Attitude Adjustment (Unfinished)

4 He's Not Interested

I don't think it was wise of me to agree to this.

I've met Hayden three times, for less than an hour in each instance. Why would he invite me to a party? That's just weird.

For my extra job, he's handed me a thousand dollars to go to the mall and buy him clothes.

Which is not surprising, considering the state of his closet.

Black workout shirts. Black graphic shirts. Black long-sleeves. Oh, and guess what? Black jackets. I know, so shocking.

"Are you shopping for anyone special todaaay?" The store associate at Nordstrom bothers me the moment I step in.

"Not at all."

"Aw, okaaay. Let me know if you need any help. We're running a special deal right now. It's..."

I nod. I smile. I hear nothing.

"Thank you so much," I say when she's done, then go back to my business.

I've never shopped for a man before. I bought a necklace for my ex-boyfriend once. But he had a mad obsession with his Ouija board. Then he ghosted me, which is ironic, considering he was always looking for ghosts.

Hazel: What size are you in shirts?

Hayden: XL

Bet his condoms are XL too-

Stop. Slap yourself-

Why? Someone else should do the slapping-

Enough, heathen.

"HOUSEKEEPER?" Dania, my best friend, yells at me when I go over to her house. Yes, I stopped by to borrow an outfit for tonight's party. "And you're going out with the guy who hired you?"

"I know, I'm questioning a lot of my life decisions right now."

"Is he interested in you?" She scowls.

"That would be so inappropriate. Of course, not. He just wants me to pretend to be his date, so his ex can stop harassing him."

"How is that appropriate?"

"Uh... that's a good point." Yeah, I got nothing.

"Why doesn't he just take a normal date?"

"You are asking really valid questions that I don't have answers for." I give her a reassuring smile. "But I'll ask him tonight."

Her mom opens the bedroom door and my body immediately tenses up.

"What are you guys doing?" She smiles.

"I'm just helping Hazel figure out what to wear tonight." Dania sighs.

"Oh, is she borrowing your clothes?" She doesn't even try to hide her disapproval.

All because she met my mom two years ago. Dania and I had the silly idea of taking them out on a date, hoping they'd become best friends like us. Oh, boy. It was awkward as hell. They didn't talk to each other at all.

My mom is divorced. Dania's mom is proudly married. My mom has a history of unstable jobs. Dania's mom is a business owner. My mom doesn't take care of herself. Dania's mom is chronically obsessed with outshining her daughter.

And me? I'm never good enough for Dania in her eyes.

"Do you need something?" Dania asks her.

Her mom reluctantly settled her gaze over me. I feel like a cockroach she wants to stomp on.

"How are you? Everything okay?" she asks.

"I'm good, thank you. How are you?"

"Good...How's your mom?"