"Well, were do you want to go first?" Dean asked, as we entered the room. Looking around, i was astonished by the mere size of the mall. Then I started feeling claustrophbic at the groups of people walking back and forth between stores. I couldn't believe how many people there were in this store, just walking around like nothing mattered. Looking at the other guys, they didn't seem as surprised as I was. But then again, just about everything is surprising to me. "There's a whole bunch of stores, you choose where to go."
"Where exactly am I to look?" I asked, stopping near a pillar, trying to keep away from the crowds.
"Well, like Sam said, you need some clothes for school. And maybe, something to do around the house. Whatever that is."
Shrugging, I looked around, watching Bobby go into the cellphone repair shop. And Sam ventured over to the sports store. I stopped again, trying to wrap my mind around what I saw; a redneck going into a cellphone shop, and someone like Sam would go into a sports shop. But then again, he could be a body builder or something. I glanced at Dean, searching for answers. All I found was a simple shrug, smile and a shove into the mall. I stopped, looking at this dark, gothic store filled with punk style and novelty items. For some reason, I was interested and I wanted to go in.
"Can we go in there?" I asked, pointing to the store.
"In there?" Dean asked, looking at me shocked. I wonder if he's one of those guys who's more uptight, high school joke types. Maybe I'll see photo's of Dean in high school throwing the pig's skin around. Tons of trophies and medals, I could feel my stomach twist just thinking about what kind of a brother I was going to live with. He looked between the store and me, pointing at the store. "That gothic, punk style store?"
"Yeah." I replied, shrugging. "I mean, it looks kinda interesting."
"Um, ok, sure." Dean said, gesturing for me to lead on into the store.
I could feel Dean's expression just leering at me like I'm some crazy kid. And I could tell he felt dirty, disgusted, hell even a little bit young. Looking around the punk style store, I could see why, but for some reason, I actually enjoyed it. I loved the black walls, the cold cement style floors, the loud acoustic music, and everything was organized by popular tv shows and movies. Random t-shirts were in clear frames like football jersey's on all four walls.
"So, go ahead and find what clothes you like, just no girl clothes and nothing too pricey. "
As Dean headed off to the music section, I decided to work my way from front to end. I couldn't believe all those clothes were printed with popular characters, mustache's, bow ties, lanyards, zombies, vampires. I looked down at my hips, feeling like some teenage girl, comparing them to the jeans on the hanger. After I walked around the store a few times, I decided to go find Dean with my choices.
"I think I've made my decision."
Dean looked at me, removed the headphones and glanced down at what I had. Then back at me.
"That's just one outfit man, grab like two or three more."
"Um, ok, I'll be right back." I said, feeling kind of excited. I remembered a few of the clothes I liked, and was pretty excited that Dean was going to buy for me. It didn't take me long to realize I was content, for the first time since I've woken up, I felt happy. Is this how happiness felt?
"Alright, that was fun." Dean said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, holding one of the five bags of stuff he bought for me. I felt pretty bad for him, we where in the store for about two hours and all he did was listen to music he found repulsive.
"Sorry."
"No need, I told you to pick and ya did. I just didn't know a store like that existed. What kind of music was playing?"
"Metal, I think it was something by Disturbed." I replied, blinking a few times in surprise at myself.
Wait, how do I know that?
"Disturbed? " Dean asked, looking at me with wide green eyes. I guess Disturbed was a band he never heard of, which was kind of a shocker to me. Dean looked like a rock and roll, gag at classical music kind of guy. "Oh please tell me you at least like Metallica, or Nirvana. At least some kind of classic rock music band."
"Yeah, I like those. At least I believe I do. Were we listening to AC/DC on the way here?"
"Yes." Dean whispered in a victorious way, almost cheering like a male cheerleader. "So, it's Sammy's turn, give me a call if you get bored."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Sam asked as Dean quickly shoved the bags into my chest and dashed away from us, following another woman with a short, pink skirt. Huffing, Sam rolled his eyes and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I felt like a migdit compared to him. How the hell is he so tall? Is he the older brother? "Well, just let me know if you find something you find interesting."
We walked around until I saw a large, hard copy book about modernized mythology. Pausing, I felt my gut and my heart collaborating a plan to make my legs dash to the book against my will.
Wow, I sound a little dramatic.
"Can I look at books?" I asked Sam, grabbing the book and reading the back. My mind was somehow fascinated with this story, the creatures, how the author made a classic story into a modern day favorite. And as I read the first few pages, it was like I was watching a movie inside my head, I was in the narrator's shoes, watching the main character walking into a deep forest full of mystical creatures. It was just incredible. Deep down, I was really hoping Sam would say yes, and I was also hoping that he would buy me a book or two.
So I like to read? Am I really this deeply fascinated with books? Wait, I'm smiling again. Do I really feel happy being in a book store?
"Books?" Sam asked, hovering over my shoulder. "I never thought you even knew how to read."
