"This is stupid," I grumbled as we entered yet another clothing store. First official day here and I'm already being dragged around the stupid mall, going into different stores full of crap I wouldn't be caught dead in. All I wanted to do was go home, sprawl over my bed and teach Krillin some more tricks. Right now I'm teaching the little dude how to high-five. He's pretty awesome at it.
"It's not stupid, it's fun" April said as she led me through the aisles of brightly coloured fabric.
Fun definitely ain't a word I'd have used. Boring. Pointless. A complete and utter waste of what precious time I had left on this planet seemed to be more appropriate.
"I hate malls. I hate shopping, especially for clothes" I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest.
April stopped rummaging through the clothes rack and looked down at me. "Don't be silly, Mel. All girls love shopping!"
"Not me. Hell, I'd rather walk barefoot over burning hot coals than go shopping." I held up the sleeve of a hideous purple button up shirt. I twirled one of the buttons between my fingers until it popped off. April gave me a disapproving look but I ignored her. "I'd go 'round naked if I could. Though I don't even like seeing my naked body when I shower, so I doubt I'd be able to stroll 'round butt-naked for strange eyes." I flicked the button into the air and never saw where it landed.
"Is this what you're like when your Mum takes you shopping?" April looked at the price tag on a yellow shirt. Her eyes widened and she put it back, shaking her head and muttering 'not a chance'.
"Mum's never taken me shopping" I said with a shrug.
"Never? At all?"
"I said never! What are ya deaf?!" I snapped.
April blinked in surprise and muttered a quick 'sorry'.
I sighed and continued browsing through the multiple racks of clothes "Mum was too busy to do stuff with me, kay?"
There was a silence.
April looked at me with sympathy and I frowned. I didn't need no ones sympathy. It was just the way things were. I was used to it. Mum was always too busy drinking, or hanging 'round with different men, she never had time for her 'sorry excuse for a daughter'.
April changed the subject by holding up a frilly yellow sundress covered in hideous Daisies. "This would look really cute on you."
April must've noticed the look of disgust on my face 'cause she asked "what's the matter?"
"That dress is rank, dude" I said with disgust.
April frowned and placed the dress back on the rack "I wish you wouldn't call me dude".
I rolled my eyes "yeah, well I wish I was doin' something else but that ain't happening neither."
Well, this day was a total waste of make-up.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and left the clothing store. I heard April follow me but she seemed to be keeping her distance.
Hmm, I wonder if I'm able to ditch her.
I glanced at her over my shoulder to see her staring at a pair of heels on display. I smirked and quickened my pace but Aprils voice made me freeze.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"The bathroom" I kept a straight face as I lied.
April smiled and said "okay".
Haha, sucker.
"I'll go with you."
Crap!
"Despite my height, I am a big girl, kay? Ain't no need for someone to hold my hand".
April just smiled and brushed past me "I know you can go by yourself, but I also know that you're trying to ditch me." She turned to me and smirked "so, still need to go to the bathroom?"
"No" I huffed and folded my arms. She smiled in triumph and walked away.
I trudged after her. This ain't over O'Neil. Oh no, not by a long shot.
I sat down in an empty chair, waiting for April to emerge from the change room. It was quiet in the store. A TV mounted above the clerks counter was playing some sorta crappy chick flick. The clerk was nowhere in sight. My eyes trailed over to a clock hanging above the entrance to the change rooms. Twelve minutes had passed and April still hadn't come out. Seriously, how long does it take to try on clothes!? A girl could die of boredom just sitting here.
My ass was so asleep it was beginning to dream, so I decided to stretch my legs. My fingers gently brushed over the items of clothing as I made my way from one end of the store to the other. As I did, two girls entered the store giggling and babbling incoherent nonsense. They looked like the typical bleached-blonde, yuppie, cheerleading types.
I noticed them glance at me as I sauntered over to a display of dresses. I could care less though. People always stared as I passed them, tutting and shaking their heads. Like I seriously need their approval. My eyes landed on a dress that, though I hate to say it, looked quite pretty. It was plain black with black feathers 'round the hem. Turning over the price tag I sucked in air at how expensive it was. Damn. What kinda young girl had THIS much money!
"That looks beautiful, Mel" April said from behind me. "Are you going to buy it?"
