Shopping game of gifts

The trio walked through the mall parking lot, Bailey noticing how Candi kept glancing his way with a small smile on her face. He knew the girl well enough to know that meant she had something she wanted to talk about, but wanted someone else, in this case him, to bring it up. He glanced up to the sky, the sun was still climbing and there was hardly a cloud in the sky as he tried to think of what would be on her mind. He didn’t see any cute boys around so that wasn’t it. They were about to do a shopping trip on her Dad’s dime… deciding that was the topic, or more specifically he more than likely wondering if he had an idea of what to pick up. “I was thinking, like… what do you think you want to like, get to wear to your first job?” Bailey said, taking his friend’s hand in his own, pulling her a little closer as they walked, and pressing his shoulder into her. Bailey enjoyed the idea of turning her own question back on her and not considering how very much like Candi he was acting in his physical affection.

Moving her hand so that her fingers intertwined with Bailey’s, Candi brought her other hand up, pressing her index finger to her lips as she thought for a moment. “Hmmm, okay, okay. I have like a tonnnnnnn of ideas, but I like was also wondering how you liked being the taller sister for a change?”

“Huh? I’m like half an inch shorter, you like, always say you are the big sister because you are taller.” Candi bit her bottom lip, tilting her head from left to right happily.

“That is because I am, but today I’m not wearing heels. See?” Candi stopped walking, holding one foot out, twisting her ankle around to show off her white, heeless shoe with a thin ankle strap. “Aren’t they cute!?”

“Well, yeah like they are close to like the cutest.” They seemed a good balance of practical and stylish to Bailey, and definitely went with his friend’s outfit. He also didn’t remember seeing them in her closet the last time he was over, so they had to be new.

“Let me guess, you wanted to say buuuuut they would be cuter if they had a stiletto heel. I know you girl, and the world like doesn’t revolve around high heels. I am totally going to get you one of those signs that says keep calm and buy me heels.”

“I was like not going to say that and like, I don’t like need people to buy me heels.”The last pair that had been bought for him, the sexy leather heeled knee high boots he had thought would look incredible on Aunt Megan, but unfortunately it was him wearing them.

“No, but you want them to, unless you don’t want me to get you any shoes today?” Bailey had been thinking of clothes to buy, things he loved seeing Mommy in and Aunt Megan.

“Hey! That isn’t fair!” He didn’t know exactly what he was going to get today, but he knew there was no way he had all the right shoes to go with every work outfit.

The girl's banter always brightened Megan’s day, the exchange made it seem like Bailey wasn’t weighed down by the recent events at all. Not just that, but she couldn’t see a single shred of the man Bailey once was. Her pretend niece had on a flirty little dress, walking like she wanted men to pay attention to her. Megan thought back to when she and her little sister were younger and how they interacted. They were close, not just sisters but friends. A good thing considering they shared a room for most of their childhood, she couldn't even imagine her Rebecca wanting to share a room. Her daughter had only a handful of friends, and only one… Megan’s thoughts paused for a second as she tried to remember the hispanic girl's name. Gaby, she was the only friend that had been invited to stay over. Yet here was Candi and Bailey acting as if they had a bond closer to a pair of twins, then just sisters, let alone friends.

It made her consider something her sister once told her about Bailey, how growing up he didn’t have any friends, none at least close enough for him to stay in contact with. He had his parents, their store and coworkers, him spending much of his time helping out there from an early age. Now he was getting the chance to not just relive a piece of his life he never had, but to bond with someone. The goal far as she could recall was to be polite and make friends with Candi, she didn’t think there was even a small chance that what the two of them had could be faked. Megan’s eyes drifted down to their intertwined hands as they prattled on, right now she was sure Candi… their friendship was exactly what Bailey needed, but it also made her a little sad. Knowing that when the summer was over, when she took that money out of her retirement fund so she could give Bailey the money she promised Bailey going their own way, losing this connection would be painful. It also made her want to go pay her daughter a visit, even if it was just for a day so she could take her out for dinner and hug her.

Getting close to the automatic doors, Candi pulled free of Bailey, skipping forward at a rapid pace, before twirling around, causing her skirt to flare out just in the entrance. Candi clapped her hands together at chin level, leaving them pressed together, giving both Bailey and Megan a big smile. “Okay, so, okay. Last time we were here we played the getting to know you game and I had like sooo much fun. Today we are going to try a different game, where we each find two things that remind us of each other. So like, I will get two things, one for you Bailey and one for Aunt Megan and we will like, tell each other why it reminds us of them and like if there is a story behind it all the better. K!?

