The Ecstatic Life Of Sofia

Chapter Sixteen: Shopping

She sat down and smiled and talked and when the night was over Mrs. Sala asked her to stay over. Sofia agreed to stay for the holiday. Anthony drove Brittney home, then returned to the inn to stay the weekend. After a long cleanup Sofia yawned and said goodnight.

The next morning Sofia woke up early at 5:00 in the morning. She looked outside it was beginning to snow, already a half an inch was on the ground. She put on her coat and boots. Just as she was about to go someone behind her spoke and startled her.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh my gosh, Anthony you scared me. I'm going shopping."

"Now?"

"Yeah, Black Friday means there will be sales at the mall and I want to buy stuff."

"Hold on, I wouldn't go out there, sales are good and all, but you may be stuck out there. You have no idea how to make your way through Colorado weather."

Sofia laughed. "Trust me, I've navigated worse weather than a few inches of snow."

Anthony shook his head. "If you insist on going, at least let me drive you."

"Fine, but hurry and get dressed."

Anthony drove her to the mall and she must have gone to thirty stores before he finally asked. "How much more?"

Sofia turned and looked at him. "You didn't have to come."

"I didn't, but you also don't need to go to every damn store!"

"I want to get a lot."

"Why?"

"You sound like a child! You don't have to follow me around either. Go see a movie!"

He glared. "Can you just hurry up!"

Sofia looked in her bags. "There's one other place I need to go and I don't think you'll want to come. Why don't you go get some lunch I'll meet you there." Sofia turned to leave.

Anthony followed her.

Sofia walked into an intimates store. She turned around when she stepped inside and Anthony stood stiffly outside the store. "I told you not to come here."

Anthony glared at her, then stepped into the store.

Sofia smiled amused then went to start shopping. She went out of her way to make him uncomfortable by asking for his opinion on undergarments and asking him how short was too short for nightgowns. Always his answer was a glare trying to supress the blush that wanted to come on his face. Eventually Sofia checked out and left the store. "If you had just listened to me you would have saved us a lot of awkwardness!"

"Sofia, forgive me for not guessing you wanted to pick out underwear." He said it with fake sincerity.

"I told you it would be akward for you, not many places I could be talking about."

As they stepped out of the store two familiar faces cut them off.

"Sofia!" Sara said.

"And Professor Sala?" Sydney asked.

"Oh god." Anthony mumbled.

"You two need to slow down!" Brad jogged up to them. "Sofia?" He looked at her bags, at the store, then finally to Anthony. He stiffened.

"What were you two doing in there?" Sara asked.

"I was shopping." Sofia said.

"Yeah, but what's your Psychology Professor doing shopping for underwear with you?" Sydney asked.