So here is the second chapter. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Characters are SM; the craziness is mine.
Chapter 2 – Target Adventure
Looking in your eyes world's like a mirror
Every single joy and fear
All for one and one for all
Yeah we did it
Now and then don't have to look back
Now and then you're right here with me
Now and then oooh my friend
Don't say good bye again
-"Now and Then", Susanna Hoffs
"Why do you always have to drive, Bella?"
I looked to Alice in my passenger seat, her spot since forever. "You know why and don't give me that look Al, I haven't had my second cup of coffee yet."
"I finally have my own car, and I still don't get to drive." She huffed in her seat, but it only made me grin.
"Alice, this is habit. For eight years it's always been you in the passenger seat and me driving. Somethings just aren't gonna change."
"Six years. You didn't drive your first two years of high school."
"Ok, ok, but I've always had a car, or at least something to drive. You got your first one, what, six months ago?"
"So it took me forever to get my license, so what! I got it didn't I? I bought my car on my own, so that's gotta count for something."
"I've bought all of my cars too Alice."
"You didn't buy Dolores, but she sure wasn't a lucky first car."
"Remind me never to buy a Toyota ever again. I think I put more money into that Camry than I have paid for the Escort and the Jeep together, and they both run way better!"
"But at least it had cup holders." She looked over to me as I pulled up to a red light. I couldn't help but to laugh. My Camry had cup holders but the Escort and my now Jeep do not. I just figure it's a small price to pay since I'm in love with my Jeep.
The day I found my Jeep I about peed my pants. I was in my junior year of college and somehow I had gotten more scholarship money than I needed. I headed home on my feet, since my second car, the Escort, died after being super reliable for about three years. The transmission in it cost more to fix than the car was worth, so I ended up selling it for parts. So I was left to walk or ride my bike. I always chose to walk since it was less a chance of falling. On my way home with my left-over scholarship money, I saw the Jeep.
It was my Jeep. It was a black Cherokee, four wheel drive, four door, six litre engine, and mine. The money I got from school paid for it perfectly. I couldn't find any other word but perfect to describe it. The only thing missing was the cup holders.
"We figured out a method to our madness Alice. Maybe I will let you drive somewhere tonight."
"I'm not wishing for anything. I know you better than that."
"Does it make it up to you that I am taking you shopping?"
"Yes. I do have to say Bella; you have a way to my heart. Now don't miss the turn into Target!"
I don't think I will ever get used to her passenger-seat-driving, but this was our bonding time: Target.
"Do you think we will make friends at this Target like we did at the one at home?" She asked me as I grabbed a cart and set my purse in the baby area. Alice and I had a ritual: she pushed the cart as I walked ahead or next to the cart. Why? I still don't know, it was something we just do.
"I sure hope so, and if not, I'm going to miss getting Miss Lettie's discount." I looked over to Alice trying to keep a straight face, but it wasn't possible. We had made friends with Miss Lettie by accident; she was always working when we went on our weekly trip to Target. She was the closest thing we both had to a Grandmother, and needless to say, it was difficult to part with seeing her every week.
"Dollar bins! I love this part! Bella, look!"
I looked over from where I was, glancing into the dollar bins where she was. Alice was holding up cupcake pot holders. Oh man. The two of us have this perfectly healthy obsession with cupcakes. I took the two steps over to her to look at where she picked them up.
"Al, there are these candy dishes or soap holders or something like a plate that are cupcakes too."
"Eugene has cupcakes too! I think I love this place even more," she couldn't help herself, it's what I like to think.
"Cupcakes have become a hot thing right now, but we were way ahead of this trend I remind you. Put the damn things in the cart, I want to keep looking."
We moved on to the movie section since the dollar bins lacked more goodies of us. Movies were one of our traditions, but in reality, we just watched a ton of them. We decided to forgo cable and just have a DVD player to save us money every month.
"So, Australia or XMEN? I think I want Hugh Jackman in the living room tonight."
"I was thinking more of a Johnny Depp night. Maybe Public Enemies? We could have martinis with it." I picked the movie up off the five dollar rack.
"And paninis?"
"Paninis?"
"Yeah, martinis and paninis rhyme. Why not? I will make the drinks and you can make the food. And I vote yes to Johnny Depp." She grabbed the movie from my hand and tossed it into the cart.
"Alright, with that settled, I think its kitchen time." I have a deep love with kitchen items. If I am not studying rocks or working, I am cooking. It's the one thing my mom really taught me: my way around a kitchen.
"What's on your mind today?"
"Not quite sure."
I left Alice in the baking aisle and walked to the next one. Bingo, a cookbook holder. A black cookbook holder. Maybe this would help my trusty cookbook from getting nastier than it already is.
I was looking at it as Alice found me, "You gonna get that? Maybe your Better Homes and Garden cookbook won't get as nasty with it."
"You just read my mind. And yes, I think I am gonna get it."
I placed it in the cart, and turned to Al, "Curtains, I need curtains."
"Ok, let's go get you some damn curtains."
This Target didn't have much, but enough to choose from. I was debating between lavender cotton ones and a beige linen.
"What do you think Alice?"
"Well you always talk about how your room is Modern French Chic, so get the purple. I think I want the beige ones for my room. Do you think they match the wood of my furniture, miss interior decorator?"
"I'm not an interior decorator Alice Brandon. I just like things put together."
"Fine. Will these go ok in my room?" She was shaking the curtains in my face. I loved seeing her flustered, she turned red like the lipstick she always wore.
"Yes, they go. Now put them in the cart. We need a few cleaning things and then I think it's Starbucks time."
"Ok, ok, off to the cleaning supplies!"
We laughed and giggled picking out the Febreeze we wanted, the right kind of Windex, picking out Comet, and debated over the Clorox wipes that were right for the kitchen. Being smart girls, we picked out cleaning gloves (like the one's 50's house wives wore) that were different colors so as not to mix up who's were who's.
On our way out, we decided to be good and take the route out by the toys and not the way by the clothes. What we didn't know, because we never took this route, was that we would pass by the pet section.
"OOOH! Cat toys! Bella, I have a brilliant idea."
"Cat toys?"
She grabbed my shoulders to face her and so I couldn't walk any farther. "No no no, let's get cats! You know, like we always have talked about. Bella, we always said when we finally got our own place we would get cats. You have always wanted a black one and I want a white one. Come on! They can be best friends like us."
"Cats? Like, seriously?"
"Yeah, you know, like the animal."
"Only if they are kittens. I want to train them so they use the litter box and only lay on certain blankets."
"Is that a yes?"
"God I feel like this is a marriage proposal."
"Bella! Yes or no?"
"I don't believe in gay marriage."
"We are only lesbian when we go out. And I mean yes or no to cats!"
"Yes, but I want to get my cat from a little homeless man outside of the market. Or some thing like that. I guess an animal shelter will do too."
"When?"
"How about when we find them!"
"Oh my God, yes! I'm making phone calls when we get home!"
"Then onward ho my friend!"