“You have nice legs and a great body. You just need to wear the right stuff,” Cassandra says. “Now, try on this skirt, with this top.”
I do and can’t help but smile. Suddenly, there is another knock. “I have what I want you to try on,” Jeremy states through the door.
“Okay,” I reply, “hand it over.”
“Now, you promised to try it on, remember that.”
Great, I can’t wait to see this. “Throw it over.”
A dress comes flying into the changing room. Cassandra catches it and holds it up. “Jeremy!” She exclaims.
“What!?” He laughs. “She promised!”
“You can’t be serious!?” I yell.
Cassandra is holding up a tight black dress. It is strapless and leaves nothing to the imagination. “Put it on Isabelle,” he says from the other side of the door.
“Jeremy,” Cassandra articulates, “This is a clubbing dress.”
“Well then, I will have to take her clubbing. Put it on young lady. Don’t break your promise.”
With a lot of aggravation, I snap, “NO!”
“Isabelle, my love, you promised,” Jeremy murmurs through the door.
Fine, if that is the way he wants it to be. I grab the dress from Cassandra. Hissing, I say, “I don’t have a bra on for this.”
“Umm, you don’t necessarily need to wear one with that.”
“Great,” I mutter. I take the off the outfit that I have on and pull on the dress. My eyes instantly turn to Cassandra to get her reaction.
She smiles and claps her hands together. “You look amazing.”
“You can’t be serious,” I snort.
“Look,” she replies, spinning me around to the mirror.
My jaw drops. I look…well….sexy, at least for me I do. “I think this is a little much,” I whisper.
“So, did you put it on?” Jeremy asks.
“Yup,” I reply, turning and looking in the mirror. “I actually look really good in it, or at least I think I do.”
“Awesome! Let me see!”
Laughing, I retort, “Nope, I tried it on like I promised. I made no promise of showing it to you.”
There is a shocked gasp from the other side. “What!? That’s ridiculous and unfair.”
“I think it’s just fine,” I giggle happily.
“You are getting that right?” Cassandra asks.
Bewildered, I say, “What? Why would I?”
“Because you kill in that dress!” She exclaims.
“Who kills in what?” Jeremy asks.
Cassandra replies, “Nothing.”
There is a loud bang on the door. I jump. “What in the world was that!?”
“Me, banging my head on the door in frustration,” Jeremy grumpily replies. “Remind me why I invited you, Cassandra?”
She laughs in reply. “Because she needed me. You will see her in it someday….maybe….if you are a good boy.”
“Can we at least go to a store with some guy’s clothes in it? I mean, I can go start hitting on girls to preoccupy myself, but I came here to help my friend Isabelle, not stare at a changing room door.”
Sighing, I strip off the dress. “Let me get my clothes on. I think we have enough stuff. I have to pick what I want anyway.”
“Well, I want some say so there,” Jeremy retorts. “Geez, I am not just your chauffer.”
“Wow, we must pay bank to get such a hot driver,” Cassandra yells, with a big grin.
There is a chuckle from Jeremy. “Be careful what you say Cassandra. Your boyfriend packs a pretty good punch, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end.”
“You know I am one of the few girls that can resist your charm,” Cassandra retorts.
“Yes, well, I know deep down inside there is a burning flame for my good looks.”
That makes me groan. “Geez Jeremy, full of yourself much?”
“Always,” he laughs.
I finish putting my shoes on, and open the changing room door. “There are you happy now? You can see me.”
“Yes, but you don’t have on any of the clothes. What fun is that?”
“Well, you can help me carry all this to the counter so we can go through it,” I reply, turning and grabbing clothes.
We carry it to the cashier and set it all down. “What do you want?” Jeremy asks.
“All of it,” I sigh, “but I don’t have that much. So, what do you think I should get?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. You know what, I think you left that one dress in the changing room.”
Confused, I say, “What dress? The black one? It’s right here.” I hold it up. “And I didn’t say I was getting this one.”