“That sounds fun for the two of you, are you sure you want me to participate?” She had enjoyed the little shopping game last time, but she wanted to give Candi an out so she didn’t feel like she needed to include the adult with them, just because she was with them. Candi pursed her lips as she tilted her head and squinted her eyes.

“It WILL BE FUN!” She said adding much more emphasis than needed after she started the sentence. “Did you have fun with our last game Aunt Megan?”

“I did, but…” Megan’s rebuttal died in her throat when the girl stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace for a few heartbeats. While the tightness of the hug only lasted a short time, the girl remained in place. She could see Candi’s comforting smile looking up at her.

“Good because I like having you around and I like, hope you really don’t mind me calling you aunt, it makes me happy to think of you that way.” Megan had just been thinking about her estranged relationship with her daughter and how she wanted to see her, to have that contact and then to have this sweet teen girl so openly show her affection, show her love. It melted her heart and made all of her worries just seem so much less important. The cynical part of her mind also understood why her father spoiled her so much. Moving her arms, Megan hugged the girl back.

“It would make me happy to think of you as another niece, just as it makes me happy to hear you call me Aunt Megan. Now about your game, does it have to be something we buy? Or can it just be something we can point out?” Candi again pursed her lips as she considered the question.

“It has to be in the mall at least.” Candi said with a little shrug, ending the embrace. “We can like split up now and get together in say like, ummm… twenty minutes by the fountain and then like… yeah. At then at the end after we show each other what we found or like a photo if it isn’t something you got we can all throw a quarter in the fountain to make a wish. I’m really good at wishes, my last one is soooo going to come true.”

“Spit up? Like go alone?” Bailey unconsciously wrung his hands together, feeling a small spike of anxiety at the idea of being alone. Being alone didn’t bother him, or at least it never did before and yet here at the mall with all these people he felt uncertain. It wasn’t long ago that here, at this mall he had seen Liam for the first time since becoming Bailey Ann and he didn’t know and didn’t want to run into him again.

“Yes silly, don’t pretend you don’t know what splitting up means. I mean come on girl, no one is going to believe either of us is that dumb.” Candi giggled, making Bailey feel just a little better hearing the laughter. She was so full of joy, that Bailey didn’t want to lose sight of her now, doubly so with the anxiety building in him. He really wished he could be more like her, seeing the world and people in such a better way. Bailey didn’t even consider what she said other then the confirmation to his question, while Candi looked over at Megan, rolling her eyes.

“Sometimes I like think she plays dumb to get extra attention.” Bailey put both his fists, or the closet thing he could make without stabbing himself with his nails as he put them on his hips. Giving Candi a hard look as he stuck out his bottom lip.

“Hey! I am like not dumb!” He once thought of Candi as much less than an intellectual giant. He had learned that she was lacking in some areas that would give many people that initial impression, but she was far from the dumb blonde steriotype that he had been acting the part of.

“Bailey.” Candi faced her friend, giving Bailey her full attention. “I know you aren’t dumb, that is like exactly what I was saying.”

“You were?” He replayed what she said to Aunt Megan in his head, a small blush coming to his cheeks as he realized he had responded to the single word that he had heard her say instead of really listening. “Peaches… umm. Sorry.” Candi held her arms forward, motioning for Bailey to come closer.

“No apologies accepted without a hug tax. Sorry, like, not my rules, I just follow them.” Bailey snickered, stepping closer to give his friend a hug. He knew he acted like a twit at times, it wasn’t his fault it was like how he had to act or like he was distracted by things so he wasn’t paying attention. The pull of his bra straps or the feeling of a thong between his butt cheeks no longer pulled his attention away, but there always just seemed to be something that pulled his attention away from the here and now.

“Okay umm, I guess I will see you in twenty.” Candi pulled away from the hug smirking at Bailey.

“See you in four fives.” Candi said holding up one hand, fingers splayed apart. “Not five, fives, or three fives.” Bailey rolled his eyes as she teased him.

“I like, know how to do math, five fours also totally makes twenty.” Bailey said matter of factly, like turning the multiplication around made it a different equation.

