The Collector.

Mall Hell

[Unedited]

"This?This is where you wanted to go?"

Peachville's only mall is crowded for the middle of the day.Don't these people have jobs?Or lives?The mall has a tile floor that turns high heels into a headache,and the fountain centerpiece attracts only fake greenery and screaming children."I told you I'd take you anywhere you wanted to go,and you choose here?"

Charlotte bites into a sugar cookie.She's still nervous I borrowed her gramdma's car without asking,but she's starting to relax. "I love the mall.Don't you?"

"Well...yeah.I mean,it has its uses." A woman with a stroller races past me and nearly takes off my right arm.No "excuse me" or "I'm sorry" equals one tiny seal for you milady.I take a moment to seal her up right,then turn my attention to Charlotte."It's Friday,though.Don't you want to try and dig up a party for tonight instead of hanging out here?"

She brushes crumbs over her blouse."I don't really like parties."

"Charlotte,have you ever been to a party?"

"Yeah.I mean,sort of." That means no."I go to birthday parties and stuff."

"I'm talking about a real party.Like the kind Aiden's throwing.Do you ever go to parties like that?" Charlotte shrugs and shakes her head like it isn't a big deal."Hey,why don't we go to Aiden's party tomorrow night?"

She stops walking and stares at me,her head bent to one side."Why?Why do you want to take me?And why are you being so nice?"

So she does understamd this is abnormal,someone like me hanging out with someone like her.I calculate my answer."A lot of people at my last school were really shallow.And I was part of that crowd." Okay,so that much is true."I decided this time would be different.I want to find friends who are...real."

Charlotte's face pinches into a smile,and I almost feel like cupping her chin.I take another gander at her mouth amd decide if it wasn't for one of those crooked teeth,she might actually have one solid asset.

"So how 'bout that party?" I nudge her.

And...the smile's gone."I don't think that's a good idea.I don't really fit in with those people."

I decide to drop the subject for now,but one thing's for sure-we're going to that damn party.

"Hey,can we swing by Bergdorf?If we're going to be at the mall on a Friday,we might aswell have some fun."

Charlotte gawks at me like I've gone bat shit."What's a Bergdorf?"

"You're kidding me right?This place doesn't have a Bergdorf?"

She shakes her head."What about Nordstorm,or maybe a Versace?" More head shaking ensues.I take a deep breath and spin in a circle.I spot a Neiman Marcus.It'll have to do."Let's go in there."

"Nice," she says as we head over to the store."I usuallt get my stuff at Target.They have cute clothes there."

"Oh,Charlotte." This time I can't help myself.I rub her back and laugh.She smiles up at me with a look of awe.For some twisted reason,I think of my mother.This is the way I always wanted her to look at me.

The moment I enter the store,I come alive.I flag down an associate and tell him I need his help.The guy has dark,slicked black hair and a black leather jacket over a starched shirt.He reminds me of a preppy James Dean.As I pile clothes into his waiting arms,his pupils dilate and take on a wild shade of cash.Commission makes poeple crazy.I bet psych wards have a whole wing dedicated to rehabilitating commission-paid peeps.

I'm about to ring up when I see Charlotte eyeing a bright red dress.She may be an uggo,but that dress would turn anyone into a rock star."Grab the dress," I yell across the store."My treat."