Chapter Two
Wednesday
6 hours 30 minutes until seeing Tommy again
With everything I've done over the years, nothing had ever made me feel so nervous. Sitting around my house thinking was killing me, so I decided to go shopping. That would take my mind off of Tommy and I would have something new to wear. So, I dressed down in my "bum" clothes (a baggy Shattered hoodie and baggy black jeans) and pulled my now, waist long red hair, up in a sloppy bun at the top of my head. To add to my look, I tucked my noticeable red hair under a black Disturbed beanie. To finish my "incognito" look, I grabbed my dark sunglasses and put them on. Once I was comfortably unnoticeable, I left my house and headed to the mall.
I arrived there within twenty minutes and hurried inside. Instantly, the many smells of the mall hit my nose and I calmed down. The mix of food, coffee, leather, new clothes, and perfume made a relaxing concoction that only the mall could provide. I pushed my hands into my hoodie pocket and walked around aimlessly, people watching and resisting the temptation to go to the coffee bar and get a cappuccino.
I made a beeline for Hot Topic and sauntered inside, feeling at home among the gothic clothes and heavy metal music. I moved from corner to corner, looking at everything. A black and plum Tripp corset caught my eye. It was lacey and satin and absolutely fabulous. I grabbed it in my size, then moved down the line to pants. I picked up a pair of simple black ones with criss-crossing chains across the back and started for the dressing room. My cell phone rang, causing me to stop and answer it.
"Hello?"
"Put those pants down and shirt, sister and look to your right."
I did. My sister, Sadie, stood outside the store, smiling at me, one hand absently touching her nine-month pregnant belly. I squealed and dashed out to greet her. Since becoming an adult, my relationship with Sadie improved. We actually acted like sisters now and it was wonderful. Sadie had married Simon Vernatelli, the photographer.
We had modeled for him once and spent the entire day with him. He and Sadie hit it off, but didn't get together due to the fact he had left for L.A. But a few years later, when Sadie was 20, she began modeling and met up with him again. They were married a few years later and now, at the age of 30, my sister was pregnant with their first child.
"Sadie, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Kat called me."
Thank you radio Kat.
"Yeah, so?" I replied.
"She told me how you plan on seducing Tommy!" She grinned.
"Gah! I don't really plan on…" I could feel my face burning.
Sadie laughed out loud. "Don't bullshit me, child! I'm smarter than you think."
"Fine!" I gave in, "I don't think I could seduce him…I could tease him, maybe."
"Well, wearing pants won't do the trick." She smirked, "You don't even know how to tease properly!"
I blushed again. "I've only been with Ryland! I didn't have to tease him. There was no need---"
Sadie cut me off and clamped her hands over her ears. "T.M.I!"
I pulled her hands away from her eyes. "That is not T.M.I! T.M.I is when you told me in full detail when and how your baby was conceived!"
She laughed. "C'mon, baby sister. You know you want my help!"
"Want, no. Will have shoved on me, yes."
Sadie looped her arm through mine. "Damn straight."
Three hours later (And 3 ½ hours until seeing Tommy again), Sadie and I sat in the food court. There were at least 15 different restaurant chains there and Sadie literally had something from each. I was too nervous to eat so; I sat in amazement, watching Sadie eat all her food.
She had always eaten carefully and watched her weight through high school, then as a model she had to; it was mandatory. But now she was pregnant and threw all of that out the window. But surprisingly, she still had a damn good figure for a pregnant lady.
Half-way through watching her inhaling her food, I finally found my voice.
"You're gonna make yourself sick." I warned.
She swallowed and took a sip of her water. "I eat like this three times a day, kid."
"Holy shit!"
"Couldn't say it better myself." She muttered, pausing from gorging.
"So…do you think I have a shot with Tommy?"
"Jude, you are the only person in this world he can't refuse." She said with a smile.
2 hours until seeing Tommy again
I returned home with a clear head, an armful of bags, and three hundred dollars in the hole. It was time for some pampering. Off to the bathtub! Within minutes, I was soaking in a warm bath filled with bath salts and bubbles. Ahhh, to be a rock star. I smiled to myself for no reason. Well, I guess the cappuccinos and sheer giddiness of seeing Tommy again were behind that smile.
I pulled myself out of the bath a little while later, dried off, and got dressed. I ended up buying the plum and black corset; a black pleated vinyl (mini) skirt (at Sadie's insistence), thigh-high fishnets, and pleaser black ankle strap stiletto heels that had 5" heels. And all together, it equaled a completely sexy outfit.
Next, I moved onto my make-up. Of course I had dark eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. And thanks to Sadie, I had to choose between 4 different lipsticks. So, I tried each on and finally decided on MAC Pro Longwear Lipcolour in Commitment (a.k.a.: really, really, dark red). Satisfied with my appearance, I headed downstairs. It was time to go.
Feeling sexy raised my confidence level, which washed away my nervousness. I felt like dancing, truth be told. But decided not to in my five-inch heels for safety measures. With my luck, I'd trip and knock myself unconscious. I exhaled heavily, hoping that my "plan" would work. My life needed a little something and that little something was Tommy.