"The mall?" This is where you wanted to take me?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAL3nxYr3xu9
"Not just the mall. My favorite store is in this mall."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAIFpIfzgUgx
"Now I'm curious."
150Please respect copyright.PENANApD0EYIYWt2
"Just keep walking we're almost there."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA97DFzSZX3r
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANANx4O39SkYU
"I can't believe we're skipping class. This doesn't seem like something you would want to do."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAHtx2hh7GQH
"I don't know. I just felt like spending the day with you."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAd7UkejDuOE
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."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAn7lIUSExt0
"This is it."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdtNkht43wb
"Unicorn Vomit?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJRR0eIIB1V
"Yup."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAVTg1fxeNuE
I couldn't really see inside of the shop because there were so many people in line surrounding the store.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA0m5ezKRCXk
"I can't wait for you to try this ice cream."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAqGEN7xqJGy
"What's so special about it?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAYqsMKn7IZk
"It's the best ice cream in the country."
150Please respect copyright.PENANALakoGnMcec
"In the country? Now I have to try it. I hope the line moves fast."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAB4WiGM29Ra
"We're not waiting in line."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAE86U5qbeKW
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAhHjMtk2EaU
We reached the front of the line and the person behind us cleared her throat.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAthItbF2nmc
"Excuse me? Did you not see the line?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAsQIu00WVF8
"Sorry ma'am. I'll be quick."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA5PIfEbHNjU
"Oh my! Is that you Lion?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANA6KaiD1UmOs
A small older lady with a Unicorn Vomit logo on her shirt started speaking to Ian.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAYjCoxDge87
"Hey gran. Sorry for popping up without calling."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAY6IQWXOSY4
"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."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6tTe0ATut
"I know gran. I just couldn't resist your ice cream."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAuan8TsaFe4
"Oh and who might this beautiful lady be? You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend! What's you're name sweetheart?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOZkUCfDdaR
"Oh we're just friends. I'm Vee Crowley. We're in art together."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAiUMVZwasO2
"Well what can I get you young lady?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANACsVK2P8U97
"I've never been here before... I'm not sure what to get...any recommendations?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAH6fIvPxEDy
"I have just the thing for you. What about you Lion what would you like?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAeWWS3n0xCi
"I'll have whatever you give her."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwTS38fzbCB
"Sounds good! Now hurry off before these people get angrier and start a mob. You're holding the line up."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZmOWbWj8uB
Ian reached for his pockets and grabbed his wallet. He took 50 dollars out and gave it to the kind old lady.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAn6zq34PpMD
"This is for the people behind me."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAlTYYOQfatI
We walked away from the line and sat on a colorful ice cream shaped table.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9eujfAXkGM
"Sorry, my grandma thinks every girl within a 2 mile radius of me is my girlfriend."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAhMNm6SCqX4
"Don't be sorry, you're grandma is the sweetest person I think I've ever met."
150Please respect copyright.PENANACtRaWOpJTv
"She really is."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAMwviFNbIsZ
"She works here?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAbMc4hKYauB
"She owns it. My dad bought the place out and built it for her after retirement so she'd stay on her feet."
150Please respect copyright.PENANArHvQfLrxrJ
"Wow."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4MhGodX65E
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA6OWZOiOBIy
"Why does she call you Lion?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAaTvrKJf8Gp
He smiled.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAi50PLGdVpR
"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."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAs4LdGkdO7t
I see where he gets his kindness from. Maybe it runs in the family.
150Please respect copyright.PENANABn4g5pBJ5d
"Here you go a large couple shake. Enjoy"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAmcUvnvn4zH
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANArt5Qs17wDC
Ian looked over at the counter where his grandma was and she just looked at him and winked.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnpczCRjPwE
"This looks so yummy."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAG4uJ8ktXnm
"Really? I'm glad you think so. I've never had this one."
150Please respect copyright.PENANApDYvhmJ6ho
We dig our straws through the ice cream and down to where the shake is.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA5HhqQOrT1z
"Wow this is amazing."
150Please respect copyright.PENANARMMSkZhtrT
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAMIg0V4710G
"What?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANA5swusRqNRH
"Nothing."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAO4AHU5IpLi
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9tIAS2ooTW
"Like what?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAEUJFxVWOSK
"Like that!"
150Please respect copyright.PENANACDWSbHdTEK
He chuckled at me and I just rolled my eyes.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjZsehnAg0V
"Are you going to the charity banquet this weekend?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjZQfpUJ5yX
"I didn't know there was one."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAi5EKnkEbxG
"It's for members only but they allow a plus one none member."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAR4UE59Axh1
"When is it?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAqK3PjG0xzx
"This Saturday at 7:30. If you're not busy that day I was wondering if you would be my plus one."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAYS8GZPt4sF
"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."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAldx7nQ1ZnH
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAw9ZkvBqNLC
"And on top of that...I have nothing to wear."