I let go of the price tag and shrugged "nah. It ain't my style." Turning 'round to April I saw her with an arm full of clothes. "Sure ya got enough there?" I said with a small smirk.
Her cheeks flushed as she patted the pile of clothes, "a girl can never have enough clothes."
The two of us made our way to the counter to pay. The clerk still wasn't back and I was beginning to get impatient. April rang the bell and placed her pile on the counter. I tapped my foot and frowned. April rang again.
Still no clerk.
I swiped the bell of the counter and repeatedly slammed my palm down on it. April pried it from my hands and put it back to its original spot. I sighed in frustration before slamming my palms down on the counter and leaning over it.
"Oi!" I shouted at the back door, "ya got customers out here waiting to buy stuff! If ya don't want us to steal these clothes then ya best get your ass out here!"
April stared wide-eyed at me, a pink tinge covering her cheeks. The two girls from before stared in silence. Other people that were entering the store quickly exited.
A second later and the clerk came rushing towards the counter, re-buttoning her skin-tight shirt. I smirked in triumph and rested my elbow on the counter. The clerk placed a hand on her hip and stared at us like we were wasting her time.
"What do you want?"
April patted the pile of clothes on the counter and smiled, "just these, thank you.""
The clerk rolled her eyes with a sigh.
"Nice skirt," I commented and the clerk glanced at me. "It goes well with those hickeys on ya throat."
Her hand flew up to her neck and she blushed.
"Does your boss know that ya got some guy you're screwing back there?"
When she didn't reply, I smirked.
"Didn't think so. Listen lady, if you got time to mess 'round back with your knickers 'round your ankles, then you got time to serve customers, kay?" I clicked my fingers and gestured to the pile of clothes. "Now lose the attitude and put our clothes through."
The clerk looked shocked, like no one had ever spoken to her like that. She hesitated before putting the items through. She handed April her bag with a forced smile. April stood there frozen to the spot, purse in hand. Rolling my eyes I grabbed the purse from her hand and payed the clerk, throwing in a five dollar tip.
"Go buy yourself a personality" I said, dragging April away from the counter.
Once we had left the store, April made me stop. She shook her head side-to-side with a frown, crossing her arms.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Mel" she said.
"Wha-! Me?!" I pointed to myself with my thumb. "What the hell did I do!?"
"You were very rude to that clerk in there."
My shock turned to anger "that chick was asking for it! She had an attitude like no ones business!"
"You didn't need to be rude back. You should treat people the way you want to be treated."
"That's a load of bullcrap and you know it, O'Neil! You should treat people the way they treat you! And if people gonna be treating me like crap, I'm gonna treat them like crap!"
April tutted, "that's not a good way to look at things, Amelia." My eyes narrowed when she used my full name but she held up her index finger so I wouldn't speak. "You have to be the bigger person here, which is why I want you to go and apologise to that lady."
"I ain't apologising to no one 'cause I done nothing wrong here." I folded my arms, standing my ground.
April copied my stance, narrowing her eyes as well, "apologise. Now."
"No," I said.
I could already tell this wasn't gonna end well. I'm too stubborn, and that gets me into trouble. Though in this case, I know I'm right and I ain't apologising to someone who don't deserve it.
Aprils' jaw tightened and she stepped towards me. She made a quick snatch at my wrist and tried to drag me towards the store.
"Let go!" I yelled but she didn't listen. I tried again, "April, let me go, now!" I was so angry. I couldn't control the anger I felt at this moment. I yanked my wrist from her grasp making her stumble slightly.
"Amelia," April turned to me angrily.
"Screw you, O'Neil!" I snapped. "You can't make me do things I don't wanna do! You're not my mother, so quit acting like it!"
I turned on my heel and ran out as fast as I could.
Aprils POV
I rubbed my forehead with a grumble as I watched the angry teen make a run for it. Great job, April, now she thinks you're her enemy. I probably just ruined whatever chance I had to get close to that girl.
I tightly gripped the handle of my shopping bag before chasing after her. I can't leave her like this. Who knows what she'll get herself into with a mood like that! I left the shopping mall and sprinted across the car park. I came to a stop on the edge of the curb and turned in a full circle. She couldn't have gotten far. Following my gut, I turned left and walked down the sidewalk, keeping an eye out for a bright pink blur.
