The car ride was awkward for me. I wasn't sure what to say to him, even though I was pretty sure that it was the polite thing to do since he was right next to me and I was his only friend here on Earth. I gave him a side long glance that lasted longer then I had originally planned; as soon as I looked at his face I couldn't tear my eyes away. This effect had better not be permanent or we were definitely going to have problems.

Edward seemed to be enjoying himself. His brilliant jade eyes were darting from the rearview mirror, the wet scenery rushing past us as I drove, and finally rested on the interior of the car. He seemed to want to soak everything in like a knowledge sponge. I smiled against my will. It was kind of cute to see someone so pleased to be in a place so dull. Like watching a foreigner take in all the sites when they visit America for the first time. He was the extreme version of a foreigner though; instead of another country, he came from another world.

I put on the radio to divert his attention to our technology. I was sure they didn't have electricity in purgatory. He snapped to attention as soon as the first chords of my latest Evanescence CD played. It was the last CD I had placed in the radio beforehand; I must have forgotten it was in there or something. Next car trip I was definitely bringing I Am Ghost with me. (A/N that is an excellent underground Goth band, I highly recommend them to everyone who likes My Chemical Romance and Kill Hannah)

I can't see your star
I can't see your star
though I patiently waited, bedside, for the death of today
I can't see your star
the mechanical lights of Lisbon frightened it away

Wow. . . . This was one of my favorite songs from the CD. My mother liked to listen to it too. I remembered singing this with her while we were cooking in the kitchen. She called it "Home economics with a soundtrack". I felt my heart twist as I saw her smiling face pop back into my mind.

and I'm alone now
me and all I stood for
we're wandering now
all in parts in pieces, swim lonely
find your own way out

I can't see your star
I can't see your star
how can the darkness feel so wrong?

and I'm alone now
me and all I stood for
we're wandering now
all in parts in pieces, swim lonely
find your own way out

So far away
its growing colder without your love
why can't you feel me calling your name?
Can't break the silence
it's breaking me

Oh God. . . . This song was major depressing. I should have never brought it into the car; even though it brought good memories of her, they still ripped through my system like a dagger cutting wet tissue paper. My eyes stung---oh crap. The water works were coming. I fought them down viciously. I was hyperaware that Edward was watching me from the corner of his eye and I didn't want to make a scene over a song. I decided to wait the rest of the lyrics out. The song was almost over anyway.

All my fears turn to rage
and I'm alone now me
and all I stood for
we're wandering now
all in parts and pieces, swim lonely
find your own way out

With a sigh of relief, I popped out the CD and stashed it away under my seat. I had made it without crying. With a sudden spurt of self-satisfaction, I focused on the road more clearly again.

"That was a sad song. Do all humans feel that way?" Edward finally asked. It took me a few seconds to think up a good enough answer.

"Yes and no," I said slowly. He waited for me to explain further, shifting to sit facing me. I couldn't help but notice how my shirt was tight against his perfectly sculpted chest, defining each line of his musculature. My pants clung against his waist in a complimentary fashion; not too tight like the metro boys or too loose like all the gangsta boys at my school. Just simply hugging his hips. They looked slim, yet very nicely sized as well. For a split second I felt the strongest impulse to rest my hands against them. I violently shook the thought out of my head, feeling my cheeks heat up. Bad thoughts. . . .

"Humans feel many emotions. Sadness just so happens to be a major one," I explained. I became suddenly very interested in the Suburban in front of me. My face was as red as a Christmas bauble and I didn't want to look him straight in the eyes until I had gained sufficient control over my facial expressions.

"Ah, yes, of course," he murmured. "Sadness affects my purpose on Earth, however, and I'd appreciate it if you stopped listening to depressing music from now on. It messes up my work."

My head swiveled around to him. "You aren't going to tell me what music I can and con not listen to! I can listen to whatever songs I want, thanks!"

"It is just a request. It would make things a great deal easier for me, is all."

"Request denied," I said acidly. His eyes narrowed infinitesimally as I drove closer to the mall. We were about a mile away now. I could tell from the way the houses were starting to appear more often.

"Well, if that request was vetoed, is it okay if I turn on a song that I like?" he asked. I nodded and watched as he turned the knob of the radio on. I wondered what song he'd pick. I sincerely hoped he wouldn't get into rap while he was on this planet. We already had too many rap fans here in America.

I'm in love with the girl I hate,

She enjoys pointing out every bad thing about me,

I'm in love with a cryptic and a skeptic,

I'd trade her; I'd trade her in a second

She's a backseat driver, a drama provider

An instant update of the world

She's a first class liner, a constant forgetter

She's attractive, but bitter

Well; this band---Forever the Sickest Kids---was pretty okay. I liked it. Sure, techno-punk wasn't precisely my thing, but I liked them all the same. So did Edward apparently. He was humming along to the song like he knew exactly what the rhythm was. He had a nice hum. I wondered what his singing would sound like.

