"Okay, Nic, we don't have all the time in the world here, so find a dress," I said, rubbing my eyes. I did not want to be up this early, but Lauryn said I had to start early or we'd never get to the symphony, nag, nag, nag...
"You take me to a department store and tell me not to take all the time in the world? Come on, Zac, it's obvious you've never been shopping with a girl before." I made a face. As a matter of fact, I have. I took the most prolific shopper to Rodeo drive.
"It's one dress!"
"No, it's one dress, shoes, a purse, and accessories." I took a stop back. What'd she think, that I'm a millionaire rock star with money coming out of my ears? Oh wait...I am. Heh. But, still!
"Oh no. I'm not buying you a purse and accessories. I'll buy shoes. I can understand shoes. But accessories? What the hell?"
"I'm kidding. I'll buy that. You don't have to," Nic said, walking ahead of me to the dresses. I paused, watching her go. Damn, she's sexy. I can't wait to see her in a dress.
"Good, because I wasn't going to. Now look, rummage, find." She began to sort through the racks, a smile dancing on her face as her eyes ran over the various dresses. They all looked pretty much the same to me, just in different colors.
"Hold this," she said, holding out a dress.
"Do I look like your closet?"
"Shut up and hold it." She did this to me four times. I didn't like any of the dresses. I knew already that she wasn't going to like them when she put them on; they wouldn�t accent the right part of her body. I don't think any of these would.
"Let's go," she said, beckoning me to the dressing rooms.
"You know I've never seen you in a dress before," I told her. Well, there was Darling and Isaac's wedding, but I hardly consider that a dress and I wasn't looking at Nic anyway.
"Well there's a first for everything," she said. "If I like what I put on, I'll come out here to show you. And if you're pulling the bored look, I'll make sure to take forever."
Oh God, I'm never going to see her, I thought. "All right, I won't. I'll be good." She went into the dressing room. I sat down and looked around. "Bored, bored, bored," I lightly sang. "I am so bored." Well, I better do something constructive, or Nic will yell at me. I looked around. There was nothing to do. So I tapped my foot and waited.
"I don't like any of them," Nic said, coming out of the dressing room a few minutes later. Damn, that was quick.
"Oh God, we're going to be here forever," I said, getting up and groaning.
"Shut up."
"Why didn't you like them? That might help you find what you want."
"They all looked bad on me." Duh. "It's like they did nothing for me." Oh, I am so good. Did I predict that or what? "Shut up, you."
"I didn't even get to see any of them. I didn't get to say if they looked good on you or not."
"Like you would ever say it looked bad. You'd say 'it's fine' without even looking at me." Did she not notice I haven't been able to tear my eyes away from her since I met her?
"No, I wouldn't." She kept looking, not believing me. I noticed a dress on the rack. It was orange and God-awful. Oh, I have to point it out. "How about this one?" She looked.
"Zac, it's orange."
"So?" I tried to look sincere, but inside I was laughing my head off. It was too funny.
"I'll look like a fricken pumpkin. No. It's ugly."
"I'm just trying to help." As she rolled her eyes and turned away, I snickered. I am so stupid sometimes. I looked through the dresses. They were all so...so plain. I knew they wouldn't look good on her. God, I sound gay. I sound so gay.
I pulled out a dress. It's worth a shot. "This one's pretty."
"Is it orange?"
"No, it's blue." I showed her the dress. "I'm not too sure about the straps, but the rest is pretty." She started laughing. "What?"
"Zac, this is a strapless dress. Those are there so you can put it on a hanger." I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. I'm so stupid. So I don't know dresses!
"I knew that," I said, pathetically trying to save myself. Before she could press on, I spoke again. "Try it on. I want to see it on you. Or is it too ugly and I have no sense in fashion whatsoever?"
"Everyone knows you have no sense in fashion. But I like this one. And you even picked out the right size! You're getting good at this."
"No, cause when we get to the shoes I'll pick out some red grandma shoes or something." I watched as she went into the dressing room. I sat down again, waiting.
Okay, Zac, when she comes out of there with that dress on, you've got to make sure you don't gawk, okay? No matter what she looks like. No gawking. I rested my hand against my forehead. I'm so tired. Last night I couldn't sleep, but of course Lauryn was out like a light once her head hit the pillow. And she had to wake me up early to come here! Oh, God...
"So what do you think?" I looked up and my jaw fell. I have never seen anyone or anything this beautiful in my life. And she knew how to work it too. The dress fit perfectly on her curves, and damn does she have curves! Dude, you've got a girlfriend... Like that's going to stop me right now.
"It's..." I cleared my throat, trying to get around the large lump that had formed as a result of seeing her in this dress. "It's fine." That's not what I wanted to say.
