecting, I started the lecture. “Hello everyone. My name is Elizabeth, you can call me Lizzy, and I will be your leader today. The schedule for today is very simple and relaxing. Firstly I will…” I suddenly trailed off as I realized a pair of blue eyes staring at me. Well of course the twelve were all looking at me attentively. However, it was not them that I was talking about.
During my, I realized a guy not too far from our group, who was probably from another team, nearby. The problem was, he was looking with an unusual interest accompanied by a silly grin, and not only that, but also he started to approach our group. That was the moment when I trailed off.
“Yes? Lizzy?” one of the new students called for attention, as I took too long to continue what I was saying.
To avoid any further embarrassment, I looked at him “Are you lost?” I asked a little snappy, as I saw his eyebrow raising with amusement, then I decided to be a little more polite for the name of our good school “Do you need help?” unfortunately the automatic smile came up. That was a curse sometimes.
“Oh, actually, I am number 3.” He said as he entered the circle that was formed “but I would like to know if it would be okay to exchange the number with someone here” he smiled in a way that some of the girls sigh, and surprisingly one of them offered her number 2 to his number 3, possibly in a way to get his attention as usually girls do. I rolled my eyes for that.
“Thank you” he said, still smiling, a too annoyingly perfect smile.
As the girl went away and all the rest of them were staring at him curiously, as much as I was, but he instead, was looking at me.
“Weren’t you satisfied with the other team?” the words popped out from my mouth. But I saw the other’s reaction of interest, as if they were questioning the same thing.
“Oh, no. They were fine” He said, more amused than before somehow “It’s just that this group seems more… interesting” he grinned.
I blinked fast, for the first thought that came out in my head. Was he talking about me? I ignored the thought and tried to fade away the blush on my cheeks as I continued my lecture, completely ignoring him “Well, as I was saying, the first thing will be a tour around the facility. Afterwards we will see a brief video of the history of the school and the last words will be from our Dean, so after that you will be free to go. Any questions before we start?” as soon as I asked, I saw a long arm raised, considering that the owner was pretty tall already. Then I looked down to find that the owner was the same owner of the pair of blue eyes I saw before.
“Yes?” I said a little dazzled somehow, probably by his curious behavior. Probably. Nothing to do with him being a strong 6’1 inches men with a deep baby blue eyes and an unbelievable straight smile. Nop! Nothing to do with it.
“I guess you introduced yourself before I came in. I wonder how I may call you.” He grinned, realizing my look.
“Um… It’s Elizabeth.” I said as I looked away, smiling again to other people around the circle. Somehow it was hard to look directly in his eyes and smile at the same time.
“I am Keith” he said softly, as if there were no twelve other people around us, which made it a little awkward for everyone. I heard some girls giggling at the corner. Well, they were definitely freshman, some others could be either exchanged students or transferred students, and he looked one of these two by the grown up expression he had.
“Well… let us start our tour, shall we?” I said smiling toward everyone, and finally, meeting his eyes at least.

Chapter 2
Restarting the classes is always exciting for me, and right now, it was all what I needed. I had a plan now, and it was: study, study, and study. Well, we would see if I could be able to really do that, as long as I can keep my mind occupied.
When I entered the front hall of our school, I smiled for seeing a tiny figure from afar. I could recognize Jane, my best friend from anywhere. Jane was an Asian descendent girl that looked so tiny and cute with her long locks of hair that came down her back, although she had a very strong facial feature. We were friend since the sophomore year, as we had almost all the same classes together, so since then we became inseparable.
As I walked, I saw that she was inpatient while she looked all around as if she was looking for someone in special. Once she finally looked at me, she almost yelled.
“Eliza! Where have you been?” she ran to meet me as I was already walking toward her.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, with a tone of concern.
“I am really, really sorry” she made an apologetic face.
“What’s wrong?” my voice now changed from a concerned to an annoyed tone. I knew something would be left for me.
“Well…” she started, wearing the same facial expression as before “They were looking for a peer group leader for the orientation week, and they asked me to do it. But you know how I can’t speak easily with people…”
“So…” I said, with the same tone as before. I let her finished, even though I knew what she would say.
“So, I gave them your name” she made a puppy eyes as a sorry for me.
Although I was being harsh on her, I never minded really helping her like that. I knew when the time came for her to help me she would do it with no doubt, but I just liked teasing with her. So at the end, my fake-angry face became a smile.
“No problem” I laughed and I walked with her toward the auditorium.
“Really?” she made a surprised face “Aren’t you gonna, like, kill me or so?”
“Maybe another time when I feel like it” I mocked.
When we entered the room, some of the faculty members already came to talk to me about what Jane said and they gave me a guideline of what I should do once the new students arrive. Although it was missing more than an hour for the event to start, we just sat there for a while.
“So, how was the visit?” she finally asked me. She already knew what was going on between me and Marcus, since she was the first one I called as I cried my heart out.
“Well, it sucked really. It’s still not easy to see him as an Ex. And something happened when he went there” I said as I kicked the front seat with not too much strength as I wished.
“Oh my god!” she put her hand over her mouth, her wide eyes staring at me “Did you guys…”
“No!” I said a little too loud, considering that some people looked back at us. Then my voice became a whisper again “No, of course not. It was just a kiss! You should never sleep with The-One-That-Must-Not-Be-Named”
We made up a joke while watching Harry Potter that we should call any of our Exs like that, to avoid saying his name.
“Yes, I know. That’s the code…” she whispered back.
“… And the code must not be broken” I finished “Also, I want to do a new code for myself. Since its missing a year for us to graduate, I will not have any other relationship until I graduate. And you, Miss Jane, will help me out with that”
“Oh, can you really survive without… you know what I mean” she made a funny face.
“Shut up!” I laughed, as I slapped her arm with the back of my hand.
We sat there and laughed with other silly stuffs as usually girls do, until the time has come for me to get ready to receive the new students.

