Kelly jumped up. “Oh my god! Riley it’s 11:00. 11:00 in the morning. We slept through the alarm.” Riley rolled over and curled back under the covers. Kelly listened for a moment to see if Madison was up. When she didn’t hear anything, Kelly just decided to go back to sleep. “I can’t believe that I’m doing this, but I deserve it anyways. Busy week.” She pulled up her down comforter and drifted back off to sleep.
Kelly didn’t know it, but Madison was up. She had gotten up at 10:00. She couldn’t get Brian off her mind. She liked him a lot. “I’ve never felt like this. I’m not supposed to like someone like this after one date. He is really cute though. If I ever brought him home though Mom and Dad would kill me.” She shook her head while thinking about her parents. “Why can’t we have a relationship like Kelly and her parents? They’re so perfect. I chose to be a model and my parents kicked me out. That’s their decision, not mine. I will always love them, but I know that I’m not going home for Christmas to them. Who knows where I’ll end up this year.” She continued eating her breakfast and waited for Kelly to wake up. “This sleep is good for her. She needs it. Riley must have needed it too, because he didn’t even wake up when I walked by.”
Finally at 12:00 Kelly and Riley walked sleepily out into the living room. Madison looked over from the TV. “Well, well sleepy head. Decide to get up finally?” Kelly walked over to the couch where Madison was sitting. She sat down next to her and laid down. Kelly put her head in Madison’s lap. Madison played with Kelly’s hair while Kelly spoke softly. “Madison?” “Hmmmm?” “I’m lonely. I’m tired and I’m lonely. I’m tired of continually looking over my shoulder, and I’m tired of locking myself from the world. I need to find someone to share my life with. I felt so comfortable with that Kevin guy. I didn’t even give him my number or anything at the hospital and now I’ll never know what could have happened.” Kelly got quiet. Madison almost cried. “Should I tell her about Kevin? He’ll kill me if I tell.” Kelly sat up from Madison’s lap. “What’s the matter Madison? I’m sorry. I keep rambling on. I’ll just let it go.” Madison looked at Kelly. “No, no, no. It’s fine. You have every right to say that. Someone did this to you. It’s not your fault. You should be happy with someone and not be lonely. It’s fine.” The girls gave each other a huge hug and dried their eyes. Madison looked at Kelly. “Look at us old biddies. Crying and all. It’s December 5th and I haven’t gotten any gifts for anyone. We need to get out.” The girls started walking to wards the bedrooms. Kelly stopped, “I just realized. I didn’t go running today. This is the first time I haven’t gone running in like seven months.” Madison smiled, ”That’s the first thing good that you’ve said today. I’m glad you didn’t go running. You don’t need to go everyday. You are so skinny.” “Maybe you’re right. Help me get not only my night life back in order, but my health back too.” “Let’s start by getting ready and heading out of this house. I feel like spending money.” The girls continued into the bedrooms. Kelly walked into the bathroom and Madison walked up the stairs to her bedroom. “Be ready in an hour Kelly,” Madison yelled as she pushed up the trapdoor on the ceiling into her room. “No, you be ready in an hour. You’re the one who is always late.” Kelly heard the trapdoor slam down.
Kelly took off her clothes and stepped into her shower. Her body relaxed as the water trickled down her. She took in deep breathes and just enjoyed her shower. She cleaned up and got out of the shower. Kelly wrapped a towel around her and headed back into the closet. “Khacki’s definitely. Black boots and this baby blue gap cardigan.” She pulled on a lacey white bra and a tight white tank camisole. She buttoned the two middle buttons of the sweater and pulled on her tight khackis. She walked into the bedroom and sat on the bed. Riley was asleep again. Kelly nudged him and he woke up, wagging his tail. “You be a good boy today while Madison and I are gone.” She pulled on her boots. Kelly walked back into the bathroom and braided her long blond hair into a low braid. She applied light makeup and decided that she was done. “Where’s my glasses? I can never find my glasses.” Madison came charging down the stairs. “Here they are and here I am. Ready and on time.” Madison handed Kelly her glasses. “When’d you get these one’s? I like them a lot. Really stylish. Where did you find one’s with clear frames?” “Oh, down at SilverStreaks. I’m very impressed that you are on time. Let’s go.” Kelly took her glasses from Madison and put them on. “All right. Lead the way.” The girls got their stuff and walked out. Madison closed the door behind them. “Wait,” Kelly said. She unlocked the door again. She poked her head in the doorway. “Bye Riley. Now we can go.” Madison shook her head and smiled at her friend. They walked down the stairs and into the driveway. “Your car or mine?” Madison asked. “Mine,” Kelly said. She unlocked the doors and the girls got in the car. Kelly pulled out of the neighborhood. “Where to?” Madison paused. “How about New York Central mall? They always have good stuff there.” “All right.”
