Shopping

“Where are you going?” Emerald asked the next morning as Wren came into the kitchen. She had forgone her skirts the first day here, but now she was in her favorite skirt and shirt, although they were a bit bigger on her now.

“I am going to town. I need to buy some new clothing before I start my job tomorrow.”

“Job?” Emerald exclaimed. “What are you going to do?”

Talon looked up from where he was working on the breakfast dishes. “Yup. I can officially start a job now that I am done with my initial training.”

“That is great.” Eric stood up and gave her a hug.

“Congrats on both. Talon, you should cook something special tonight in honor of Wren’s achievement.”

Talon nodded. “What would you like?” he asked her.

“Oh no. You do not have to go to any trouble for me.”

“Nonsense. What would you like for supper? We need to celebrate.”

The others nodded their agreement.

“Well…I love Chinese.” Wren ducked her head and did not look Carrie in the eyes.

“What?” Carrie narrowed her eyes.

“Are you sure it is for you and not Talon?”

Wren nodded. “Could you tolerate it for one night? I would love to pig out on some crab rangoon.”

Carrie sighed. “Fine, since it is for your completion and job, I will keep my mouth shut. I cannot stand the stuff.”

“Yes!” came the resounding agreement from the rest of the group.

Wren just looked at them.

“We all love Chinese, but Carrie absolutely forbids allowing it in the house, and she is scary when she is mad,” Evan explained.

Wren grinned. “Thank you, Carrie.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. I will not do it again, no matter what you do.”

“Tell me, Wren, where are you working?” Lily asked.

“Um, at the local high school as their new music teacher.”

Talon dropped the plate he had been washing.

“Really?” Evan looked at Talon. “You are going to be our new teacher?” He turned to Talon. “Hey, Talon, why didn’t you tell us she was going to be our new teacher? After all, you two are going to be coworkers.”

Wren looked at Talon, who refused to look back at her.

“Whatever.”

He finished the dishes and dried his hands.

“Are you ready?” he grumbled.

“Huh, what for?”

“Did you not just say that you needed to go to town? I will accompany you. I need a few things as well.”

“Oh, me too, me too,” Emerald exclaimed.

“Come to think of it, I could use a trip as well,” Eric commented. “I think I will also join you.”

When it was all said and done, everyone decided to go, and they had to wait another fifteen minutes while they got another car.

The mall was not far, and they were parked and ready to enter within half an hour.

“All right. Let’s split up. Shall we meet back here in, say…two hours?” Carrie asked. “Will that be enough time, Wren?”

“Half that amount would be enough time,” Wren mumbled before giving them a bright smile. “That will be just fine.”

Wren watched them leave.

“Why did you not tell them you did not need that much time?” Talon asked as he followed behind her.

“Are you following me?” Wren asked.

He shrugged. “I usually just go to the meeting spot and wait.”

“I thought you had things to get?”

“It can wait.”

“Then go ahead… I do not need any help.” Wren stopped short, and Talon almost knocked her over.

“Oh shit,” Wren muttered.

Talon leaned close to her ear. “My, my, my, what a potty mouth we have on us today,” he commented.

“Shut up,” Wren retorted. “I did not realize it was so big.”

“What is so big?” Talon looked around to see what she was looking at.

“The mall. Damn it, how am I supposed to find anything in here?”

Talon grabbed her hand. “Come on. Tell me what you are looking for and I will help you find it.”

Wren stared at their hands, totally lost for words.

“Hey. Are you all right? I know it is a bit big, but really,” Talon said. He had stopped and was staring at her.

“Huh?” Wren looked up and flushed when she realized just how close he was to her.

“Oh, I need clothes that are appropriate for the school setting, but I do not know what I want exactly.”

“Come on then.” Talon did not release her hand as he turned back around, still talking. When had he started talking so much?

“We will go by some stores that sell girls’ things, and you just let me know when you see something you like. Will that work?”

Wren nodded. ~Wait.~ “WE?”

“You will get lost if I do not help out,” Talon growled, not looking at her.

Wren smiled. He really was a sweet guy.

She felt her heart do a little flip, and she found herself quite happy.

Talon continued to hold her hand as they walked past the different stores.

Her hand was small and warm, and like a sap, it made him happy.

He was such a dork.

“Can we go there?” Wren asked suddenly, pointing to a shop.

“Sure,” Talon shrugged.

Wren took off. This time, she was the one dragging Talon along.

As soon as they entered the store, they were approached by a young lady.

“May I help you?”

“Please,” Wren gave her a smile. “I would like to try on a few things, but I am not sure of the sizes. It has been a long time since I have been shopping for clothes.”

“I can see that.” The lady looked her up and down. “I think I know a few things. This way.”

Within moments, the lady had helped Wren find multiple outfits and sizes and had her in a dressing room with Talon waiting on a couch nearby.

“If you would just wait here for a moment, I will send your lady out in the first outfit,” the salesgirl had told him as she ushered Wren into one of the many changing rooms.

Talon sat down to wait. He knew that girls could take forever to change.

He let out a sigh. It was going to be a long day.

“Um, excuse me?” Another one of the sales ladies approached him.

“Yes?” he replied politely.

“Is that woman with you?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you.” She gave him a small bow and left.

Talon shook his head and leaned back, closing his eyes.

A moment later, Wren was standing before him, blushing, with the sales lady standing beside her.

“Really! He does not have to see anything,” Wren was trying to explain to the lady, to no avail.

Talon opened his eyes.

“I like. Buy it.” Then he leaned back again, closing his eyes.

She looked good in the black pencil skirt and the Chinese-style top with the dragon print. As a matter of fact, she looked great in clothes that actually fit her petite frame.

Now, if only she would lose the glasses.

Wren put her hands on her hips and sent him a glare before heading back to the dressing room.

~The nerve of that man,~ she thought. He barely glanced at her. He was cold and rude. Where was the man that she had spent the last week with anyway? The least he could do was spare her more than a glance before commenting.

“Shall we keep it then?” the saleslady asked.

Wren took another glance in the mirror. It really did flatter her figure.

She nodded.

For the next ten minutes, she was dragged in and out of the dressing room to stand before Talon. He would glance up and then go right back into position with a short comment, but Wren noticed that he had a very good eye for what looked good on her and what did not.

She ended up buying the clothes that he had liked, and soon they were on their way.

“Where to next?” Talon asked as they left the store, loaded down with multiple bags.

She had just spent two hundred dollars on clothes. She figured she was good for now.

“I do not care. Can we just wander around for a bit?”

“Whatever the lady wishes,” Talon said.

He took her bags and put them in one hand, then used his other hand to take hers and continued to walk along the stores.

Wren blushed as people turned to stare at them. They must present an odd couple with his good looks and her geekiness.

Although she had worn one of her new outfits out of the store, she was still not in the same class as him when it came to looks. She was just too plain.

They wandered along aimlessly, merely looking at windows.

Suddenly, Wren took off, dragging him after her and entering a store that sold evening gowns. Expensive ones at that.

Within minutes, Wren had asked for a dress and was in the dressing room while he waited patiently on yet another couch for her to reappear.

He looked up when someone cleared their throat.

“Does it meet with your approval, sir?” the salesperson asked as Wren stood before him, looking absolutely gorgeous in a floor-length green evening dress with a fitted bodice that left her shoulders bare and hugged her curves before flowing away from her hips and landing mid-calf.

He could only stare and hope his jaw was not hitting the floor.

She had transformed into a butterfly. He just wanted to take her in his arms and…