Megan watched the two bring themselves into a small fit of giggles, she was just happy Bailey got the multiplication correct. It had surprised her before how much her little math books had changed and reinforced Bailey’s perception, but now that she really was planning to give him money so he could make his way it made her feel a little guilty. It was still something that helped Bailey fit into character, she reasoned to try and help ease the feeling, choosing to not acknowledge the ditzy girl persona was her doing too.

Soon the three split up to find objects for Candi’s shopping game. Megan mused about how Candi had turned what was obviously the girls favorite activity to pass time into a game to include others. The first time she said it was her fathers idea and how he used it on a date, but the girl had definitely taken it as a lesson that she could and should use to bring more people into her world. Her father was a leader, her sister seemed to think he was good at his job, but she considered that if his daughter was any reflection of him, that she was going to make a great leader in whatever field she decided to work in too. Her own style of leadership at Sterling Backgrounds was one of built respect. She would do everything she asked someone else to do, she would do it with them and make sure they knew they could come to her with any barriers for the job so she could make things easier.

Working alongside those that worked under her made for longer hours some days, having many separate tasks assigned to her as a manager. It didn’t mean she treated them as coworkers, she was still their boss and had to be firm with them. As people they were equals, but as workers she was their superior. That meant over the years she had made few friends, but it was enough to garner the respect of those shead led. She felt she was more structured than her little sister, who she knew had an open door policy with those she managed. Amanda always had a bigger heart than her. “Always listen, and if you can not do that, make sure your employee at least feels like they were heard. Everyone if not understands a no, they can respect it. If they feel they have a voice.” It had been good advice Amanda had given her, considering she had said it after paying out of her own pocket to go to a leadership training seminar, Megan wasn’t sure if it was something she had heard or came up with on her own. It also made her remember her little sister had always been more of a nerd than her. Sure she took some college courses to get out of the house and maybe better herself a little after the divorce, but she never would have went to a leadership seminar for a week, after work that she was paying for and work hadn’t sent her to. She had been thinking of her sister a lot today, especially when she looked at Bailey and Candi, reminding her a lot of their own youth and giving her an idea of something to get for the game, if she could find it.

More than twenty minutes later, Bailey stood with arms crossed under his bosom as he glowered at Candi as she approached with a plastic bag in one hand, and a rectangle cardboard box that read Cinnabon in the other. “More like four times…” Bailey stopped for just a second as he thought to make sure he wasn’t going to be wrong and embarrass himself. “Six!”

Coming closer Candi tilted her head to the side like she often did when considering something. “What?”

“Minutes! You are totally late!” Bailey said, annoyed she hadn’t followed his train of thought.

“Ignore her, she was already impatient when I showed up well before the time you set for the game.” Bailey looked to the side at Aunt Megan, who was sitting on a bench that faced the fountain. He wasn’t able to say she was wrong, but how long could it really take. Sure he only got cards for them, but he had another idea that he was excited to do that fit with what Candi wanted so perfectly he couldn’t wait for his turn, but he would have to go last.

“Oh, yeah I umm…” Candi looked down at the box in her hand. “I got distracted cause like it smelled sooooo good. I know we eat before we came and like it will totally ruin my diet, but I brought some to share so I wouldn’t be alone in my guilt. And to umm… share how good it is.” She then opened up the box to show a caramel pecan cinnamon roll, that had a few pieces already pulled off.

Bailey’s impatience for what he wanted to do was completely lost at the sight of the sugary treat. “That looks yummy!”

Holding out the box to her friend, Candi smiled brightly. “I KNOW, RIGHT!?” Handing over the box, Candi pulled out a few plastic forks for everyone and with it the three sat on the bench, passing the box between them between bites. When it was all gone Candi cleared her throat. “So who wants to go first?”

“It is your game, so I think you should take that honor sweetheart.” Megan said looking past Bailey, over to the blonde with the yellow hairband.

“Yeah? Okay, so like first I have this.” Candi said reaching into the plastic bag, pulling out a silver picture frame that had flours along the top left corner and silvery vines reaching out across the top and left side. She placed it in Bailey’s lap, bumping her shoulder into her friend hoping she would like the gift.

“This looks like, expensive, I like thought this was suppose to be little things? I like only had a few dollars and… and…” Candi always had more money than him and today she was using her, well her Dad's money, but their last game they had been at a cheap store, not buying things that were silver.

