"I'm sorry, we only have them in blue and beige. And there's only three blue ones left," the sales girl says, coming and standing in front of the glass wall covered with racks of ceramic plates. She went to check the stock at my request.
I sigh, and turn the blue plate over in my hand. It has beautiful swirls along the middle, against a speckled background. I like this design in this sky blue hue, and it's also cheaper in this color.
"Just get the beige ones," Ray says, next to me. I nearly drop the plate in my hand at his sudden appearance. He went outside to take a call, twenty minutes ago.
"You said you'll be back in five minutes!"
"I'm sorry, babe. Besides, I trust your choice. Whatever you choose we'll get that one," Ray says.
"Your boyfriend's real sweet," the sales girl says.
"He's not my boyfriend."
"I'm not her boyfriend."
The girl smiles wider at Ray after this. Ray doesn't miss that, and says to her, winking, "I'm single."
She blushes and tucks her hair behind her ear.
I shake my head and inform Ray, "We'll go one-sixty dollars over budget if we take the beige ones."
"I'll pay the difference. Just get them already," my rich classmate says, losing his patience.
"We'll take six plates in beige then," I say to the girl.
"Gift wrapped?" she asks.
I nod.
After she leaves to pack the plates, I slap the back of my hand against Ray's hard chest. "Don't casually flirt with everyone."
He swings his arm around me and pulls me in. "Jealous, baby?" he asks.
I move my face away from him, and then, with full force, I take my head forward and butt my forehead against his.
"Fuck," he says, letting me go, and rubbing his forehead.
"That's what you deserve."
"This better not bruise," he says, still rubbing the area. After he's done, he flips back his bushy black hair and says, "Let's go to the beach."
I check the time on my phone. It's 1:28. Our appointment with the hotel manager is at 2.
The girl brings back the plates, all neatly wrapped in a pretty flower-patterned wrapping paper. Ray pays for it with his credit card and we clear the shop.
Mrs. Ola, our homeroom teacher is retiring. We're arranging a farewell party and gifts for her. She loves crockery.
After securing the plates on the backseat of Ray's jeep, I go sit at the front.
While waiting on a red light Ray says, "We should also consider Ralph Prettnack for the venue."
"That'll cost us twice more."
"I can cover the difference," he says.
That should be his tag line — I can cover the difference.
"If you can do everything on your own, why did you ask me to come?" I ask.
He acts shocked. "You're the student secretary, Belle. It's your job to assist the student council president," Ray says, shamelessly pointing at himself. "Besides, you are so lucky you get to have a date with me today."
"I'm thinking you really want a dent on that pretty forehead of yours."
He gives me an air kiss, looks ahead, and pushes the accelerator when the light turns green.
