in bloom [rodrick heffley]

chapter 3: depraved new world

It only took two hours for the workers of Plainview Mall to educate me on modern fashion. And, Lord, was it weird. Chains on pants? Heels with no heel? One tried to tell me piece of fabric that would barely cover my breasts was a shirt. Being there was a culture shock if there ever was one.

Nevertheless, I managed to accumulate four bags on each arm. Trying on all the clothes reminded me of playing dress up with my dolls as a child, only this time I got to be the doll.

I'd been wandering under the night sky outside the mall for about ten minutes waiting for Rodrick, thinking he'd be there any second, when it began to pour. I ran as fast as I could under the concrete covering in front of the entrance, but not before I was completely soaked, my bags included. I felt drained and hollow all of a sudden, and it surprised me how quickly my mood changed.

I sat down on the cold concrete, leaning my head against one of the pillars, wanting nothing more than to lie in my bed and fade into sleep.

•

My eyes shot open when loud laughter pierced the silence I'd drifted off to. It took me a minute to remember where I was, but when I did, a rush of anxiety coursed through my gut. I scrambled to my feet, hurriedly looking in every direction.

Why am I still here? Where is Rodrick?

I spotted a group of boys approaching from the shadows. My hands began to sweat as waves of pure fear rolled through me. I carefully walked backwards as they carried their loud conversations with them. One of them stopped when he spotted me, making me freeze.

"Yo, you good?" he asked, drawing the attention of the other four.

"Look at this goofy chick. She's in church clothes," one said, and they all burst into laughter.

I was disturbed by the insult, but I did nothing but stare at them with wide eyes, void of any idea of what I should do.

What's wrong with my clothes? Rodrick didn't say anything about them, so why are they?

They eventually stopped laughing, but I just stood there, unable to move, wishing I could disappear into thin air.

"Dude, I think somethings wrong with her. Let's go before she wigs out or something," another one said after about ten seconds into our stare-off.

They never took their eyes off mine as they slowly continued past me, like they felt just as vulnerable as I did. I was confused by this, but I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. I couldn't work up the nerve to move until they were completely out of my sight. It wasn't raining anymore, so I decided my only option was to walk home.

A lousy feeling came over me as I thought of Rodrick. Why would he do this? He said he would be back in two hours. I didn't even know how long I was asleep. Was it normal for people in the real world to break their word?

I hadn't made it thirty feet when a dark blue car pulled up beside me, loudly playing music.

"Are you Jo Kidman?"

Relief wash over me at the sound of the name, but I was confused by the girl in the driver's seat saying it.

"Yes, that's me," I said with hope, noticing a silver ring in her lip.

"Hey, I'm Danielle. Rodrick sent me," she said, smacking her gum.

She had beautiful hair that she repeatedly ran her long, dark blue nails through.

Though skeptical, I nodded and walked around to the passenger side.

She carefully pulled off once I was buckled in, seeming paranoid as she glanced in every mirror.