“Relax, it isn't like, real silver, but it did take me a little extra time to get this done.” Candi said pointing to a flat spot on the bottom part of the frame where it was engraved with a word.

“Sisters?” Bailey said, running the pad of his index finger across it.

“I know we like aren’t blood or anything, but I feel like…” Candi shrugged her shoulders. “I was maybe thinking about Aunt Megan and well her saying I can call her that and saying how she would love to think of me as a niece and, umm.” Bailey wrapped one arm around Candi’s shoulder, it was unlike her to less than confident.

“We are totally sisters and I love it, do you know what picture you are going to put in there?” Leaning into the side hug, Candi took a few moments to enjoy it. She was here for the summer, and could have never imagined finding someone she could be this close with. Her birthday wish was for her fathers happiness, for her own happiness to have a complete family. She was confident or at least was confident most of the time that her Daddy would ask Bailey’s mom to marry him. He should, she knew he loved her and she thought she would make an amazing mom, but standing there in the Things Remembered store she saw in the case a wedding cake topper. She had taken a photo of it and sent it to her Daddy wanting his opinion, but he had told her she was being presumptuous. Making her wonder, and fear what she had found here in Nevada, a place she didn’t want to come to, was fleeting. So she got the picture frame with the engraving so if the worst came true, that Bailey would have something to remember their time together. Candi flicked away a stray tear that came to her eye, trying to cover it up with a pretend yawn.

“That is like something you will have to decide, it is yours and I got it because it made me think of all the selfies you take and the ones of us together and like figured you could put one of those in it.”

Megan put her hand over her mouth at the sweet gesture. The girl had turned a game into a chance to give a gift. “That is sweet of you Candi.”

“Thank you, now here is my second gift.” Bailey ran his finger over the word sisters again, not looking up as he spoke.

“This was like not supposed to be about giving gifts.” Candi had already reached into her bag, she glanced over at the two sitting on the bench with her, keeping her hand and what she was about to pull out of it out of sight.

“Rules didn’t say it couldn’t be a gift.” She stuck her tongue out at Bailey. “I know Bailey has like bored some of your jewelry and at our birthday party you had on the most dazzling pair of earrings, so I like thought of this for you. I hope you like it.” Pulling her hand out of the bag, Candi pulled out a round black jewelry box, that said a small engraving plate on top that read Megan Lilly Best.

Taking the offered gift, Megan smiled looking down at her name. Slowly she opened the case, it had a soft ivory lining, a place to insert rings in the center and two small open areas for other things. It was the type of case one would bring with them on a trip. “Like it? Candi I love it!”

Tilting her head up, Candi gave a beaming smile. “Well then I guess you might like what is under that little piece of tape. Bailey totally gave me the idea.” Megan had noticed on the top of the inside of the case was a mirror, with a piece of brown tape over it, she hadn’t considered it to be anything special, maybe something to make sure the mirror stayed in place while it sat on a shelf. Peeling it off her breath was caught in her throat. The mirror itself wasn’t glass, but a highly polished piece of metal that had also been engraved. “To an Aunt who touched others & who will always be loved.” Megan read out loud.

Closing the case, she reached to her side, one arm pulling Bailey close and the other reaching over to Candi’s shoulder she gave them both a hug, an awkward one as she tried to contain the burst of emotion she felt. “Girls this is perfect!” Bailey had no idea what Candi meant by giving her the idea, but he was happy for the hug. He hadn’t been that much of a hugger before, but he had learned their value and right now he wanted as many as he could get.

Pulling back, Megan wiped the heel of her hand across her cheeks to wipe away a few loose tears, she sniffled trying to gain her composure. “Alright, Bailey, do you want to go next?” Bailey shook his head, causing his ponytail to swing side to side.

“I’m going to go last.”

“Well, guess it is my turn then and I may have gotten you a gift too Candi.” Candi sat up a little straighter, she always loved getting gifts almost as much as she loved seeing people's faces when she gave them something. Like when she swapped shoes with Bailey when they first met, most wouldn’t consider swapping a gift, but trading her ribbon wedges for a pair of pink converse was a one sided deal. Bailey had been much more closed off than she was now, hesitant and trying to hide away her emotions. Nothing like who she was now, their time together she had really come out of her shell and she hoped part of it was because of her and a little help from the pills she gave her friend so that her chest could grow out and give her the confidence she thought she should have. She also knew it was a good gift considering how Bailey was wearing them now and they looked so good on her.

