Once Upon A Time...
Chapter 5
"The shopping spree"
Once upon a time a young girl woke up in her bed very sad after a sleepless night. The birds were signing outside her bedroom window, the sun was up and she felt like crap. She had spent a very bad night tossing and turning in her bed. She woke up at dawn and watched the sunrise… It was one of the wonders of nature, all those pretty colours and how the sky just lit up slowly like a switch is being turned, and all of a sudden it was daylight, the birds where signing the rooster was heard and it was a new day…
Candy took a shower, then she went to Annie's room and she saw her coming out of the bathroom adjacent to her bedroom too.
- Candy! Hey!
- Hey Annie…
- What are we doing today?
- I think we're going shopping for my wardrobe.
- Great! Can I come?
- Of course Silly! That's why I brought you with me! So you can show me what to buy.
- Gee thanks, I feel so special!
- Come on and you know I didn't want to be alone in this big mansion…
- Full of rich prep kids… how's your pretty English boy?
- I don't know, we argued last night…
- What? Why?
- Well I was kissing Miguel…
- You what?
- Well that's what I promised him so he would help me make Terry jealous…
- Great and the English boy saw you…
- The kiss with Miguel meant nothing…did you tell that to the English boy?
- Well he did reject me during the party, so I was upset at him for that… now he thinks I'm a flake…he wanted to ask me out and I ruined everything… but he rejected me!
- Something must have happened… he had the hots, then he cooled off and at the 11th hour, he gets the hots again? What's wrong with that picture?
- I don't know and I don't care! How's your dandy?
- Well it was great talking fashion, but it was only that, talking fashion… he didn't make one move…
- Then why don't you make the move?
- The boy is supposed to make the move…
- Says who? Society? Annie, you might never get this opportunity again. A window is opened… you like the dandy, make this summer special for you, even if you never see him again for the rest of your life.
- If I play my cards right…. Yeah right! Like they would marry a commoner like me! They sleep with us and they dump us!
- Like they did my mom, said Candy, well I have this job for the summer and I'm going to live here. I'm going to pretend that it's my mansion and dream about what could've been… Let's not let those two guys ruin this for us…
- You're right. Let's have fun. In September when school is back, we're going to have a lot to talk about!
- Let's go downstairs and have breakfast! Take advance of the princess treatment
They both went downstairs and they were the first ones up. The other were sleeping in. The breakfast table was ready and a maid brought them coffee and tea, toast, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, cheese, orange juice, sausage…
- I don't think I've ever had that many things to eat for breakfast, said Annie.
- Me neither, I usually get a bowl of cereal and that's when I eat or I just have a coffee… but I'm hungry today…
The two girls were eating while chatting. When they were done, they went to the library to look at some books. There was also some fashion magazines and they started looking at it… Two hours later, William came into the library.
- Good morning, ladies, he said smiling.
- Good morning, said the girls smiling.
- Are you guys ready for shopping?
- Yes, said Candy smiling, sounds like fun!
- "Sounds like" Candy? Said William.
- Ok, it must be fun! She said laughing.
- That's the spirit! Did you guys already have breakfast?
- Yes, we were up at the crack of dawn, said Candy.
- Well it's great, we have to drive to Chicago…so I'll go have breakfast and I'll come and tell you when I'm ready to leave.
- Ok, said Candy.
The girls continued looking at magazines. They heard someone talking …
- Come on father, I think you've made you point! Let me come back, please!... Why would you chose now, to show how good of a father you are?... Though love? Give me a break! You never showed me love! And the one time you chose to do so it's though love? You go to hell father!
And he hung up his cell phone in rage. Then he turned around and he saw the girls.
- Oh, sorry, I thought I was alone, he said a little embarrassed.
His eyes met Candy's, she felt sorry for him and he hated it. So he left the room rather quickly.
William came to get the girls, ready to go. They passed the hallway where the others were, that include the great aunt, Neil and Eliza…
- Where are you guys going like that? Asked Archie.
- We're going shopping for Candy, said William.
- What? Said Eliza.
- You heard, said Neil.
- But…
- Eliza, not a word, said the great aunt, William is free to offer a wardrobe to his employee.
There was a little silence.
- Can I come? Said Archie.
- Yeah, that should be the perfect place for you, said Eliza, the fashion police…
- If you want to come Eliza, just say so, said William.
- No way! Said Eliza, not on your life! I will not buy my clothes at Wal-Mart!
- Can I come? Said Terry, I'd like to see Chicago.
- Of course, said William, anybody else? Alistair?
- I think I'd rather work on my inventions, said Alistair.
- Anthony?
- I'll work on my roses…, he replied
- All right then, said William, let's go.
