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They spent the entire day shopping and by noon, their arms were already laden with shopping bags.
Jayden wore a pair of dark designer sunglasses, which he had purchased earlier. Dressed in all black, the black sunglasses matched perfectly with his Nike hoodie, jeans and sneakers.
Noel had also bought a pair of white designer sunglasses, which were currently perched on top of his head.
‘Can we leave now?’ he whined.
Jayden glanced at him incredulously. ‘Leave? We haven’t even bought the main thing we came here for?’
‘So why did we have to walk around to buy all this?’ Noel complained, raising his arms to show the heavy bags on them.
‘Don’t act as if you didn’t like them. Now stop complaining and come on. Time for the main act.’
He ushered them onto an elevator, taking it to the topmost floor. Stepping out, he led them into a large shop where a pretty woman greeted them at the door.
‘Welcome! Here at La Marie, we offer you the best clothes from the topmost brands all over the world. How can I be of assistance?’
Jayden waved her off and began to look around. It appeared that they weren’t the only ones who had the same idea. The store was packed with students from Lumière who were browsing the displays looking for the right outfit.
He dragged Noel to a secluded section and begun browsing through the clothes on the rack.
‘Here,’ he said, throwing a couple of tuxedos to him. ‘Go try them on.’
He threw himself down on the couch in front of the elegant dressing room and waited patiently whiles Noel stepped into the dressing room to change.
‘Jayden, I’m not so sure about this.’
‘You’d be fine. Just try them on.’
A waiter approached him and offered him a glass of sparkling champagne.
‘I don’t think it looks right,’ Noel called out.
‘Let me see.’
Another waiter came by. ‘Hor d’oeurves?’
Jayden took one and proceeded to munch on it as Noel stepped out of the dressing room.’
Jayden took one look at him and shook his head. ‘Too tacky. Try the next one.’
It went on like this for a while with Jayden lying on the couch, disapproving or approving of the tuxedos that Noel modelled before him.
After a while, they were down to three choices.
‘The Armani fits me perfectly but the Versace is sleek. Also, the Luis Vuitton is white which seems appropriate since it’s a Christmas ball but I dunno. What do you think?’
‘Why don’t you get all three then?’ Jayden replied in a tired voice. They had been at this for a while.
‘I can’t get all three!’
Jayden sighed. ‘Why not?’
‘They are too expensive!’ he exclaimed. ‘The Armani is twenty-two thousand pounds, the Versace is forty thousand euros and the Vuitton is fifty thousand dollars!’
Jayden sighed and stood up. ‘Do you want to know the secret to shopping?’ he asked, gathering the clothes in his arms. ‘There’s no point looking at the price.’
He handed them over to the sales assistant and moved along to another section of the shop.
Noel followed behind him, stuttering in protest. ‘I can’t let you spend that much money on me!’
‘Too bad.’
‘But-,’ he continued to protest but Jayden didn’t allow him to finish.
‘Suck it up, we’ve got other things to worry about now.’ He gestured to the glass case in front of him.
Noel glanced at it in confusion. ‘Why do I need to worry about that? I don’t need it.’
Jayden looked at him as if he was crazy. ‘You can’t go to the ball without accessories! You need to accessorize so what’s it gonna be? How about this one?’
He pointed to a diamond-studded gold watch. The sales assistant took it out of the case and handed it to Noel.
Noel was trying it on uncertainly whena voice called out.
‘Jayden!’
Jayden let out a groan when he recognized the voice. He closed his eyes and counted to twenty before staring straight ahead, pretending he didn’t hear his name.
Samuel, however, didn’t get the hint. He made his way over with Paul by his side.
‘Hey,’ he greeted them. ‘It’s been long, hasn’t it?’
‘Not long enough,’ Jayden muttered under his breath.
Samuel didn’t hear him and he continued as brightly as ever. ‘Paul and I were here to pick up a new tux. We almost came yesterday. Good thing we decided to come today, huh?’
‘Joy.’
Samuel nudged his shoulder playfully. ‘So, picked out your tux yet?’
Jayden glared at him and decided not to answer.
‘He’s not going,’ Noel answered for him. ‘It’s not exactly his scene. We’re here to pick mine. What do you think of this watch?’
He raised his wrist, showing them the watch.
‘Nice,’ Samuel commented appreciatively. ‘Though it’s not really your type. How about the silver and diamond one over there.’
‘Good call,’ Noel agreed. He took the gold watch off and began trying on the one Samuel had recommended.
