Snow Cover

Chapter 12 Shopping

Julia's POV

I leave the apartment pretty quickly, just trying to keep up with John, since the quickened pace in his steps is showing me that he wants to get the show on the road. I am excited for this, but obviously not as excited or maybe anxious as he is. I want to feel like that is a compliment, since he is showing how much time he wants to spend with me. But once my body leaves the safety of the place I have always called my own, there is a strange feeling that is consuming me, and is making me feel more nervous and anxious than I ever thought I would.

I just suck in a sharp breath before letting it out, calming myself down pretty easily after a couple of tries, with the help of the cooling winds blowing past. I watch as he puts my bag into the back of a new vehicle that I haven't seen before. Maybe it's another car of his or maybe he is renting. I don't know what all he has and that's not for me to know.. Well unless he wants to share that with me. "Nice vehicle." I state as he nods and smiles as he shuts the back of it.

"My lady." He says this to me as he opens the passenger door for me, while waving his arm for me to jump in. I look back at my apartment, for some reason feeling like this will be the last time I see it even though I know it's not. I climbed in, settling into the comfy seat as I watched him close my door, then make his way around to the driver's side. Once he gets in he looks over at me as his hand is gently laid down on top of my leg, rubbing lightly.

"Last chance, are you sure that you want to come have a fun time with me?" he asks, saying he is giving me the chance to change my mind, but with the way he has phrased it, I know he is making sure I realize that this is supposed to be fun and nothing else. I looked from my apartment door then back to him as I smiled and nodded, knowing this would be a good thing for me to try for once. It's not like I do stuff like this often. I am trying something new because I deserve to have fun and for new things to happen to me.. And hopefully, this will evolve into something amazing.

"Ok.. good.. There is no leaving me now.. You're stuck with me and I won't let you come back." he states in a playful tone, but I quickly look over at him, not exactly liking that idea, when he looks at my face he automatically laughs and locks the doors then states. "I won't let you come back without a big smile on your face.. That's what I meant.. it just came out wrong." he claims as I smile and nod because I get that. I am not exactly the best at putting together a complete thought about how I am feeling, so I understand him not saying exactly what he meant, the first time around.

"Let's go get you some winter clothes and then we can head out.. ok?" he asks me as I smile. "Yeah, that sounds great." he puts the car into drive, as I feel my heart thumping so dramatically in my chest that I feel like it could fly out of my chest plate at my moment. "Are you ok?" he asks me while still rubbing his hand over my leg more than before. "Yeah.. I'm just nervous." I say to him, but the worried look he sends me, lets me know that he doesn't understand why I would be feeling like this.

"It's nothing against you.. I just never do stuff like this.. and I'm nervous about trying something new." I explain as best as I can while he nods. "I get that, I do.. and I'm not trying to push you to do anything with me at all.. I want you to know that." He declares as I feel my head nodding so much that I must look like a bobble head. "I know you're not pushing me into anything.. I'm actually pushing myself into this. I want to try something new because I feel that this could turn into something great for us." I declare this to him as he smiles even bigger.

"I think it is going to be a step in the right direction for us. Giving me the chance to show you how I really feel about you.. Besides, I do need the little vacation, and this is the best way for me to feel better from all my stresses. You would be surprised how much these trips help with that. There are so many ways that you can take your stresses out in places like this." he explains this, easing my mind from all the stresses, making me very excited to see what would happen with us and what he must have planned.. and who knows, this might be an amazing stress reliever for myself as well.

We drove through the city and right out of it the first chance that we got, and for a second I thought he might have forgotten about stopping at the store, but I didn't want to bother when he is the one doing and paying for everything. So I patiently sit in silence as we drive for a little bit before we arrive at this little line of stores. "Ok, I know what to do just stay close." He parks and gets out not saying much more to me about this, not even what store we are headed to.

So I quickly get out and go to his side, following his lead as he takes us to this big warehouse-looking store. We wander in just to see only winter clothing draped over the walls with mannequins dressed at the front of each isle, which was to be expected. He doesn't leave me behind by any means since I'm right by him, but his pace is fast, as if he knows exactly where he is going, and maybe he does. Maybe this is the store he always comes to for his winter gear. Who knows.

He grabs something off the rack that he is staring at, before grabbing another item off the next rack that is adjacent to it. It's so fast that I can't even see what he may be grabbing. He leaves the rack again, heading to another with me right on his tail, since I can now see why he said to stay with him. He could have easily left me behind if I wasn't picking up my pace to stay right by him. I jump back into action as I watch while he heads from one area to the next, before grabbing a couple more things, not saying one word to me, and I guess I don't mind, since he obviously knows what he is looking for in this place when I don't.

