CHAPTER THREE: THE SHOPPING TRIP
1240 Words
The Uber pulled up in front of Westfield Mall, its polished glass entrance reflecting the afternoon sunlight. People moved in and out through the automatic doors, some carrying shopping bags, others talking on their phones as they hurried toward their next destination.
The moment the car came to a halt, Elena thanked the driver, stepped out, and adjusted the strap of her handbag.
She had barely taken two steps when she spotted a familiar figure standing near the entrance with her arms folded tightly across her chest.
Cherry.
The expression on her face screamed one thing.
Trouble.
Elena walked over calmly.
Cherry narrowed her eyes.
"You kept me waiting."
"I'm sorry," Elena replied softly, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile.
Cherry continued glaring at her for another two seconds.
Then she burst into laughter.
"I practiced that angry face all morning."
"It wasn't bad."
"'Wasn't bad?' Elena, I looked terrifying!"
"You looked constipated."
Cherry froze for a second before lightly smacking Elena's arm.
"Excuse me?"
Elena shrugged innocently.
"I'm just being honest."
Cherry pointed a finger at her.
"You've started talking back.
Cherry laughed so loudly that a few shoppers turned to look at them.
"There she is!" Cherry exclaimed dramatically. "My cold-hearted best friend actually made a joke!"
"I've always been funny."
"No."
"I have."
"No."
"I simply don't waste them on everyone."
Cherry wrapped an arm around Elena's shoulders.
"I missed you."
"I saw you three days ago."
"I know."
"And you called me last night."
"I know."
"You sent me three messages this morning."
"I know!"
Cherry sighed dramatically.
"Must you always ruin my emotional moments with facts?"
Elena's smile widened ever so slightly.
"You make it too easy."
Cherry looked at her carefully before nodding in satisfaction.
"There it is."
"What?"
"That smile."
Elena immediately returned to her usual calm expression.
"What smile?"
"The one that disappeared."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Mhmm."
Cherry linked their arms together.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"We're getting you a dress."
"I already have clothes."
Cherry stopped walking and stared at her.
"You call those clothes?"
"They're comfortable."
"They're oversized."
"They fit."
"They make you look like you're leading a street gang."
"They're practical."
"They're criminal."
Elena blinked.
"Criminal?"
"Yes! If fashion police existed, you'd be serving a life sentence."
A quiet laugh escaped Elena before she could stop it.
Cherry gasped dramatically.
"She laughed!"
"I did not."
"You did."
"I breathed differently."
Cherry shook her head.
"Today is historic."
The two friends entered the mall, weaving through the bustling crowd until they reached the clothing section.
Rows upon rows of elegant dresses stretched before them.
Cherry's eyes sparkled.
"This..."
She spread her arms wide.
"...is paradise."
Elena looked around once.
"It's a clothing store."
Cherry sighed.
"I swear, if you weren't my best friend, I'd think you were an eighty-year-old grandmother trapped inside a twenty-four-year-old's body."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Cherry ignored her and immediately started pulling dresses from the racks.
"This one."
"No."
"This?"
"No."
"What about this beautiful red one?"
"No."
Cherry frowned.
"Can you at least pretend to like something?"
"I like my blue shirt."
Cherry closed her eyes.
"Lord, give me strength."
A sales assistant approached them with a polite smile.
"Good afternoon, ladies. May I help you?"
"Yes," Cherry answered immediately.
"My best friend desperately needs saving."
"I do not."
"She does."
The assistant smiled.
"What kind of outfit are you looking for?"
Cherry answered before Elena could open her mouth.
"Something elegant, classy, and capable of making people stop and stare."
Elena added quietly,
"Comfortable."
The assistant laughed softly.
"I think we can find something that satisfies both of you."
As the assistant walked away to gather a few options, Cherry leaned closer.
"So..."
Elena already knew that tone.
"What?"
"You remember dinner tonight?"
"Unfortunately."
Cherry rolled her eyes.
"It's going to be fun."
"I doubt it."
"You haven't even met them."
"I don't need to."
Cherry bumped her shoulder playfully.
"My husband's friends are nice."
"I'm sure they are."
"And one of them has been asking if I knew any decent single ladies."
Elena gave her a blank look.
"No."
"I didn't even finish."
"You didn't have to."
Cherry laughed.
"I'm not trying to set you up."
"I don't believe you."
"I'm serious this time."
"That's exactly what you said the last time."
Cherry covered her face dramatically.
"I apologized!"
"You introduced me to a man who spent forty minutes talking about his car."
"He loved that car."
"He loved it more than breathing."
Both women burst into laughter.
Cherry wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of her eye.
"I promise tonight will be different."
Elena looked at her suspiciously.
"It better just be dinner."
Cherry smiled—a smile that usually meant she was hiding something.
"We'll see."
Before Elena could question her further, the sales assistant returned carrying several beautiful dresses.
"I think I've found exactly what you're looking for."
Cherry clapped excitedly.
"Perfect! The makeover begins."
Elena looked at the growing pile of dresses, then at her overly excited best friend.
She had a feeling this shopping trip was going to be much longer than she had anticipated.
The sales assistant arranged the dresses across her arm before laying them carefully over the nearby display table.
Cherry immediately began inspecting them.
"This one first."
She lifted a deep emerald dress and held it against Elena.
Elena looked down at it.
"No."
"You haven't even tried it."
"I don't need to."
"Elena."
"Cherry."
"Please."
Elena sighed.
"Fine."
Cherry's face lit up.
"That's my girl."
She pushed the dress into Elena's hands and pointed toward the fitting rooms.
"Go."
Elena walked away with the dress.
Cherry watched her disappear behind the fitting-room door before turning to the sales assistant.
"She's difficult."
The assistant smiled.
"I noticed."
"Very difficult."
A few minutes later, Elena stepped out.
Cherry's mouth fell open.
For once, she had nothing to say.
Elena looked at herself in the mirror.
The dress was elegant without being excessive. It fitted neatly and fell gracefully around her.
She turned slightly.
Cherry finally found her voice.
"Okay."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Okay?"
"No. Not okay."
Cherry walked closer.
"This is beautiful."
Elena looked at the mirror again.
"I like it."
Cherry placed a hand dramatically over her heart.
"She likes a dress."
"Don't make this a moment."
"It is absolutely a moment."
Elena shook her head.
The sales assistant smiled.
"That one suits you very well."
Cherry nodded firmly.
"She's wearing it tonight."
Elena looked at her.
"I haven't agreed to buy it."
Cherry pointed at the dress.
"You like it."
Elena was silent.
"Exactly."
Cherry turned to the assistant.
"We'll take it."
Elena sighed.
"You're paying?"
Cherry grinned.
"Now you're talking."
Elena laughed quietly.
The shopping bags began to multiply.
One dress became two.
Two became shoes.
Then a small handbag.
Cherry insisted on accessories.
Elena insisted she had enough.
Neither won.
By the time they finally left the clothing section, Cherry looked completely satisfied.
Elena looked at the bags in her hands.
"We came for one dress."
Cherry smiled innocently.
"We did."
Elena looked at the bags.
"This is not one dress."
"I said we came for one."
Elena stared at her.
Cherry laughed.
"Come on. We still have time before dinner."
Elena glanced at her watch.
She already knew what those words meant.
There was no way Cherry was finished.
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