Life as a Song -Worth Singing [Ch.16]

"Wait, wait, wait... turn here," Drew directed Elijah from the passenger's seat. Poor Jason was abandoned at the Tracy's to shoot hoops by himself. I wasn't thinking, Poor Jason, though. I was thinking, Poor me.
"Why? Goodwill is that way."
"Yeah, but I don't want to go to that one."
"What's this one have that the other doesn't?"
"It's the layout. The guys' and girls' racks face each other in the one up here. I figure we should keep an eye on Em, in case she dies of boredom."
"How thoughtful," I muttered in back, determined to be sardonic as possible. "I'm more worried about catching some germ inflicted disease."
The boys chose to ignore the last comment, so I played with the features on my cell phone. Maybe I should call my mom and tell her I've been kidnapped by two strange men in a silver Toyota.
"Hey!" I'd just realized something. "You guys are having a party without me!"
Elijah and Andrew exchanged help-me-out-buddy glances.
"It wasn't supposed to be without you, but the whole work thing came up before we had a chance to pass the word on."
"Sure. I totally buy that, Drew."
"It's true! We weren't conveniently leaving you out."
"Well, I guess it doesn't matter now."
Drew decided to make the sullen mood harder to maintain. "Nothin' matters, but known' nothin' matters..."
"Stop singing that cheery song," I said rather bossily.
"But the words matched what you said!"
"So what? They didn't match the mood." I threw in an insult, "Dork-face."

I went back to the cell-phone form of Tetris, and concentrated all my energy on making the colored shapes fit where I wanted them to.
Smack!
"Ow!"
"Score!"
I flicked the piece of gum back at Andrew and tried to guilt trip him for making me lose. The boy had no shame.

A ten minute trip can hold a lot more interest if you prank call your best friend. So after a little while, I dialed Kat's number. As expected, she didn't answer her phone.
"...press 1, or leave your message after the beep."
I waited for the beep, then said only, "Raoul's hot. And he beat Erik in a sword fight." Then I hung up.
"Great friend, you are," Elijah scoffed.
"Why, yes I am, aren't I?"
"We're here."
Gazing out the window, I could see a gray building rising before us. Gray like a dungeon. Or a nursing home. It probably smelled like one, too.

"I've changed my mind. You guys go ahead, I'll stay out here in the car."
Drew dragged me out and Elijah locked the car up before I could make a mad dash for the back seat.
"I hate you."
Drew patted my head, "We know."
"Ok," Elijah grabbed Drew's wrist to check his watch, "You've got about fifteen minutes in here before we have to speed back to the Tracy's, so no dilly dallying."
"That won't be a problem," I said.

Hangin' around, nothin' to do but frown.
Andrew was perfectly contented, pulling out soccer jerseys and looking over their size and condition. "Emmy, stop sulking and go look at the tops."
"Fine." I did what he asked, but I did it very reluctantly and took care to touch the shirts with only two fingers from each hand.
"A kiss on the hand maybe quite continental, but diamonds are a girl's best fr-- Ew! This one looks like a cat threw it up!" I pulled out an olive green sweater. "And this," holding up a white blouse, "Is an Amish reject." I giggled at the joke while Drew rolled his eyes.
"Those aren't the only two shirts on the rack."
"No, but it's not likely the rest are any better."
I returned to the racks, taking comfort in the thought that if I couldn't get some cute shirts, at least I could mock ugly ones.
"What in the world!?"
Drew looked up, expecting some great calamity. "What's up?"
"It can't be... This must be here by mistake."
"What?"
I was holding a brown tee with one of those indescribable flower patterns scrolled on the front.
"Why would anyone in their right mind get rid of this shirt?"
"It didn't fit 'em, maybe?"
"There must be something wrong with it," I decided, going over ever inch of material. "Otherwise it wouldn't be here."
"It probably didn't fit in the bag lady's cart anymore," Drew smirked.
"It's... like new!"
"So, are you getting it?"
I hesitated at his smug expression. Stupid boy was making me feel defeated again.
"Maybe..."
"If you don't take it now, someone else might buy it today."
Well, that settled it. No one else could have this shirt. It was mine.

Throughout the entire store that day, I didn't find anything other the brown shirt. But it was enough. I didn't even have to think of a reason to justify spending a "whole two dollars" on it. I've spent more on socks.
Surprisingly, Drew didn't rub it in my face, either. He just asked if I wanted to go the next day.
"I... no thanks. Some other day maybe, but not tomorrow. I need some time to get over this cruel blow to my ego. I thought I was going to be honored at a massive party, and instead I'm doing dishes."
"Are you going to sulk about that for the rest of the week?"
"No. I'm leaving soon, anyway. My Dad expects me to come home a changed woman. Sulking now would ruin my new character."
Drew chuckled a little, but he didn't make fun of me like I figured he would.
"Oh... I hope you have fun at your party," I said a little sadly. But I meant it.

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