More of a fun chapter :)
It is so hard to find men's clothing that's...different.
I mean they pretty much just have jeans/slacks and regular t-shirts.
Oh well, I tried! Enjoy!
-Anii
Chapter 20: Saya
Saya nibbled on her bottom lip as she peered inside of the small clothing shop before them.
"I can't see anything really." Saya grumbled as she pressed her nose to the glass.
Diva waved vaguely over her shoulder, mumbling about how she would be back soon. Saya watched her sister spin around on her heels and move down the sidewalk. "Don't go far, Diva!"
Saya glanced at Haji in the reflection of the storefront glass. Her eyes narrowed as yet another group of girls wandered by aimlessly with drool dribbling down their chins as they stalked Haji with their eyes.
Jealousy reared its ugly head deep in Saya's chest but as her eyes met Haji's through the reflection, her anger and envy deflated like a popped balloon.
It was impossible to blame the girls. Haji looked amazing in Zero's clothes. He wore a pair of dark wash jeans and a pale blue-gray t-shirt that left Haji's long, muscular arms exposed.
A blush swept across her face as she noticed that Zero's shirt was just a tad too small on Haji. The short-sleeved t-shirt hugged Haji's broad chest tightly and it was clear to see the chiseled pectoral muscles beneath the thin fabric.
To add to the normalcy of their little shopping group, Saya had borrowed a few accessories from Kai. A thick silver watch sparkled around his wrist while a fat cross hung around Haji's neck that dangled from a thin silver chain.
His wild, wavy hair was partially pulled back and his dark eyes shown in the sunlight. Haji looked immensely seductive even though he just stood along the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets.
Saya released her captive breath and turned away from the window just as Diva slid beside her.
"I don't know about this." Diva moaned.
Saya knelt down before her sister, tugging on Diva's ruffled white skirt to straighten the fabric. "You'll be fine."
Saya's head popped up just as a rough breeze rolled by. She shielded her eyes from the harsh wind and caught sight of a giant red sign with the word "sale" printed across it in thick black lettering. "Ah, perfect!"
"What's perfect?" Diva's head spun around as her eyes searched for what Saya spoke of.
Saya leapt up onto her feet, brushing her jeans free of dirt.
She flashed a smile, "Come on."
Saya snatched up Haji and Diva's wrists in both of her hands and dragged the two towards the cross walk. Saya waited patiently for the signal to switch to "walk". Cars sped by, honking and roaring as they went.
"Where are we going, Saya?" Haji questioned softly, his breath tickling her ear.
Saya kept her mouth shut although her smile remained plastered on her face. The cross walk signal glowed white and the word "walk" lit up on the little screen. Saya's heart jumped and she led her unwillingly shopping partners towards the shop that had caught her eye.
Saya paused only to glance at the store name: "Affinity." She plowed through the doorway of the clothing shop. Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of indecision crashed into Saya like a tidal wave.
She released her captives to brush her fingertips against a ridiculous-looking fluffy pink dress. I'm not really a fashionista. How am I supposed to dress these two up?
"May I help you?"
Saya turned to see a bright young woman smiling at her. "Oh, we're just look-"
"My name's Kairi." She informed as she gestured towards her name tag. "Who are you shopping for?"
Saya fumbled to find her words, "My sister and…uh…"
"Her boyfriend." Diva piped up, her face completely expressionless.
Saya felt her ears burn hotly as the woman's eyes scrutinized her. "My, my. Well, I think I can help you there."
"You can?" Saya asked meekly.
Kairi bobbed her head, flashing a calming smile in Saya's direction. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of them."
The worker turned to Haji and Saya, "Please follow me to the dressing room. I'll bring you as many clothes as I can and I would like for you to try them on. May I know your names?"
"Diva." Diva's narrowed her eyes slightly as she moved towards the changing rooms.
"Haji." He answered with a slight bow
"Saya." Saya murmured as the woman's eyes fell upon her.
Kairi's grin widened, "Alright. Now please, wait for me back there. I'll be with you momentarily."
As Saya stepped in the direction of the dressing room, Kairi's fingers coiled around Saya's upper arm. "Saya, I'll bring you back some hot chocolate. My treat."
Saya was shocked by Kairi's friendliness. It's her job, that's why she's so friendly.