Did you scream enough to make to make her cry,

Turn around, turn around, baby don't re turn to me

If you did, then I'm not worth your time

Okay, so they were very good. He had great taste in music and it was only his first day (conscious) on Earth? That wasn't fair. I pouted but listened to the song anyway. Might as well not waste good music.

She's a lady, a lady, and shouldn't be messed with

Take off your shoes, come in the room,

And baby let's shut up to argue

Turn off the lights,

Turn on the radio

At this point I was humming along with Edward and begrudgingly returning the smile he was making when he noticed I was joining in. we even made a bizarre car dance involving shaking our shoulders and heads in time to the beat.

I'm too busy loving you, I'm too busy loving you,

Did you scream enough to make her cry

Turn around, turn around, baby don't return to me

It was starting to get really fun in the truck now. I was giggling while Edward tried not to laugh too hard at my face. I was turning a bright pink because I was having such a good time. But I didn't really care at the moment. I was too busy one of the most entertaining moments in my life.

She's a lady, a lady, that shouldn't be messed with

Here I am; there you go again

I will not ever be eighteen again

So here I am waiting for you, for you

Come back, and come back to me

And I'll take you gladly

And I'll take you anyway

Did you scream enough to make her cry?

Turn around, turn around, baby don't return to me,

If you did then I'm not worth your time

She's a lady, a lady, that shouldn't be messed with

She's a lady, a lady, that shouldn't be messed with

The song stopped with a final beat just as I pulled into the mall's parking lot. It was jam-packed with cars, as if the United States had just randomly decided to attend a small strip mall in the middle of Washington.

"Tell me if you see a car space, alright?" I told him. He nodded slightly and craned his neck to look through the murky window and scout out a spot. After a strenuous hunt---including an incident where I almost ran over a stray dog until Edward helpfully grabbed the wheel and avoided making a doggie road-pizza---I finally beat an old lady for a spot near a hair salon. She glared at us as we hopped into a puddle that had flooded most of the parking lot. It looked as if she was the devil himself by the way she was staring us down.

"Stupid, old bat," I grumbled to myself as she drove away; possibly in search of another free space. I didn't pretend not to notice that she had driven off while flipping us off.

Edward was gazing at her station wagon solemnly. "The aura of death is around that one. She is going to leave this world soon."

"What?" I spun around to him, shocked. "Geez, I didn't want her to die!"

"This doesn't have anything to do with your hatred. This has to do with her failing heart. She isn't going to last the drive home. It shall be on the news tonight, I can imagine. The police will think she fell asleep at the wheel or something. That woman had a history of driving drunk." He continued to stare in the direction she had taken off.

"How. . . . How do you know that?" I asked, awestruck.

"I can just tell. I've been around death to know its signs. And I certainly had a lot of time on my hands, so I can read the files of humans on Earth in purgatory. We have a nice little office system," he said calmly.

"Well, let's have a bet. If she croaks and it's on the news, I won't kick you out to live on the streets." I grinned at his obvious indignation. Edward just stood there with his arms crossed, letting the rain soak into his clothes.

"Fine," he finally agreed. He gingerly shook my hand as if it could turn into a venomous snake at any moment.

I led him towards the mall doors and out of the rain as soon as our hands touched, jerking him forward in a speedy motion.

"Ouch, I think you got my arm out of its socket," he complained, massaging his shoulder as we entered through the motion detecting doors.

"Don't be a baby. You're as hard as a rock; it shouldn't hurt at all."

"It isn't my fault that you're an Amazonian."

I rolled my eyes and steered him into the brightly lit, linoleum-lined J. C. Penny that made the entrance. Rows and rows of plaid and over priced suits, royal gowns for a prom that wouldn't happen for months and crocodile skinned high heels surrounded us like a strange forest of hideousness. I even spotted the local wild life---a few red vested employees stalking the customers down the aisles.

"Come on; let's leave this part of the urban jungle before you get eaten," I hissed under my breath to Edward.

"Hmm?" he said. I looked at him curiously. He was analyzing his surroundings like a child assessing a mountain of candy. His eyes were shining with excitement and he was smiling a mile a minute. I felt proud to show him the mall; and even more proud that I was going to show him a few of my favorite stores.

A pigtailed cashier had abandoned her post to hide behind a rack of blue jeans. I heard her hyperventilating and muttering something indistinct about "smoking hot Goth boys". I suddenly remembered that Edward was in my clothes. He was going to attract attention if he dressed like me; and bad attention at that. I didn't want him to go through the same thing I had to. No angel should. He was here for charity work; I was here to be punished by my fellow peers.

I deliberately stood closer than necessary to him in a protective motion. He allowed me to pull him towards the escalator, not seeming to notice the people---specifically women---who were paying more attention to his body then their shopping.

