All The Things I Don't Do

What I'm Ready For Again

Listen to Try Love by Rachelle Pauli

The fact that all Greyson had was a small pink bike, was a bit of a problem. It wasn't sturdy enough for him to continue to the beach, already he knew he'd have to walk it home. We could use my bike, in the way me and O'rien had done, but for some reason, at my suggestion O'rien had jumped in and said no, I'd fall off, etc etc. (I hadn't fallen off with him, had I?)

Greyson being the gentleman he was, honored O'rien's precautions and instead left for home.

"You have a rain check for a beach date with me," he joked, laughing, but his eyes showing sincerity.

So me and O'rien headed back home. Before long though, almost out of Belton's town center, I stopped us.

"Let's go there first." I pointed to one of my favorite little shops. Lilley's Closet, a gently used thrift boutique.

O'rien just stared at it. "Shopping?"

"Yeah. You need new stuff. You can't just wear your one pair of clothes and my dad's stuff forever."

"Hmm. Guess I can't. But still." He grumbled.

"Hey, it'll be fun. I promise. I know just how to make shopping fun," I grinned at him.

He looked at me with disbelief but followed me in.

~~~~

"This." I held up a horrifying mustard colored, floral printed hat with tassels, a pink flower, and a small dark red stain on the brim.

"Well. Let's see...."

I shook my head, "can't come up with anything, can you?"

O'rien met my eyes with a mischievous smile. "Course I can." He tossed the hat onto my head and I flung it off back at him.

He cleared his throat, " an older woman owned this. She was definitely a flower-lady. Her honey was a business man. Never gave her much attention. She dressed as bright as her flowers to impress him, always wore her favorite hat. But one day, after a weekend flower show, she came home a day early-"

"No," I gasped. "This is just horrible."

"Yes." O'rien said with all seriousness, I almost was believing his story. "So she comes home early, right? Sees him with the snobby rich jeweler store girl. So, she's mad, she frisbees her hat and it catches him on the nose. Wanda- that's her name- leaves and never goes back. Never has to see him again, or that hat he always ridiculed. The hat she loved."

"Hmm good one," I nod approvingly. "But the stain? How'd Wanda manage that if her hat was so precious?"

"The red stain? Blood of course."

"Ew, what from?? Just knocking him on the nose?" I pulled the hat out of O'rien's hands and toss it back on the rack.

"Yep. It never washed out. Apparently Edgar-Wanda's husband, bled easily. Such a sissy. Never deserved her anyways. So the frisbee hat smacking his noggin? Full on bloody nose right there."

"Nice. Nice."

O'rien grinned proudly. "Your turn again."

"Only after you find something else to get. You only have one outfit so far," I motioned to the tee and pair of jeans he held.

"Ugh, fine." Despite his eye roll, O'rien seemed a lot less reluctant to browse through clothes.

We eventually found another t-shirt O'rien actually agreed to (only after admitting that, yes, I really did think he looked great in it) and a pair of shorts, along with some sneakers and a pack of socks.

"Ok, here." He held up my next object. A royal blue dress with drop shoulders and small lace details on the straps and waist.

"Wow." I just stared at it. Both casual and dressy. Reminded me of the ivory sundress I'd had. Worn just once, on a date with Evan. He'd yelled at me briefly; "a fancy dinner date and you just wear that. Cathryn! You need to be better looking with me! Don't embarrass me again." I flinch and glance away from O'rien.

Confusion flashes across his face, but he covers it by waving the dress again and grinning. "Story on this?"

"Um.... A girl.... Going on a date with her boyfriend. Always ready to try to impress him. Make him proud. So she spends a couple hours getting ready and picking out an outfit." My voice is evening out and I hold the dress. "But then when she meets him there, he says its not enough. That basically, she looks like crap compared to him, doesn't deserve him." I get quiet. "And so she gets rid of the dress. The beautiful new dress that wasn't nice enough for him."

O'rien takes a step closer to me, slowly brings a hand up to my face and gently wipes away a tear with his thumb. "Hey, Cat, hey," he murmurs. "You know you can tell me as little or as much as you want, k?"

I nod. "It never was enough for him. None of my efforts...." I feel another tear escape and O'rien catches that one as well. "I think this is beautiful." I finger the dress, "but Evan....he'd tell me to find something better. No matter how often he'd tell me in private, assure me, he liked me for who I am..."

He gazed at me with a mixture of emotions, mostly compassion and wonder. "You're getting this dress."

"O'rien-"

"Wait no- I'm gonna buy it for you. You're already forcing me to let you pay for my stuff, you deserve a gorgeous dress. I don't care what any asshole thinks of you. You are beautiful however you are, and this dress will look great-amazing- on you."

I shyly blush and look down. "O'rien...."

He puts his hand lightly on my arm. "Cat, it's no problem." He smiles, and inside I start to swoon hard before shoving it all back in. Friend, I tell myself. Friends.

"Thank you, " I say quietly, looking into his clear blue eyes. "For everything," I whisper.