The dressing room walls were splashed with vibrant colors and decorated with stylish photos of models in stunning clothing. Each "room" had three walls and a thick red curtain on a gold rod.
Haji disappeared behind one of the curtains and Saya called out for Diva. A white hand peeked out from above a red curtain and Saya smiled warmly. Saya plopped down on a cushioned chair near the dressing room, trying desperately not to fidget.
Saya plucked at a loose string on her shirt just as Kairi stumbled over, a mountain of clothes in her arms. The tags hooked to the clothing clinked together musically as Kairi shifted her load on to one arm.
"Alright, these are for Diva." Kairi handed half of the clothing mound to Diva, who popped out around her curtain wall to receive the clothing.
Kairi chuckled as she moved over to Haji's curtain. "And these are for Haji."
Haji accepted the bundle of clothing and slipped back behind his curtain. Kairi spun around, her hands clasping behind her back, "Go browse if you want. You're hot chocolate is heating up in the microwave. Hope you don't mind instant blend."
Saya shook her head as she flew back on to her feet, gracious to be able to move. She felt so uncomfortable in this "chic" place and she wasn't really doing anything anyways. It bothered her to be so inactive.
As Kairi wandered off, her name tag bouncing against her chest, Saya drifted through the shop. Her fingertips brushed against all of the impossibly soft and delicate fabrics, her mind wandering.
"Saya."
Saya's head lifted as she heard her name and she found her sister standing beside the dressing room. Saya's smile consumed her face as she raced towards Diva, whose face was painted with a petal pink blush.
"You look adorable!" Saya cried as Diva nervously tugged on the hem of her sun dress.
"Does it really look alright?"
Saya nodded, "Of course it does."
Diva's pale legs were exposed by the short light blue sun dress with floral prints dancing all across the fabric. A satin blue sash accentuated Diva's thin waist and tied in a neat bow around her back.
"Oh! That looks good on you. I was just looking for a pair of shoes for that dress. Here, try these on." Kairi chirped.
She placed a pair of yellow high heels beside Diva's tiny feet and held out a steaming mug of hot chocolate to Saya. Diva used Saya's shoulder for balance as she slipped on the yellow shoes.
Someone cleared their throat and all three girls turned to see Haji standing just outside of his curtain. His eyes lowered to stare at the floor and he shuffled on his feet.
"Dear god, aren't you a hunk!?" Kairi clapped her hands together as she examined Haji.
A pair of dark skinny jeans covered Haji's long legs and a stark white belt looped around Haji's waist. He wore a plaid red and black shirt which was left unbuttoned with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow. A bright white sleeveless shirt hugged Haji's washboard stomach.
Saya slapped a hand over her mouth and nose to hide her burning blush. She shook her head slightly and adverted her gaze.
"Maybe I should take these off-"
"No!" Kairi and Saya shrieked simultaneously.
Haji blinked rapidly and a nervous grin twisted his lips. Oh god, I'm going to burn up. Saya thought as she motioned towards Diva. "I like both of these but we should see more, right?"
Kairi nodded, a strange look flashing in her eyes, "Yes, yes. Go back in and try another outfit. Diva, keep those shoes on for the next outfit, okay?"
Diva nodded and Kairi flitted around the shop, humming softly to herself.
Saya nibbled on her bottom lip, "There's no one else here."
"It's really slow here during school hours." Kairi replied as she held up a red top for women.
Saya's lips pursed into a thin line as Kairi asked, "Are you in school?"
Saya opened her mouth to lie but mumbled, "Yes."
"Cool. What school do you go to?"
"Cross Academy."
Kairi spun around to face Saya, "Oh, wow. My younger sister goes there. Did you know that a model is signed up to go to school there?"
"Model?" Saya tilted her head to the side in confusion, the hot chocolate warming her hands nicely.
Kairi tossed the red top over her arm, "Yeah. We have his picture in the shop somewhere around here. Oh, there he is."
Saya followed the direction in which Kairi pointed and found an enormous photo with a man dressed in fashionable clothes with a gorgeous woman hanging on his arm. "What's his name?"
"Senri." Kairi asked. "Senri Shiki."
"Senri." Saya echoed, her voice barely a whisper.
Senri's strange peered out from the photo and struck a cord in Saya's heart; a wrong nerve that sent chills up her spine.
"Look, don't they look hot?" Kairi cooed.
