The weekend came. Ever since the Harriet-Jake-Cheating fiasco, I haven't really thought much about my invitation to go to the mall with them. But now I am. It creeps up on me like sunlight. I have never been more excited for an occasion since now. A little tingling feeling of joy has replaced my dread of social occasions. Its just me, Jake, Brad and Jess. Just us. No-one else. This is gonna be the best day ever! Me and Jake have just been texting the entire night and I've barely had any sleep. I don't care, I feel more awake than ever. I try and find something suitable to wear. My clothes are basically all from Primark- cheap, poorly-made clothes is how I roll. I pull out a t-shirt and a pair of scruffy jeans. Maybe Jake will take me to some boutique or something, because I really need new clothes. Compared to him and his siblings, I will look like a pensioner. But, not even the idea of wearing "old people's clothes" can phase me. Instead of going ten-pin bowling (which is for lame idiots), I am going to a top class Italian restaurant with Jake and the others. My life seems perfect. Harriet and Jamie can piss off.
The morning passes until the clock strikes at 11 and I immediately go upstairs and grab my bag from the top of my bed. I will not be late, not me. Not today. No sooner have I raced down the stairs, I hear Jake talking to my mother downstairs. My mother is small talking. Again. I walk in. Jake is wearing rough jeans, just a little too baggy. He is wearing a striped polo shirt and his brown hair is naturally sitting on his head. He turns round, sees me and we embrace. My mother smiles at him and me and we walk out. Jake seems to glow as we walk to his car. Jess and Brad are already in it. I get into the front seat and seems to have sat on a vast collection of fashion boutique brochures, all which boast the words "exclusive to the Manhattan Mall". Jess indicates me to read them, so I do. "Pick one of the boutiques," Jess tells me, "Personally, I would recommend Vivaldi Boutique, but you can pick which ever one you want to go. They must have a good supply of dresses." "I'll go there," I decide quickly, "How far away is the mall Jake?" Jake looks at me, smiling. "We're here!" he says, "It isn't very far away you know."
The mall appears to be huge, with large glass paneled windows. Huge signs boast of exclusive produce and large pictures of hot dogs, soda and chips seem to dominate the billboards outside. We drive to the VIP area. I am about to ask Jake what the hell he is doing, but he appears to know the man in the booth and we pass through. We park in the nearest parking space and we all get out of the car. The mall seems to be calling to us, a cry in a hubbub of noise and chatter. It is rather hard to focus on what everyone is saying. The noise overwhelms you, fills up your entire body. Communication is hard, but Jake points in the direction of the cafe Culture Espresso. We all walk towards it, trying to avoid people. Brad steps on someones foot and has no idea and I cause some Italian man to spill hot chocolate all over his Pekingese. The cafe is small and very crowded however we manage to find a table sitting at the far left of the cafe. The cafe is vintage style and sells milkshakes, hot dogs, chips, burgers and soda as well as paninis, toasties and sandwiches. Jake asks me what I want, as it is about lunch time. Everything looks delicious, but eventually I ask for a triple egg mayo extravaganza with fries. Brad orders a bacon and cheese panini with wedges and Jess a 8oz burger with mashed potato. Urgh! Mashed potato is a sinful food. The food comes to us about 15 minutes later, steaming hot and we all tuck in gratefully. It's a rather chilly day, and we can feel the gloom setting in.
The door opens. Jake swings his head round in anticipation. His face falls crossly. He whispers something to Brad, who whispers something to Jess. I just continue to eat my lunch. Eventually, Jake taps my shoulder and mutters "Look who it is." I turn round and see Harriet and Jamie at the counter, holding hands. Holding hands! My pulse starts to increase. They're meant to be ten-pin bowling. What the hell! They order a milkshake and walk over to the table next to us. Crap! Really, this had to happen today. Today of all days! Really, this isn't even fair. Jamie looks straight at our table. I stare back at him defiantly. He will not ruin my day. He gives me a smug little smile and then turns away, laughing at something Harriet just said. They both get a straw and start drinking. From the same cup! This is crazy. Harriet and Jamie are friends. Just friends. My mind is a wheel of incredibly mixed up thoughts. How can this be possible? I turn away and say quietly that I would like to leave. Jake smiles at me reassuringly. We get up and walk past their table. Jake stops quickly. "I've heard you've been giving my girlfriend a little bit of trouble" he says sleekly, as they stare up at him, "I will assure you that if that happens again, you will be very sorry." "Jake Dean!" Harriet laughs, she doesn't even look at me, "The celebrity of Rocky Green! Please can I have your autograph, a selfie etc. etc. Don't tell me what I can and can't do. I had no intention of hurting Lauren's feelings. She took it too seriously. So piss off and leave us in peace." "You really don't want to be doing that Harriet," Jamie says quietly, but Harriet ignores him. "It's your funeral." Jake says simply, and we all walk out of the cafe. I cannot look at Harriet. The tears feel like they are going to come again. I brush them away. No-one, not Harriet or Jamie or anyone else are gonna spoil my perfect day.