They left the mansion, to go shopping in Chicago. Eliza was fuming, because Terry went with the group and she had already refused to go with them… They took the Rolls with the driver; William was sitting in front, to let the teens in the back. Candy was sitting by the door, next to Annie who was next to Terry, who was next to Archie. Candy felt weird to be in the same car as Terry after their fight last night and what happened earlier…she was not angry at him anymore. After all, he did see her kiss Miguel, so he was upset, so he did like her… she was starting to have hope… Terry was in America as a punishment, she wanted to make it less unpleasant for him. On the road to Chicago, there was music in the car and Candy and Annie were signing. They didn't care of the guys thought it was lame to sing along. They had a blast signing and laughing. William even surprised them by singing some of the songs with them. Archie and Terry looked at each other… oh what the heck?! They started signing too. The driver was laughing. The ice was broken and William was not sure that was a good thing. He took them to pretty little boutique.
- William, I thought we were going to a department store… Wal-Mart, K-Mart…, said Candy.
- What? And prove Eliza right? Said William, what's the point of having money if I can't spend it? Come on, my friend has a boutique and I think she's got the new teen line…
- But…, started Candy.
- Candy, said Annie, I beg you, shut up! Let's go!
They went to the boutique in question, they had all kind of clothes.
- They have jeans, said Annie.
- Designer jeans at 400$ , said Candy.
- What happened to what you said in the morning? Whispered Annie, take advantage…
- Right, said Candy.
The shop owner knew William and she was glad to see him. She took Candy's measurements, and she was glad to have a rich customer in need of everything.
- There, she has your size, said Albert, she will send everything home, you're going to choose what ever you like, and send back what you don't want.
- Oh, said Candy.
- Yes, Candy, said Annie, you need to learn to shop like them rich folks…
- I took you here so we can come to Chicago, everything could've been brought to the mansion…
- Thanks William for the ride…
- Now, the hairdresser…
- Hairdresser?
- You don't want a scalp treatment some colouring? Said William.
- Oh sure! Said Candy smiling, you don't need to do this…
- I want to give you the whole treatment, said William.
He took the ladies to a spa.
- We'll pick you up in 3 hours?
- Yes, Master Andrew, said the hairdresser.
- Hey Terry, Archie, you guys want a haircut? Said William.
- You're one to talk Uncle William!
They all burst out laughing. All three of them had long hair… Candy and Annie got the spa treatment, they got a trim and some highlight on their hair. Annie had some blond highlight on her black hair. Candy got some darker highlights. They got their nails done, a facial. Annie got waxed but Candy refused.
- Come on Candy, don't you want soft legs?
- I'm not that desperate! Said Candy laughing.
When the guys came back, it was time for lunch and Albert took them to a Chinese buffet, the Mandarin.
- A Chinese buffet, said Candy, there's not much Chinese food.
- I think it got "Americanised" a lot, said William.
- I still like it, said Candy.
While she was serving herself, she bumped into Terry.
- Oh Sorry, she said smiling.
Terry looked at her. Every time he looked at her, he had butterflies in his stomach. He had never felt that way with a girl.
- It's ok, he said with a smile.
- Oh my God, is that a smile I see in your face, English? Said Candy.
- I guess it is, he said. I sorry about yesterday, he said, I pushed you away, so I had no right to be angry at you for kissing your boyfriend.
- He's not my boyfriend.
- Why were you kissing him?
- Because I used him to make you jealous and the kiss was his fee…
- What?
Candy was putting some fried rice on her plate. Terry was putting some ribs on his plate.
- Did it work? Where you jealous? Said Candy.
- I wanted to strangle him…, said Terry with a little voice.
- That's music to my ears…
- Candy, I might not be the guy for you.
- Why? Because you're here for a punishment? I don't care what you did in the past… all I care about is that you're here… and I want to spend time with you, during the summer…
- I want to spend time with you too… my last girlfriend ended up with a broken leg because of me…
- That should be a lesson for, so you won't commit the same mistake twice…
They were both walking back to their table and they change their conversation once they sat down. William looked at them and he felt a vibe…
"They are falling for each other again… I guess I should let them be…" he thought.
At one point they found themselves alone at the table while the others were serving themselves.
- I'm trying to tell you not to trust me, said Terry.
- And I'm telling you I like you the way you are, said Candy.
He looked at her smiling.
- And I like you the way you are, honest…, he said.
When William came back at the table, he sensed that things have changed between Candy and Terry.
"They're together! I can see the chemistry between them and the looks! Oh Candy, he's going to hurt you…" He thought.
Candy was happy. Archie was trying to talk to Annie but she was giving him the cold shoulder. As they were walking to the car, Archie tried again.
- What is it Annie, I thought we hit it off.
- On fashion talk yes…
- I thought you liked fashion?