Jayden was tired of this whole situation. ‘Don’t you have somewhere to be?’ he asked, looking pointedly at the group of giggling girls they had just left.
Samuel turned to glance in their direction. ‘Not really,’ he answered, turning back. ‘They were just hoping that Paul would ask one of them to the ball but he claims they’re not his type so that’s that.’
He looked excitedly at Noel. ‘Hey, who are you going with to the ball?’
Noel let out an embarrassed laugh. ‘No one. I’ve not really asked anyone.’
Samuel deflated at that but he soon perked up again. ‘Anyone specific in mind?’
Noel shook his head. ‘I don’t really want to go with anyone.’
Samuel let out a theatrical gasp. ‘Why, I’ve never heard of such a thing! It’s an outrage, right Paul?’
Paul shrugged though he was grinning at his friend’s theatrics.
Samuel swung his hand around Noel’s shoulder and turned him to face the store. He raised his arm in a wide gesture. ‘There are so many choices here. Pick one and ask her out. Simple.’
Noel looked uncomfortable. ‘I’m not sure about that. I really don’t want to ask anyone.’
‘Tut, tut, it’s just nerves. Hold on, I’ve got an idea! Be right back.’
Samuel left the group and made his way over to a group of giggling girls. He chatted animatedly with them for a few seconds, causing them to laugh before later re-joining them with a wide grin on his face.
‘I noticed that girl staring at you so I went and we talked for a bit. Turns out, she’s really interested in you and she’s very pretty too. We’re going to leave, give you two some privacy. When we do, she’s gonna come over, and you are going to ask her to the ball.’
Noel opened his mouth to protest but Samuel talked over him. ‘Tut, tut, tut. I’m not gonna hear it. Trust me, you need this.’
The girl Samuel was talking about started to make her way over.
Samuel noticed her and began shooing Jayden and Paul away. ‘That’s our cue! Off we go. Come on, shoo.’ He turned and winked at Noel. ‘Break a leg.’
With much complaints from Paul and a series of harsh glares from Jayden, Samuel managed to disperse them leaving only Noel in front of the glass case.
He was feeling quite uncomfortable and it didn’t take long for the said girl to arrive in front of him.
‘Hey,’ she greeted with a pretty smile.
‘Hey,’ Noel returned awkwardly. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘Oh, it’s okay,’ she replied quickly. ‘I’m Pearl by the way.’
‘Noel.’
She flashed him a cute grin. ‘Omg, that’s such a cute name!’
Noel rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. ‘Thanks. Pearl is a pretty cute name too.’
‘So,’ Pearl continued, twirling her hair with a finger. ‘Samuel said you wanted to ask me something?’
‘Did he?’ Noel let out a false laugh. ‘No, sorry for wasting your time. Nice meeting you though.’
Pearl’s eyes drooped in disappointment. ‘Oh. It was nice meeting you too.’
She turned to leave. Noel turned back to display. He thought hard for a few moments before turning back.
‘Actually,’ he called out.
Pearl turned to him and batted her eyelashes flirtatiously at him. ‘Yes?’
He smiled awkwardly. ‘I was wondering if you would like to go to the ball with me.’
‘I would love to!’ Pearl squealed in excitement. ‘Let’s meet under the great tree on Sunday.’
‘Sure.’
She squealed in excitement one more time before rushing off to join her friends. Noel turned back to study the case, wondering if he made the right choice when a voice cut through his thoughts.
‘Well look what we have here. It’s the filthy brat. I didn’t know they now let beggars in here.’
Noel turned to face Charles who sneered at him in distaste. His friends stood behind him cracking their knuckles threateningly.
‘Look, I don’t want any problems.’
‘Too bad. You’ve got one.’
Noel cast his eyes around nervously. ‘Why can’t you just leave me alone?’
Charles flashed him an evil grin. ‘Now where’s the fun in that?’
He took a few steps closer to him, clenching his fist in readiness but Paul appeared suddenly out of nowhere and barred his way.
‘Do you need anything?’ he asked calmly.
Charles sneered at him. ‘Get out of my way, Prempeh this is none of your business.’
He attempted to sidestep him but Paul just blocked his path again. ‘I’m afraid it is.’
‘Is there a problem?’ Samuel asked, stepping out from behind a rack of displays. He glared at Charles.
Charles glared back at him but before he could respond, a lazy drawl joined in.
‘Well, well, look what the drunk cat dragged in. Always a sight to turn the stomach, aren’t you Charles?’
