"Mom? Can we go to the mall now?" I grab her arm desperately. 

Mom, who's talking on the phone, gave me a dirty look. She isn't happy that I interrupted her call.

Mom rolled her eyes, unamused. "What is it, Millicent? I'm making an important call!"

What I'm about to tell her is very important! If I don't tell her, she'll probably forget that today is the day we have to go to Central Hill Mall. 

That mall is near one of our school's rivals when it comes to sports of all kinds. Central High School. It's also the school my ex-best friend from eighth grade goes to. Raven Alexandra Hilton.

Mercedes, Raven, and I were close friends, and best friends at the time. However, Raven went behind my back and almost ruined my school reputation by starting a bad rumor about me. Of course, I found a way to expose her, which caused her to go to a new school for ninth grade.

Everyone that goes to Westdale should know that she's just a huge wannabe. I'm sure the people at Central accept her. Central students are just like her. 

"I just wanted to remind you about the mall. It's opening at noon. The sooner we get there, the more great things we'll get!" I chant. 

"I know, Millicent. Just let me finish up this call, first. It's super important." she holds the phone to her ear, "We were discussing..."

Since we're not going anytime soon, as it looks like, I'll just text some friends. You can never waste a good moment.

Mercedes: When are we going to the mall? It's eleven-thirty. The stores we're going to in the mall is opening up in thirty minutes.

Me: My mom says we're going soon. I think we're going in a few minutes. I finally got a few ideas about what I should wear at the party. 

Mercedes: It's about time we do some serious shopping. Tell Nova and me your ideas at the mall.

Nova: I'm definitely coming to the mall. I hear they're having some type of sale!

Mercedes: Same for me. There's a sale on designer clothing today. Twenty percent off. That's a perfect bargain.

Me: Yeah! You two can get to my house. We can wait together.

The doorbell rang loudly. My friends stood at the door.

I called out. "I'll get it!"

My mother was finally finished talking on the phone and was now getting ready to get to the mall.

"Hey, Millicent!" Nova hugged me like she never saw me in years.

"Hello, Milli! How are you today?" Mercedes adjusted her designer sunglasses.

"Salut mes amis!" I cheer in French, "Are you excited about the mall? My mom's getting ready to take us."

French class in school does come in handy!

"That's good. How are your parents doing?" Nova asked. 

My father is in the basement with his friends playing video games like they're teenagers again. My mother is nearby applying her lipstick.

"My parents are good. Speaking of them, can we go now, Mom? It's already noon!" I look back at her, who's closing her lipstick container.

"Oh, yeah. We can go now. How are you doing today, Nova and Mercedes?" Mom adjusts her right earing.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Campbell! How are you doing today?" Mercedes asks politely.

"I'm doing fine, hon! Thank you for asking!" Mom held up her car keys, "Who's ready to go?"

I stared at her, unamused. "I've been ready for the longest time now." 

Didn't she know that already? There wasn't a purpose of asking that.

"Yes, it's time to go. Here's all the money you can spend at the mall. Five-hundred dollars." Mom handed me my allowance, "I extended the amount of money by three-hundred dollars because you need to shop for yourself and the party."

In my two hands laid five hundred dollars. We could buy so much with this amount! Hopefully, it'll be enough.

"Wow, that's a lot." Nova stared at the money in my hand.

"Yes, it is. Spend your money wisely. Now, let's go. I can't spend forever here." Mom opens the front door.

Mercedes, Nova, and I trail right behind her. Shopping time!

"Okay, girls. Do you want to go to Central Mall first or the shopping center?"

"It's obvious, Mom. We want to go to the mall first." I roll my eyes as I buckle my seatbelt on.

"I know, Muffin." Mom started the car.

The ringtone of Mom's phone rang as she pulled out of the driveway. "Hello, Hannah! What is it now?" Mom answered the call. 

I'll just text Mercedes and Nova, even if they're behind me. You can't waste a good moment.

Me: What do y'all want to talk about until we get to the mall?

Nova: How great your party will be!

Mercedes: Yeah! It'll be the best! I can tell from now.

Me: I hope it'll be.

Nova: I know the party will be great, so we shouldn't worry, right?

Me: You're right. Plus, all the other parties I had were great, so why wouldn't this one be?

Why wouldn't my party be great?

"We're at the mall, finally. I'll pick up you in about three hours, depending on when you finish up. I have to get to the office to pick up some files." Mom parked the car right in front of the main entrance to drop us off.

