“I know that, but I’m just shocked. You were a total playboy!”
“And yet none of them were as perfect for me as you,” he smiled. His gleam knocked the breath out of me. His eyes were sparkling and teeth reflecting brilliantly off the sun, even his dimple glittered the slightest under the rays.
“Ugh! Since when did we become such mushy love birds?!” I grumbled sarcastically. In all honesty, I loved the gooey, corny parts of me and Kellan’s relationship. It was always those moments that seemed to touch my heart with a flutter of joy. It was at those points that love seemed innocent and pure once more in a society of lust. Even what I had with Mike, my boyfriend who I was continuing to consciously cheat on, was very worldly in its physical context.
“Are you two love birds ready to go?” Aunt Claire asked approaching us with a coy expression.
“Yea.” I stood up in one swift movement. Kellan replicated my change and held my hand as we returned to the car.
Arriving at Oglethorpe mall, we were greeted by a well-dressed, flamboyant man by the name of Eduardo. My aunt gave him a double-sided air kiss before introducing him as her stylist and now mine for the day.
“Oh Alexa, you must be excited. You will be the prettiest of them all,” he stated. He reminded me of a younger, classically-hip version of Tim Gunn but with a Spanish twist. Vocally though, he’s a cross between Tim and Ant. He was dry in tone yet enthusiastic in annunciation and delivery.
He held the door to Macy’s for us, and, like entering the basketball game held in a sealed off gym, the noise swarmed me. Voices, shuffling of clothes and racks, some type of tapping on a glass counter, and so much more overwhelmed me. I forgot about the extended hearing since the last few hours had been relatively quiet aside from the random voice or car music and nothing else but waves. It felt as if I’d been electrocuted for a second. This wave of sound nearly knocked me over.
Kellan sensed my delay in movement produced by the expansion of clutter surrounding me. Who knew sounds so far away could echo so loud via tunnel hearing?!
“And you sweetness, what is your name?” Eduardo asked staring directly at Kellan.
“Oh, this is Kellan,” my aunt answered.
“Well Kellan, are you ready to shop till you drop with us ladies?” he smiled and sashayed.
“I think so,” he replied with a half-smile. I grabbed his hand giving him a quick squeeze of assurance for both me and him.
“Eduardo dear, now don’t hold back over price. I want Lexi to be the best dressed girl in school,” Aunt Claire advised.
“Oh honey, you know I don’t do price,” he assured. “Now I was given VIP access to the store before opening and I’ve already pulled two racks full of stunners for Alexa here to try on.”
“Yay! Let’s go try on clothes Lexi,” my aunt gushed, a crazy I’m-about-to-lose-control gleam sparkled in her eyes. “I’m so excited to see you in everything!” She grabbed my free hand and I latched tighter to Kellan’s dragging him along.
“This looks more like a lounge than a dressing room,” I commented as an employee shut the back door that led us into this celeb-status changing room, intermittently drowning out most of the noise surrounding me as well. I imagined the many celebrities and high-spenders who had fancied this room at one point.
“What did you expect honey? You’re celebrity status with me,” he stated. “Now you two make yourselves comfortable while Alexa and I get to work,” he told Aunt Claire and Kellan, pointing to a crushed velvet sofa against the far airy, light ocean blue wall. The grand painting hanging above it, very Monnet-esk, was what made the purple sofa and light blue wall work perfectly in coordination of style.
Kellan kissed my head and released me to go to the sofa. Aunt Claire was already seated and nearly bouncing like a kid at a theme park with anticipation. Eduardo and I strolled towards the racks. He closed a long curtain behind us to divide the room. The racks were full of pants, skirts, shirts, scarves, dresses and sweaters. Piled beside them were nearly twenty shoe boxes, no doubt to coordinate with each outfit.
“Here, let’s start with these,” he said holding out a pair of dark-wash, boot-cut 7-For-All-Mankind brand jeans. “We can change out tops until we achieve perfection,” he added.
I nodded my head and slipped into the jeans. I felt nervous as I went to button them around the waist, for they appeared too small when he held them up moments before. “Oh my gosh. What size are these?” I couldn’t believe they were a perfect fit for me.