"You think I should get it?" she asked, giggling. Oh shit, the giggle. I surrender to the giggle, every time. She shifted her weight, revealing a perfectly sculpted, smooth leg. She fiddled with her chain, causing me to look at her chest. Damn, she was good. God-fucking dammit she was good. As my eyes grazed her chest, my face flushed. I must be as red as a tomato.
"Oh yeah, if you want."
"I think I will." She turned, mischievously grinning as she headed back to the dressing room.
"Okay..." I heard my voice quiver as my eyes continued to follow her every move. She had complete control over me. I still watched her, though, tipping in my chair as she turned the corner. I looked until I couldn't see her anymore, and I felt the chair tip over.
"Oh shit�" I fell out of the chair and onto the floor. I got up quickly and looked around. Okay, no one saw that. I'm cool. I'll just casually pick up my chair and sit back down...all right. I'm cool.
When Nic came back out, she still had that grin on her face. "Okay," I said, "do you want to pay for it first or check out the shoes?"
"They don't have a very wide selection of shoes, so let's pay for it first." She found a cashier. Why can a girl always find a cashier so fast? It was like boom, there she was, waiting to get some money.
"This one was on sale," the cashier said, smiling at Nic. Oh, I am so good.
"Hey, it was even on sale," Nic said. "You know how to pick 'em." Oh, I am so good. I'm telling you. I'm awesome. I should shop more often.
"The total comes to $215.79." Sounds reasonable. I reached in my pocket for my wallet.
"Wait, Zac, you're actually going to pay two hundred and fifteen dollars for a dress I'm going to wear once?"
"You can wear it again. It's a really nice dress." I wouldn't let her speak anymore until I had already paid for it. She was going to comment on the money. I knew it. "No, I paid for it, you're not giving me money or anything."
"Zac! It's two hundred and fifteen dollars. You're not buying anything else for me."
"I have money, Nic," I said. "I have enough to buy you a dress and shoes, and even everything else you want for tonight. After seeing you in that dress, I'm willing to pay for everything." She made a face. I loved that face, the cute nose scrunch thing that she does.
"So you think I looked good?" she asked. Oh, God. Better say something quick before she yells at me.
"I think you should start wearing dresses more often. I think you looked very beautiful. That dress was very flattering."
"Yeah, it was..." I was so ready to get out of here. Are we done yet?
"Do you think she'll like these?" I asked, pointing to a set of earrings. Michelle looked at them and then at me.
"Is she okay with you buying her jewelry? All this is so expensive," Michelle said, looking over the display case. When Nic told me not to buy her jewelry after we found her shoes, I automatically decided to go without her. So I grabbed Michelle and Taurii and found a Bonds Jewelry. Taurii was looking through another display case.
"She doesn't know I'm here," I said. "Now hurry. I want to get this and give it to her before we leave in two hours, okay?"
"You expect us to find everything in two hours?" Taurii said from across the room.
"I explained what the dress looks like! You have a whole store to find something that matches it and two hours to do it. I don't care how much it costs, just find it."
I looked over the case quickly and turned around. There was a saleslady. "Ahh!" I said, jumping back against the case. "Where'd you come from?"
"Do you need any help?" she asked.
"I think I found something," Michelle said. I looked over.
"Oh, uh, no. I don't think so. Maybe I've found something." I nearly ran over to Michelle. "I think she heard me say I don't care how much is costs."
"Dude, you said it too loud. The whole store heard!" I sighed and looked up. There was the saleslady again.
"Ahh!! Why don't you put a bell around your neck or something? " I ran my hand through my hair and then stuck my arm around Michelle. "So what are you looking at?"
"These earrings. They'll go with the dress."
"Those are genuine; four hundred dollars and you get a choice of half-off on a necklace." I looked at Michelle.
"Four hundred dollars?"
"Marked down, of course. We're having a major sale."
"Oh I am just picking them today!" I said. Dress on sale, jewelry on sale...damn. I'll still end up spending at least a grand on Nic. So far, seven hundred dollars on a dress, shoes, a purse and now these earrings. How much are the necklaces?
"All the necklaces are on the other side of the display cases," the saleslady said, pulling out the set of earrings Michelle picked. I let go of Michelle, who wanted to admire the jewelry a bit more.
"Find anything interesting, Taurii?" I asked, now putting my arm around her. I'm just the ladies' man, aren't I?
"I'm thinking either that one," she said, pointing to a silver necklace encrusted with diamonds, "or that one." She pointed to a silver necklace with a large blue pendant. "She's like the diamonds better, I'm sure."