I open the car door. "Okay, Mom. Let's get out of here."

"Before you go, Millicent, remember what I always tell you!" Mom opened the front window of the car before my friends and I could go.

"I know, Mom! You've been telling me this ever since I was, like, four years old! I shouldn't talk to strangers and I shouldn't accept candy from them!" I roll my eyes, annoyed.

"That's right. I'll be back soon!" Mom pulled off.

I turned to my friends. "Now, let's get inside the mall right now! There's no time to waste!" 

Like on normal weekends, the mall is hectic. People walked back and forth, elevators and escalators went up and down, and doors opened in closed. There's never a time where the mall isn't busy.

"Let's go to the designer store!" Nova pointed to the mall directory map, "If we take the elevator, we'll get to the second floor, which is where most clothing is located in there."

"You're right. There is an elevator right there. Let's go!" Mercedes motioned us to the nearby elevators. 

There were a few people huddled right in front of the two elevators. Not surprising.

We managed to get to the front to make it into an elevator, but on our way, we bumped into a person that none of us wanted to see. 

Raven Alexandra Hilton! 

"Well, well, well! Look at who it is!" she sneered, "Little Millicent and her crew! Mercedes and Nova! Long time, no see, huh?"

Raven is dressed up in a black crop top and dark green leggings. The outfit itself looked cute, but she copies my style vibes way too much. I'm all about making trends, not following them, unlike her.

"Shut up! You're just jealous! Of everything I have! Everyone at Westdale has turned their back against you for specific reasons, so try not to rub it on yourself!" I rant. 

There was no chance of getting inside an elevator now. The elevator filled with people was already closing. Now we'll have to wait for the next one to come back here.

This is all Raven's fault.

"Watch your mouth, Millicent. You're the jealous one here. I don't care if everyone at your school turned their backs against me. They're all losers!" Raven bragged.

And did she really have to say I'm jealous of her? Who would be jealous of a wannabe?

"Whatever, Raven! We can't spend too much time talking to you. We have better things to be doing." Mercedes presses the elevator button.

Instead of her pressing it gently, she presses it hard. I could tell she was feeling the same way I am right now. 

Nova leaned onto the wall, enraged. "Exactly! You're the one that betrayed us and our whole friend group just to steal the throne of being the queen bee. We thought of you as a great and immeasurable friend. But you really aren't. You're just a wannabe who makes horrible rumors just to get attention!" 

"Bye, losers!" Raven sashayed away. I just hate it when she sashays. When you're popular, of course, you have to walk a certain way, but when wannabes like her do it, it's just disgusting.

The elevator door slowly opened. All three of us walked inside. Nova presses an elevator button, and soon, the door closes.

"That girl is super shady!"  I complained as the elevator proceeded up.

"That's right! She always has something to lie about." Mercedes walked out of the elevator that just opened.

"Right, well now we're upstairs. Let's get going!" Nova walked to the left.

* * * * *

We approached the large entrance of the designer store. People were walking in and out with either shopping bags or drinks in their hands.

"Let's go in!" I chanted, "I see some great choices already!"

I instantly saw a large display of mannequins with clothing on them. I already saw something that I liked. 

"I just adore that white blouse. It would look great with this royal blue-colored skirt" Mercedes points to one of the mannequins.

I observed. "It's nice."

According to this price tag right here, it's about ten percent off. The price of the blouse was two-hundred dollars, but now, it's one-hundred eighty dollars. That amount for only the blouse. And the skirt is one-hundred ten dollars at a reduced price. Together, that would take up almost three-hundred dollars from the five-hundred dollars that Mom gave me. 

I guess I should've planned out some kind of budget. Not a cheap one, of course! 

Nova points to a nearby display. "I really like that blouse! They have a whole section for it right over there."

"That's nice! I'll go get both the skirt and the blouse in my size. In the meantime, try to look for some of those French hat thingies. What are they called again?" I tapped my chin in thought, "They look very stylish."

Even if I have a whole French class at school, I still can't remember every little thing about the language. Even in history class when we learn about various countries.

"A beret?" Mercedes says the significant word that comes to my memory.

"That's what it's called! How could I forget? Anyway, go find me some berets! We've been at the mall for, like, thirty minutes or so. Two and a half hours is just five minutes when you're at the mall." I demand nicely.

"You got it, Millicent." Nova rummages through a nearby shelf filled with french caps.

