Where We Begin

Chapter 47 - She Can Be Tricky To Buy For

Dec 14th, 2002 - Busta

It was about noon and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I wiped some sweat from my forehead, reminding myself of how miserable Chicago winters were. Still though, there was something so unnatural about it being in the high-60's and sunny in the middle of winter. 

Yeah, it wasn't blisteringly hot like the summer, but when you spend all morning lugging around giant spools of Christmas lights to hang on rich people's giant houses... somehow the thought of a few snow flurries becomes very appealing. 

Normally at this point in the month we wouldn't be on decorating duty anymore, but some family a couple streets over in the Johansen's neighborhood was throwing a last minute holiday party or something. Hanging twinkle lights off of palm trees was giving me flashbacks to the day I first laid eyes on Taylor.

Back then I was angry and withdrawn. I thought I hated Mt Blue and all the people in it, until I met Taylor. She showed me I just hated being alone. Loneliness is a funny thing. I wore it like a shield, thinking it was protecting me, but really, it was eating away at my soul. 

I couldn't believe it had been five and a half months since she brought me lemonade, acting so flirty and confident. I would have never dreamed a girl like that would give me the time of day, let alone pursue me. I was so blinded by my fear of rejection that I almost pushed her away completely. Everything changed because I crashed her party. Everything changed because of those lights I had to hang. 

The same damn lights I was hanging today, which were now a constant reminder of the fact that I hadn't bought any gifts yet. I had been putting it off, but I knew that since Taylor was still out of town and I had nothing better to do, my best opportunity was to go today. After work wrapped up, I biked home for a quick shower and headed to the mall.

The moment I stepped inside, I regretted being there. Holiday shopping fever was in full swing, but I knew if I put it off any longer, the crowds would only get worse. I got the easy gifts over with first: new wheels for Buddy's skateboard, scented candles for Aunt Ivy and my mom's favorite perfume that I got her every year. I also stocked up on some more temporary hair color to update my streaks. 

The only gift left to get was for Taylor, but I had no idea what. I decided a trip to the food court for some cheese fries would help me find some inspiration. As I scanned the crowded tables looking for anywhere to park my butt, I saw a familiar blond ponytail. Brandy's hand shot up into the air and waved me over. 

"Hi Busta!" She was sharing a table with Amber and Kiki, surrounded by shopping bags.

"Hey hey, girl gang," I greeted them as I slid into the last available chair in the whole mall. 

"Mmm papas fritas con queso," Kiki said, observing my tray. 

"You know I love it when you talk Spanish to me, but... come again?" 

She laughed. "I said 'mmm cheese fries', in a tone that obviously meant you should share a couple." 

I slid them closer to her. "Help yourself, but I'm going to need a piece of your sweet and sour chicken... for scientific purposes."

Thus commenced an exchange of greasy, delicious, fried mall snacks between all parties.

"We are going to go see that new Jennifer Lopez movie after this, if you want to join," Brandy offered. "The one where she's a hotel maid and a super rich guy falls in love with her and society is keeping them apart, blah blah blah."

I shook my head. "No thanks. That plot sounds a little too close to home for me right now. Well, except that I'm not a cleaning lady with the world's most perfect derrière." I turned to Kiki. "That's French for 'butt' by the way."

"Impressive language skills," she said trying not giggle.

Brandy drew in air threw her clenched teeth. "Oohhh I didn't think about that whole... whoops."

I waved it off to show her I wasn't concerned. "You'd be surprised how many movies and shows use the whole rich vs poor gimmick. My life is a cliche and my bum will never be quite as impressive as J.Lo's. I've accepted these truths. Anyway, Taylor usually calls around dinnertime, so I should get home pretty soon."

"You must be happy she's coming home tomorrow," Amber smiled. "I talked to her yesterday to fill her in on some of our classes. She sounded ready to be to back." 

I nodded. "Totally. Hey, while on the subject of Taylor... I am clueless about what to get her for Christmas. Any ideas?"

"Ahh yes, the girl who has everything. She can be tricky to buy for," Amber answered. "I got her this book about writing college applications and SAT prep. I have the same one, and she was asking to borrow it."

"I got her some cute, sparkly notebooks for school," Kiki added. 

"And I got her some bath bombs," Brandy said, raising an eyebrow. "You know, so maybe she can take a break from school work."

Amber laughed. "She'll probably end up taking practice tests, in her new notebooks, in the bathtub."

"Those are all awesome gifts, but I'm still stumped. I feel like I should get her something really special, you know? I just can't think of anything she doesn't have or couldn't afford a better version of on her own."

Kiki patted my arm. "You'll think of something great. Besides, you know Taylor is going to love whatever you give her, because she loves you."

"Aww, don't make me blush, Littles," I smirked. "But it's got to be something that really shows her how I feel. Maybe I could get her like a necklace or a bracelet, maybe one of those silver chain ones with the heart on it? I see people with them a lot lately."

The girls exchanged knowing looks before Amber jumped in to answer. "Actually, Kit got her one of those once."

"From Tiffany's, it was white gold or something crazy like that," Brandy interjected. I grimaced. 

Amber made a gesture to her to cut it out and continued. "She didn't really like it. After they broke up and we were helping her purge her room of anything related to him, she mentioned that she felt like it was a dog collar. She said the engraving might as well read 'property of Kit' instead of 'Tiffany & Co'."

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. "OK, no expensive dog collars. Well, I'm back at square one. Damn, I never even thought about all the things Kit probably bought for her. I don't want to get her cheaper, crappier versions of gifts he already thought of."

"Have you thought about not getting her a thing?" Kiki suggested. "Maybe you could do something for her instead."

I squinted my eyes and nodded. "Hmmm. OK, that's starting to sound promising. Like what?"

"Like a really nice date or something? I don't know, it has to be something special between you two," she said.

"Problem is that a date can't be that much of a surprise since she would have to drive us..." Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in my brain. I jumped to my feet, rattling the table on my way up and startling the three girls. "I got it!" 

"Well, that was quite the mood swing," Brandy quipped, steadying the soda on her food court tray. 

"Girls, I have no time to lose. Thanks for the help. See you Monday!" I hurried out of the food court and the mall as quickly as the plan unfolding in my head.