"The mall?" This is where you wanted to take me?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANA6lf8zQE1Nh
"Not just the mall. My favorite store is in this mall."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA1lpDu6zmhx
"Now I'm curious."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA3NzxPKG30M
"Just keep walking we're almost there."
109Please respect copyright.PENANATCAdoUmRJR
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAmb6exuzupE
"I can't believe we're skipping class. This doesn't seem like something you would want to do."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAFIsubGYP6A
"I don't know. I just felt like spending the day with you."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAmNLwRLdcoc
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."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAle8cPbx2rY
"This is it."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAVeTxgHpmHh
"Unicorn Vomit?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANA821IdY74We
"Yup."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAVwlZMLbDu1
I couldn't really see inside of the shop because there were so many people in line surrounding the store.
109Please respect copyright.PENANA88AqGxJrfO
"I can't wait for you to try this ice cream."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAnonfG9cUu7
"What's so special about it?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANACqKYdiB5Uv
"It's the best ice cream in the country."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAute6qXqP3g
"In the country? Now I have to try it. I hope the line moves fast."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA2oU6oyr6Lx
"We're not waiting in line."
109Please respect copyright.PENANARLZmrK9fr0
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANASLkIG8eUyR
We reached the front of the line and the person behind us cleared her throat.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAbtyWsAycN4
"Excuse me? Did you not see the line?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAACy3kY4ejt
"Sorry ma'am. I'll be quick."
109Please respect copyright.PENANACQC2Z0ogiw
"Oh my! Is that you Lion?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANALfWEdUTM4F
A small older lady with a Unicorn Vomit logo on her shirt started speaking to Ian.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAZgsyt3Fun2
"Hey gran. Sorry for popping up without calling."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ou1GZrNmL
"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."
109Please respect copyright.PENANABmhEGgZgkT
"I know gran. I just couldn't resist your ice cream."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAnzMefuInfu
"Oh and who might this beautiful lady be? You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend! What's you're name sweetheart?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAHaGAnrOd9s
"Oh we're just friends. I'm Vee Crowley. We're in art together."
109Please respect copyright.PENANADQzCB3rOU1
"Well what can I get you young lady?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAQnVoBVJ8b9
"I've never been here before... I'm not sure what to get...any recommendations?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAmi8dIvGia0
"I have just the thing for you. What about you Lion what would you like?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANALTqpwaCY7m
"I'll have whatever you give her."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAVZEFwfjL1I
"Sounds good! Now hurry off before these people get angrier and start a mob. You're holding the line up."
109Please respect copyright.PENANATiciR4UoVF
Ian reached for his pockets and grabbed his wallet. He took 50 dollars out and gave it to the kind old lady.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAq7x4ZQuRbf
"This is for the people behind me."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAMcW0jP90GI
We walked away from the line and sat on a colorful ice cream shaped table.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAiNKRfqwHvt
"Sorry, my grandma thinks every girl within a 2 mile radius of me is my girlfriend."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAOq3u8MC7tB
"Don't be sorry, you're grandma is the sweetest person I think I've ever met."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAhGqkwxfWjQ
"She really is."
109Please respect copyright.PENANALhJkdgPGR3
"She works here?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAdbt21Jig4i
"She owns it. My dad bought the place out and built it for her after retirement so she'd stay on her feet."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA2OSl5PKRxY
"Wow."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAglfxSdF8xa
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAO9GV192Civ
"Why does she call you Lion?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAZLk9tcn5OK
He smiled.
109Please respect copyright.PENANA30OYgUq1Xk
"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."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAnhd23HQ0ZB
I see where he gets his kindness from. Maybe it runs in the family.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAnQVPxRRYIy
"Here you go a large couple shake. Enjoy"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAoCJ7tt3XF6
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAv5pYRSN7u5
Ian looked over at the counter where his grandma was and she just looked at him and winked.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAsesJzjXrkL
"This looks so yummy."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAC0rIJKXVMF
"Really? I'm glad you think so. I've never had this one."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAK6xLdXhFKL
We dig our straws through the ice cream and down to where the shake is.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAcANb1jCF1x
"Wow this is amazing."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAJjRFjqwIcA
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANABFtLwbGGYc
"What?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANASq1CEzs84Y
"Nothing."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA6IpdFU6pVf
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANASUTRfpoqYy
"Like what?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAbDUwXdYgfg
"Like that!"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAiqgoEIGHVg
He chuckled at me and I just rolled my eyes.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAxcnwxpJMh5
"Are you going to the charity banquet this weekend?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAleU8k92IZN
"I didn't know there was one."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAYXoEIgQv7F
"It's for members only but they allow a plus one none member."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAlwGWodqLqu
"When is it?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAoXrglIcapH
"This Saturday at 7:30. If you're not busy that day I was wondering if you would be my plus one."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAoUJkr1a16K
"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."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAw9dPvvGflC
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAjvvjcCkQdX
"And on top of that...I have nothing to wear."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAmg5y2KzGq1
"If you had something to wear and had help moving your things out, would you go?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAakfe9hgRPh
"Hmmm... maybe."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAj3eDID6Kcq
"Let's go."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAYBiVQXJiCH
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANA4qJW78Mhmi
We walked into the store and in big letters behind the front desk it read Versace.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAEFe9ZZQAhp
"What are we doing here?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAGHjZ4Kb0Af
"We're getting you a dress."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA2iNW0Sz9iq
My eyeballs popped out of my head and I looked at him with my face stuck in a shocked expression. At Versace?