“No, that other dress, just go check the dressing room,” he urges, as he shoves me in that direction.
Shaking my head, I walk back to the dressing room. Of course, there is nothing there. He is so weird sometimes. When I make my way back to the cashier, she is ringing stuff up. “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute! I didn’t go through it all!”
“I know,” Jeremy replies. “We are just going to buy everything.”
“Jeremy! I don’t have that much! What are you doing!?” I yell.
Cassandra sighs. “He is buying it all for you, because you desperately need shoes to go with this and he promised to buy me a pair for helping out today.”
“Can I speak to you for a minute?” I snap at Jeremy.
“Sure,” he replies with a grin.
I pull him to the side, and ask, “Why are you spending so much money on me?”
“Because I want to.”
“Jeremy, you are a bike mechanic. I am not going to have you go into debt to help me out! This is ridiculous!” I exclaim loudly, probably too loudly.
He brings his hand up and slowly traces his fingers down my face. “I have the money. Let’s just say I am good at saving. Let me do this, alright? It makes me happy to see you happy.”
Aww, okay that is sweet. “Fine,” I mumble. “But I am going to pay you back somehow.”
“Fine, you can help clean my apartment.”
“I am already doing that,” I groan. “I need to do something else, too.”
Jeremy frowns. “You don’t think I was going to really make you clean my apartment for me helping you out with that chick, right?”
“Well, I was going to do it to show my gratitude.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t expect you to do anything back for me Isabelle.” Jeremy then smiles, “Hot fairy godfather’s do everything pro-bono. Just instead of a magic wand, I have a bank account.”
“We promised to always tell the truth, right?” I ask hesitantly. Jeremy nods. “Have you ever robbed a bank?”
“No,” he chuckles. “I have never broken the law. Well, okay I have sped but who hasn’t?”
Crossing my arms, I inquire, “And how fast were you going in your car?”
“That we will leave in the past,” he replies, as he walks back to the cashier.
Chapter 8
“So, these are cute,” Cassandra says, holding up a pair of flats.
“I like those,” I reply. “What would I wear them with?”
She smiles. “You can wear them with any of the black stuff that you got.”
“Okay,” I retort, walking down the shoe aisle. Cassandra and I are here alone, because Jeremy says he hates shoe shopping. We already have picked out five pairs of shoes. I told Jeremy I am paying for these, and I would disown him if he tried to pay for them. He said that was fine.
As, I walk I suddenly come up to a pair of boots. They are black and calf high. I pick them up and look at the heel. I wonder if I could wear these and not break my neck. “Oh, Isabelle, you should get those,” Cassandra emphasizes heavily.
“I think I would probably fall,” I state. “Though, I have always wanted a pair of these.”
“They would look great with the skirts and especially with that black dress that Jeremy picked out for you.”
Looking at he
r, I say, “The dress that I will never wear.”
“Oh, you will wear it, trust me,” she laughs. “Just try on a pair. What will it hurt?”
With a shrug, I reply, “I guess nothing.” Bending over I grab a size 7. I go and sit down on the chair. When I open the box, I just stare at them for a second. They are so pretty. I push off my dingy sneakers, and take one of the boots out. My foot easily slides into it. I pull up the zipper on the side and state, “Well, it fits.”
“Put the other one on, so we can see if you can walk in them,” Cassandra urges me. I do as she says. When the other one is on, I just put my feet out and look at them. “Get up and walk around. I want to make sure you won’t hurt yourself.”
I stand up and feel a whole lot taller. “This feels weird,” I state.
“Yeah, heels you have to get used to,” Cassandra replies. “Just slowly walk around a little.”
So, I do, very slowly. At first, I falter a bit, but then I get the hang of it. “Hey, this isn’t so bad,” I say. “I think I could handle these.”
“Then you should definitely get them,” Cassandra retorts. “After those, I think we are set. We should probably go rein in Jeremy anyway, before he breaks too many hearts.”
