20 - Shopping

"Ok, ok! I'm going! Geeze Sal, can't you give a girl a minute?" Robin snatched a shirt from the closet with one hand while holding her phone against her ear with her shoulder. "I'm getting dressed ok! No! Ugh!" She glanced at her shirt, checking it for stains. "It's clean. Happy?" Rolling her eyes, Robin wiggled into her jean shorts. "Alright. I'll see you in five! Bye." With a click, the call ended, and Robin flopped onto the bed, taking a deep breath. Panting, she slapped her arm over her head and closed her eyes.

"Sal's here!" Tyler's voice came from the base of the stairs.

"What!" Robin checked her watch. "I said five minutes!" she muttered. Not barely two minutes had passed.

Racing down the stairs, Sal met Robin with open arms.

"Hey girl!" Sal said as she pulled back.

"Hey. How are you?" Robin asked.

"Swell. Now quit the stupid formal pleasantries. If I wasn't fine, you'd sure as hel-heck know it," Sal asserted.

Robin nodded. "I suppose I would."

"Let's go, come on, I'm not getting any younger here!" Sal stomped her foot like a petulant child. "Out the door! Out!" She pushed Robin who waved a meek goodbye. "In the car, now."

Robin rolled her eyes. "Fine, Sal! I'm going!" She laughed as she bowed into Sal's Volkswagen.

Sal cranked the car in reverse, and the tires squealed at the speed of their depart.

"So, what place were you dying to take me?" Robin asked.

"Well, it's not so much of a specific place..." Sal said.

Quirking her eyebrow, Robin tucked her hair behind her ear. "What do you mean?"

"We're going shopping!" Sal clapped her hands after braking at the stop light.

"What?"

Sal nodded with enthusiasm. "I know. I know how much you hate crowded, noisy areas and I know that you'll probably kill me afterwards, but PLEASE, we have got to get you something other than loose tee-shirts and button downs." Sal clasped her hands like she was going to pray as she stuck out her bottom lip.

"No. No. I absolutely refuse. Take me home."

Sal rolled her eyes. "Ugh! What do I have to bribe you with?"

"Uh, nothing. I don't take bribes," Robin said.

"Robin, come on! Please! We won't even stay long. I promise!"

"Sal, I don't want to. I hate crowds, you know that."

"But why? Why do you hate crowds so much?"

Robin didn't want to answer. "Sal, the light's green."

The car jolted as it advanced.

"Are you claustrophobic?" Sal asked.

"I don't know what that is."

Sal sighed. "It means are you afraid of small spaces?"

"Then no. I do fine with small. I'm in your car after all. I-I just don't like a lot of people around me that I don't know."

"Robin, you go to church with a bunch of strangers. Up until six months ago you lived with complete strangers. There are strangers everywhere."

"Yeah, well, neither of those groups want me dead."

Sal frowned. "What are you talking about? Why would anyone want you dead? Did you piss someone off?" She laughed half-heartedly.

"Do you remember when I told you about my parents' accident?" Robin asked.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I wasn't supposed to survive. The sergeant working - who worked on their case thinks that their death was some sort of hit orchestrated by a cartel."

Sal swallowed as she pulled into an empty lot.

"That's why I don't want to go into public places. I'm always having to look over my shoulder," Robin confessed.

"Robin, no one's going to hurt you. You're seventeen, you shouldn't be living in fear at this age - any age!" Sal grabbed Robin's shoulders.

Robin laughed sardonically. "I've been looking over my shoulder since I was six and my mother met Robert, my step father."

Sal didn't join Robin's bitter chuckle. "I'm so sorry." She wrapped her arms around Robin and hugged her.

"It doesn't matter anymore. They're dead, now the only thing I have to worry about is not joining them in hell."

"Rob, you're a great person. You're the sweetest, most polite girl I've ever had the honour of growing a friendship with. You're not your parents, and you sure as heck are not going to hell!"

Robin snorted. "Thanks. I hope you're right."

"I am. And you know what, I hope my future husband will know that I'm always right too!" Sal started up the car again.

She snorted again as she raised an eyebrow. "I never said you were always right."

"Well, I am," Sal said.

"Whatever."

"Now, where do you want to go?"

"I don't mind much. Wherever is fine. Just not a popular place." Robin waved her hand.

"Ok. How about...we both get what we want."

"Which is?"

"How about we go to couple of stores? I know the cutest boutique in the next town over, and it's rarely crowded."

Robin stared at the fuzzy cubes hung from the rearview mirror before sagging her shoulders in surrender. "Fine."

"Yay! You'll absolutely love it!" Sal gushed. The light turned and Sal pressed the gas. "It's only five or so minutes from here."

"Ok." Robin didn't bother to face Sal. Staring out at the scenery, her mind drifted back to the little seagull and the patch of grass. Blinking, Robin reminded herself she was not in her parents' Ford. She was in Sal's little Bug heading northbound.

