My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Shopping…I really liked the sound of that. I mean, I did need something new and cute to wear on my date with Aaron (aka Max, according to Laurane) tonight. Besides, I absolutely loved shopping regardless of the occasion, and Laurane knew that perfectly well.

“Okay!” I agreed enthusiastically. Laurane grinned and without another word, she grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the mall that was only a couple of blocks away.

The mall in Atlanta was everything I had ever wanted, but because of the fact that I attended a boarding school, I rarely got the chance to go. This was the first time in months that I had the chance to go shopping, which was making it all even more exciting than it usually would have been.

Laurane and I walked into the mall, and I realized that I couldn’t exactly afford to buy a new outfit. When I told Laurane this, she just laughed.

“Sammi, I said that I wanted to do something nice for you, and this is it. I’m going to buy you a brand new outfit for tonight!”

Laurane pulled out a credit card (courtesy of her wealthy parents) and waved it in the air for a moment.

“We’re covered.”

Laurane and Aaron both came from a very wealthy family. Their dad was really high up in Microsoft or something, and was on speaking terms – and was even friends – with Bill Gates.

Their mom was a very successful travel agent. This was partially – well, mainly – due to the fact that she used to be a model (until she got sick of “that scene”, as she always would put it), and apparently people are more enthusiastic to book their vacations with someone who’s attractive.

But while knowing how to make it big and live long, luxurious lives, neither of Laurane or Aaron’s parents knew how to actually take care of a couple of children, so they shipped them off to boarding school and loaded their pockets with money, credit cards, and other luxuries.

That wasn’t to say that their parents didn’t care about Laurane and Aaron, though. They absolutely loved them with all of their hearts. They just didn’t really know how to go about that love.

Although, it wasn’t as if either Laurane or Aaron were complaining about their situation.

So while I came to A.B.S without a dollar in my pocket, Laurane came here with loads of money, and she didn’t ever hesitate to share it with me, regardless of whether or not I actually asked or wanted her to.

Honestly, even though I had no way to get a job – considering I was stuck at a boarding school – and no way to get any money, I really didn’t want Laurane spending so much money on me. She did it all the time, out of the goodness of her heart, but I was perfectly content just making a few bucks out of blackmailing other kids in my dorm about having their significant other’s over.

“Laurane, you really don’t have to spend your money on me. You don’t need to buy me stuff…I don’t really need a new outfit.”