150Please respect copyright.PENANABkK0iHqfn7
"If you had something to wear and had help moving your things out, would you go?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANArgaYKTTGId
"Hmmm... maybe."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9BYQoKzjDa
"Let's go."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAeNgjsK1zHF
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA7bdZcaWAkv
We walked into the store and in big letters behind the front desk it read Versace.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA5tpkjxSHdz
"What are we doing here?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANARO2MIKrDel
"We're getting you a dress."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA8hWaPKBnvk
My eyeballs popped out of my head and I looked at him with my face stuck in a shocked expression. At Versace?
150Please respect copyright.PENANAfw0UAsQaCD
"Good afternoon Mr. Pleasant."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAUuH3ZzUJFz
"Mr. Peters welcome back, It's been quite some time since I've seen you last. Are you here for something in particular?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZiAb8AjgOm
"Actually, yes. I need a dress for my friend."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAfK4jDOANJN
"I'm Mr. Pleasant nice to meet you."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAtYkxqZUICF
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANABjV7ejXSzU
A lady came out and quickly took my measurements before disappearing again.
150Please respect copyright.PENANACUqit53fD2
"Ian this is a lovely gesture but there's no way in hell I'm allowing you to get me a freaking Versace dress."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAW1frBPBoAN
"Why not?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAkmL1Ro3CTP
"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?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOfJ9Y1HnxW
"Why would you want a cheap dress?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9nfHTacY2N
"It's just one banquet it's not like I'll ever wear it ever again. There's no reason to spend too much."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAE9Xse3WTMV
"I'm not spending too much."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA7dLDOkLadi
"Ian-"
150Please respect copyright.PENANANCKt9z4fa6
"Here you go ma'am. This dress compliments your skin tone. If you don't like that one we can try another."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAfP1ZKn0JPZ
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANADQIpm5wqxU
I looked back at Ian and he plopped onto a chair and waited for me to try it on.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAI8WMrENDKl
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAkYfT57Olxf
"You look beautiful in that dress ma'am."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdqjdPtaV9A
"Thank you. You don't have to call me ma'am, I'm V."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAAkKZWxVgK3
"Nice to meet you V."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAPSPrZIoR35
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANALETA4Ufav3
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAj4rDdpXYVQ
"I love this dress."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAHj4oqc8B2Y
"I do too. It fits you very well. Do you have a special occasion coming up?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAmW9RoeRsYu
"Not exactly. There's a charity event Saturday evening. I've been invited to attend but I don't think I should."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAO2WYtGuHOr
"The Peters annual charity banquet?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAA4YJQKw44N
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAMrpRAyg34y
"You've been invited?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAgDW3nN3Mqv
"Yes?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAb0hk864bek
"You must be one special girl."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAED4V8cVgpa
"What do you mean by that?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAg5qTthNpUh
"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."
150Please respect copyright.PENANArNs7l18SEY
"Why is it like that?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAquq60OBpkC
"It's a traditional thing I guess."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAhVkLIybn2K
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAhOnikr1GZu
"How much is this dress?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAqbVtoVVLnv
"$5,672."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA8avEyEdjVj
"What?!"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAce7TxLZ1LZ
I almost had a heart-attack. That much for a dress?! I need to take this off before I'm in debt.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnvVfKlX243
"I can't let him buy this for me." I said under my breath.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAXZp6VK7Q11
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAyqqD4lootV
"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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAIB6eh5PecI
"You don't?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAK3fvxe2MYs
"No."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA03bvSSSUgB
"Okay."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAusHo30wHnX
"Okay?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAi40sKpJ396
"Okay."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAP4qdUpEH3z
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFqCIc8eGJb
"I think you look gorgeous."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAhxR7pDI3kP
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAQtU4wLzSRy
"Thank you. I'm going to take it off now."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAmrC5gHVWrQ
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA3Qobe4vc3j
I left the room and came back to Ian who was standing by the door waiting for me.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAabUKEBUnv1
"Do you want to try anything else on?"
150Please respect copyright.PENANAWe1086oXlq
I shook my head. "Let's go somewhere else."
150Please respect copyright.PENANANrsj4idAZF
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAaBvrttBLej
That one stuck with me. But so did the price.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAfg5LJ8jgUu
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAs9Gac6Fh6K
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.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAKCOvWr90E7
No one was home again.
150Please respect copyright.PENANA05KdxGdhRI
"Thank you for today."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJezPvyelvQ
"I should be thanking you. This is the best day I've had all year."
150Please respect copyright.PENANA81bxMqsHHc
I smiled to myself. It was for me too.
150Please respect copyright.PENANAlEpo6qMYGY
"Goodbye Ian."
150Please respect copyright.PENANAgCpA1PLTNa
"Goodbye, Vee."
ns216.73.216.210da2