“Those are a size twenty-eight, or a regular size six they say but really a four,” he replied concisely. “Now let’s pair those with this and, ooh, add this and top it off with this delight.”
Eduardo handed me a long sleeve cream turtle neck, a thin, long flowey grey sweater vest, though it was sleeveless and button free, and the piece de resistance – a dark teal scarf in the same fabric as the vest but with a minor fringe at the ends.
“Ah, yes. You’re stunning Alexa. I can tell everything will be gorgeous on you,” he commented fluffing the items on me. “Hmm…” he noted pursing his lips and placing his index finger to his chin. “I don’t adore this on you. Let’s remove the overlay.”
I removed the grey vest. “Is it better now?” I asked peering down at the ensemble.
“Almost. Be a doll and put these on,” he requested handing me a pair of brown leather, high-heeled, ankle boots.
“Love, love, love. I’m officially in love with you darling. Claire, your niece is stunning and so easy to dress,” he called sliding back the curtain.
I lifted my arms and asked Kellan and my aunt, “What do you think?”
“It’s perfect; very fall forward. Classic, yet interchangeable and a flawless fit,” she smiled looking my outfit up and down.
“Kellan, what do you think? Is Alexa gorgeous or what?” Eduardo pressed.
“She always has been,” he replied though his eyes never left mine. Amidst the fashion transformation, Kellan and I got lost in our own intimate moment via gaze.
“Ooh honey, save it for the bedroom,” Eduardo advised closing the curtain again.
This continued for another hour. We eliminated an entire rack of clothes but still managed to spend a gut busting $5,437.72 on three pairs of jeans, two black pants, brown pin striped pants, two turtlenecks, two sweaters, three shirts, three dresses, six pairs of shoes, one pair of boots, three scarves, and the one lone slim fit tee I begged them for. My jaw hit the floor. Worse yet, we weren’t even close to done according to Eduardo and my aunt.
“I called ahead to Vivianne at Belks. She’s such a doll. She’s begun to pull items for us already,” Eduardo carried on to my aunt as Kellan and I silently walked hand in hand behind them. The purchase at Macy’s was loaded into Kellan’s trunk by valet assistants so we were bagless, weighed down by nothing but the gym echo of business carrying on in the mall.
I rested my head on Kellan’s upper arm and he lifted his arm around me. He didn’t say anything. Kellan knew first-hand from my English bout with Mel that I wasn’t a fan of shopping, but it had to be done.
Thus far, the liquid in my throat had remained close to my mouth, yet not bubbling over. It’s manageable. I’d already adapted to shorter, shallower breaths to compensate for the ventilation restriction.
Alas, we arrived at Belk’s. We were greeted by a thin, petite blonde twenty-something in grey pin-striped pants, a tucked in button up white shirt, a shiny black belt and pointed black heels. She was adorned with a long, silver necklace knotted with black stones and diamond stud earrings. She was the epitome of a young and fresh professional.
“Vivianne! How are you darling?” Eduardo smiled kissing her cheeks.
“Wonderful as always,” she beamed in reply.
“Vivianne, this is Claire, her niece Alexa, and Alexa’s boyfriend Kellan,” he introduced.
“Oh, he’s not my boyfriend,” I corrected. Kellan didn’t say anything, but I felt the dark stare on me as if I had stabbed him silently with
a knife. It slipped out so quickly. I didn’t stop to think.
“I have a new boy toy everyday honey. You learn to go with the flow if you catch me,” Eduardo winked.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Vivianne nodded once. “Follow me. I’ve already pulled some wonderful clothes for you, Alexa.”
She led us through a back door with a sign reading ‘Employees Only.’ We then entered a side door into another room. The moment the door was closed, again, the blasting noise of commotion was muted, and thus allowed me to think straight. I was trying to get used to the overwhelming sounds and conversations that crowded the mall as we traveled through it, but I couldn’t seem to calm my nerves enough to drown them out. This could also be because of their sound. No distinction of conversation was audible.
