Touch Her…
I glanced out the window while sifting through my closet. I’d woken back up around nine-thirty. Now it was a gloomy afternoon. I hummed and moved clothes around, searching for a cozy outfit to keep me warm while Ari and I went shopping. I settled on a long sleeve crop top, black skirt, thigh high stockings, and over the knee boots. Nice and warm.
“That’s warm for you?”Ariwas eyeing me from the doorway. She was wearing a hoodie, jeans, and converse. An outfit for boring people.
“Clearly. My boots are higher than usual and I’m wearing long sleeves and thigh highs. How is this not warm?”
“Whatever you say.”She stopped mid-sit on my bed and stood back up, then poked thecomforter.“When did you get these?”She picked up the new stuffed animal.
“Dennis got them for me. I named him Drakie. Get it? Like Dracula? Now I have Drakie and Frankie. They’ll be brothers.”
“That was sweet of him,” she murmured, setting Drakie down.
“I know, right?” I couldn’t wipe the giddy smile off my face, which she seemed to notice. She was watching me with a certain smile of her own. I led the way downstairs and into her car before she could say anything about it.“This shopping isn’t for me, by the way. I hope you have extra scholarship money,”I saidas we headed for the mall, ready to announce my master plan. “We’re getting you a new wardrobe!”
“Why? I like my clothes.”
“I’m sure you do, but I don’t. You need to be more spicy.”
“Spicy?”she asked, laughing at my choice of words. “I’m not food.”
“Yes, spicy. You can keep the same style with all your boring t-shirts and stuff, just get ones that are better. You need actual blouses instead of t-shirts. And if you keep wearing jeans, stop having such plain ones. We’re gonna get you some that are at least different styles and colors.You wear a different color t-shirt and the same color jeans every day and it’s boring.”
“I’m not wearing see through shit or lace. Nothing leather, and there’s no way I’m wearing a shirt that shows my entire bra. At least half my stomach stays in at all times. No spikes—no, not even small ones—orstudsor chains. Nothing that doubles as a weapon.”
“You’re taking all the fun stuff away.”
“I’m not done. No bustiers because a bra isnota shirt, my skirts need to be long enough to cover my ass when I bend over, I’m still wearing underwear, and I’m not walking around in heels all day. And I’m not wearing boots every day, either. Okay, now I’m done.”
“Eh,I guess I can work with that. I wouldn’t want us to dress the same, anyway.”
We talked about random things the rest of the way to the mall, which was only a fewminutes.Once we arrived, I led the way to a store that was somewhat her style but with better options. Four stores, three hours, and a few hundred dollars later, we were finished with operation Ari’s wardrobe.
“Where should we go now?”I asked eagerly.
“That spot looks like your type of store.”She pointed as best she could with a handful of bags.
I wandered inside with her trailing a few feet behind. Ihadn’t bought anything for myself—a brand new motorcycle was splurging enough—but a couple of small things wouldn’t hurt.I zeroed in on ajewelry display and picked up a black handcuff choker, then choseasilveramethystring.And then something perfect caught my eye.
“This is so Dennis,”I said,marvelinga coffin shaped lighter. It was red with a grey and black stake on it.The sheer red almost made the fluid look like blood inside. I flipped it open, then flinched when a flame shot up.
“Why’d you turn it on, dummy? You know fire freaks you out.”
“I had to make sure it works.I’m so excited. I hope he likes it.”
“I’m sure he will,” Ari said. “It’s basically him in a nutshell. Fire and death.”
“I know! It’s perfect.” I grinned as we went to the register. I paid and put my new jewelry on, then slipped the lighter into my pocket as we left.“We should probably go to the bar now. I start in twenty minutes. Sean is teaching me how to close today and I don’t wanna make him wait.”
We pivoted for the parking lot. It was rarefor me to care about timing—I usually preferred fashionably late—but there was something about this job that made me wanna try.
“I haven’t seen him all day. It’s unusual.”Ari unlocked her car and we both got in.
“I haven’t seen Dennis all day, either. It’s super weird. Maybe they’re mad at us.”I said,slumping in my seat. “Do you think they’re mad at us?”
“Of course not. Why would they be mad at us?We didn’t do anything.”She pulled from the parking lot and started down the street.
“No. Dennis is mad. I can tell.”