"We're here!" Sal said.

Nodding, Robin opened the door and stepped out. Flowers stood attention beside the entrance. She smiled. "It's pretty here."

"Yeah. My mom and I use to go here all the time to shop, but mom has work now. She hardly gets out at all anymore." Sadness lingered on Sal's face as she dawdled inside the boutique. Before Robin could say anything, Sal said, "Let's find you something nice to wear."

"I don't really need anything, Sal."

"How many dresses are in your closet?"

"One, I think," Robin answered.

"You need at least two. That's what my mother says.

"Sal, I don't really like dresses. They're too girly."

"Well, I'll bet you I can find a dress you'll like, or my name isn't Sally Alzheimer!" She remarked.

"Oh brother," Robin mumbled.

"Ok. Let's start with the Clearance rack." Sal pointed to the red hanging sign. Taking Robin's hand, she tugged her as she weaves through the aisles and customers.

The rack was littered with an assortment of clothes. Pants, shirts, sweaters, clothing for all seasons sat on the hangers.

"Sal, seriously, I don't need another dress. I mean I never even wore the one in my closet."

"Well, that's all the more reason to find a dress you'll actually like!" Sal said.

Robin sighed. There was no arguing with a girl on a mission. Operation Dress had commenced.

Finding no outfits Robin liked in the clearance area meant going further in the department. When Sal said small, she must have meant Target was small, Robin thought. This place may have looked cute and petite and oh so sweet on the outside, but boy was it deceiving!

"Oh! Oh! How about this one!" Sal produced a shimmery green dress with fake rhinestones on the sash.

"Way too girly and short!" Robin complained.

Sal returned a grumble, disappointed that yet another one of her choices was turned down. She dove behind another rack while Robin sauntered around the spring collection.

A floral print on a dress caught her eye. It wasn't granny flower print, and the flowers weren't too big either. Robin picked it up and felt the fabric. Soft. She smiled and pressed it up to her cheek. Holding it up to her chest, Robin searched for a mirror. She found one easily and began modelling it. On the sides of the dress were strings that were long enough to tie. Robin grinned and twirled stopping right in front of Sal's agape mouth.

"Oh my gosh!" Sal cried. "It's soooo pretty!" She kissed the fabric. "Here, try it on!" Sal grabbed Robin's hand again and marched to the changing rooms. In her other hand she held a white summer dress. Its sash was similar to the floral dress's, except it was thicker. Whirling Robin around, Sal pushed her into a stall. "I'll be waiting right here! Call if you need me!" She shut the door.

Robin laughed at Sal's excitement. She stripped and put on the floral dress first. Repeating her earlier mirror fashion show, Robin flinched. Something sharp was poking her. Reaching into the dress, Robin withdrew the tag and eased with relief. Her eyes scanned over the words and then the price.

Robin wanted to cry. The perfect dress, the only dress she ever loved was through the roof expensive. Sighing, Robin shimmied out of the dress. She checked the white dress's tag. That one was cheaper, so she didn't feel as bad slipping into it. Yes, it was beautiful, but it lacked the pizazz of the floral. Robin slumped out of the dressing room.

"Ooh! Let me see! It looks adorable on you! Damn, you've got curves, baby!" Sal chirped. Her smile dropped. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Sal."

"Robin?"

"It's nothing. Seriously."

"Mmhm. Tell me what's up." Sal sat them on the waiting bench.

"The dress I really like - you know, the floral one - is too expensive."

Sal frowned. "How much?"

"A lot."

"Numbers, Robin."

Robin sighed. "Ninety-five dollars. And that's with a rewards card!"

"Oh," Sal whispered. She peeked at Robin's blue face. "How much money did you bring?"

"Thirty."

"I have fifty, all we need is five dollars."

"Actually, Sal, we need fifteen dollars, plus tax."

"Well, I never was good at math. At any rate, there has to be an ATM here!"

"I don't know, Sal. That's a lot of money. Maybe they'll have a sale at the end of summer and we can get it then?"

"Ooh! Now that's a great idea! Are you ok with the white dress? How do you like it?"

"It fits perfectly. It's a good everyday and business casual dress," Robin said.

"Goody! Ok, let's get you into your regular clothes and pay," Sal said.

Robin smiled and nodded.

Sal went up to the register.

"Thirty-five dollars and eighty-two cents," the cashier said.

Sal shoved Robin to the side and pushed two twenties in the clerk's face.

He accepted her payment and went on pushing buttons on the keyboard. The register punched him in his stomach, but the sticky man did not seem to notice.

"Thanks, Sal," Robin said as she held the dress.

"It's what friends are for!" Sal winked as they headed back to the Bug.

A/N: My apologies for the very late update, but I was working on several projects in the meantime. I hope you like this chapter!