Looking around, this room was much smaller than the last. It boasted cream walls, two extravagant art pieces and a large custom gold framed mirror spanning floor to ceiling, the ceiling reaching nearly nine feet, and hung five feet wide. The only seating was a large 8’ across circular distressed brown leather ottoman in the center of the room. Looking around, I realized there was no private changing area – no curtains, partitions or fold outs.
“Kellan you must remain a gentleman and keep that peeper down,” Eduardo commanded flipping through the rack of clothes Vivianne pulled. “This is magnificent Viv. I love all the pieces,” he smiled approvingly at her.
“I can’t wait. Don’t make me wait Eduardo. I’m dying to see them on Lexi,” my aunt squealed, running her fingers along a few items before retiring on the ottoman.
“Umm, are you okay Kellan?” I asked, he appeared to be uncomfortable. He nodded once and laid flat on the cushion, closing his eyes to maintain his “good boy” behavior.
“Here,” Vivianne extended a black satin sleeping mask. “Just in case,” she smiled. “Radio if you need me.”
“Of course honey,” Eduardo answered already handing me an outfit.
This time he paired medium toned distressed, slightly-ripped-strategically, skinny jeans with an empire waste three-quarter length sleeve navy blue shirt, a light chunky yellow scarf to cover my neck and upper chest and brown feminine loafers.
“It’s perfect. I love it,” my aunt gushed.
It’s strange because the entire time, change after change of outfits, my Aunt and Eduardo commented non-stop on my beauty and how every outfit looked great on me, but I still didn’t believe them. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the size I was wearing.
The day was filled from mall opening to close with shopping. From Belks to Gap to Forever 21, we spent over ten-thousand dollars on clothes, shoes, and two hoodies I managed to sneak in. My aunt and Eduardo then insisted on several purses, a wallet, sunglasses – though it’s almost winter - and the true battle began over jewelry. There were pushing for items galore to match each new outfit, which Eduardo had photographed with a Polaroid. Our compromise was on one of each – a bracelet, ring, diamond stud earrings, and a simple necklace – in white gold that matched everything. I knew myself too well. I didn’t wear jewelry currently, aside from earrings, so I wasn’t committing myself to a new set every day.
By the day’s end, though I wasn’t supposed to be, I was exhausted. The serum in my throat had begun to burn harshly by mid-afternoon, and chugging a bottle of water didn’t ease the pain in the slightest. I snuck a few kisses in from Kellan to alleviate myself from time to time, but they never lasted long enough to enjoy relief.
Once all the garment bags, shopping bags and shoe boxes were stuffed in Kellan’s trunk and half the back seat, I thanked Eduardo and Aunt Claire once more before sliding into the car and slumping my head back. It felt as if a weight lifted off me the moment my body rested in the seat; the same relief you get once you shower and relax after a gruesome workout.
My aunt hugged Eduardo and promised to call him in a few days. Kellan quietly shut my door. He’d been observing me carefully as the day progressed. I could tell he knew something was wrong, but he didn’t say a word. We held hands every chance we could and he slipped in a few gentle kisses on my forehead more often than my lips. But the majority of the day he was silent, though I guess most men are when it comes to shopping trips.
The drive home took forty minutes, but by arrival at my parents, I was beyond drained in every way. I was beginning to worry. This wasn’t normal. I felt empty inside and the serum in my throat was now hotter than boiling water burning my lymphnodes.
Kellan opened my door and gave me his hand, though ordinarily I shouldn’t have needed it, and he knew this. I grabbed him nonetheless and lifted out of the back seat. No sooner had I stood up that I became wobbly and collapsed into his arms.
“Lexi!” my aunt panicked.
My mother burst through the garage door yelling, “What’s wrong?!”
“I don’t know. She was fine all day,” my aunt cried, both hovering over me anxiously.
“I’m... I’m okay. Just tired,” I reasoned trying to stabilize myself.
“I’m going to take her upstairs,” Kellan announced.
“Please,” my mother pleaded with worried eyes. “I’ll be right up.”
One minute I was looking at my almost hysterical aunt and mother, the next I was flat on my bed. I sat up, taking in Kellan’s upset expression, and repeated, “I’m okay. Really.”