"Hey, baby! Wanna have some fun?" Came a distant cat call. I turned and saw three young boys, probably late teens; leaning against the entrance of an alleyway. Several beer cans were between them. A tattoo of a purple dragon on their arms caught my attention, making me clutch my bags tighter. I continued on, ignoring the group.
"Yo, bitch! We talkn' to you!" Another voice screamed, though it was more high pitched than the first. I sensed movement behind me and giving a quick glance over my shoulder allowed me to see that they were now following me.
I picked up the pace but so did my pursuers. I rounded the corner only find myself face to face with a dead end. I spun on my heel, hoping to get away before they caught up but it was too late. I was surrounded.
"Stay away from me" I yelled, my voice quivering slightly. I fumbled through my purse and pulled out my Shell-Cell. I held it up in front of me and kept my finger over the 'Call' button. "Take another step and I'll call the police."
"Go ahead" the tallest of the three stepped forward, a crooked grin on his face. "By the time they get 'ere, we'd 'ave done all we wanted to you."
The other two boys stepped closer as well, identical smirks on their faces. The taller boy reached for my hand and I pulled back sharply. He laughed and grabbed hold of my wrist. Giving one quick tug, I was held up against his chest. I kicked and screamed trying to fight free but he was a lot stronger than I was.
"Don't worry 'bout it, baby" he chuckled breathily in my ear. "I can be real gentle."
Two grunts from behind made the boy pull away. I stumbled back, desperately trying to keep my tears from falling.
"Back off jackass."
I looked past the boy in front of me to see Amelia standing above the two unconscious bodies of the other boys, a trash can lid held firmly in her hands. Her eyes were cold and dangerous. It sent a shiver down my spine.
"Get outta 'ere, girlie! This ain't none o' your business," the boy yelled at her.
Amelia remained where she was, seeming unnerved by the situation.
The boy growled low in his throat, "you deaf or somethin', bitch?! Go on, get!" He turned back to me and smirked. Once again he reached for me but Amelia stopped him.
"Lay one finger on my friend and I'll drop ya where ya stand!"
Oh no, Amelia, don't antagonize him!
The boy laughed, a cruel and mocking sound, "that so, eh?" He took a step forward and held his arms out, a wicked grin on his face "I'd like ta see ya try, runt."
As soon as those words left his mouth the trash can lid Amelia was holding was now hurtling through the air at a dangerous speed. The boy didn't have time to react as it made contact with his forehead and knocked him to the ground. He lay sprawled across the alley ground, silent and unmoving.
My body shook as I stared at him. I thought he was dead, but surely getting a hit in the head couldn't kill him like that…could it?
"He ain't dead."
I jumped at Amelias voice. I didn't even notice her standing beside me. She stared at the boy with a blank expression before slowly meeting my gaze.
"M-Mel…how did you…?"
"I was by the car 'til I saw ya sprint past me like a crazed woman. Thought it'd be best to follow ya…good thing too" Mel muttered the last part as she crossed her arms.
It was in this moment when I realised what Amelia had just done for me. Smiling, I placed my bags on the ground and wrapped my arms around her. Her body went rigid at the touch.
"Whoa, what the hell are ya doing?"
"Hugging you" I said.
Even though I couldn't see her face, I just knew she had rolled her eyes. "Yeah, no duh, lady. WHY are ya hugging me?"
"You saved my life," I said, pulling away.
Mel looked away and shrugged "no big deal."
"It is to me" Mel glanced at me from the corner of her eye as I spoke. "Thank you, Mel. Really, thank you. I owe my life to you."
Mel made a little grunt of surprise before giving me a dismissive wave of her hand, "hell, O'Neil, ain't no need to be getting all dramatic. I was in the right place at the right time that's all."
There was moment of silence before I pointed out, "you called me your friend."
"What?"
"When he was about to touch me, you called me your friend."
Mel stood still, her gaze cast downward and a slight blush on her cheeks "yeah, and? I mean, it ain't a big deal. You shouldn't go reading into things like that. It was just a slip of the tongue, that's all."
"Slip of the tongue, huh?" I bit my lip to keep from smiling.
"Let's just get outta here. Krillin is probably wondering what's taken so long." Mel left the alleyway and I followed.
Seems like Amelia isn't cold-hearted after all.