“He hits on girls a lot around you, too, huh?” I ask, sitting down to take the boots off.
Cassandra leans her head to the side. “Jeremy flirts a lot, and gets a lot of phone numbers, but I never really see him with girls. I know he dates, but it’s not like he brings them around us. Honestly, if you ask me, I think there is something else going on.”
“What, he’s into guys?” I inquire slowly.
“Gosh no, he ogles girls too much. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but no I don’t think Jeremy is gay. It’s almost like he has commitment issues.”
I put the boots back in their box. “Jeremy, well, Jeremy is the way Jeremy is and I think he has his reasons. I won’t get into anything, but he is a really nice guy and I think someday he will find someone who will make him really happy.”
“He seems awfully attached to you,” Cassandra points out.
“That’s because he is helping me out. Sooner or later, he will get bored with me and want some real female companionship.”
She shrugs her shoulders, “I don’t know. You are the first girl he has really brought around me. I mean, he has brought girls out with us, but never anything like this, not anything so personal.”
“Trust me,” I emphasize. “We are just friends.”
“Okay,” Cassandra replies, though she doesn’t sound very convinced. We take the shoes up to the cashier. “We don’t need the boxes,” she says. “We wouldn’t be able to carry them all.” The cashier just nods.
The cashier rings everything up, and then looks at us. “That will be 242, please.”
“I got that,” I say, grabbing out the cash. “Shoes aren’t cheap.”
“Yeah, girls get jipped in that aspect. Guys need like two pairs of shoes, everyday ones and dress up ones. Girls need shoes to match every outfit, and they are so expensive!”
Suddenly, two hands squeeze my sides and I hear, “Boo!” It makes me jump in the air.
I spin around to find Jeremy standing there. “You jerk! You scared me!”
“That was the whole point. Are you done yet? I am hungry.”
“Here is your change,” the cashier says, handing over money. I take it and she gives us the bags.
Jeremy picks up the clothes bags and nudges his head. “Let’s go.”
“Did you find anything?” I ask. “You did go to the men’s section right?”
“Yeah, I bought a shirt and that’s about it,” he replies. “We aren’t here for me today.”
Cassandra looks at her watch. “I have an hour before I need to be home. Kent is coming over after work.”
“Alright, to the food court we go!” Jeremy exclaims dramatically.
“Jeremy, you are so weird sometimes,” Cassandra says.
Scoffing, Jeremy counters with, “Sometimes? I am losing my touch.”
We walk out into the mall. It’s then that we pass the phone store. “Oh!” I shout. “Can we stop here quickly? I want to get one of those pay as you go phones. I think it’s time I have a cell phone.”
“I am not going to let you get one of those phones,” Jeremy states.
“Excuse me,” I stammer, “You aren’t going to let me?”
Jeremy sighs. “I didn’t mean it that way. I meant that those phones are expensive to use. I will just put you on my plan.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I snap. “Why would you do that?”
“Because,” he emphasizes, “you can pay a whole bunch of money for minutes or ten dollars a month to be on my plan. Which one do you think is better?”
With a bewildered look, I reply, “Yeah, but don’t you have to sign like a two year contract?”
“I think so,” Jeremy answers, “But I know where you live to get the money every month. Anyway, it’s ten dollars. I can handle ten dollars. We will stop at the cell phone company after we drop of Cassandra.”
Groaning, I say, “Jeremy, I really don’t feel comfortable with you doing that.”
“Isabelle,” he mocks back, “It’s ffffiiinnnnneeee.”
I look over at Cassandra, who is behind Jeremy. She just cocks her eyebrow and gestures with her hand, obviously, pointing out that he is doing even more for me. That makes me frown. “I really feel like I am taking advantage of you,” I state.
Getting a wicked grin on his face, Jeremy says, “Do you want to take advantage of me? I am all for that.”
“You are such a guy!” I laugh, “Geesh Jeremy, that is NOT what I meant!”
“Oh darn,” he sighs. “I am so lonely.”
