"The mall?" This is where you wanted to take me?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixmUy0dRNa
"Not just the mall. My favorite store is in this mall."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWJ0cIHO26
"Now I'm curious."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pYOlYHLbu
"Just keep walking we're almost there."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiISNKXhbF
I spent the whole car ride trying to guess what magical spot he was trying to take me to. The mall isn't exactly what I had in mind but he seemed really excited about wanting to take me.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhNG96X1UZ
"I can't believe we're skipping class. This doesn't seem like something you would want to do."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgCeLpg9hz
"I don't know. I just felt like spending the day with you."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEw4993dEN
We continued walking through the mall. I saw a ton of people surrounding an ice cream store that had a "Now Open" sign under its name. We started walking towards the shop called "Unicorn Vomit."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9AvVnDae4
"This is it."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EkRd8qlrr
"Unicorn Vomit?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PcEjz0O6N
"Yup."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL4QIjFt4F
I couldn't really see inside of the shop because there were so many people in line surrounding the store.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI7AxIIMnR
"I can't wait for you to try this ice cream."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSwf77DkSH
"What's so special about it?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaYXoxdwzz
"It's the best ice cream in the country."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXcHSPjsVU
"In the country? Now I have to try it. I hope the line moves fast."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6x33ZLPU0
"We're not waiting in line."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DqvzmUOte
He grabs my hand and we proceed to cut through groups of people who made sure to glare at us while walking though. The ice cream shop was huge and seemed to be extremely popular and expensive. They had customizable flavor choices on the wall and limitless toppings.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRTWIckDVB
We reached the front of the line and the person behind us cleared her throat.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaot0uLkSB
"Excuse me? Did you not see the line?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ep0Ni1Mv4
"Sorry ma'am. I'll be quick."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQIoOL6YcL
"Oh my! Is that you Lion?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7RerD4Qki
A small older lady with a Unicorn Vomit logo on her shirt started speaking to Ian.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1aqWH9YcC
"Hey gran. Sorry for popping up without calling."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2bw5LpNMN
"Oh that's okay sweetie. Shouldn't you be in school right now? You know your father's not going to like you skipping class."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipoUeKF6fh
"I know gran. I just couldn't resist your ice cream."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Ubcxdl0Q
"Oh and who might this beautiful lady be? You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend! What's you're name sweetheart?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16XfXkeCH8
"Oh we're just friends. I'm Vee Crowley. We're in art together."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoMkTYsSCc
"Well what can I get you young lady?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmpuJ72KBg
"I've never been here before... I'm not sure what to get...any recommendations?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNA1Z9XPlW
"I have just the thing for you. What about you Lion what would you like?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrA27Vhy3a
"I'll have whatever you give her."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNdLhOLhhp
"Sounds good! Now hurry off before these people get angrier and start a mob. You're holding the line up."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecJkeEWEhT
Ian reached for his pockets and grabbed his wallet. He took 50 dollars out and gave it to the kind old lady.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDiucoaSUK
"This is for the people behind me."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF5zJRBUcv
We walked away from the line and sat on a colorful ice cream shaped table.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87JFz3Av07
"Sorry, my grandma thinks every girl within a 2 mile radius of me is my girlfriend."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzXslFZea5
"Don't be sorry, you're grandma is the sweetest person I think I've ever met."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqDfLaRnvm
"She really is."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAxzpvLNL9
"She works here?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPwN13K5MH
"She owns it. My dad bought the place out and built it for her after retirement so she'd stay on her feet."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzxCxyzISN
"Wow."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJETvNtwxJ
I understand why he was so excited to come here now. He was excited to see his grandma. She was so happy to see him. Her face lit up the minute she realized it was him.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJbHQizYlr
"Why does she call you Lion?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37xYv9sqFQ
He smiled.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCC2hQ2FC0
"She said when I was a kid I used to be obsessed with lions. I was too young to remember but she's been calling me that since elementary."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kyx57zCrF
I see where he gets his kindness from. Maybe it runs in the family.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwjNkrdJg0
"Here you go a large couple shake. Enjoy"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUtfP8TiEu
The worker placed one large glass filled with a strawberry shake and a scoop of ice cream on the top with sprinkles and two straws. The glass had a heart on it with a cupid symbol in the middle.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2gXXZhpD2
