Academy Everlasting

Not Worth a Red Cent

Once lunch is finished Gabriel drives us over to a store called "The Décor Store". I giggle when I read the name, catching Victors attention and earning me a smile that makes his eyes light up.

"Okay, Trouble!" Gabriel says, taking my hand. "I think we should start with the bedroom and work our way to bathroom."

I nod, having no idea what else I could possibly need. I don't want to ruin his fun, though, so I will go with it.

"North!" A squeaky female voice calls, the second we step into the store.

I turn to see a busty girl with pin straight black hair. She had on a lot of make up and very tight clothing. Her outfit reminded me of some of the scary ladies I would see on the corner of the street, when my step mother would make me go to the store for her late at night back in Illinois.

"Hi Northy!" She walks up swinging her hips. I wonder if she has something in her shoe by the way she is walking. "How cute, you came to see me, Sugar!"

"Uh, hi Jade, I didn't come here to see you," North growls, putting an arm around my waist. "Been busy, still am."

Without another word the four of us walk away, Gabriel and Victor snickering as we go. I glance back and see Jade glaring at me. I hope that wasn't his girlfriend of something. I don't want to cause trouble.

"Come on, Princess," Victor says with a grin. "Let's buy you a bunch of stuff!"

"Oh boy," I breathe out, making Victor and North laugh.

Gabriel drags us over to the bedding, saying something about the focal point of the room. He tells me to pick my favorite and he will pick his.

I find a plain grey comforter that isn't as expensive as some of the bedding sets they have. Gabriel comes over with a grey and white chevron bed set, similar to the chairs I loved at the first store. It has a reversible quilt style comforter. The flip side is bright pink and white chevron. It comes with matching sham covers that are grey and white chevron with bright pink trim. I am in love with it instantly.

"That is what you picked?" Gabriel asked, wrinkling his nose at the blanket in my hand.

"I already have the white bedding in my room now. I don't really need more," I shrug.

"Oy! I don't want to know what you NEED, I want to know what you WANT, Trouble," Gabriel says, exasperated. " If you don't start picking what you like and not what you think is cheapest, I will start grabbing the most expensive thing I can find no matter how ugly it is!"

"Gabriel," I try to object.

"He is right, Princess," Victor interrupts, with a gentle smile. "We talked about this before. We like to spoil you, please let us do this for you. If you don't start telling us what you really like I will have to guy you two of everything."

I look at the three of them and see they are not going to give up on this. With a sigh, I put back the plain comforter and point to the set Gabriel is holding.

"That one reminds me of the chairs I saw at the last store," I whisper. "It has pink, too."

"Hallelujah!" Gabriel yells, throwing the bedding set into the cart. "Let's hurry before she starts doing that 'I don't deserve shit' thing again!"

He runs off toward the sheets. We spend the next hour and a half going through every aisle of bedroom décor they have. I end up with pale pink sheets and pillow cases and six decorative pillows that have various amounts of pinks, greys, and whites in the patterns.

Next he takes me to the wall décor. I have no idea where to start so I let Gabriel show me what he thinks would look good. So far everything he has picked for the walls I like. Out of the corner of my eye I notice a charcoal grey wooden sign tucked into the corner. The guys are distracted, talking to Gabriel about the best way to hang a shelf, so I sneak over and pull it out.