Jayden strolled over lazily with his hands in their usual place in his hoodie. He stepped up until he was standing shoulder to shoulder with Samuel and together with Paul, they formed a protective wall shielding Noel.
Charles glared defiantly at them. ‘Typical, the brat can’t defend himself so he’s got his lapdogs to guard him. Well, you can’t protect him forever, now can you?’
‘Don’t get it twisted, little boy,’ Jayden drawled in a bored voice. ‘We are not his lapdogs, we’re his friends which is more than I can say for those dead brain cells standing behind you.’
Charles’ friends prickled at the insult and they stepped forward threateningly but Charles held up a hand to halt them.
He wrinkled his nose in distaste as he looked over the clothes that lay next to Noel.
‘Shopping for the brat, I see. Let me give you a piece of advice. You can take the beggar out of the rags but you can’t take the filth out of the beggar.’
Jayden raked him with a disgusted look. ‘Seemed to have worked just fine with you. Now, let me return the favour and give you a piece of advice. You should stop wrinkling your nose so much. If your breath is that bad then you are in the wrong store. There’s a dental store next door so you might want to hit it on your way out.’
Charles clenched his fists. ‘You must have a death wish Mills. Besides, who would want to go out with him.’
Samuel stepped in. ‘If you must know, he’s got a pretty girl as a date which is more than I can say for you.’
Charles let out a short laugh. ‘Who could possibly want to go out with him? And for your information, I have a date and she’s a damn beautiful one too.’
Jayden scoffed. ‘Which unfortunate brain-addled sap did you swindle into being your date?’
A cheery voice interrupted them. ‘Baby, where have you been? I was looking all over for you. I found the perfect tux that will match my gown!’
The voice belonged to a beautiful girl. Her chocolate skin was perfect and her bright doe eyes fit in perfectly on heart-shaped face which was free from any blemishes.
She clung to Charles’ arm as he turned to introduce her with a self-satisfied grin. ‘We were just talking about you. I would like you all to meet my date.’
Jayden looked unimpressed as he spoke. ‘I didn’t know you had taken up any new charities Valentina.’
Charles stiffened at the insult but Valentina just giggled. ‘I don’t know what you mean. Charles is so handsome and he would look like a god in the tux I just found.’
Jayden let out a disbelieving scoff. ‘Valentina, you’re either blind or mad and I’m leaning heavily on both. There would be better-dressed camels in the sands of the Sahara than he would be on the night of the ball.’
Valentina giggled again. ‘Oh, I have missed your dry humour but sadly we’ve got to go. Charles and I have a lot of shopping to do. Come along, Charles.’
Before he left, Charles stepped right up to Jayden’s face. ‘This is not over Mills. Sooner or later, I’ll have you and that brat right where I want you and then no one would be able to save you.’
Jayden rolled his eyes. ‘Please leave before you cripple us all with your foul stench.’
Charles bared his teeth but before he could answer, Valentina had dragged him away to another corner of the store.
Samuel turned around. ‘What a waste of space!’
Paul looked worriedly at Noel. ‘Hey, are you alright?’
Noel blinked back the tears. ‘What if he’s right? Maybe I’m just pretending to be someone I’m not. Let’s just return the clothes and go.’
Jayden stared at him incredulously. ‘Oh no, you’re not. I did not wake up at an ungodly hour for you to give up. Have you ever seen me awake at eight o’clock in the morning!’
Noel smiled in spite himself. ‘True. Not even on a school day and classes start at eight-thirty.’
‘Besides,’ Samuel chipped in. ‘That would mean you’ve let Charles win and you don’t let bullies win. What he said was a load of crap anyway.’
Noel bit his lip. He looked down, still not sure.
Paul placed his hand on his shoulder and raised his head. ‘How about this? If you promise to buy the clothes and go to the ball, I promise to take you shopping and not just any shopping, book shopping.’
Noel’s eyes lit up. ‘Really?’
Paul smiled. ‘We can go now if you want. My treat. But, you have to buy the clothes first.’
Noel nodded excitedly and they made their way to the counter to pay for their purchases.
Later, they were all crowded into the large bookshop down the street as Noel whizzed about the place, completely in his element. The anxiety of the Christmas ball entirely forgotten for now.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
An extra long chapter as promised!
Man, you gotta love Jayden’s biting sarcasm and burns, like🔥. Also, please don’t forget to vote and comment if you liked it.
Thanks.
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