The story starts out with the break up of Marcus and Elizabeth as he graduates and move out to another city. The story develops around Elizabeth and her dificulty of moving on, specially when Keith comes around in her life. Things get complicated ... What do you think? Should i keep posting? Hope you like it. :)
 
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With my heart pounding against my chest, i was sitting on the kitchen chair flipping a magazine nervously, trying to distract myself. When i looked up at the clock, it was missing 30 minutes for Marcus to arrive. Marcus was my first love, as i can say, and now it was over. Well, not exactly now but a month ago. We have been dating for a year and half and we knew there was a chance of a break up at the end, since he was not from this city and he would graduate the university earlier than me. However, even though with this possibility, we ignored the signs back then and just fell into the relationship. We thought everything would be fine and we would figure things out when the time came, if the time would ever come. Actually we didn't expect thing to end up that serious between us, but it did, and now its over.
I shook my head harshly, fading away the thoughts of the past from my mind. I couldn't go back there again, specially now that I needed to be tough when i see him again. Last time we saw each other, it was the break up time, and after he had a business trip from his new work, and since he left some stuff behind on my place, this meeting was impossible not to happen.
I finally stood up from my chair and went around the house to see if everything was clean and in order, even though i knew it was since i spent the whole morning cleaning the house for that.
As i walked through the kitchen door a third time like a crazy neat freak, i heard a knock at the door. My heart stopped as i heard it, it was necessary to hear two more knocks for me to get myself together.
" Who's this?" i asked as i came closer to the leaving room's entry door. At the same time i asked, i face palmed myself for doing so, since i obviously knew who was at the door.
 
" Its me, Marcus" his soft voice came from behind the door, making my knees weak.
 
With a deep breath i opened the door, and there he was, just as i remembered. Marcus was a beautiful tall african american guy, and a very athletic one. It took me a minute to actually let him come in as I analyzed him for too long.
 
" Well, how are you, Lizzy?" he entered and placed himself a little far from me. Everything was different now. It was still very awkward for me to get used to hear him calling me by my name instead of the usual cute couple nicknames as 'honey' or 'babe'.
 
" Everything is fine" i said, and i got impressed of how i looked composed on the surface " My new semester will start in two days, so i am pretty excited about that"
 
" Thats great" he said as he looked around, not meeting my eyes not even once since he entered the house. I could see he was not as good as me to pretend everything was alright.
Since there was a moment of awkward silence, i decided to speak.
 
" Well, let me take you to your stuffs, they are right here" i walked into the kitchen where there was two boxes full of his stuff " Everything is here" i said as i placed the two boxes over the table, open it to show him that all of it was there. Then, i felt his scent as a hit into my chest as i inhaled the perfume coming from behind me. Once i turned, i found myself just one palm of distance from him.
" What are you doing?" i whispered as i had no much strength against it.
 
" Its just too hard to resist you" he said as he passed his fingers through my hair. His eyes were full of painful unfulfilled desire.
 
" Please..." before i could say anything else, he kissed me. His soft lips were as much as i could remember, now more vividly.
But i could not let this to happen. I could not let it go farther then just a kiss. It took me a week to actually stop crying and i wouldn't restart all over again. With that thought i broke the kiss.
" I cant do this" i said as i stepped aside.
 
" Do what? A kiss?" i could hear his emotions through his voice " i can feel you want it too"
 
" Its not like that, Marcus! We finished. It is over and we promised we would try to be friends. You know why we ended remember? Well, actually you ended. Because you graduated and now you are working out of town and we both have pretty different views for the future" i said furiously as i went to the other side of the kitchen to be as far as i could from him " Its like you are making it harder than it actually is. If you don't even try to be friends then... I don't know whats left for us"
 
He sat on the same chair that i sat earlier. His face was as frowned as mine " Well, it seems you are taking it pretty easy all that is going on"
 
" Don't be such an hypocrite!" i said angrily as i approached him " You said it would be better for us to end it. At the time i didn't see the reasons since we loved each other, i though everything would be great as long as we were together. But after actually you were right. We want different thing for our lives despite our feelings for each other. Love is necessary in a relationship, but its not enough"
 
After a moment of silence, staring at each other, his face softened and i could see him coming back to reality. I knew him very well, and he was the type that most of the time was a very rational person. Actually that was the first time we changed roles, as him being the emotional one, and me as the rational.
 
" Yes, you are right. I am sorry. I should have controlled myself" he said as he stood up. He opened his arms as he looked at me " A friendly hug then, as a restart?" he smiled.
 
As an answer, i smiled back an hugged him. I was proud of myself for being able to be strong in that moment, but i am not sure if i will be able to keep up like this. Well, for the sake of your new friendship, i hope i will.

The story starts out with the break up of Marcus and Elizabeth as he graduates and move out to another city. The story develops arounf Elizabeth and her dificulty of moving on, specially when Keith comes around in her life. Things get complicated ... What do you think?