“No, you’re not,” he lashed. “Vampeens don’t get exhausted by a day’s worth of shopping. You’re built to sleep very little and at the least don’t desire to ravenously. Don’t lie to me Lexi. What’s wrong?” he demanded. I could see anger enflaming him, but what confused me was why he was angry at me. He was acting as if it was my fault; I’d purposefully allowed this to happen to myself. Though he was covered in rage, the underlying cause was definitely worry, fear, and confusion.
“I… uh… I.. don’t know,” I mumbled.
“What do you feel?” he pressed, moving on to the bed beside me. “Lexi,” he said caressing my face, “I need you to tell me what you feel is wrong.”
His eyes carried nothing but concern for me now. How did this day go so wrong? How did I go so wrong? According to Kellan, I wasn’t supposed to feel tired; energy should still surge through my veins. Something was definitely off according to him and despite my rejection of this concept; I felt it in my gut as well. I wish I could tell him exactly what it was, describe perfectly what was plaguing me, but the only thing I felt was exhaustion. “I just need to sleep, that’s all,” I finally said.
After a long minute of intense staring he gave in. He gently pushed me back. He kissed my head and I pulled him beside me as I curled into him. “Don’t leave me,” I pleaded.
“I won’t,” he promised.
Chapter 19
I awoke several hours later to a middle-aged man shining a light in my eyes. He spoke in a language I couldn’t comprehend. He was talking to my mother and aunt. I quickly sat up feeling re-energized though the serum still scorched my throat unforgivingly.
“Hello Alexa. I’m Doctor Hans Higlenburge,” he introduced himself with a nod and a smile. He reminded me of a young Steven Weber.
Knowing I would completely mess up his name, I asked, “Can I just call you Dr. H?”
“Certainly,” he smiled politely.
I looked around searching for Kellan, but he was nowhere to be seen. Knowing who I was after, my aunt explained, “We told Kellan to wait outside.”
“Why?” I asked confused by their tight-lipped demeanor.
“To ensure your privacy,” my mother answered.
“Mom, he saw me half naked hours ago. There’s not much left to cover,” I replied, upset that she would ban him. The moment the words escaped my mouth, I regretted their wrong impression.
“He what?!” she fumed.
“Calm down Sharon. One of the dressing rooms didn’t have a curtain. He didn’t see her bits, just the skin between. He saw less than he would with her at the beach in a bikini,” my aunt explained attempting to def
use the anger caked on my mother.
“I don’t care Claire. It’s the principle. I don’t want my daughter parading around like some floozy.”
“I’m not a floozy Mom. I’m still a virgin for Christ’s sake so I don’t think that’s possible,” I argued.
“Well Sharon, it appears that Alexa is in good condition. Her strength seems to have returned. Often if the body was carrying an illness, such as a cold, when she goes to transform, the body may be weakened easier the first twenty-four hours. What did her palate prescribe?”
“Human food,” my mother answered. A sinking feeling hit the bottom of my stomach when she said the words.
“When was her last meal?” he asked probing my tongue with a stick. “Say ‘ahh’,” he advised.
I obeyed in opening my mouth but I refused to say ‘ah!’ It’s completely unnecessary.
“About nineteen hours ago,” my mother replied.
“Yes, well her throat is coated beyond normal capacity; it seems her body has reached starvation level. Her body is crying for nutrients. She needs to eat at once,” he commanded.
“I”ll see that she does immediately,” my mother replied, worry seeping into her expression.
“Call me should you need me, but I’m sure Alexa will be fine once she eats. Just make sure she is consistent in portions; better to take more than enough over not enough. No skimping allowed Alexa,” he advised staring directly at me.
I shook my head acknowledging his orders. With that he gathered his medical instruments into a black bag, the same leather bag a doctor would carry in a house call on the set of ‘I Love Lucy,’ and left the room.
“I’ll bring you food honey. Just rest here for now,” my mother said, kissing my forehead before following my aunt and the doctor.
No sooner had she scurried out the door that Kellan was by my side. “How are you feeling?” he asked promptly sitting on the bed beside me.
“You changed your clothes.”
“Your aunt picked them up for me. How are you?” he repeated.
Diary of a Vampeen Page 21