It just confusing for me that he wouldn't be asking me anything, or even saying a word to me whatsoever. Especially since you would figure that he would at least want my size before getting anything for me. But who knows if he has even gotten to my stuff yet, I don't since he is not saying anything. Why did he even have me come in here if he wasn't going to discuss things? I'm not sure, since it doesn't even look like we are together, it just looks like I am being creepy towards him, since I won't stop following him around. But I continue to stick with him as he trails through the store.

When we passed the clothing racks that he was just getting items of clothing from, it slightly surprised me to find out that it was the women's rack. As I had suspected, he picked out stuff for me and didn't even consult me on size, color nothing.. I just thought he would be asking my opinion on colors or what I might like since it will be for me. But apparently he isn't asking me what I would like or want and I guess I don't mind too much.

I do like the fact that he knows what he likes and makes sure to go out and get it without hesitation.. I just didn't think that meant for what I was wearing as well. But the man knows what he likes I guess, and what can I say to object? Especially since he is the one spending a good chunk of money to get me these things. Besides, let's be honest, I like most things but if, for whatever reason, I don't like the winter clothing that he got me, then I don't have to wear it often at all. So it's fine with me either way.

Maybe that's just the passive person I am coming to light, not wanting to fight about anything, just wanting to enjoy the time I have been given. Who knows, but either way, I will not be objecting to what he got. I am just a little weary about this process, since women's clothing is hard when trying to figure out the sizes, since not all the sizes are the same, from one store to the next. But like I stated before, he can do what he wants, it's not my money to spend at all, so I don't get an opinion if he doesn't want me to have one about this.

He takes a couple more items into his arms while we pass multiple racks of clothing as he leads me to the corner where the dressing rooms are, so I assume that we will be trying on things over here, since his arms are full now. But to my surprise, he takes a couple more things into his hands as he turns to look at me. "Come on let's pay," He nods his head towards the cashier's stand that is right beside the dressing rooms.

I'm shocked as I curiously look over to him, "Shouldn't we try on the items you grabbed?" I asked as he scoffed. "No.. I know what to get." he declares as I feel my eyebrows furrowing. "Well, women's sizes are different at every store.." I start trying to complain as he cuts me off, shocking me even more. "No.. These will fit." I don't know what else to say to this.. I don't even know how he knows my size, let alone have that much confidence in his decision about what I should wear. Especially since when I go out and shop I have to try things on a million times just to find the size that fits just right, isn't that a woman's life in general?

The cashier looks shocked by his response to me as she nicely states, "she could try it on really quickly since the dressing rooms are right there if you would like." but John just shakes his head. "No, thanks though.. We have places to be and things to do." she nods her head looking back at me before forcing a fake smile on her face, directed at John. I do just about the same, but like I said before it's his money and he can do what he wants with it. I just hope everything fits as well as he thinks it's going to.

Everything is rung up and thrown into a bag without even a glance from me and barely a glance from him. I don't know what he got at all and there is a part of me that would think he might not know what he got either, since he just threw things into his arms without second glance. He swipes his card faster than I ever imagined the computer could be process it as I watch him grab the bag and turn towards the door. I just send the woman a small smile as I followed John who is leaving the store with everything in hand.

Once we get out to the vehicle, I walk up to him and state. "I thought we were early.. So why do you seem like were in a rush to not even try on the clothes you're buying? What if they don't fit me?" I inquire, not trying to start any issues before the trip has even started, I'm just genuinely confused at this rate. But his answer he gives seems to be short and sweet. "They will fit." I chuckle at his confidence when he obviously has not been shopping as a woman ever.

"What? were you a clothing worker for a women shop in the past or something to be this confident in sizes?" I sarcastically ask, still trying to be light about everything but really wanting to know where this unknown confidence has come from. "I told you that I know women.. and what they want. I knew you were a size 12 before I even looked through your things to confirm. Besides, there is a type of woman that I look for before I would date them, and your size is what I like." He declares as I feel my eyebrows rising in a shock.

"Wait,, my size? Hold on.. You looked through my things? When?" I clarify to make sure I heard that right. "Yeah, but it's not like I'm a creep or anything.. It was just for this moment, just to make sure I had the right idea about what would be a good fit and color for you by the colors and sizes I saw in your closet." He explains as I nod because I guess I understand that.. but when did he have the chance to look through my things without me noticing? Maybe he is just quick about it when my back was turned and grabbing my things. I don't know. He has only been in my place twice and both were by my side for the most part. So I don't understand all the details, but maybe it's better to not know.

"Ok, let's get this show on the road.. I can't wait to get there and show you how I like to relieve stress." he states before looking over at me in the passenger seat. I send him a small smile, still feeling anxious about this, but I think that really has to do with the fact that I'm used to being on my own.. So having someone with me that is making all the decisions for everything, even me, is a little off putting. But I am trying not to think much about it or complain either because so much is being done for me and I want to show that I am grateful.