Ian looked over at the counter where his grandma was and she just looked at him and winked.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbSL1g3pr9
"This looks so yummy."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdR6cEaKmo
"Really? I'm glad you think so. I've never had this one."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob0X5eWsYt
We dig our straws through the ice cream and down to where the shake is.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9gkLuf7rb
"Wow this is amazing."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuU4spQ5js
I take my straw out of the glass and grab a spoon from the table and start eating the ice cream on the top. Ian sat there watching me with a face of amusement.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5xMLba2rT
"What?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxBzG8wcZK
"Nothing."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr02R9q86oT
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi7cIImDD8
"Like what?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm1UqAjnxZ
"Like that!"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBQ6CRJMxM
He chuckled at me and I just rolled my eyes.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIasKicLkKM
"Are you going to the charity banquet this weekend?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFun6gtJccw
"I didn't know there was one."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDvKJgUPQ9
"It's for members only but they allow a plus one none member."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy2ySkcrZj
"When is it?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AU9OTYx3m
"This Saturday at 7:30. If you're not busy that day I was wondering if you would be my plus one."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdsnUapM4d
"Ian I'd love to but this Saturday is when I need to move everything out of my house. My mom leaves for Chicago Saturday."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBtltseM8X
As much as I wanted to go with him, I had bigger issues to deal with. I needed to pack my things and find someone to stay with. I tried calling my distant aunt but she hasn't answered yet. I tried to apply for a loan to stay in the dorm but they declined it, of course. Jordan's letting me stay in her dorm for a few days but after that It's up to me to find somewhere to stay.Right now I'm basically homeless. A banquet is the last thing on my mind.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGcHQtzwex
"And on top of that...I have nothing to wear."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp7VVfBwUt
"If you had something to wear and had help moving your things out, would you go?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQkjw4uTQS
"Hmmm... maybe."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRmBydHaDL
"Let's go."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHSr6ObpcJ
He grabbed my hand as I took my last bite of the ice cream and pulled me off of my chair. He gripped my hand right to make sure I was still following behind him. We walked for a couple minutes before we reached another store.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijtnitJHyn
We walked into the store and in big letters behind the front desk it read Versace.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP0bMtboAk
"What are we doing here?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2LFdUimDE
"We're getting you a dress."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1gkrlWChR
My eyeballs popped out of my head and I looked at him with my face stuck in a shocked expression. At Versace?
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD96hszLLQ
"Good afternoon Mr. Pleasant."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGHiniitrO
"Mr. Peters welcome back, It's been quite some time since I've seen you last. Are you here for something in particular?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80DrlDMK33
"Actually, yes. I need a dress for my friend."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzX06zKV2C
"I'm Mr. Pleasant nice to meet you."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdh381iumm
He put his hand out to me and we shook hands for few seconds before he led both of us to the back of the store. There were hundreds of dresses in the back hung up on display behind glass cases. They all looked so elegant and colorful.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kqONInZFh
A lady came out and quickly took my measurements before disappearing again.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ986QDJvd5P
"Ian this is a lovely gesture but there's no way in hell I'm allowing you to get me a freaking Versace dress."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG1IHfaT1l
"Why not?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyWsuzX23Z
"That's way too expensive. If you wanted to get me a dress couldn't you have just gotten me something from a different cheaper place?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaZnCfwDUR
"Why would you want a cheap dress?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkV17A5S3f
"It's just one banquet it's not like I'll ever wear it ever again. There's no reason to spend too much."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDpv0fROuv
"I'm not spending too much."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVoueKrjS1
"Ian-"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AFbkasgFh
"Here you go ma'am. This dress compliments your skin tone. If you don't like that one we can try another."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXIwG7v3Jw
The lady that disappeared came back out from the back and handed me a crème colored ball gown with hints of glitter over the dress.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLb0chnOV4
I looked back at Ian and he plopped onto a chair and waited for me to try it on.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xhju0XkME
With a heavy sigh of defeat I took the dress and followed the lady into the fitting room. It took 15 minutes to put the dress on because I was afraid to break anything on there. Once I had it on the lady came back into the fitting room.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzaKPMpHji
