"Hey Brooke, want some breakfast before you hit the road?" Dad asked.
"No, thank you though Mr Kinsington, I'm going o grab a latte on the way and I ate at on the way."
Brooke was wearing a a brown sweater and black legging with black boots. Her hair done up in a messy bun.
"Brooke!" Josie shouted rushing up to hug Brooke. "Thanks again for driving."
I usually prefer backseat if I don't have to drive when the three of us road trip to different hiking spots. I like being able to stretch my legs and look out the window. I often found myself day dreaming during these times. We like to shuffle music between thee three of us since we all have different music tastes. We're so different in personality, hobbies, style and music it's a miracle we're friends.
Josie and I were the odd ones out in our town. Brooke was the one who fit in, no one could figure out why she decided to stick with us even though she could hang with the popular kids.
Josie was eccentric so she stuck out in our small town. Her parents were pretty traditional asians, and were really hard on her studies. They let her get away with a lot, but grades, grades were no joke to her parents. Grades were life or death.
Brooke's adopted and has two dads, she's also friends with everyone, but it was me and Josie she ate lunch with. Brooke has a boyfriend named Jared. He's been in our lives since we were a kid, once we were all gonna be in a band when we grew up. I practiced singing and planned to design our albums. Josie learned drums, Brooke learned piano, we all had crushes on him when we were little, when Brooke never grew out of her crush, Josie and I knew it would happen one day.
Taking turns with the music, we finally arrive in Redding.
I was actually excited to get some new clothes.
The mall in Redding was twice the size of our little mall and had a lot of brand stores like Chanel and Armani.
"Where should we go first?" Josie asked inhaling deeply the smell of the mall.
There was a hustle and bustle about the area. People moving quickly through the crowds as well as people walking leisurely talking among friends, just like us.
The first store we stop at is Macy's.
"You could use a new bag. You're family's got money so why have you been using the same bag for the last two years?" Josie said looking through the black bags.
"Because I like this one, it's the perfect bag in my opinion." I said. It really was, it was brown leather backpack, it had two pockets in the front, one was a small zipper on top and on the bottom was had flap that snapped. It had a belt piece I could also use to close it and a good amount of space on the inside.
"She's right you could use a few different options, get some to match you clothes." Brooke insisted.
"Are you guys saying I have no fashion sense?"
"Nooo… Not at all." Josie said sarcastically.
"Let's just say you have some trendy friends, don't worry about it." Brooke teased happily
"You guys are assholes, you know?"
"Yep. But we're assholes that are buying you a new wardrobe." Josie said looking through some colorful purses now.
"Whoa, wait, wardrobe?" I was shook.
"Surprise!" My two friends yelled at the same time.
"Absolutely not." Shaking my head no. They're insane if they think… Did they really think I would let them do that?
"You don't have a choice." Josie said giving me the cute kawaii face.
"You're parent's gave us the credit card and said and I quote 'go crazy girls'." Brooke said.
"Let's shop till we drop." Josie shouted throwing her hands up high in the air kicking her feet back excitedly.
I shoot her a sharp warning glare. Which she just shrugs off.
"Don't listen to her, you know I'm reasonable, which is why your mom handed me the card, and not her." Brooke said smiling and patting her bag.
"I don't need anything you guys." I persisted. This was ridiculous I never thought I would be pushed to buy things.
"It's not for need, it's want, and you never want enough." Brooke said.
"I didn't think that was a bad thing…"
"It's a good thing you're humble, but you're also human which means its okay to like something and want it." Brooke was being really convincing. As usual.
"Fine." I say rolling my eyes.
It's weird my parent's have never done anything like this before. And neither have these two.
"What's going on? You guys are acting pretty sus."
"It's almost lunch time, how about taco's?" Josie said as she skipped away with a few bags on her hand avoiding the subject.
"Hey, I'm not done talking to you!" I say loudly, drawing a little more attention to myself than I anticipated. As eyes start to look in my directions.
I look at Brooke "I hate her. She's ridiculous. Are you going to confess?"
"No probably not." She just laughed and kept looking through the bags. "I think I want to be daring and buy a colorful bag."
Her smile was always so warming to look at.
"Here this one is for you." She hands me a an electric blue backpack.
Looking at it, it was beautiful. Made of a soft felt material it had a large pocket in the front. The flap attached to the back with a belter strap. The buckle had butterfly wings on them.
"I love it." I could the feel the smile stretching across my face.
"I knew you would." Brookes smile was flawless.
"Soooo… Taco's?" Josie cane rushing back around the corner with clothes.
"No I don't want tacos." I whined.
"These are for you to try on." Josie said tossing the clothes at me. "Cute bag."
"No, I don't want Tacos, it's my birthday." I was whining now too.
