Dead Girl Walking ― Aaron Minyard

05. the winner takes it all

i've played all my cards
and that's what you've done too
nothing more to say
no more ace to play
― abba

♦

"THIS SUCKS," Mara declared, crossing her arms over her chest as she scowled at the storefronts around her. "Can we go?"

"We just got here," Kevin said, though he looked about as happy to be there as she did.

"Aren't girls supposed to like shopping?" Nicky asked, as if he'd never met one before and was trying to figure them out.

"Probably not much chance for shopping in a cult," Andrew quipped, already leading the way to some store with a bright red sign that read H&M. Mara wondered what that was supposed to stand for.

Abby had decided in all her wisdom to send Mara and the boys to the mall to get Mara clothes that weren't stolen (mainly from Kevin). Mara grudgingly agreed that it was necessary, given that she'd come to Palmetto with only the bloody clothes on her back. How Abby thought sending her with the boys was a good idea, though, was beyond her.

The only thing that kept her from leaving the store as soon as they walked in was the fact that they would be going to Exites next to get her a new racquet.

As soon as they were in the story, Nicky started picking out sparkly, skimpy pieces; Andrew found the dumbest graphic tees and added them to the pile in Kevin's arms (as the man in question complained about being relegated to the pack-mule); Mara glared at every piece of clothing as if it had become sentient and called her a whore to her face.

"I'm not wearing any of the shit you're picking out, Nicky," Mara said, snatching a glittery red dress before he could give it to Kevin.

"But you need clothes for the club!" he all but whined. "We're going Friday, and you have to look good, or else you'll cramp our style."

"I always look good," Mara scoffed. "And I'm not going anywhere in public wearing these dresses."

"You haven't even tried them on," Nicky complained.

"And I'm not trying this shit on," Mara said, shaking the glittery dress at him before putting it back. "Pick out something that won't make me try to kill you."

Nicky huffed, but decided to take the challenge and wandered off in search of clothes she might actually wear. 

Mara grabbed the graphic tees Andrew had picked out and put them on the nearest rack, freeing Kevin from his burden. How a Pringles label or a peace sign with limbs could be called "fashion," she'd never understand.

"Are there any clothes here that don't have something stupid printed on them?" Mara asked no one in particular.

"How dare you call the cast of Sesame Street stupid," Andrew said, feigning dismay as he dropped a t-shirt with cartoon puppets into Kevin's arms.

Mara snatched it away, narrowly avoiding hitting Kevin in the face with the hanger. "I'm about to commit homicide," she muttered in French.

"You're always about to commit homicide," Kevin replied.

Mara glared at him, mostly because he was right. She aggressively put the stupid Sesame Street shirt back on the rack and wandered off to try to find plain clothes, which she figured were on the opposite side of the store that Nicky was currently perusing. Kevin and Aaron followed, Andrew staying behind to try to find even worse shirts.

Mara all but sighed in relief at the sight of graphic-less t-shirts. She grabbed a handful of neutral colors and different cuts. Kevin grabbed some hoodies without her having to ask, well aware of how easily she got cold (and how much she complained when it happened).