"Then we'll get the diamonds." I looked up cautiously, half expecting the saleslady to be standing there. Of course, when I look for her, she's not there. She was speaking with Michelle. "Hey! Lady!" I said, snapping my fingers. She walked over. "How much is that necklace right there?"
"If you take the earrings to make it half-off, three hundred."
"Okay, I'll take the earrings and the necklace."
"Zac, that's seven hundred dollars," Taurii said.
"Yay! Someone knows how to add." She gave me a look, stating she was smarter than that.
"That's still a lot of money just for tonight with someone who isn't your girlfriend."
"I don't care! I never use my money anyway. It just kind of sits there. If I don't spend it, Taylor will. I got the money, let me spend it."
"I want expensive jewelry," she muttered. I smiled.
"Well, what to you want?" I asked.
"Zac, I was just being greedy," Taurii said. I shrugged, looking in the case.
"Okay, you're being greedy. I'm being nice. Pick something, I'll buy it for you," I told her.
"What about me?" Michelle asked.
"You too." She giggled and began to excitedly look through the case. Well, fourteen hundred dollars later, the three of us left the store and went back to the hotel.
"Thank you, Zac! I love you so much!" Michelle said, giving me a hug.
"You're my girls! I have to spoil you."
"Okay. My turn," Taurii said. Michelle laughed and let go of me so Taurii could hug me. If I didn't know these girls so well I'd think they'd be completely stupid for acting like this but they were just genuinely happy that I spent money on them.
"I love you two. Taking turns to hug me," I said. Taurii put her hand around my arm.
"You've got the sexy drummer body, so of course we�re going to want to hug you. You're just so buff!" Well, I do have to admit years of the drums have buffed me up a bit, but I never really thought about it until now that Taurii mentioned it.
"Okay, my turn again!" Michelle said. Taurii shook her head.
"No, it's still my turn." I rolled my eyes.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm being used for my body?" I asked.
"Because you are. Why do you think we always put you with the new girls? Well, besides the fact that you're a great fuck...You've got the body! I mean, Taylor? A keyboardist? Yeah, he's a good catch," Michelle said, opening the door to her room. Taurii let go of me, and the three of us walked in. Rachel was talking to Isaac on the balcony.
"Rach!" I said, walking out to the balcony. "You should have come along! I ended up buying stuff for the girls."
"Isn't it wonderful where our money goes?" Isaac asked.
"Shut up. It's either jewelry for the girls or new leather pants for Taylor. I personally don't like the fact that my brothers goes out in public wearing those God-awful things, so he doesn't need anymore."
"Whatever."
"You're not mad at me, are you?" I asked Isaac. He shook his head. "It sounds like you are. Anyway, Rachel, I gotta take you out later and get you something."
"Sure."
"Great. It's a date. I've got to get Nic's stuff to her and get ready. See you." I left. Isaac really must have not wanted me there, because he was giving me death looks.
I went into Taylor's room. I heard the blow-dryer in the bathroom, while Taylor was on the bed reading.
"Hi," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"Just dropping this off for Nic." I put the case on the table. I didn't even think how Taylor would react to all this. "Hey, Tay, are you okay with this?"
"With you taking her out?" he asked. I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine with it. As long as you bring her back in one piece and don�t mess with her, fine." He got up and walked over. "What'd you get her?"
"Just some jewelry. She told me not to buy her any so of course I did."
"Typical you." He opened the case. I saw his eyes graze over the necklace and earrings. "Hmm, diamonds. Are they real?"
"Uh, yeah." I didn't expect him to open it. I should have known, though.
"Yeah, that's what I figured," he said.
"Are you really okay with this?" I asked. "Cause if you're not, I can just give you my ticket and you can go with her. I'm only doing this cause I know Nic will really enjoy it."
"No, it's all right. I want you two to go. I want you to become friends again. Not too close, but friends."
"Like I said, you could always go." He gave me a look.
"Me? Go to the symphony? Yeah right. That is one hundred percent not my thing."
"Maybe you should talk to Lauryn. I think you two would get along quite nicely." I looked at my watch. "Okay, I gotta get ready. Make sure Nic gets this and try not to make it seem like a big deal."
"Sure." Taylor closed the case and put it on the table. I turned and left, meeting Darling in the hallway.
"Where do you think you're going?" I asked.
"I heard her dress is beautiful so I figured I should see it." I shrugged and brushed past her. Taylor really got me down on taking Nic. I guess I'm just taking this too seriously. I'm spending a thousand dollars on someone who's in a rather serious relationship. Hell, I'm in a serious relationship. I don't know. Maybe I'm just expecting too much.
After a short, hot shower, I wiped my hand over the fogged mirror and looked at myself. Ugh, I feel so guilty and I haven't even done anything. Yet.