Where to Begin

Chapter 19

"Hey Aubrey?" I called walking to Lillian's room. "Aubrey?"

"What's up?" I heard her behind me.

"Oh, you gave me a fright,"

"Sorry,"

"Do you think you could take me shopping? For the boys' gifts? Unless you don't feel like it today

then –''

"No of course. Are you ready and have your money and stuff?"

I suddenly panicked, wondering how much money I had left.

"If you don't then I'll lend you some,"

"No, it's ok, let me go check."

I sprinted up to my room and rummaged through my purse. I still had ninety-six dollars.

"Yes, I have money," I said out-of-breath.

"Cool and are you ready? We can go now if you are. Tuesdays aren't really busy at the mall so if we go now we should be able to get an amazing parking spot," she said turning to the kitchen to grab her handbag.

"Ok, let me just put on some more deodorant and some different shoes," I said quickly turning to the stairs.

"Ladybird...Where are you rushing off to?" Chase's voice behind me brought me to a sudden stop.

"Nowhere," I said quickly.

"Are you going out with Aubrey?" He said walking over to me at my door.

"Yes actually, we're going to the mall," I said going into my room and to my wardrobe.

"Can I come?" He leaned on the doorframe.

"No!" I spun around quickly. "I mean, we're buying girly stuff,"

"So? I can handle girly stuff," he shrugged.

"Like tampons, bras, underwear, that sort of stuff?"

He gave me a cheeky look.

"You guys are getting underwear?"

"Chase – ''

"Okay, fine! I'll stay here with my lame brothers but you better buy me something," he turned to leave. "Or should I say buy yourself something nice for me." He winked. I hit him on the arm then pushed him out the door and closed it behind me.

"Ok, let's go!" I said to Aubrey who was waiting at the door.

"That took longer than expected?" She looked at me.

"I had a run in with Chase." I smiled sarcastically. She just laughed.

"Ok, so let's start with Connell, he's the easiest," Aubrey said as we walked through the glass sliding doors of the mall.

"So what does he like?"

"Well, as you've probably noticed, he loves cooking,"

"Ok? So I get him cooking equipment?"

"Yeah but he'll be happy with anything really,"

We headed for the cooking supply store and I got Connell what I thought he would like and hoped he didn't already have. Aubrey took us to some store that she remembered Connell loving. It had all sorts of exercise clothes and gym shoes but she took me to the section he loved the most.

"Connell also loves dancing," she said looking at me with a wide smile.

"No way!"

"He's trained and everything. I've watched many, many shows," she said looking at the wall of dance shoes. I then bought him something Aubrey said he had always wanted and looked at whenever they were in the store.