"You look beautiful in that dress ma'am."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq9Rnxb4iT
"Thank you. You don't have to call me ma'am, I'm V."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbBlrrFu9A
"Nice to meet you V."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuES25wtGyQ
I looked at myself in the big mirror in front of me and I felt like cinderella. The dress sleeves hung off of my shoulders revealing my collarbone and the glitter on the dress wasn't overwhelming. It hugged my skin tightly, but not too tight for me to move a little in it. It had an open slit on the right that ran up to my upper thigh and the rest of the dress was open. I hate to say I loved it but I did.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6VHdJ6BE3
I stood there looking at myself in the dress for so long I almost forgot the lady was waiting for me to comment on it.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb0wgSYryr
"I love this dress."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT53ycZrdSd
"I do too. It fits you very well. Do you have a special occasion coming up?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiJ9zT9ny8
"Not exactly. There's a charity event Saturday evening. I've been invited to attend but I don't think I should."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGTZspiJpP
"The Peters annual charity banquet?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lK4UHUokQ
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3i0oTJ6i1
"You've been invited?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqNZnMUlSE
"Yes?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEG2ikOH6x
"You must be one special girl."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYTBx9GLdu
"What do you mean by that?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsy2xstvbF
"That banquet is closed to invites, the same people have been attending for years. I know because I myself tried to attend with my ex. They didn't allow it and he's been going for years."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHUijabNxh
"Why is it like that?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLydPXmt3we
"It's a traditional thing I guess."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVVonmyyRj
I took a deep breath and looked back into the mirror. What she told me made me even more nervous than before. I can't let him buy me this dress. It had to be well over a hundred dollars.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtrugSOl5f
"How much is this dress?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1pb5spddu
"$5,672."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntaqvJTq9o
"What?!"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVoQhWDKkC
I almost had a heart-attack. That much for a dress?! I need to take this off before I'm in debt.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyUHQVaXuI
"I can't let him buy this for me." I said under my breath.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXn9F2zTkh
I walked out of the dressing room and presented the dress to Ian. I did a little spin and curtsy to him and he looked aw struck. He didn't say anything for a good while, he just stared at me and the dress.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JJAFkqjDv
"I don't like it." I lied. This is the only way I could think of to get him to not buy me the dress.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Vdi5y5u1S
"You don't?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejf1OO4rnm
"No."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVFVbzTeV9
"Okay."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIUkCkb5p4
"Okay?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPBNDOah1x
"Okay."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIw2xrXbDm
He got up from the chair he was sitting in and started walking towards me. He approached me and stood inches away, taking me in.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvvZLaoZRD
"I think you look gorgeous."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2teBNjMwL
He raised a hand to my cheek and slowly cupped it. I didn't know if he was going to kiss me again but my body still reacted instantly to the touch of his palm. My face got hot and I turned away before he could do anything else.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6E8dC6gzo
"Thank you. I'm going to take it off now."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9WDTT6MHq
I walked back into the dressing room and the lady helped me take off the beautiful gown and put it back. I was sad taking it off but I knew that this was the right thing to do.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02XrH6y0oZ
I left the room and came back to Ian who was standing by the door waiting for me.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpHien2YX0
"Do you want to try anything else on?"
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydKXPEczxU
I shook my head. "Let's go somewhere else."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY21aQKbfS
He took my hand and led me out of the store. We stopped at various different shops and Ian continued to ask me if I wanted to try on any other dresses. I tried some dresses on in other luxury brand stores but in the back of my mind I knew none of the dresses I tried on would compare to the first one.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDv1oaQpVp
That one stuck with me. But so did the price.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ4l00o10f
Ian didn't buy anything and neither did I. We ended up pretty much window shopping at every store we went to. The mall closes at 6 and the time was 5:45. We were there all day.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHCTzww2UP
After a while I got tired of walking from store to store and we ended up going back to his car and he drove me back home.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ7B6I6gTC
No one was home again.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC33tnoIzl3
"Thank you for today."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXVNkcpnxp
"I should be thanking you. This is the best day I've had all year."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR4PXQFL1h
I smiled to myself. It was for me too.
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmKAlrOrSW
"Goodbye Ian."
141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUmHfmFSwv
"Goodbye, Vee."
ns216.73.216.0da2
