Chapter 6: We're Going Shopping, Kid!
"Well that was an assload waste of time." says Tommy, putting the keys into the ignition (no pun intended for those of you who are R.Kelly fans) "Let's get something to eat now, I'm fucking starved." the car revs up and Tommy shifts it into drive.
"Did you mean it?" I ask looking down and preparing to be scolded for it.
"Mean what, kid." He says putting his sunglasses back on.
"Saying that you were gonna keep me."
"Well until another, more exiting project comes along, then yeah, I guess I do. You seem like a good kid. Tall, respectable, all you need is someone like me to guide you through the inside world you're gonna witness while stayin' here."
"Oh..." I hang down my head and try to hold back a smile. I was just relieved that I had a bed to lay my head down on. For the first time in three days, I felt secure.
"But yeah, if you're gonna be hangin' around me, we need to get ya a real name, kid."
"What's wrong with MY name!" I asked, my voice slightly shaken as he drove through the grass.
"I mean I understand that your family was original and all but 'Charmaine'? It sounds like fancy toilet paper!" He stops the car outside the pizzeria.
"Hmmph...I like my name..." I sulk in the carseat then get out.
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Inside the pizzeria are many booths and a counter with an electronic menu above it. At the counter is a dazed looking man with a greasy face and a mild case of acne wearing a red and yellow apron.
"Gimme an extra large pizza with pepperoni. And don't be a stinge with the cheese crater face." Mr Vercetti demands. The cashier walks towards the kitchen "And don't you even THINK about spittin' in the pizza!" Mr. Vercetti shouts. He points to one of the booths and we sit at it to wait on our order.
"Are you serious about getting me a name change!" I shout.
"Calm down, dammit! This is also for security reasons...We're not sure if that plane crash was really an 'accident'." he says using quote bunnies "I'm not saying for sure if someone planned it but you never know." Tommy says then looks suspiciously out the window.
"...I guess I understand, then." I sigh. Suddenly the huge, steaming pizza we had ordered is set in front of us. That didn't take long at all!
"See what happens when the whole city knows who you are, kid?" Tommy says and preceeds to stuff his face with a slice of extra cheesy pepperoni pizza. "M'ow hurry up an' eat kit, so's we can get you's some close..." he says talking with his mouth full. I preceed to do the same.
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About an hour later we arrive at this mall called "North Point". I go in, taking in all the splendor of this wonderful yet unfamiliar place while Mr. Vercetti stumbles in full and satisfied.
"Whoa boy, that's gonna do some damage. Hey mall cop!" he shouts to a blue uniformed man carrying a gun well on the other side of the mall "Where's the shitter in here!"
Mr. Vercetti turns to me and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a fist full of clean, crisp but used hundred dollar bills. He peels off about six or seven of them, rolls them up and places it into my hand.
"Here kid burp. Knock yourself out. Don't forget to also pick up a few quality suits so's you can also look presentable. Oh and none of that slutty crap. You're only fifteen, kid." he says then follows the mall cop to the nearest restroom.
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The first store I went into was a small jewelry store. I looked through the display cases with my obsidian eyes sparkling and reflecting through the precious metals. Eventually I had bought two simple chains, two simple pairs of earrings, both silver and gold, and some costume jewelry.
Next I went into the Gash. There, I had bought some of the trendier clothes, some preppy polo tshirts and jeans just for everyday. I also bought some accessories and belts. After seeing that there were no more decent clothing stores, I went to the music store and bought a walk man and some mix tapes to entertain myself then to the bookstore to get some magazines to read.
Eventually, I ran into Mr. Vercetti.
"What, did you need more dough, kid?" he asked about to reach into his pocket again.
"Um...no, this is...fine." I said in a cheery tone, spinning around and twirling my bags. "Thank you, Mr. Vercetti--I mean...Tommy!" I said and gave him a big hug.
"Yeah, whatever kid. Just make sure you doll up and fix your hair up real nice. We're going to the Malibu, tonight." he said.
"But yeah, could we stop by Jocksports and the pharmacy store? Oh and I still need some dress clothes and a suit..." I said.
"Oh that's right, you need muff plugs, right kid?" he said kinda loud which had brought some unwanted attention to us from our fellow mall goers. After I playfully punched him in the arm, we went out the closest entrance.
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Wow, life sure was moving fast since I got here. But I guess I trust this Vercetti guy. Even though he seems like he has homocidal tendencies, I still trust him.
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End Chapter