Saya turned and could barely register that the girl before her was Diva. Diva wore a long-sleeved, bright purple shirt with a pair of straight-legged, dark wash jeans. Her bright yellow high heels poked out from under the edge of Diva's jeans.
"I love high heels with jeans." Kairi murmured as she bounced up beside Saya.
Kairi nudged Saya gently with her shoulder, "Why don't you take a look at your man."
Saya nonchalantly let her gaze drift over to Haji, who stood beside Diva and rubbed his neck.
He wore a long-sleeved black dress shirt with a skinny white tie cutting down his chest. Shiny silver buttons peeked out from the inky black of the shirt. He also wore black slacks that gripped his hips enough to be alluring to any female alive.
Saya waved her free hand wildly in front of her, "Okay, okay! Change again!"
Kairi chuckled softly but Saya ignored it, her bottom lip puffing out in a pout. Kairi sighed happily, "Want to pick out some accessories for them?"
Saya shook her head, "Uh, I wanted to ask about the sale?"
Kairi bobbed her head, "Everything is 75% off."
"75?" Saya had to consciously keep her jaw from dropping. "Why so much?"
Kairi's eyes saddened the tiniest bit and her shoulders sagged slightly. "Yeah. I own the store. I can't keep it open much longer."
"Why not?" Saya questioned, bringing the rapidly cooling hot chocolate to her lips.
"I have to move back home for a little while. I'm the shops only employee."
Saya's curiosity soared but she clamped her lips closed. Diva tumbled out from behind her red curtain as she hopped on one leg to regain her balance. Kairi's sadness vanished and she laughed merrily.
Diva shoved a piece of hair behind her ear and crossed her arms over her chest. "I couldn't get out of the high heels."
"Those buckles are so tiny. Sorry, I should have warned you." Kairi tittered as she fussed over Diva's clothing.
Diva wore a lime green shirt beneath a black and white hoodie. Her white jeans had black stitches that ran all the way up the length of her legs. "I feel like a panda."
Saya stifled her laughter. "Just take off the hoodie. See if that looks better."
Diva slid free from the hoodie and examined herself in the nearest full length mirror.
"Better?" Kairi asked slyly.
"Better." Diva answered, a defiant look on face even though her eyes shone with delight.
Haji gently shifted aside the curtain to his dressing room and stepped out in a pair of black skinny jeans with a silver chain dangling from one of the belt loops and hooking on to another. He wore a black hoodie with a long-sleeved white undershirt.
"I can take the chain off." Kairi piped up, her smile beaming in Haji's direction.
Saya nodded absently, "We'll take them all, please."
Kairi made a 'tsk tsk' noise in her throat and waggled a finger at Saya. "Did you think you could leave without being Kairi's little doll?"
Saya pointed to herself in disbelief. Kairi shoved Saya into a new dressing room and tossed a fluffy of clothing in after her. "Be a good girl and try those on for Kairi."
Saya swallowed hard, peeling her clothing away from her body. In nothing but her under garments, Saya knelt to the floor and scooped up the bright red fabric. A hand holding a pair of cherry red high heels popped into Saya's dressing area.
"These too." Kairi ordered.
Saya took the shoes and set them aside as she pulled the bright red shirt over her head. The shirt was loose around her waist but the black sleeves cinched around Saya's wrists. She tugged on the pair of white skinny jeans Kairi had given her and carefully examined herself in the mirror as she strapped on the high heels.
"Are you ready, Saya!" Kairi crooned.
"Coming!" Saya called just before pulling back the red curtain.
"Is it comfortable?" Kairi asked, jewelry dangling from her fingers.
Saya nodded, "Very."
"Good. Now put these on." Kairi demanded as she handed a necklace and bracelet to Saya.
This isn't our money. We shouldn't be spending it so frivolously. Saya stammered out a refusal, "Oh, Kairi, I don't think we can-"
"Of course you can! Everything must go!" Kairi shouted as she draped a necklace over Diva's head.
Saya clasped the necklace behind her neck and slipped the bracelet on to her wrist. In the mirror, Saya could tell that the two minor accessories just made the whole look tie together. With one sidelong glance at Kairi, Saya sighed and gave up. "Alright. We'll take them."
My cat is snuggled up against me as I'm editing this.
She's so fat! o.e she's taking up my space lol
Please review! :D -Anii