One of my favorite things about living in Southern California is the abundance of outdoor malls. Today the sun was shining, I had a mental list of "Clothing For Beautiful People" to buy, and there was not a cloud in the sky.
I clicked my 4 inch heels past a kiosk looking for a directory. Wait a minute... I walked backwards a few steps and turned around. The kiosk was selling designer pet accessories. I couldn't help but peruse the collars. A quirky young redhead reminded me several times in her high pitched voice that she could help me with anything I needed. I smiled and dismissed her with a nod. I didn't want her trying to get into a conversation with me about what sort of dog I owned. I have no pets...
I finally settled on a thin, classy looking black leash with small metal spikes on either end. The spikes were flat on top though which made them more like pointy studs. I paid the clerk the $25 and walked away smiling at my first purchase of the afternoon.
Next stop was my favorite designer clothing store. The clerks there are always ridiculously stylish, very helpful and usually gay. I love them! Ryan, the New Yorker working here to pay his way through college, walked straight up to me and greeted me enthusiastically.
"Hey, Athena!" He was all smiles, "I knew you wouldn't miss this sale. I've got some deals for you, sugar."
With that he whisked me through the store for a good half of an hour helping me pick and choose the best outfits to highlight my short and curvaceous body. We picked out a few very bright shirts to show off the punk style highlights in my hair. As we headed for the dressing rooms, Ryan glanced at his watch.
"You're gonna hate me," he wrinkled his nose at me with mock fear, "but I'm overdue for my lunch break. Do you mind if I put you with someone else? He's new, but I swear he's awesome."
Before I could even answer, Ryan grabbed the arm of a boy walking by, whirled him around and grabbed his shoulders, presenting him to me.
"Athena, this is Sebastian."
The young blond smiled shyly at me. He fidgeted, obviously trying to think of something to say. After a moment of enjoying his awkwardness, I flashed him a smile and extended my hand. He shook it with a soft grip. I'm a fan of a firm handshake or a chivalrous kiss on the hand. This boy must be very meek. He didn't seem gay judging from his quick, embarrassed glances toward my cleavage flattering dress.
"Okay then," Ryan piped in, "Sebastian will take you to the dressing rooms. If you're not here in an hour, it was great to see you, honey."
Ryan dumped all the clothes onto the boy and then gave me a big hug and I promised him I'd be back within the month to see him again. As he rushed off, I was left with the quiet blond struggling to make eye contact with me.
"So," he attempted softly, "This is only my second day here, but uh. I'll take you to your fitting room and... then you can just let me know what I can do for you. Get you different sizes or colors and stuff. That sound good?"
He was trying to act casual. I stood for a moment and examined his clear blue eyes looking down at me. He must have been about 5 foot 10 if I had to guess. His posture could be better and his shirt seemed like it was hastily ironed. He did have a pretty golden-green tie on. I love men in ties, though it looked like it had been done hastily that morning like he was running late for work. All that aside, he was very nice to look at. A handsome face, lean tall body and what I hoped was a submissive demeanor. He managed to make eye contact with me for a few seconds, but the awkward silence stretched on and he quickly broke it to look at the floor.
I let another few seconds pass before I turned and headed for the fitting rooms. I could hear the shuffle of his shoes as he jumped to follow me, the hangers clacking as he tried to balance the pile of clothes in his hands.
Alyssa greeted me at the dressing rooms, recognizing me from my many visits to the store. I asked her if I could have the room at the very back corner because it was bigger. Normally, the clerks try to only fill the front stalls and work their way back so they don't have to do as much traveling back and forth when cleaning up the unpurchased clothes afterward. However, I think Alyssa trusted me as a regular to not make a mess and take out all my unwanted clothes with me afterward. She happily acquiesced and led us toward the back where all the noise of the store died down to just the low hum of techno music pumping through a lone speaker on the wall.
Sebastian stepped into the dressing room and attempted to keep any of the items from falling on the floor as he pulled hangers left and right trying to hang them up nicely on the stall racks. Alyssa rolled her eyes at me as if asking me to forgive the new guy. She walked off still chuckling.
The boy started to break into a sweat as he maneuvered a hanger through the neck of a shirt that had gotten tangled up with another shirt. I heard a clink as one of my potential dresses landed on the floor. He stared at it for a moment before looking up at me with an anxious look on his face. He reminded me of a puppy who knows he's done something bad and he's looking at his owner to see if she noticed.
"Well," I asked, "Are you going to stare at me or are you going to pick it up?"
"Sorry, Ma'am," he laughed nervously as he bent down, "I'm still getting the hang of this. Women's clothes are so cumbersome."
I took a step forward so that my shiny black peep-toe heels were in his field of view on the floor. He slowly looked up at me with the shirt in his hand, as if unsure whether to get back up. I looked down at him with a smile.
"I bet you don't think that when you're looking at a beautiful woman in a sexy dress," I teased, "Also, call me Miss, not Ma'am. I'm still young and unmarried, after all."
"Of course, Miss," he let out a breathe as if trying to calm his nerves and he stood back upright.
He wasn't terribly tall, but I'm only 5 foot 3, and a bit taller in my heels. I like tall men, though. It reminds me that it doesn't matter what size a man is, he is just as easily controlled as a short one if he has the right attitude and he meets the right woman.
Sebastian hung the dress up, patting off any dirt that may have gotten on it. As he stepped past me to leave the stall, I pressed my hand gently on his stomach to stop him. He turned to me questioningly.
