These Are the Days [L.C]

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle squinted up at the sun as she waited for L.C. outside of one shop or another. She loved that the spring weather had finally decided to break through the rain and clouds, but that did mean she would miss her trusty sweater. Though it was a wonder that thing wasn’t full of holes already. Instead she was in jean shorts and a tank top, feeling that strange, self-conscious way you get when it’s been about five months since you’ve last worn shorts.

She was looking forward to meeting up with L.C. They both seemed to put each other’s problems away a little bit. Estelle didn’t care where L.C. was from, which the “Iron Maiden” appreciated, and L.C. always had a devil-may-care attitude that Estelle herself wished she could channel. Not that she would be able to muster the gravitas and authority L.C. had cultivated, but she could try. And she figured that she wasn’t very threatening, relatively content to do whatever the other girl suggested (within reason). It was a good friendship.

Finally, Estelle spotted the other teen and beamed, standing on her toes a bit to wave. “Hey, how’s it going?” She asked once L.C. was in earshot. "How's the job hunt?" That was one of the things the two girls had in common currently: both jobless.

[L.C. Milliner]

L.C. normally didn’t go to the mall. She didn’t have the money for it most days. But she had been saving up the money Sean gave her to go out for this trip. Well, not this one specifically, but a trip to the mall. She didn’t go that much, as mentioned before. But now she had fifty or so dollars in her pocket and was going to see if she could buy something nice with it. She felt like acting like a teenager and blowing her money on something nice but impractical. She’d probably never have this much money ever again, so she might as well get rid of it all in one place. True, she probably should have been saving it, but she would start saving when she got a job. As it was, she had none yet, so the money was free to use.

She and Estelle were going to hang out, and shopping with Estelle was always fun, if only because dragging the girl into trouble was a hilarious sight. Her face would make the weirdest expressions when they were in trouble, and she was her one redeeming friend she could fall back on when she was in trouble. ‘Hey look, it’s Estelle, the smart and responsible one that values my worth as a person!’ (Yes. She’s used that to get out of trouble before.) She liked hanging out with Estelle, surprisingly. Normally she hated happy, bubbly people, but Estelle was different, if only because L.C. could not spike her.

Bag slung over her shoulder, L.C. wandered through the entrance of the mall, looking for her friend. Her feet felt weird because she was wearing shoes without socks- she couldn’t find her flip-flops that morning. She spotted Estelle waving from her peripherals and she altered her course, veering to the side and waving back as she approached. Another thing about Estelle- both of them were short and, for once, L.C. was the taller of the two. “Hey yourself.” She noted Estelle’s outfit and nodded appreciatively. “It’s going okay. Could always be worse.” It could always be worse. She tried to remember that.

“No luck yet. You?” She didn’t even bother elaborating. She had no luck when it came to jobs. “So, is this shopping trip a need or a want trip? Because I have an idea...” It was the start of an idea, for certain, but an idea nonetheless.

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle grinned at L.C. If there was one person Estelle wouldn’t have expected to make friends with, it was this girl. For one thing, Estelle would have guessed that she was too boring for the other teenager. But as it turned out, the only thing more fun than getting into trouble was dragging someone else with you who could make hilarious scared faces at their predicament. And she would always put her foot down if L.C. opted to do anything particularly ill-advised. “Yeah, that’s true.” Estelle ran a hand through her hair, giving the girl a crooked grin.

“Nope.” She sighed, gesturing helplessly, “I had a trial run at the flower shop along the way, run by Ms. Tonaya. I don’t know how well I did, but she gave me a lot to think about regardless.” That had been an interesting afternoon. And eye opening.

Estelle looked vaguely surprised, “Huh? Oh, no. I just wanted to get out of the house for a while. A lot on my mind.” She gave her friend a weak grin before raising an eyebrow, “Why, what did you have in mind?” She was prepared to call shenanigans if she needed to, but she was kind of in the mood to shake things up a little bit…

[L.C. Milliner]

L.C. had thought about applying for Mrs. Tonaya’s shop- but she had missed the due date for the application while she was trying to hound up some references. Besides, if Estelle applied and she wasn’t even sure of making it, there was no way L.C. could take the job and last a day without screwing something up. Besides, the woman had no doubt heard about L.C.’s stealing problem from other vendors and would likely bar her from any position, from cashier down to floor sweeper. She was doomed. It was a good break for Estelle though- she deserved a job. “I hope you get it. You’d be right at hope with flowers and junk. You could make daisy chains for the little kids and change your name you Sunshine Willow-Star.” She gave her friend a playful nudge with her elbow as a sign of goodwill, although she could see a picture of Estelle as a seventies flower child in her mind’s eye.

That mental image cleared out, though, when she threw an arm across Estelle’s shoulders and gestured down the pristine, white tiled hallway, past all the shops down to where the intersection formed a T. “See, Estelle, in the past few months I have acquired a bit of cash. And while I may very well have spent it on movies or candy, I asked myself: ‘L.C., trivial things are all well and good, but what do you really, truly need to be happy?’ And I found the answer.” The girl grinned- a smile to marvel the Cheshire cat’s, really- and jerked her head to the end of the long corridor.