Pointing to the crowd around us, I say, “Pick a girl. There are so many to choose from.”
“Eh,” he retorts, “Nothing that is striking my fancy.”
Just as he says that, two really pretty girls walk by and eye him up. As they pass, I whisper to him, “They were pretty and obviously into you.”
“I am more concerned about getting food right now, than I am getting numbers. Food now, girls later.”
“Now, that is a typical guy thing,” Cassandra adds in. “You will learn this Isabelle. When a guy is hungry, that is where his mind is set.”
That makes me smirk. “Good to know.”
We finally make it to the food court. Jeremy picks a table and sets everything down. “What do you want to eat girls?”
“I don’t care, but I am buying. No arguing with that Jeremy!” I articulate strongly.
“Fine, fine, fine,” he replies. “I can handle you buying lunch.”
I pull out money. “Go get us something. I am going to sit down. Shopping is tiring when you have to try a million things on.”
“A million things that I didn’t get to see,” Jeremy growls playfully.
“It’s not like you aren’t going to see me in it anyway,” I retort.
He gives a thoughtful look. “Good point, it will be a surprise every day. Okay, I am going to get food.”
As he walks away, Cassandra smiles at me. “Every day huh? Hmmmm.”
“Oh, will you stop,” I laugh. “It is so NOT like that, at all.”
“You never know. I have known Jeremy for a while now.”
Having a sudden odd feeling, I say, “No, trust me, he isn’t into me. I mean, really? Have you looked at him? He dates pretty, cool girls; not dorky girls he is trying to make over.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit,” Cassandra states, sitting down across from me.
“Jeremy keeps saying that to me, too. Just to let you know, I haven’t had any real friends in a long time, and Jeremy is the first person I have ever even opened up to. I am shy and have no self-esteem. So, no, I do not think he is into me. I don’t think he could ever be into me.”
“Would you want him to be?” She asks.
I don’t even know what to sa
y to that. I just shake my head. “No, I couldn’t even imagine that happening.”
“Well, I think you are great and will make a guy really happy when you find one you want to be with.”
Smiling, I reply, “Thanks. So, how long have you been with Kent?”
“Two years,” Cassandra retorts. “We met through Joshua actually. Josh and Kent went to high school together, and then Josh and I met when we worked together at a restaurant downtown.”
“How old are you guys?” I ask.
“I am 22, and Josh and Kent are 23. Jeremy is the youngin. Well, no, you are actually.”
Bashfully, I smirk. “I am not part of your group of friends. It’s probably a little weird for Jeremy to be hanging out with me anyway.”
“It would be weird if you were 12, or even 16. You are a senior in high school, right?”
“Yeah,” I reply. “I am 18.”
Waving her hand, she says, “See, you are an adult. It’s all good. Don’t think we are going to let you drink though.”
That makes me burst out laughing. “Don’t worry, you will never catch me drinking. Let’s just say I have dealt with enough that in my life to not make me want to drink ever.”
“Eh, I understand. My grandfather was an alcoholic and it made me realize I never want to get that way.”
I bite my lip. “Yeah, I have dealt with an alcoholic, too. It makes you think twice about things.”
“No doubt,” she retorts. “Jeremy and the guys don’t get out of control and they definitely don’t drink and drive. Once you get your license, don’t be surprised if you get a call in the middle of the night. They will go out at all hours, but if they have more than two beers, they don’t drive, aaannnnddd are way too lazy to walk anywhere.”
“Well, that will be tough because I don’t have a car,” I reply. “So, they are stuck walking.”
With a heavy sigh, Cassandra goes, “No, that means I am stuck picking them up. Jeremy should leave his car with you, so that you can do it.”
Laughing, I say, “Yeah, that will happen.”
Cassandra smiles, “Hey, a girl can wish.”
Jeremy comes up next to us with pizza. “Alright, this was quick and easy. I am starving.”
“Yeah,” I reply, “You are wasting away to nothingness.”
The Art of Life Page 13