"Honestly Seri, I would honestly kill for some tacos." Brooke pouted.
It was practically impossible to say no to Brooke's pout, especially because she barely used it. And when she did, it was always for evil.
"I hate you guys, it doesn't matter if its my birthday, you're just using me for my money." I pouted.
"Your birthday does matter." Josie retorted.
"But you're not using me?"
"Well I didn't say that." Josie joked.
"I want to check out a store before we leave to get lunch."
The three of us leave Macy's and head for Elan's Shoe Salon.
"I'm looking for these boots do you have them in stock in a size 7?" I ask showing the woman at the front of the store a photo of a pair black combat boots with a pocket on the side.
"Yes, I'll grab them in a size 7." She responded walking to the back.
"Not even browsing" Josie asked me.
"No, I know what I want and what I came here for, nothing else compares to these boots." I looked back smiling.
This was the real reason I was excited about shopping. I've wanted these boots since I saw the design drop on Elan's insta. And now they're mine! Happy Birthday to ME!
The attendant came back with my perfect pair of combat boots.
Trying them on, they fit my feet perfectly. Felt like Kim Possible in them. Strutting around the store.
"They look awesome, I want the same pair!" Josie yelled. "I understand what you meat by one pair. They're the perfect boot."
"I know."
"Do you have these in a size 8?" I ask the attendant.
"I'll go grab them, so you want two pairs?" She asked confirming.
"Yes please, and bag them up for me." I answered and looked at Josie and said "Christmas,"
"You're evil." She lipped back.
I give her a menacing grin.
After getting the shoes we walk out of the mall and toward the little taco place around the corner.
The name of the place was "Abuela's". It was cute. It had red shutters and it looked like it could have been an old church at some point before it became this.
"Isn't it cute? It's been featured on Instagram lately" Josie said "And the staff is super hot here too."
Which she wasn't lying. Jesus fucking Christ the servers were hot. How could so many hot men be all in one place, it seems so unjust and unfair.
"Hello, ladies, table for 4?" The very sexy tan man with dark hair and a square jawline. His voice was like silk.
"4?" Brooke questioned.
"Yes, you three ladies and me?" His smile very flirtatious with Brooke.
She wasn't used to people being so forward, with their approach, her cheeks grew red with heat. She was a bit embarrassed.
Josie and I just laughed at Brooke's shyness.
"Shit how about 6?" Josie joked.
"Now that sounds like a party." He chucked leading us to a corner booth. The music was lovely and fun. Pretty upbeat, almost enough to are you want to dance.
"Camio, I'll be at your service tonight."
"Camio? What a sexy name, are you single?" Josie already flirting.
"I can be what ever you want me to be." Camio said.
"I like the way you speak." Josie joked.
"I'm going to bring some chips and quéso, any drinks?" Camio asked.
"I'll take a tea" Brooke said.
"I'll take a sprite." I said.
"I'll take a coke." Josie answered.
"Okay, I'll be right back." Camio said walking back to the kitchen.
"Damn he is so fine." Josie said.
Camio was a tall muscular hispanic man. He had thick black long wavy hair tied in a pony tail. He wore a clean button down white shirt and black pants. He had tattoos on his chest, you could see the top poking out from his collar.
"I can't believe how flirty he is!" Brooke giggled.
"It's easy to flirt with you two, you guys are beautiful." I said.
"So are you Seri. You're the prettiest between the three of us." Brooke said.
"Compare to you two? No, I'm pretty plain. All except my copper hair and eyes."
"No, you are crazy, girl you are a very unique beauty." Josie said acting offended "You're hair is the perfect shade of copper. And its so luscious and vibrant. You, actually have two different eye colors, which is cool as fuck. You are super in shape and you have a great bod. And clear skin that never burns, no matter how much sun. You're more perfect than Brooke."
"That's impossible, now I know you're lying." I laughed.
"I think she's telling the truth." Brooke said.
"Here's the chips and quéso." He says placing them on the table in front of us "and here's your drinks. Now ladies have you decided on food?"
"Are you edible?" Josie joked.
"I don't think I'd taste nearly as good as you." His smile held something devious back.
It sent shivers down my spine.
"I'll take the grilled mahi tacos." I interrupted the weird sexual tension in the air.
"I'll take the beef and cheese enchiladas" Brooke stated.
"I'll take the same as her." Josie said.
"Gotcha babe, I'll be back soon to check on you. Let me know if you need anything else." Camio said winking at Josie.
Watching him walk away I notice someone stop him and pull him aside to talk. I don't know why it looked weird, but it did.
It seemed to put Camio on alert as he started to move more urgently.
"Get them!" A group of men yelled rushing through the front door.