The mall seems like a strange alien world as I enter. First of all, the shops are strange. They all seem so superficial, boasting perfect everything when actually nothing in them is quite right. I have mistrusted media ever since I tried to buy a hoverboard, but it turned out that it was just a piece of plastic on wheels. It cost me $40 as well. My mum was so pissed off, she had a shouting match over the phone with the head of the company that sold me the piece of crap. But, the media in the mall seemed different. It appealed to me in so many different ways, but I suppose that is what the media is meant to do; appeal and keep appealing because you get way more money doing stuff that way. "Well, this is Manhattan Mall," Jake declares to me, waiting for me to take it all in, "This isn't the best mall for some things but for others it is the best one out there. Women from all over the globe flock here for lingerie, dresses and shoes. It's a girl mall, not a gents." "Wow..." I breathe, trying to process everything, "This is an incredible place Jake. But, no lingerie." "That is what Vivaldi Boutique are best at you know.." Jess chips in, "Dress to impress is their slogan." I laugh and leave to go to the boutique with her. Jake and Brad are going off to get some suits for the evening dinner. Everything seems subnormal, strange, alien almost. Jess almost drags me into this small, luxurious boutique and tells the lady on service, who looks like a prostitute, that she wants the best bras (32 B), pants and dresses they have to be given to her in size 8. The woman agrees, flashes a man with his wife and kids in the shop and goes into the room labelled stock cupboard.
Eventually the woman gets back with the clothes. I try to look disinterested, but I am ready to delve myself into this crazy world of actually attractive and not disgustingly ugly clothes which I have become so used to. Jess asks for the VIP changing room. The women leads us through the back room to a more spacious changing room. Jess thrusts the clothes at me and then whispers something in the girl's ear. The girl grins before leaving us. Jess shuts the curtain quickly. "Ok," she says to me, slightly patronizing, "Bras first. Come on, we haven't got all day." She looks away. I quickly undo my bra and open the first packet. Lacy, black underwear. I look at it in a mixture of awe and fascination as I put it on. Jess turns round and smiles. She indicates me to put on the red dress she chose for me. A Chanel dress, recently modeled by Keira Knightley. So goddamn perfect. Slightly shaking, I zip it up. Jess gives me an indication to swirl and I do. She passes me the final touch, a pair of black high heeled boots. Also Chanel. $180 mind you. I smile at her. She calls back the assistant, who takes away the unwanted clothes. We then proceed to the checkout, with me still wearing the clothes. I look at her, slightly confused and begin to hand over my purse but Tess just waves it away. This was obviously what she was whispering to the shop assistant about. No-one else apart from Jess would be able to let me be allowed to walk out of a store with the clothes still on.
"Wow..." Jake trails off, "You are something." He is wearing an amazing looking new tux. It's so smart and simple, from Giorgio Armani. A white shirt, black jacket and , to top it all off, a bow tie undone hanging around his neck. I kiss him and we embrace, just us for a moment. Jess coughs and we wheel round. Harriet and Jamie are staring at us from across the mall. Harriet's face is a picture of pure, utmost hatred and jealousy. Jamie looks slightly taken aback, as if it doesn't make sense. I smile sweetly at the both of them, before turning away and kissing Jake some more. Brad hands me something that he appears to have been hiding all along. My heart skips a beat. "Is this a Neil Lane diamond necklace?" I breathe, "Oh my god! Jake, this is amazing. Oh, and you got me matching earrings too! Thanks so much. That must have cost you your house in money." "And a bit of the garden too," Jake teases, "It's for you. To mark the start of me and you. And no-one else. Forever."
Forever.
YOU ARE READING
The Price of Blood
VampiroTwo parts. Two stories. Two points of view. Two outsiders trying to fit in in their respective worlds. One extraordinary event will bind them together. They should not be together. They should be enemies. Can they be more than friends?