In the meantime, I get the exact same clothing I saw on the mannequins in my size. Before you ask if I should try on the clothes, I'm not since the fitting rooms are extra busy and simply, I don't feel like trying these on.

In about two minutes, my friends come up to me with a few berets in their bare hands. 

"So I see you've found some french caps. They look very nice." I admire all of the berets.

"It took quite some picking." Mercedes winked, "I was looking at the prices of them. The black one in Nova's hand costs forty dollars. It looks pretty nice! The price is a little low, but since your money will run out soon, it'll be a great choice."

The forty-dollar beret did look chic. It has a few sequins on the edge of it. It looked good enough. To make it look even better, I can always attach some more sequins I have at home onto it.

"So which beret do you prefer, Millicent?" Nova asked. 

"I'd like the black one right here." I took the cap from Nova's hand, "Put the rest of those back in their place."

Nova took the three caps from Mercedes' hands and stuffed them back into their designated area.

"What's next, Millicent?" Mercedes inquired. 

"I already have heels I can wear at home. I just bought them last month. They're bright red, which will match the whole party theme, along with my clothes. Let's go to this checkout since we're done!" I walk to the nearby checkout.

There is a nice-looking lady at the desk, waiting for someone to come to her.

"Good afternoon, ladies! Are you purchasing those items?" the store lady noticed us walking to her.

"Yeah, we are." I place the items onto the counter.

Mercedes and Nova were right behind me with their faces glued to their phones.

"These are such nice choices of clothing, dear! Will you be paying with cash or card?" the store lady scanned the items.

I take money out of my wallet. "I'll be paying with cash."

"Alright! Your total today is three-hundred thirty-five dollars." the store lady prepared a few shopping bags. 

I organize the money I have and get the amount of money the nice lady told me. Since I'm paying three-hundred thirty-five dollars, that leaves me only one-hundred sixty-five dollars left. 

That would leave only a little bit for all the things we need to buy. But if it's for the best, I don't mind paying.

"Here you go!" I hand over the money.

The store lady takes it. "Thank you." 

Around thirty seconds later, she hands me a shopping bag, which contained my new items inside of it.

"Thank you for shopping today! Have a great day!" the store lady adjusted everything on the counter.

"You're welcome!" I call out, "Now, let's go, Mercedes and Nova! Before we do more shopping, I want to stop by the food court to get something to eat. I'm starving."

"Yeah, you're right. Let's take this escalator so we can get to the food court." Nova stepped onto the nearby escalator.

Mercedes and I followed Nova to proceed downstairs. The food court was about five minutes away from where we were located. 

When we get there, the food court is busy as always. There's never a time where it isn't busy. Never.

"How much money do you have left, Millicent?" Mercedes mused. 

I groaned. "One-hundred sixty-five dollars."

"That's only a little bit. In this case, I'll pay for our food." Nova volunteered.

"No, no. I'll pay for the food. It's already enough that y'all have to help me with this party. So I'll pay." I insist. 

Nova is generous. She'll do anything for anybody. That's who she is. 

"No, it's okay, Millicent. Let me pay. I have some extra cash we can use. Don't worry." Nova pulls out a few twenty-dollar bills.

"If you say so." I stuff my money back into my wallet.

"So what do y'all want to eat?" Mercedes stared at the electronic mall directory map.

"How about something quick. Burgers and fries, maybe? We don't have all day to spend here." Nova suggested.

Sounds good enough for me.

"Sure thing. We'll go there." I start walking in the direction of the food court.

● ● ●

"I still can't believe we saw Raven today." I pondered.

Mercedes placed her straw into her styrofoam cup. "Yeah, me neither." 

We're interrupted by Landon Archer, a close friend from school. "Hey, Millicent! Hi, Nova and Mercedes!" 

He's also at the mall today hanging out with Elijah Walker and Tyler Parker. They're basketball players at our school.

I wave. "Hey!" 

"How are y'all doing today?" Tyler asked. 

"I'm doing fine. What are y'all doing at the mall today?" I looked up to them. 

"We came here just to hang out. Also to buy some gifts for your birthday party." Elijah held up a shopping bag, which probably had a gift for me inside.

"Oh, that's nice," Nova said.

"Yeah, well, we have to go now. It was nice seeing you three!" Landon waved as he walked away.

"Bye!" Mercedes smiled. 

In the meantime, the three of us, Nova, Mercedes, and I finished up eating. I just can't wait for my birthday party! It will be the very best! The best of the best! Especially since a very-special guest is coming!