Chapter Five ★ Shopping

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

Shopping just ain’t my thing. Sure, I’m supposed to be into all this girly girl stuff but to be honest. It ain’t my thing.

Pearl and I entered another boutique shop in our underwater town to try on more outfits. The windows displayed this summer’s fashion of bedazzled wraps with seashells. Blech.

A merlady in her late hundred and thirties greeted us at the door, “Welcome, girls to my humble shop. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Yeah sure.” I shooed her off with a wave of my hand. One thing about these shops is the hungry shop keepers stalk you the entire time while you’re there. It’s quite annoying.

Her smiled turned to a frown. She flitted away back to behind the counter. Her blindingly bright pink tail swished extra harsh. What’s her problem?

Pearl pulled on my arm pointing at a rack of blue and green garments. I rolled my eyes and followed her to them. She held up two pieces of clothing and asked, “Which one do you think Ray will like?”

Ick. Blue and pink frilly combo overdecorated with seashells. You can bet anyone would hear ya coming if you wore that atrocious piece. I glanced at the second one.

It was a soft blue and white with a bit of pastel green. Picking up the fabric between my fingers felt smooth and soft to the touch like it was made by the rare aquatic spiders. As for seashells? It only had one. A light blue one which complimented my tail.

“I think I can handle this one. It has the least amount of seashells.” I answered and took the dress from Pearl’s hand.

Her lips compressed to a thin line and replied, “Geez, Luna… If I’d known you’d act this way…”

The frock dropped to the floor and I splayed my arms and hands in front of me and remarked, “Look. Who’s big idea was it to play that prank on me last night? You of all people knew I can’t sleep after a bit like that.”

Pearl’s brow knitted, “Don’t tell me you didn’t sleep at all last night.”

I picked up the outfit and reassessed it. For a wrap that could be used underwater about town and on land it wasn’t half bad. I replied, “I probably slept maybe two hours. The rest was so light I wouldn’t call sleep.”

“I’m sorry.” Pearl said and dropped her gaze.

The merlady watched us from her post. She continued to file her long nails with a coral stick to keep them good and sharp. Her green eyes locked with mine.

I waved the outfit at her and said, “Success! We found something that isn’t strangled to death with seashells. Do we win something?”

She sneered. Pearl smacked my arm. I chuckled back at Pearl, “Well you gotta admit most the items here are overdone with seashells.”

As we swam over to the checkout station I said over to my shoulder to Pearl, “Since we’re done here… how ’bout we get some bebes to perk up? My treat.”

Pearl smiled, “Sure. But, I’m paying.”

“Ta heck you ain’t.” I scoffed.

“Too bad.” She said and handed the merlady her card. Dang it. She snuck that past me again. For once, I would like to pay for my own stuff.

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