CHAPTER THREE
922 Words
CHAPTER THREE
“I’m very sorry ma’am, but without a full description of the man who stole from you, there’s little we can do.”
Tears rolled down Aggie’s cheeks.
“Don’t worry, hon. At least he only took your money. It could have been worse, he could have taken your credit card and passport too.”
“I know. I just feel so stupid.”
“Hey, how were you to know he was stealing from you?”
“Stealing and making fun of my cream moustache,” she wailed as they walked out of the police station a short while later.
“It was only a thousand dollars.”
“It was all I had for the holiday.”
“No, that’s not strictly true. I won two thousand, five hundred dollars cash with this holiday and I want you to have half. I’ve got plenty of money anyway.”
Aggie’s eyes widened as she stared down at her best friend.
“No, I can’t do that. I can’t take your money,” she said with a shake of her head.
“Yes you can. I insist. I won’t take no for an answer, okay? I’ve got plenty. You’re taking it.”
Aggie looked at Coco for a few seconds longer before she nodded and blew her nose at the same time.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“No problem,” Coco added, squeezing her shoulder.
“Let’s just forget this ever happened. But from now on, don’t leave your cash in your pocket, okay?”
Aggie nodded.
“Perhaps it’s time you thought about buying yourself a decent handbag?” Coco suggested.
Aggie raised her eyebrows, “I have a decent handbag— the one I left at the hotel.”
“Aggie, honey. That’s a cheap, dowdy librarian’s tote, not a decent handbag. You need something with a bit of, you know—style.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Aggie shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight, “Style? Like I have any of that.”
oOo
“Hey y’all. Let me know if I can be of any assistance, ya hear?” said the pretty little shop assistant in a strong southern accent as they wandered into the popular boutique. Coco smiled and nodded before she headed straight for the handbag section.
“Thank you,” Aggie mouthed as she traipsed after her friend.
The assistant smiled and continued to straighten the clothes on the hangers.
“What about this one?” Coco suggested, holding up a large gold and pink leopard-print bag.
Aggie’s face made her put it back down almost immediately.
“A bit much, eh?” she grinned.
“Just a bit,” Aggie responded as she walked toward the brown and beige section.
Before she could get there, Coco grabbed her friend’s arm and pulled her in the opposite direction.
“There’s no way I’m letting you buy a dowdy brown tote again! You need a bit of colour. A bit of fun in your life.”
“Coco, a pink handbag does not equal fun in one’s life,” Aggie stated as Coco held up a cute little pink tassel bag, followed by a fuchsia tote.
“They’re just not me. I’d look ridiculous carrying around something like that.”
“Oh Aggie,” Coco sighed again. “That’s your problem. I keep telling you. You need to, erm…elevate your style.”
Aggie looked down at herself, seeing nothing wrong with the mum jeans she’d bought especially for the holiday. She’d read about mum jeans being the latest thing in a magazine she’d found at Coco’s house.
“Oh honey. Mum jeans? With hiking shoes? Not exactly the epitome of style right now.”
“Huh? But I read about them in one of your magazines.”
“Honey, that magazine was, like, five years old or something. You could probably get away with them if you were wearing red patent heels or something but those old trainers aren’t doing the same trick.”
“What’s wrong with my trainers?” Aggie asked.
“What’s right with them?” Coco replied as she spotted the perfect bag. “I’ve found it!” she screeched.
Rolling her eyes, Aggie followed behind her best friend, stopping at a shelf holding what looked like quite a nice compromise for them both.
Coco placed the bag in Aggie’s hand with a grin, “Well?”
Holding up the soft, red leather bag, Aggie smiled back and nodded. “It’s actually quite perfect.”
“I knew we’d find something to suit you in here. And it is the perfect compromise for a former librarian turned s*x kitten.” She winked.
Aggie blushed and shook her head whilst swinging the satchel to hit Coco on her bottom.
“Now shoes,” Coco said as she marched toward the escalator, stopping to read the map beside it. “Women’s shoes,” she muttered, “Oh there, third floor,” she said turning to make sure Aggie was right behind her.
“Shouldn’t I pay for this first down here?”
“No need, we can pay for everything together. Have you never been to a department store before, Aggie? Honestly woman, I sometimes feel like I’m shopping with a child not with my best mate!”
“Oh okay,” she said with a faint smile. “Sorry.”
Coco linked arms with her and together they stepped on the huge escalator taking them up to the next floor, where they stepped off before stepping on to the next escalator, continuing until they reached the women’s shoe department on the third floor.
Looking around, Coco giggled like a child herself. “Just look at all these shoes,” she breathed, struggling to focus.
Aggie laughed, “Well, we could always just skip shopping for me and get some new shoes for you, Coco.”
“Why don’t we do both?” Coco suggested with a glint in her eye as she was inextricably pulled toward the Christian Louboutins in the far corner of the massive room.
Aggie sat down and watched as her friend picked up and drooled over every single pair of the red-soled footwear until, after a while, she grew tired of perusing and turned her attention to Aggie.
“Not buying any?” Aggie asked, a little surprised.
“Actually no, not yet. I think I’ll see what else they have first. But I’m not the priority today. You are. We need to find you a few new pairs.”
“But not Christian Louboutins please. As much as I think they’re very pretty. I’d rather not spend all my money on two pairs of shoes when I could buy a whole new wardrobe and then some if we shopped over there for instance,” Aggie pointed to the cheaper section of shoes.
“Right you are, my lovely. For now anyway.”
- Writer