“Here you go.” Megan said, handing over a bright yellow shirt. “There used to be a show called carebears, little teddy bear like people that had symbols on their stomachs and…”

“Aunt Megan, we know who the carebears are.” Candi said unfolding the shirt to see a carebear like symbol on the shirt of a heart with a crown hung around the top left portion. Candi said she knew who the carebears were, but she didn’t understand the symbol on the shirt. “Umm, what does it mean though?”

“That is from one of the carebears cousins, I think his name was Braveheart Lion. He was always boisterous and at times a bit overbearing as he took charge. He was always willing to dive in head first to any situation. He would yell Chaaaargge!” Megan smiled at the memory of the cartoon. “It reminded me of you and I can certainly see you yelling that considering how I heard you spoke to that security guard when the two of you got in trouble at the water park.”

Bailey considered how that wasn’t the only time she stood up to confirmation, like how she did when they were playing minigolf and that the comparison was closer than Aunt Megan knew with Candi’s use of a night light, and the fictional characters' fear of the dark. He kept it to himself though as he saw his friend hug the shirt to her chest.

“I love it and I would totally yell charge.” Candi wiggled in her seat, holding the bright yellow shirt against her, considering putting it on over her dress.

“For you Bailey I got you a rock.” Megan said, pulling out a spherical rock.

“Is it because you wanted her to have a pet rock or like because you think she rocks!?” Candi asked, just as confused as Bailey looked. Megan gave a wink to Candi, turning the rock around in her hand. It was only half spherical, as it was broken open revealing a purple geode that had been filled with red resin at its center in the shame of a heart.

“It made me think of her, she can be eternally stubborn like a rock, but…” Megan pointed to the resin heart at the center. “Deep down she feels things just like everyone else.”

“Why is everything so mushy…” Bailey asked rubbing his forearm with one hand, his voice betraying the swelling of his own emotions. “I like it but like no more crying.”

“You don’t like it.” Candi teased as Bailey took the rock, looking at the little heart as he held it in his hands.

“Yes I do!”

“No you don’t, because I know you looooove it!” Bailey stuck his tongue out at her like she had to him earlier.

“Well I like have an idea for like something we all love, but like first. Here.” Bailey pulled out two cards from the small bag he had, handing one to each of the people sitting on either side him. Megan opened the orange envelope, reading the card.

“If Aunties were like flowers I’d pick you every time.” She then opened the car that had a handwritten note that she read to herself. “Megan Lilly is said to be pretty, a flower once seen has everyone say she is ohhhh soooo pretty!” The card was a far cry from when Bailey used to call her the Wicked Bitch of the West she mused, loving the little addition of the heart floating over the i in the hand written note.

Reading her own car after pulling it out of a plane brown envelope, Candi smiled. “Friends are the family you choose.” Opening the it up she too found something written inside, but she read it out loud instead of to herself. “Sisters make the perfect best friend, my best friend makes the perfect sister.”

“You said there would be no more crying and then you like, give me this?” Candi pouted, she could both feel and see her eyes filling with tears. It was a great card, not in the spirit of the game at all, but it was something she wouldn’t trade and it was just the thing she needed with the feelings of uncertainty that plagued her after her fathers text.

“Ummm, yes?” Bailey answered the question sheepishly with a semi question of his own. “Umm wanna hear my idea?” Sniffling Candi nodded, gripping the card tight enough to leave a crease.

“Well umm, Aunt Megan has a lot of shoes, she like borrows from Mommy all the time.” Bailey said thinking how she had borrowed and not really returned a few expensive pairs of shoes he had given as gifts. “And like you like shoes.”

Megan didn’t feel the need to interject, she wasn’t obsessed with shoes, but the entire existence of Bailey Ann Best had started because she was going over to her sisters place to take a pair.

Candi interrupted, pointing her finger at Bailey. “Says the girl that put up a wishlist of shoes on amazon to have her boyfriend buy them for her.” Bailey hesitated when she mentioned the amazing wish list.

“So like I thought we could like go over to the store where Jeremy works and take a photo outside. The name is kinda like perfect, right?”

“YES!” Candi replied excitedly, loving the idea of them taking a photo together outside a store called Shoeaholic. Making her wish she engraved the picture frame with the word family so she could put that photo in there instead.