"Yeah, I don't know why, I'm just fascinated with reading. And I think I see a few more books I like. What do you mean you never thought I couldn't read? "
"Now that's my brother." I heard Sam whisper, ignoring my last question, as he nudged me into the store. "Let's go Cas, I'll buy you a couple of books. I'll be over in the cafe, just come get me when you're ready to go."
"Got it." I replied, dashing deeper into the bookstore. Shockingly, I was more interested with this book store then I was with the clothing store.
As I ventured around the book store, I couldn't believe the books that I found interesting. Fantasy, Sci-Fy, manga, hell, even some classic novels. Man, I couldn't believe how excited I was to look at all those books. And for the first time, I felt my lips form a big smile, the biggest one I've felt since I've woken up. I felt my stomach twist when I heard some teenage girl complain she hated being in a bookstore, and she would rather go to some boy band concert. I didn't know what Sam's limit for me was, so I just grabbed a manga and a very unpopular fantasy novel. But my mind and my heart didn't want me to leave behind the Grimm's story book behind. So, out of pure impulse, I grabbed it and headed over to find Sam who was sitting down at the coffee spot.
"Hey, did you find some?" He asked, taking a sip of his drink.
"Yeah, I found three." I replied, holding the books close under my arm.
"Mm, let me see." He said, turning his attention away from his laptop. After I handed him the books, I couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed. Someone else was finding out what books I like, even the fairy tale book and manga, and I didn't want Sam finding out. Why do I care? "Wow, you made a few good choices. I mean, you chose a classic, a Japanese art style comic book and something I wouldn't possibly read. And you just chose them because you like them?"
"Yeah, I find them interesting. I can put them back-"
"No, don't put them back. I'm just surprised."
"Surprised? About what?"
"Well, I thought you were getting a Bible or something. " Sam said, closing his laptop and stood up with my books in his hand. "Anyway, I'll get these for ya. Wanna coffee or something?"
"Coffee?" I asked, the word sounded familiar and yet tasty.
"Yeah, well, look up there and let me know what you like when I get back."
As Sam ran off with my books to the counter, I looked up at the fancy written menu, something I couldn't understand with coffee shops. They always try to make the cafe more fancy and something out of a college campus catalog. For some reason, I couldn't look away from the hot chocolate, it sounded simple and yet delicious all at once.
"So, you made your choice?" Sam asked, walking up to me with my books in a bag. "Hey they had a deal if you buy a certain amount of books, you get a free back pack. So I got you this black, studded one."
"Yeah, can I have a hot chocolate?" I asked, feeling kind of shy to ask.
"Sure, wait here." Sam said, handing me the bag. Moments later, Sam returned with a large, steaming hot cup nearly filled to the rim.
"Alright, now go into the bathroom and change." Bobby commanded, sitting on the red bean bag chair.
Casually, I walked into the bathroom, hoping nobody's looking at my strange looking clothes. Walking into the clean restroom, I felt unclean and out of sorts. Quickly, I ran into the stall and locked the door. I didn't want to look through the clothes, I just grabbed the clothes from the first bag and started changing. As soon as I was changed, I shoved the other clothes into my bag and dashed out of the stall. Wishing I didn't, the moment I walked into the waiting room, and all three guys stared at me like I was a freak of nature.
"Uh, what happened to you." I heard one of them whisper.
I stopped right outside the restroom, looking at the three of them who were just sitting on the cushions. I turned to look at a mirror and couldn't understand what it was they were seeing. I was wearing a deep purple shirt with a giant red robot holding a blaster cannon like a gun. A black and white checkered hooded sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, and inside the hood was a mask of another robot. I had on dark blue jeans with a chained wallet, studded belt, black gloves with a drawing of a smiling skeleton that fit pretty nicely on my hands. I changed the black tennis shoes for black and yellow high top shoes, wrist bands with the names of bands and popular television shows I found interesting. Around my neck dangled the rosary the Woman gave me. And I was carrying the books Sam bought me in my arm like a student going to class. On my back was a black, college bound back pack with designs of robots ready for battle carrying the rest of my clothes. I couldn't help but grin at my attire, I felt like I was invincible and the kid next to me was envious, at least I pretended he was.
"Oh no." Dean said, shaking his head, chuckling.
"What?" I asked.
"Oh no." Dean chuckled again.
"What? What did I do this time?" I asked, trying to figure out why Dean was laughing at me.
"You're a nerd."
"How am I a nerd?" I asked as Sam looked at him like he was about to slap him.
"Dude, you're wearing a cartoon shirt with a mask on your hood, high tops, a beanie, wristbands, and I'm waiting to hear you got a Jack Skeleington tattoo on your arm. And you're carrying around books under your arm. Man, all of those just scream nerd."
"Sorry, you told me to get what I liked and I did." I said, feeling slightly aggravated that Dean was giving me shit for what I was wearing. " I didn't know I liked these things."
"Knock it off Dean." Bobby said, smacking Dean behind the head. "We got a long way to go, let's get going."