“There's not much else to say,” I insist, but the pointed look she gives me tells me she doesn’t believe me.
“I’m sure there is, but for now, let’s find everything you need.” Her pace slows as she points to the left. “The Hut is on the far left, the dining hall is in the center, and the academy is in the distance, which is all the things you know already. The fun is all at the back, over toward Institutes Six and Seven.” I follow her lead, keeping pace with her as the paved streets turn to cobbled stone and carless walkways. “The library is that way and there's a gym over here, but it’s not as good as the one inside our building. We also have clothing stores, coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries, a small grocery store, electronics, and even a place to pick up some goodies. Where do you want to start?”
She aims her finger from one end of the street to the other as she talks.
It almost reminds me of back home, of the one little street in the center of town, but everything feels a lot more expensive here in comparison.
A warm sensation blossoms in my chest, unfamiliar and scary, but what leaves me stuttering for words is the weight of the card in my hand. “Honestly, I feel like I'm too scared to spend it,” I admit, and her eyebrows pinch.
“Why?”
I dip my head, embarrassed. “I don't know. Is there a thrift store somewhere?”
She rubs her lips. “Is that where you would usually go?” she asks, and I nod. “Well, there's not one here, but even if there was, you deserve a moment to sort yourself out for real. You deserve to put yourself first and give yourself the care you need. It just so happens right now that those things come with a price tag,” she insists, and nerves clog my throat.
“I don't know.”
She gives me another pointed look and it renders me speechless. “What use is the money just sitting in the bank if the Institute won't even let you leave?”
She has a point. I can't say I like it, but she hasone. When I don't give her an answer, she takes control as she claps her hands together excitedly. “We're hitting them all.”
The lilt to her voice ignites something inside of me and an exciting tingle runs down my spine. “We are,” I agree, and she nods before dragging me along.
One store leads into another, and another, and another, and another, our bags piling up high with every scan of my card. My bank balance drops, and I all but sag in my seat at the little Italian restaurant Ocean decides on at the thought of it.
I feel like I could sleep for a week. I'm more tired from this than I am from a combat class. We take a moment after we order our food to just sit in silence and watch the world go by. It's surprising how many students are down here, but what's more noticeable is that none of them are wearing a purple emblem. They’re all from much higher Institutions than our own.
My thoughts are cut short as plates of food are brought to the table and my stomach grumbles, confirming just how hungry I am.
“I’ve got a meat lover's pizza and a blanco pizza with prosciutto,” the waiter confirms, and Ocean nods.
“Thank you so much,” he murmurs, and I smilemy gratitude too as I stare at the deliciousness before us. A glass bottle of water sits on the table. It feels criminal not to just have it from the faucet, but after my first sip, I all but travelled to Heaven. I was back to being out of my depth a moment later when Ocean explained that the bottle came directly from Italy.
I don't know who I think I am right now, but I'm bathing in it. Reaching for a slice of the blanco pizza, I take a bite and all but melt into the cheese on top. “It's so good,” I mutter, and Ocean hums her agreement.
“So good,” she breathes. “What did you think of the shopping?” she asks once both of us have demolished another slice of each pizza, moving on to our third.
I roll my eyes at her. “You really made me go into every shop. It's impossible not to be overwhelmed with the amount of bags propping me up right now.” I glance down at the bags in question, recalling every purchase I just made in what feels like such a short space of time.
I’ve got seven sets of lingerie, two new pajama sets, and Ocean somehow convinced me to get a cute little baby doll satin nightdress too, for when the nights get warm. We both know it's not for that, but she was convincing in her speech, regardless.Another bag is filled with a pair of boots, sneakers, and sandals, but the remaining bags that spill out around it are an array of everyday clothes.
I’m now the new owner of hoodies, yoga pants, jeans, t-shirts, cardigans, skirts, shorts, blouses, a coat, and too many dresses for the occasional nights out Ocean says we’re going to enjoy.
I tried to say no to everything, but then Ocean reminded me that ascension is a gift we’re unlikely to receive, so I should make the most of the life I have here while I actually have it.
We probably don't have one at all.
And with that said, I can't be as mad about the dwindling bank balance that I didn't even know existed until a few hours ago.
After finishing our shopping for clothes and shoes, we stopped by the little coffee shop, where I had my first ever hazelnut-flavored hot chocolate, which has since become my new addiction. With my new sweet treat in hand, we carried on into the cute little gift store where we got matching stuffed Highland cow plushies.
I’m the proud owner of a fluffy little companion, something I always dreamed of, yet never owned until now.
The most expensive bag is the smallest of them all; the real treat that I splurged on. I'm excited tolisten to music with my new wireless earbuds and get lost in a world of sound. I just have to feel safe enough to do it, which is easier said than done. And finding the time is another obstacle I need to contend with.
Overall, I'm most excited about the bag full of snacks we bought from the grocery store. There are so many sweets, chips, and chocolates that I've never even tried. I can't wait to indulge in it, but first, I’m likely to make myself sick on the pizza, because there is way too much between us.
Taking another bite of the gooey goodness, my eyes linger on the Highland cow. I didn't even know it was a thing until I saw it in the store. I think I'm obsessed with his cute little horns and his brown smattering of fur. He's going to be my new best bed buddy.
