An hour later we were in the mall. On the way we had stopped by Joe's to get her some clothes. The weather was not as good as the day before and it looked like it may ran later. Joe and Alice had found a store with amazing dresses for every occasion. Kim and I had sit down in some chairs while Alice helped Joe with the dresses. We could hear giggling inside the dressing room the whole time. Alice pulled the curtain aside and Joe came into view. Joe had picked out a gorgeous dress. It was a mix between white and light green, it was wrinkled which made it look like from another time period.. She swirled around. The dress was held up with two spaghetti straps and showed of Joe's nice shoulder blades. Around the waist were two straps the upper one supported her breast and made them look incredible. In the back the straps came together and were tied into a bow. I think I literally dropped my jaw, because when Joe looked at me she started laughing out loud.
“So? What do you think?” she asked me.
“Well.” I said while I cleared my throat. “ If you're still not considering going naked, it can't possibly get any better. You are beautiful.”
Joe blushed and swirled around another time.
“What so you say Kim?” she asked my sister.
“I would love to have your body.” she replied. “He's right you look amazing.”
That was enough approval and Joe and Alice went back into the dressing room. I watched over to my pregnant sister.
“How are you holding up?” I asked her. “Can I get you anything?”
“Well, I would kill for a soda?” Kim replied and smiled at me. Without hesitation I stood up and went to get something to drink. “Something with lime.” she shouted after me.
In the dressing room Joe had carefully slipped out of the dress.
“Joe I need to tell you something.” Alice said. “It's kinda a big deal.”
Joe heard in Alice's voice, that it was serious. She took her by the hand and they both sat down on the bench in the dressing room.
“I... I'm pregnant.” Alice stammered. Joe was shocked. Two years back they had started hanging out a lot and she had fallen for Alice. But Alice didn't feel the same way. At least she said that was the reason. Joe had suspected, Alice was just scared.
I got back with a soda for my sister and handed it to her.
“Thanks.” she said and drank half of it. I looked over to the dressing room.
“What are they doing in there?” I asked.
In the dressing room Alice looked at her feet. She felt ashamed.
“Congratulations.” Joe said with a smile. Alice looked at her friend and smiled a little.
“Thanks.” Alice answered. “I don't know what to do. What would you do?” Alice asked.
“If I was pregnant right now?” Joe asked her.
“Yeah.” Alice said.
“I think I'd keep it.” Joe answered.
“All by yourself?” Alice asked a little bit scared.
“I wouldn't be by myself.” Joe answered and looked through the crack of the curtain at me. Alice followed her look.
“Not everybody is that lucky.” Alice said and sighed. “The “father” is not in the picture.”
“But you have so many people who will support you.” Joe said to her and took Alice's hand into hers. “Your mom, your aunt and your sister. She going through it right now. But you have to make up your mind on your own.”
Alice nodded silently and thought for a moment.
“Have you ever thought about kids?” Alice asked.
“I once joked with , that I would only keep him around as a sperm donor.” Joe started to explain. “Back then it was just a joked. But from time to time I thought about having a baby and being a mom and to tell you the truth, if I ever had a baby, it would be your brother's.”
Joe didn't believe she had just said that. Alice looked at her and smiled, she wished she had someone like that in her life.
“Who knows about you?” Joe asked.
“Mandy, Danny, your sister and .” Alice told Joe.
“My sister and knew?” Joe asked surprised.
“Yes, Penny for a while. I told yesterday at the lake.” Alice said. “Don't be mad at them for not telling you, they kept it secret for me.”
“I'm not mad at all. I totally understand.” Joe replied with a smile. She hugged Alice and held her for a few seconds. “It's gonna be fine.”
They both got up and Joe got dressed.
“So that's the dress?” Alice asked, changing the subject.
“Yes, I love it.” Joe replied and looked at it one more time.
“You'll have to fend the guys off at your aunt's wedding.” Alice remarked with a smile. Joe pulled back the curtain. Joe walked over to Kim and me.
“That's the one?” I asked her and she nodded. After we paid we wandered around the mall a little bit and Alice found a few things. We were just passing the little fountain in the middle, I had laid a hand around Joe's waist and Kim and Alice just had seen something in the window of a jewelry store.
“?” a voice next to me suddenly asked. I turned around and saw a hot brunette in a pink outfit. “It's Lisa.”
“Yes of course.” I replied after a moment. “It's been a long time.”
I had tutored Lisa in math, she was a cheerleader and almost failing. After a while she started hitting on me and....... let's just say I made sure she wouldn't forget me.
“It's nice to run into you.” she said. “I heard about you and Nicky, I'm sorry.”
News really traveled fast around here. Nicky and Lisa had kept in touch after high school as former members of the cheerleading squad.
“It's OK.” I replied. “Lisa, this is Joe, she went to school with us.”
“Yeah, I remember.” she said and smiled at Joe. “So you guys here for the summer break?”
“Yes for three weeks, blowing off some steam after finals.” I told her.
“You guys have to come to my sorority's party. It's gonna be wild.” Lisa almost shouted. Joe and I looked at each other. We really weren't the frat-boy / sorority-girl types. “It's Thursday. I'll put down your names.” We smiled politely, not really giving an answer.
“I bet we'll see each other before that. There not that many spots to party around here.” Lisa said.
Again Joe and me just smiled.
“OK, I'll see you Thursday.” she said and walked away. When she was out of sight Joe and I started laughing. Lisa was the type of girl who gave college its bad name. Kim and Alice came back from the window and looked at us confused.
“What are you two laughing about?” Kim asked. We just said that it was nothing and we continued our shopping trip. After another half hour Kim was exhausted and we went home. |