Episode Ten: Shopping in the Starlight

It's the morning of Daisy's girly day out and she makes a big breakfast of eggs and bacon to fuel her through the day

Sitting down to eat it, avoiding the TV at all costs - tonight is the Starlight Accolades and she doesn't want to know any more about it 

She soon gets a call from Luna, who is downstairs waiting for her 

So she heads off to meet Penny!

Arriving at the store, Penny greets Daisy and congratulates her on her promotion 

Then, Luna introduces her to Jesminder, a family friend who owns the new store 

She is brought over to the chair and chats to Jesminder about what she wants - she's decided that the rebellious hairstyle she has at the moment has been outgrown, and would like something more adult and professional before entering true adulthood 

Jesminder has just the think and not long later, Daisy looks like a different person!

Doesn't it look beautiful! 

She pays $70 for the hair and some upkeep products for the waves and is then dragged into the fitting rooms with Luna 

Luna wants to buy her friend an outfit for her birthday, and Daisy lets her choose 

She picks out a gorgeous and very mature looking black dress, which matches perfectly with her new hairstyle! Daisy graciously accepts the gift and thanks Luna about a hundred times! Bless! 

Daisy then decides to get two new everyday outfits to help with the maturity she's trying to convey - she buys this jumper/shirt combo for $60, thinking it was perfect for interviews and other smart/casual events 

And she also gets this jeans/boots outfit (which I think looks PERFECT on her) as a more casual look for $70

Satisfied with her total $200 purchases, Daisy is almost ready to leave, but is pulled over at the last moment by Penny, who has secretly bought her a birthday gift too... 

Emotional after discovering the gift, Daisy gives her friend a hug and thanks her

What did Penny buy her? 

A gown! 

The reason?

Penny says that it is for the day she wins an award for her own cooking, but also *subtly* mentions that she could wear it if she wanted to go to Del Sol Valley and watch the Starlight Accolades, even from a distance 

Over the moon by her makeover and thoughtful gifts from her friends, Daisy thanks Luna again and again for the invitation and invites her to dinner at her new apartment (once she gets enough money and moves in, that is! She'll need to afford a dining table first!) 

And then, Daisy heads home 

She sits for an hour or two, thinking and thinking about what Penny said 

Would she even get IN to the place that the Accolades were being held? 

And if she did, what would she say?

Would she even want to be let in? Could she really face her Mom? 

Or, could she simply watch from a distance, wearing the gown to fit in with the crowds without drawing attention?

She makes a decision and dons the gown, heading out with her heart pounding in her chest 

She makes her way to the place that the awards and being held and spots her Mother from the window 

She considers going in, but decides against it 

She watches from the window, struggling to hear over the sound of the blood rushing in her ears from the nerves and the fury she's feeling in equal measure 

Her Mom looks so happy, not a hint of worry or sadness about the loss of her daughter or the knowledge she may have a grandchild out there somewhere

In fact, she doesn't mention Daisy at all 

Even when she discusses her new film, in which she plays a Mother - she's asked how she created the character and she says that the character is "what she'd be like if she were a Mother"

IF. 

With a broken heart, but somewhat glad that her Mother proved to be such a disappointment tonight so that she no longer needs to feel guilty over her desire to cut off all ties forever, Daisy watches her Mother walk away into the adoring crowd with tears burning in her eyes but a weight lifted from her shoulders 

She saw her Mother again 

And she now knows for certain that she doesn't care to see her again 

Daisy makes a promise to herself as she heads home in the cold Fall air 

That one day, somehow, someway 

She will be a better Mother than Anita ever was.