- Yes, but I got tired of hearing about it all day yesterday …
- I thought you were the kind of girl for me, who liked fashion as much as me…
- Maybe I do… since I can only look at the fashion on television or magazines… I don't thing I'm your kind of girl…
"Oh my God! What are you doing Annie?" She thought
Annie was pushing the dandy away… But Archie was not going to let any girl push him away.
- Well I kind of like you…
- Because I like fashion...
- I could tell you because of your body… which would be part of the truth, but you and I have a lot in common…would you mind spending a nice summer? You're going to come and see Candy a lot, so I was hoping you'd see me too in the process…
Annie looked at him and smiled. They were slowly walking behind the others. William looked back at them.
"There goes another love connection! What a good chaperon I make!" He thought.
They went back to Lakewood and in the car; they were now sitting next to their loved ones. The boys had their arms on the girls shoulders/ William noticed the changes and how they sang looking at each other.
- It's like Cupid hit the back seat, said the driver smiling.
- I think he did, said William.
When they got home, they found the clothes from the boutique and Eliza sulking with her friends.
- Uncle William , she said, you got her designer's clothes? Why?
- It's my money, said William; I think I can do what I want with it…
Eliza left the room sulking while Candy and Annie went to try the clothes on… they had a blast choosing. William told Annie she could have what she wanted too…
- Oh my God! Said Annie hugging him, thank you so much!
- You're welcome, said William, have fun!
William left the room. The girls had fun. They got dressed for dinner with their new dresses. Eliza was trying to get Terry's attention, but this last one was only talking to Candy. After dinner they were in one of the mansion's room where there was an entertainment system, and they watched movies. Candy went for a walk in the garden to breathe some fresh air. Terry followed her a few minutes later. Candy was by the pool, walking to Anthony's Roses Garden. She loved the scent of roses.
- It's nice isn't it? he said walking behind her
- Terry...
- You look beautiful in that dress.
- It's the first time I wear a dress this expensive! It's worth more than the two weeks pay cheque I used to get at my old job… I can't imagine using my whole pay check to buy a dress …I'm used to shop on Black Thursday or during the summer sales…
- William wants to make you happy.
- He's too nice to me and I don't know why…
- Why not just live the moment? You've got this wonderful well paid job that comes with a full designer's wardrobe…
- You're right, it surely beat my diner's job!
He approached her and took her arm.
- You came here to seduce me right? She said smiling.
- Seduce you? He said innocently.
- Come on English, the famous kissing scene…
- Like in romance novels…?
- You read romance novels?
- No, I don't! But my girlfriends told me about them…
- Hum hum, said Candy laughing.
- I've read "Romeo and Juliet" a beautiful love story and their romance started with a kiss...
- Maybe that's where the romance novel authors got that from...
- Maybe it's just common sense; a kiss is the beginning of a seduction, a love story, love making...
- But sometimes, a kiss is just a kiss...
- You're right...but since you know I'm going to kiss you, there's no more element of surprise, can we pretend it's the one from "Romeo and Juliet"..."Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again".
She looked at him smiling
- "You kiss by the book", she replied
Terry took her in his arms, and put his lips on hers. Candy had been kissed before, but she never felt the violent sensation of pleasure that made her spinning in mid air…She put her hands around his neck and her fingers were twisting his long hair gently, every stroke of Terry's tongue was a wild sensation of pleasure, her whole body was responding to. She had never felt like that with Tom or Miguel.
Terry's whole body was embraised when his lips touched Candy's lips, he felt dizzy, but a nice dizzy, the sensation was strong, unknown and powerful and he held her closer to him, her body against his drove him nuts... he wanted to posses her right then and there... but he had to control himself, the sensation was too violent for a first kiss, but he couldn't stop kissing her as she was responding to his kiss with the same passion...
oOoOoOoOoOo
William was looking at them with binoculars. He could feel their attraction to one another and how powerful their kiss was… and he knew it was something unavoidable; Candy and Terry were like too magnets drowned to each other, not matter was you put between then, they're going to end up stuck together.
- You were just delaying the inevitable, said the great aunt who was there with him, let them be William...
- Well I don't really have the choice, have I?
oOoOoOoOoOo
They finally stopped after a very long time, breathless. They looked at each other with love…
- You can seduce me anytime Romeo, she said.
- There's a lot more where that came from…
Their lips were welded again for a while. Then they got out and they walked to the pool house, so they could be sitting on the couch to make out… William prayed for his sister not lose her head…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Meanwhile, the dandy took Annie to his room to make out with her. Annie was walking on clouds; she was living her dream and enjoying every second.
Once upon a time, boys and girls where kissing passionately at the Andrew Mansion and on it grounds, while the owner stood there powerless….He was unable to stop the love in the air… It's going to be a very long summer loving.