Runaway

Chapter 10

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~Uploaded January 8th, 2014

Why didn't I listen to Dylan?, I thought as I followed Andie and her two friends, Helena and Olivia, out of one shop and into another. They were fast, like cheetah-on-steroids fast. And where do they get the energy to shop, much less carry all of their bags?

At first glance, I didn't think there were that many shops in town. Boy was I wrong. There were at least a dozen of them, all spread out through Main Street and they had everything there from kitchen supplies to clothes to nail care. You can guess which ones we visited.

The girls went nuts shopping. When I asked why, they looked at me like it was the most outrageous thing in the world, like I had asked them why girls painted their nails or something.

"Tomorrow's the first day of senior year, Dani!", Andie explained to me. "We have to make a statement when we get to school. First impressions matter the most, you know." She continued to sort through a dress clothes rack. She held up a frilly purple dress. "So, what do you think?"

Helena and Olivia squealed and nodded vigorously, saying that it would look "absolutely fabulous to the moon and back". They reminded me of Lily, Jess and Tania. I guess all teenage girls all over are the same.

"What about you, Dani? Do you think it'll look nice?" Her eyes at that moment were the size of quarters, so I just told her what she wanted to hear.

"It would look great on you, Andie." She smiled widely and threw it over her arm in addition to all of the other dresses she had already chosen. Helena and Olivia went off to look for shoes.

"So", I started casually. "Senior year, huh? Are you excited?" Andie smiled again.

"I'm super excited! I have a feeling that this year is going to be awesome. The principal said there's going to be a trip to New York during Spring Break! I've never been to New York before. It's such a big city compared to here but I'm sure I'd love it!" She spoke so vividly about visiting New York, dressing up for Halloween, eating turkey and stuffing at Thanksgiving and celebrating the holidays with her family that I couldn't help but smile along with her. Andie was a good person; I could tell.

"So Dylan tells me you're from BC", Andie continued. I nodded and prepared myself to answer yet another generic question. "Can I ask you a question?" I nodded again, preparing to answer with a "yes", "no", or "I'm straight". What? You'd be surprised how many times I've had to use those words.

"What's your favorite movie?" I blinked. Okay, didn't think of that one.

"Uh, I don't really have a favourite movie, Andie. I just watch what looks good." In fact, I don't remember the last movie I enjoyed watching that wasn't the result of a reluctant date or sleepover.

"Oh. Okay then. What's the one place you want to visit before your life is over?"

I had to think over that one. Surprisingly, no one I met over the past three years had ever asked me that. "I'd have to say..." I picked a random location off the top of my head. "Angel Falls in Venezuela."

"Why?" We moved on to the jewelry section of the store. I ran a pearl necklace between my fingers, feeling the silkiness of the gems.

"I guess it's because... I'd like to have the feeling of being so high up that nothing can reach me, and nothing can bother me." Where did that come from? I cleared my throat. "What about you, Andie? Where would you like to go?"

"Well, I don't think it's possible to choose just one place. There are so many places to visit. But I guess if I had to choose, I would choose Venice in Italy. It would just be so romantic to go on a gondola ride with a guy you love, don't you think?" She sighed dreamily and stared off into the distance somewhere.