Drowning

Chapter 22:

We walked to the music store. It wasn't a far walk from the entrance, but long enough for us to walk by some shops and point out things we would or wouldn't buy. By the time we came to the music store entrance, Anna had decided her shopping list included rainbow fuzzy leg warmers, a fur hat with ear flaps, and a bright green tuxedo. My sides hurt so bad from the laughter; we were being so loud.

My hands were flying around as I was talking excitedly to Anna. She tapped my arm and pointed to a lingerie sign with a woman on it right outside of the music store. The woman on the sign had blond hair the same shade as mine and was sticking her butt out to show off the merchandise. Anna told me the girl on the sign looked like me. I almost fell over laughing. The girl looked nothing like me except for the hair color.

I stuck my hand in my hair like the girl and turned around. I pushed my lips into the duck face she was making on the sign. Then, I stuck my butt out, trying to mimic the pose and asked Anna if we still looked alike.

"Hmm," Anna placed her hand on her chin as if she was in thought and pulled out her hands to frame me. She turned her head and smiled, "Wiggle your butt out some more. You're almost there."

I did what she said and looked like I was doing a little dance in front of the store. My butt was waggling and I had it stuck out as far as possible. Anna was losing her mind. Tears were running down her face. I got the sudden feeling there was something I was missing.

My head turned in the direction Anna was looking and I froze in place in my "billboard" stance with the duck lips. Ezra was laughing at me from behind the counter in the store. He raised his eyebrow at me and sent me a signal saying to not stop on his behalf. My face turned purple and I was mortified. I turned back to Anna, who shrugged and continued laughing at me.

"You did that on purpose." I accused her.

"You should see your face." She said, grabbing her sides. She wrapped her arm in mine and pulled me into the store. She waved excitedly at Ezra before dropping me off next to the counter. Her eyes scanned around for JD. She saw him in the back of the store near the posters and skipped to him. Anna jumped into his arms and almost knocked him over. He was grinning when he caught her.

Why did I forget Ezra worked here?

I didn't even want to turn around to look at him. The last time I saw him, I was a confused hung-over mess. I should have known better than agree to come here. I was not prepared for an Ezra encounter today.

"Why'd you stop?" He asked in a low sexy voice. He pulled at his eyebrow rings and laughed at me.

"Shut up." I mumbled under my breath at him. I did my best to try to ignore him as he fiddled with some squishy key chains on the counter.

Anna giggled when she and JD disappeared into the store's backroom and shut the door behind them. I started fidgeting impatiently, waiting for them to reemerge. Ten awkward silent minutes later, I was ready to go back there and pound on the door.

"What is taking so long? This is so stupid. What are they even doing back there?" I was calling Anna and JD every name I could come up with in my head.

"Do I even need to answer that?" Ezra asked.

"Please don't." I said, putting my hands up to shield myself from the thoughts Ezra planted into my brain.

"If you're bored, we still have those pink stuffed animals over there if you want to throw them around again." Ezra pointed behind me to the shelf against the wall.

"You're not even remotely funny." I said, crossing my arms over my chest, huffing.

"Fine, you win. You can get drunk and decide to become a hooker again." Ezra lifted his eyebrow at me.