Valid Weaknesses ||Completed|| #Wattys2017

Chapter 12

Genesis

I like to think that I'm not an avid spender and that I'm quite good at saving my money but as I empty the contents of my purse out onto my desk along with the pockets of every single pair of jeans, shorts, sweatpants and skirt I own, I realize that I also wouldn't qualify as one of the rich kids of Beverly hills.

Sighing tiredly, I count the notes on the desk along with the few coins I had extracted from most of my jeans. It's quite a lot; even more than I need but I had expected it to be much more.

Guess I'll have to deal, I think, putting my room back in order.

On my way out, I leave a note for dad, who's out working, to find in case he gets back before I do and then I get in my car and drive off to the mall.

For dad I had decided earlier to add a self-stirring Christmas themed mug to the scarf I'd snagged at Grand Forks for him because well, dad does love a good cup of coffee.

Traipsing around the mall for a bit, I try to make a mental list of the stuff I want.

An album for Patty to put in all the photos we've taken over the years for her to remember me by. Of course that's not the only gift I'll get her. When we visited Grand Forks earlier in the week, I had secretly gotten a friendship necklace.

You know the sappy kind with the heart that divides in half down the middle to form two separate necklaces with 'best friends forever' inscribed on it? Yeah, well I'm a sucker.

I'd also gotten two male type friendship bracelets; One for Javi and the other for Jerry. There isn't much left to buy really but I figured I couldn't just give them only those.

Making my way into an art store, I stare wide eyed at the rows and rows of art supplies staring back at me.

"Need any help missy?" a pretty eyed brunette who looks to be about the same age as Lacey asks. Her nametag reads Flora.

"Hi Flora." I say, striding up to her. "I'm looking to get a few art supplies for my friend."

"Well, what does your friend like?" she asks patiently.

"I don't know really?" I blush, feeling embarrassed that I hadn't paid more attention when Javier talked about art. "But he did say he's been itching to try his hands on some crayons. He usually uses paint."

"Come on then." She smiles, heading to some shelves at the back of the room. Flora shows me box after box of crayons and my head just about starts to hurt from all the colors.

In the end, I settle for the Conte A Paris 18 crayon box set and also toss in a new sketchpad with a beautiful bamboo drawing on the cover.

Javi's gonna love it! I think excitedly as Flora rings up my purchase.

"That'll be $25.40" she says, extending her hands still smiling.

Hurriedly I hand her the money and accept my change.

"Have a great day!" she calls as I walk out the shop, heading to the bookstore. I need to find something good for Jerry the bibliophile to sink his claws into.

Running my hands over the spines, I take my time looking at different books and reading synopsis. After about thirty minutes, I take my loot up to the register who smiles at me.

I've picked a book called "All the bright places" Which seems to be about a boy who is fascinated by death and tries to think up a myriad of ways he could kill himself. Thing is, every day he searches for a way to kill himself; he manages to find a reason to remain here, living and breathing.