“Estelle, we are about to venture into the world of women’s comfort and men’s fantasies.” She declared, loud enough that the people nearby stopped to glance over. She pointed to the end of the hall, paused for dramatic, effect, and bellowed her next sentence, so loud that everyone nearby had to stop and look.

“WE’RE GOING TO VICTORIA’S SECRET!” And just when you thought her grin couldn’t get any wider, it did...

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle laughed at L.C.’s analysis of her flower skills. “Well, who needs references when I could have just brought you in to speak on my behalf?” She snickered, “Although I demand a better hippy name. I’ve met a Willow, and now that name is forever associated with sternness. And grumpy.” She was of course referring to Willow Kovacs, and although she hadn’t spoken to the woman long (or at all really, she just passed by the woman talking to someone else), Estelle was heartily intimidated by the woman. Not that it took much to intimidate Estelle, but still! “Maybe I could be Moon Bloodgood. I think that’s an actress, but isn’t that the coolest name?”

Estelle snorted, “Uh oh. You’re narrating. I always know something terrible is going to happen to me when you narrate. I have to say right now that I will not use my aikido powers for evil!” She was mostly joking. Mostly.

At L.C.’s proclamation, Estelle frowned, confused. “Wait…wha—”

Oh.

She instinctively turned beet red at the thought and volume that L.C. chose to proclaim it. “Wh- buh.” Estelle stammered intelligently. “Victoria’s Secret?” She squeaked, “Uhhh…isn’t that… well.” She rubbed the back of her neck, thinking of an excuse. “Couldn’t we go shopping for that stuff somewhere else?” Granted, she didn’t know where, but Victoria’s Secret was simultaneously baffling and daunting. The people gaping at them both didn’t help. She wrinkled her nose at L.C., a little grin tilting her mouth, “I swear you do this on purpose.”

[L.C. Milliner]

“Fine.” L.C. mock pouted, her bottom lip protruding from its usual spot. The teen had never met Willow, so she never had anyone to associate the name with. “If you don’t want to be Sunshine Willow-Star, you can be...” She paused to think of a new hippie name for her. “Rainbow River-lily. Yeah. It sounds all Native American-y and stuff too.” Plus, with a new nickname like ‘Rainbow’, it was bound to catch. She’d have to pass it on to that one blonde guy she hung out with- Rhett? Rayne? Robbie? She could never tell the three of them apart. She would just tell all of them, to make up for it. “Moon Bloodgood? Oh, what’s her face.” She pressed her palm to her forehead, trying to remember where she had heard that name. “She was in... That stupid robot movie. Crap.” She had lost it, so she threw up her hands and gave up.

Trying to ignore Estelle’s mounting suspicions, L.C. waved her off, giving her a raised eyebrow at the mention of using her aikido for evil. Estelle did aikido? This was new. More study was needed.

Estelle’s blushing was a glorious win for L.C.- she was certain that the particular shade of red she was sporting couldn’t even be found in a 120 count box of Crayola Crayons. The squeaking was even more hilarious, so much so that she started giggling like a maniac as Estelle went on. “But they’re having a sale.”

[/b] L.C. whined, walking off backwards as she talked, gesturing for Estelle to come along. “I need a new bra anyway. I finally managed to go up a size! B, I tell you! I’m not a board anymore! This is cause for celebration, not cowardice.” L.C. chided, glancing around to ensure no one from Hammel heard her admittance to her wearing an A-cup throughout high school.

One thing L.C. had not inherited from her mother was her ample assets. From a young age the girl was told constantly how much she resembled her father. Now, looking in a mirror, she still couldn’t see anything- though that was mostly because she lacked a father to compare herself to. What she did notice was a total lack of even a semblance of a chest. She could all but pass as a boy throughout middle school. Oh, god help her.

“Besides, you can pick out something cute to show off to that boy that’s always hanging around. What’s his name? Starts with an R.” She had to entice Estelle somehow.[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Estelle Flores]

“Ooh, Rainbow River-Lily. Classy.” Estelle snickered, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, I dunno. She was in an episode of some T.V. show that I accidentally turned onto. I don’t remember much. Rainbow River-Lily is much better.” She was, of course, completely oblivious to L.C.’s plans to spread a new nickname or she’d certainly be singing a different tune.

“Buh. Wh. Awww L.C….” Estelle whined, allowing L.C. to tug her along, “I don’t know how to shop for bras!” She did, however, clap for her friend at the news of new cup sizes, “Oh hooray! Now all I have to do is catch up.” That was a little bit of an exaggeration, since she was the smallest of the size B when L.C. just got there. But still. Not much of a difference. She sighed, “At least we’re short, you know? We can get away with it. We’re petite, or something.” She rolled her eyes. L.C. wasn’t so much petite as she was stealth sized, and Estelle…okay, Estelle was petite, but so what? “Okay, okay, okay. Cowardice at the door. But we’re here for you. I don’t…think I need bras.” In truth, she did. Her bras were worn and probably could stand to be replaced. But with having no maternal influences comes having no concept of when bras need to be replaced.

Estelle sputtered, “What, Robbie? Oh for the love—NO. Robbie is not seeing me in any lingerie. That’s gross.” She made a face to emphasize her point. “You should have invited him along anyways.” She muttered good naturedly, “He would love some new panties, I’m sure…” Actually… that was kind of a hilarious gag gift. Hmm…