Renewed Family

Chapter 4: Material Gorls

Jasmine woke up excited to go shopping. Malls made her nostalgic. It made her feel young because she remembered how liberating it was when her parents would let her roam the mall by herself. Even in her 30s, she still loved the feeling of the air conditioned building packed with different brands and colors. She smiled remembering the one time Anthony took her on a date to the mall. The bought pretzels, went to the cinema, and even stopped at the Victoria Secret he used to work at. She still has the Doc Martens he bought her. 

Elena woke up in her depressive mood. Each day she cried a little less. I was those mornings when the bright California sun peaked in her window, she would open her eyes and she would realize Momma wasn't there. She would feel a sense of panic and a heavy weight in her stomach. This morning was a little different, because she didn't need to go running to her sister in tears. Instead, she calmed herself down and ran to the kitchen eagar to see her cousin. 

"Hi Jaz". She found Jasmine drinking coffee on the couch she slept on. Across from her, Anthony was asleep on the recliner.

"Hey girl. Do you want breakfast?"

"Um I'll just have milk." 

"Alright. If your sister wakes up I was thinking we can leave in like 2 hours."

Elena got a glass of milk. Her friends told her she needed to drink milk so she would be more curvy. Her sister told her to ignore her friends but Elena never did. She walked back to her room to get ready.

Anthony woke up clad in basketball shorts and no shirt.

"Hey babygirl." He said to Jazzy.

"Put a shirt on weirdo."

She missed his bare torso and morning wood. Anthony went to the bathroom after Brianna walked out to the kitchen. Brianna had bags under her eyes from texting Benito.  She knew that she needed to go to mall for his party. Definitely some new makeup, cute undies, wax strips, and her list went on in her imaginary pinterest brain. She wanted tomorrow night to be special, and something to distract her from, well, life. 

...

Anthony gave Jasmine a credit card.

"What's this?" Jasmine asked.

"Today use it all you want mamacita."

Anthony loved to spoil Jasmine. The girls might just get spoiled too, but Anthony's intentions were a lot different with Jasmine. 

Jasmine pretended to act unphased. "Oh! Thanks."

 Anthony laughed and gave her a light pat on the bum. 

Jasmine couldn't tell if she wanted him to do it again. But she knew she could get anything from him.

"Alright girls! Y'all ready?"

Brianna ran out while still putting lipgloss on and Elena meekly followed behind.

"Let's go!"

The arrived at the mall and they bought a ton of stuff. In total they spent $1,224.18.

"You guys want frozen yogurt?"

"Yes!" The girls screamed.

They made a trip to the nearest Yogurtland.

"Y'all get the biggest size load it the fuck up!" Jasmine instructed. It was Anthony's money after all.

They sat down with the biggest servings and tons of bags from all the stores they went to. They giggled and took pictures.

Jasmine recognized a familar face walking past.

"Jasmine?"

"Oh my gosh Kobe! What are you doing out here?"

"Just hanging out, how about you?"

"Just taking my nieces shopping."

"Damn.. those are some big... ice creams."

"Actually it's frozen yogurt. That's why it's called Yogurt land." Elena stated.

Jasmine rolled her eyes at the sarcastic remark. "Anyways you excited to start filming?" 

"Yeah I can't wait to see you."

Jasmine smiled.

"Um bye." He walked away blushing.

"Damn he's fine you got hoes lining up for you." Brianna laughed.

"Girl please." Jasmine laughed. Bri wasn't wrong.

 "This was so much fun! Thank you for taking us out." Brianna smiled.

"Girls of course. Y'all make me feel young!"

"Well you definitely ain't old."

"I'm sorry, can I hear that again?" Jasmine giggled.

Brianna pulled out her phone and saw a text from Benito. She smiled and replied back.

"Who are you texting?" Jasmie tried to look over her shoulder.

"No one."

"You can tell me!" Jasmine teased.

"It's just Benito." She was bashful.

"Aww" Jasmine smiled. Elena rolled her eyes.

"He's so weird."

"Shut up."

"No you."

Jasmine laughed at there bickering. Since she was an only child, she never fully understood sibling rivalry.

"How is he weird?"

"He looks like a narco!" Elena exclaimed.

"He does not look or is a narco!"

"Damn." Jasmine laughed. "How long have y'all known each other?"

"About a school year. We had classes and stuff together you know."

"Mm nice. Is he cute?"

"No." Elena replied for her sister.

"Yes she's an 11 year old with no taste."

"I'll be the judge, do you have a picture?" Jasmine asked.

"Yeah." She pulled up his instagram. There was a picture of him in front of his cousin's low rider car.

"Aw he looks like a sweet boy!" Jasmine beamed. "Elena do you like anyone in your grade?"

"Not really Im taller then all of the boys anyways."

Brianna laughed. "That's because boys aren't hitting puberty as hard as the girls so you grow faster."

" Yeah that's true. Middle school dances are like that. But short guys aren't unattractive it's jsut society put beauty standards on people."

"I agree." Brianna said.

"I have my first 7th grade dance next school year."

"We will have to get you a cute outfit!" 

"I don't look cute in anything." Elena frowned.

Jasmine gasped. "How can you say that! You are so gorgeous honey I wish I skipped my awkward phase at your age! I love your smile and beautiful hair and everything about you! Both of you are so beautiful!"

"Thank you Jazzy." Elena smiled. She felt reassured. A feeling she hasn't felt in a while.

As Jasmine drove the girls home, she questioned if it was a good ideas for Brianna to go out with Benito. She seemed like a good girl but teens are unpredictable. She decided that she was close by with her phone so it shouldn't be a problem. She decided to bring it up.

"Hey Bri."

"Yeah."

"I'm just gonna say if tomorrow you feel like you need mato be picked up early or your uncomfortable whatever please text or call us alright. That goes for you too Elena"

"Yeah of course his family is there and they are all chill."

"Alright well tomorrow will be lots of fun" Jasmine smiled as she turned up the radio driving toward the sunset.

a/n: Share and vote if you like this fanfic! the money amount is significant!!