Finally they reached the mall. “Park close to the door. I don’t walk to mess up my hair with all this snow coming down. There. There’s a spot,” Madison said. Kelly pulled into the space and parked. The girls gathered their purses up and headed off into the mall.
They shook off all the snow as the walked in. “It’s time to spend money,” Kelly said. The girls went into a tie store. They looked around and then Madison heard Kelly call her over. “You like this tie for my dad? I always get him a tie for Christmas. It’s a tradition thing.” Madison looked over the pale blue tie. “I think it will be perfect.” Kelly took the tie and went off to pay. Madison waited by the door. She was watching all the people walk by. “Maybe one of these men that walk by are the one for me and I don’t even know it. Hey. That looks like Brian and Kevin and all of the guys walking into that store. Not possible.” She shook her head. “I have got to get Brian out of my head.” Kelly walked up and stood behind Madison. “What are you looking at?” “Oh me? Nothing. Let’s go. Where to now?” Kelly looked around. “There. Across the way. Let’s go to Banana Republic.” Kelly was pointing to the store that the guys Madison had been looking at had just walked into. “There? Now? Uh, okay.” The girls walked across to Banana republic. They went in and looked around.
“Hey Brian.” Brian looked at Kevin. “What? You think these pants look dorky? All right, whatever.” Kevin shook his head. “No, they’re fly. But look at those two girls who just walked in. Don’t they look like Madison and Kelly?” Brian put the pants he was looking at down, and looked at the girls Kevin was pointing out. “Hey! It does look like them. AJ, Nick, get Howie out of the dressing room.” The two went and pulled Howie out of the dressing room. They walked back over to Kevin and Brian. Kevin spoke up, “Hey. You three. Me and Brian think those two girls over there are Madison and Kelly. What do y’all think?” AJ took his glasses off and looked closer. “You’re right! It is them. We got to leave without them seeing us or the surprise will be ruined.” All the guys crouched down behind the clothing racks and made their way out of the store.
“Madison. Look at those guys hiding behind the racks. I think they’re checking you out.” Madison wasn’t paying attention. She was looking through racks of clothes. “Hmmm? What did you say? Guys? You like this shirt?” Kelly smiled. “Yeah, you’re right. I like the shirt. Try it on.” When Kelly had something about the guys, Madison knew it was Kevin and the rest of them. She had to play it off so Kelly would forget about it. “Umm. Why don’t you try it on? I’ll find another shirt.” She pushed the shirt into Kelly’s hands. “Whatever. Okay.” Kelly took the shirt and headed into the dressing rooms. Madison made her way towards the guys, but missed them. They had already left. Madison was turning back around when she heard something. “Pssst. Madison. Over here.” She turned and saw Brian in a clothing rack. “What are you doing? If she comes out she’ll see you and know something is up.” Brian got out quickly from the rack. “Well. I didn’t want to leave without saying anything. But I know. I’ve got to go.” Before Kelly could say anything Brian gave her a kiss on the lips. “Till Tuesday. I can’t wait.” Madison blushed. “Uh, thanks. See you later.” Brian ran off and Kelly made her way back to the dressing rooms. “Man, what a guy. I knew it was them when I saw them the first time.” Kelly came back out. “Knew it was who Madison?” Madison said, “What? Oh, it was a model that I hadn’t seen in a long time. I need to find a dress for dinner tonight with Austin. Let’s go.” “Oh, I almost forgot. Me too. I’m not getting the shirt. Not my style.” She put it back on the rack. The girls walked out of the store, and Madison made sure that they went the other way than the guys had. The two spent the rest of the day shopping.