109Please respect copyright.PENANAGYpgygCGYQ
"Good afternoon Mr. Pleasant."
109Please respect copyright.PENANABfK4rFuRUk
"Mr. Peters welcome back, It's been quite some time since I've seen you last. Are you here for something in particular?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAvizkD2Y8yd
"Actually, yes. I need a dress for my friend."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAJv2WM4vmBR
"I'm Mr. Pleasant nice to meet you."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAfp6WJCanHi
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANA8nIGJecnMv
A lady came out and quickly took my measurements before disappearing again.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAS3qf057sD8
"Ian this is a lovely gesture but there's no way in hell I'm allowing you to get me a freaking Versace dress."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAcxD2XRzBvf
"Why not?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANA7WSwn3RtmC
"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?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANARkhlotfJxz
"Why would you want a cheap dress?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAIKCCQGQxAL
"It's just one banquet it's not like I'll ever wear it ever again. There's no reason to spend too much."
109Please respect copyright.PENANABNVNSMDrwY
"I'm not spending too much."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAntx5F9wfVg
"Ian-"
109Please respect copyright.PENANA79sPBCn2QK
"Here you go ma'am. This dress compliments your skin tone. If you don't like that one we can try another."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAUPLsMxwIWp
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAOwLKqI7bt4
I looked back at Ian and he plopped onto a chair and waited for me to try it on.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAY4OC875Uv5
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANApRH0PcfHKF
"You look beautiful in that dress ma'am."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAZktgBmAf4Z
"Thank you. You don't have to call me ma'am, I'm V."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAptAfmRFTXo
"Nice to meet you V."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAILrLTOCfMj
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANA1sCOnI0idr
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANALqWNkr8FGh
"I love this dress."
109Please respect copyright.PENANArllXBtB9M0
"I do too. It fits you very well. Do you have a special occasion coming up?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAdPeWGsMDBO
"Not exactly. There's a charity event Saturday evening. I've been invited to attend but I don't think I should."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAUmgBwhu5Qc
"The Peters annual charity banquet?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAFIFHoKT521
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."
109Please respect copyright.PENANADPbBhLNyQ5
"You've been invited?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAgmH41pFaLD
"Yes?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANArWAk0m8gtd
"You must be one special girl."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAh1IFcuru5U
"What do you mean by that?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAGQAyLLDdYA
"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."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA8Jesso2Ohm
"Why is it like that?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANA9TcHbfjhjh
"It's a traditional thing I guess."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAs1T4zb8RTY
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAFIqoMNeTIB
"How much is this dress?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAlqaH6cdB5j
"$5,672."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAePSJ8sZs6U
"What?!"
109Please respect copyright.PENANASTwW7LAdPE
I almost had a heart-attack. That much for a dress?! I need to take this off before I'm in debt.
109Please respect copyright.PENANA8CwBSnfNoI
"I can't let him buy this for me." I said under my breath.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAHYZ3gsX3HD
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANA1q5WW9d0m6
"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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANA8e4lDntuZJ
"You don't?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAFD4F1SFXb7
"No."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAf7Fh5LVXAZ
"Okay."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAnPVM5Z4XLK
"Okay?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAGctMje5i3i
"Okay."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0f2fKWYz6
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAb6ivZRc9r7
"I think you look gorgeous."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAqoBkfh8APp
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAh6vx7FZ3ID
"Thank you. I'm going to take it off now."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA5oUJcUqEFq
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAeOTfuMBJ5Z
I left the room and came back to Ian who was standing by the door waiting for me.
109Please respect copyright.PENANARiccsdzgsV
"Do you want to try anything else on?"
109Please respect copyright.PENANAb9aTNg7vVX
I shook my head. "Let's go somewhere else."
109Please respect copyright.PENANABgr3UjVE8I
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAYrlSEBOgZs
That one stuck with me. But so did the price.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAjBfuwZE6tD
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAxQ1I1a8M86
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.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAR8h10wbfej
No one was home again.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAvy2bQj6tGx
"Thank you for today."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAL73otTGZCU
"I should be thanking you. This is the best day I've had all year."
109Please respect copyright.PENANAcDMJMGMa1a
I smiled to myself. It was for me too.
109Please respect copyright.PENANAhmpXNSthSE
"Goodbye Ian."
109Please respect copyright.PENANA9zPz2IBxLj
"Goodbye, Vee."
ns18.222.168.13da2