Secret Love Song

The One With The Jewelry Store

"What should we do now?" 

We had just given the check back to the waiter and were making our way out of the restaurant. Naomi, Valen, and I had met up for brunch in this place Naomi ran by the other day. They sent us a picture of the front door and asked when we were available. This was Thursday. It's Saturday. 

We walked around. At some point, we ended up in the fancy part of town. Next to us, there was a jewelry store. One of those rich people's jewelry stores. With the diamond pieces, the sofas, and the guards. 
"Imagine being rich," I said. 
"Huh?" Naomi turned her head and glanced at me. 
"Imagine being rich. Like, wealthy rich."
"I would never wear the same clothes twice. I can buy me new clothes," Valen said, adding a mocking tone eventually. 
"I would eat out all the time," Naomi continued. "And I wouldn't work a single day of my life," she had recently started working at this dinner and she hated it. They would constantly complain about their boss, Kim. As you can see: "I swear to God, I'm gonna kill Kim one day."
"I would travel," I said. "I would travel so hard, and I wouldn't work either, I would just sit with my music all day... in fucking Paris," we chuckled. 

"I want books, and I want food," Valen carried on. "And I want clothes! Damn, I love my books, I do, I really do. But I want clothes so much," she whined. Naomi and I broke into laughter. 
"I did not picture you like that," Naomi commented. 
"No, I am. I'm a big fat shallow piece of shit about clothes."
"But-" Naomi inquired, "you got money, don't you? I mean, I know who your parents are..."
"Yeah, I do."
"Then- I don't get it. Can't you just buy clothes?" 
Valen's face dimed down. Something happened, and now she was discouraged. But her smile, even though it changed, stayed, in an attempt to pretend everything was all right. 
"My mom won't let me, not the ones I want."
"That-" Naomi mumbled. 
"That sucks," I said. Valen bit the sides of her mouth. 
"Why?" the blonde asked. 
"I don't know. It's her money, I guess."
"But doesn't your dad work hard so that you can have nice things?"
Valen's eyes wandered about, contemplating the query. "I don't think so."

The conversation had turned really blue. I could see the poignancy in Valen's face, and the galling remorse in Naomi's. I felt the responsibility to lighten the mood. I glanced at the jewelry inside and figured the perfect distraction. 
"Why don't we go in?"
"What?" Valen's face brightened and an entertained beam appeared. 
"To the- store," I grinned, knowing how ridiculous the proposition was. 
"What?" Naomi snickered. 
"Yeah," I regained my posture. "I wanna be rich for a day."
Damn, I was great at excuses. Lots of practice, you know. 
"We do not look rich," Naomi answered, correctly. 
"No," I hid my hands in my jumper and dropped my sight to the floor. This wasn't working. 
"We could change," Valen suggested. I looked up at her and saw an honest smile. I felt pride. 
"My place's just a few blocks away," Naomi shrugged her shoulders. 

I stared at the clothing laid out on the bed. A pair of black trousers, a simple button-up white shirt, a suit-like vest, and a checkered tie with black, white, red, and green lines.
I turned back to the mirror and met with my -newly- short, brown hair under the beanie I was wearing to hide the fact that I hadn't bothered to comb any of it. I raised my hands in the air, pulling the grey jumper with them, and removed it. There was an oversized graphic t-shirt underneath. I removed that as well. I grabbed the white shirt and slid my arms in through the sleeves. Began buttoning as I stared at my flat, boring stomach. The skin was somewhere in between pale and tanned, but there was not much to see and it bugged me. I put on the vest, tie, and trousers, in that order. 

I entered the living room. Naomi was staring at the mirror, tiding up her loose hair. She was wearing a white silk dress with layers under a blue oversized blazer. 
"You look great," I said and planted a kiss on her cheek. 
She turned around and scanned me. "So do you. I love the masc look."
I gave out a sweet smile and reached for her hand, which I held for a second. 
"I have black eyeliner if you want some." 
"Is it pencil?" I asked. I sucked at makeup. 
"It can be. If you need it to be."
"Can I?" 
"Sure, I'll go get it."
I waited for her to go inside her room and come back. "Are you leaving your clothes here?" they must have seen it on the bed.
"Yeah, I guess. I can just pick them up tomorrow or something."
"Sure," she handed me the pencil, "there you go."
I leaned into the mirror and began eye-lining the bottom of my eyes. 
"How do I look?" I asked once I was done. 
"Hot." 
I winked.