I stepped onto the escalator and began to move up. Until I tripped over my own feet, that is. The moving staircase was speeding to meet my face as I crashed down. It looked painful. I shut my eyes tightly, anticipating a broken nose and blood leaking all over the place.

But the loud crunch of my bone didn't sound off. I felt strong, cold arms holding me around my midsection. With a sigh of utter relief, I opened my eyes to reveal Edward with a weary expression on his face.

"It's going to be much more difficult looking after you then I thought," he commented softly, his breath caressing my cheek and swirling into my head. I was temporarily dazed until I felt the familiar level feeling of being on stable ground again.

"Um, come on, I have a place to get you some clothes," I mumbled. He smiled crookedly and let his arms fall to his sides. I was certain that my heart was pounding hard enough to be heard out loud, so I skillfully turned away from him and sped in the direction of the food court. The store I knew would make him blend in with the civilians---even if I didn't agree with their particular dress code.

Abercrombie and Fitch. The center of all evil.

I stood outside the opening as if there was a powerful barrier keeping me out. Posters of half-naked men were pasted against the walls; who the heck was the designer of this place? No one wanted to see ugly dudes with their shirts off. I scrutinized the bright preppy wardrobe options in obvious distaste.

Edward looked at the store and then back down to me. "Aren't we going in?"

"No. you are, not me. I don't feel so . . . comfortable in stores like this," I said uneasily.

"Then I'm not shopping here."

"What do you mean 'you're not shopping here'?! I brought you here to blend in! Would you prefer wearing women's clothes? Or running nude?" I demanded.

He shook his head. "I'm not shopping here. My duty is to make you happy, not to blend in. And I want to shop where you shop. To be more like you."

I was touched. "But then you'd be considered a freak. I can't ask you to go through with that for me," I protested.

"You don't have to ask. This is my decision." His emerald eyes smoldered. I blushed but nodded reluctantly.

"Fine; it's you're funeral."

I happily fled from the revolting store entrance, feeling slightly better knowing that I was going to an environment that I felt more comfortable in. I breezed past a boutique selling sequin pins and perfume that was guarded by a lady with a fake smile and a crème colored suit. Her eyes narrowed as I passed, seeming to attempt to pierce through my shoulder blades. I didn't give her the time of day and just kept my vision focused in front of me. I couldn't help but notice that when she spotted Edward her face twisted into a look of complete disbelief.

The smell of lemonade and cinnamon pretzels permeated the air like a delicious perfume. We were getting close. The food court was straight across from my three favorite stores in the entire world: Death Shrouds, Hot Topic, and Infectious Threads. Hot Topic was the most famous, a store renown throughout the globe as the finest place to purchase anything Tripp. It sold everything from pants and band tee shirts to CDs and bike tires.

Infectious Threads had more combat boots and army surplus then any shop I had ever visited. They even had a special Wiccan section to buy supplies for spells. A box of stones to ground with was the hot item in the bin today. The reason they were doing so well? Because I came here frequently to buy them.

Death Shrouds was an intimate store. Lingerie, corsets, French maid uniforms and even bondage kits lined the counters. But more importantly, pinstripe boxers were hidden within. Just what a certain angel needed. Because my undies were off limits to him.

"Here we are," I announced grandly. Edward processed the stores in front of him for a little while and then finally smiled down at me.

"I like them," he said excitedly. "So when do we shop?"

"Erm." I blushed. "Um, actually I won't be coming with you into the stores."

His eye brows furrowed. "Huh? I thought you were going to help me out here. I have no idea what to buy."

I stared at him incredulously. "You're kidding me?"

He shook his head. I continued to just stare at him. Wow, he was pathetic.

"Here's some money," I said, taking a fistful out of my purse. "Go crazy. Get what you know is right to get. And also," I strained this part, "buy some underwear."

Oh God. My face was flaming like the fiery pits of hell right now. I couldn't believe I could get so embarrassed.

Edward chuckled. "Fine. No commando for me."

"There better never be another commando incident for as long as you stay here."

"Okay. Where will I find you when I am finished?"

"The food court," I said automatically. I was famished. And a warm cinnamon pretzel and a tall, ice cold glass of lemonade seemed to be the most appealing at the moment.

"Alright." He smiled one last time before entering Hot Topic, the dark lights engulfing his dark form.

(A/N people have asked questions regarding both this story and my Afterlife of the Party fanfic.

Q: Why are Edward's eyes green in this story?

A: Read the personal correspondence on the Twilight Lexicon. Edward's eyes were originally green as a human, and since Edward was never a vampire in this fanfic, he never got gold or red eyes. They remained green.

Q: Are you going to do every character in your stories Goth?

A: Goth comes naturally for me, and it makes for a good plot. But notice that not all of my characters are Goth in the other fanfics. So in answer to that question, no not every fanfic shall have a Goth Bella or Edward.

If any one has any other questions, they shall probably be revealed in other chapters.