Blonde accidents [Sahkmet]

[Avery Sainsbury]

The day was warm and sunny. Few clouds in the sky and it was even better that it wasn't her that was causing the beautiful day. A deep breath in and a small sigh out. Yes indeed it was the smell of spring, which meant the smell of new spring clothes to Avery. She loved to shop and now that she had a rich uncle, not that it was new or anything, she could shop until she couldn't shop no more. That was one of her new favorite things to do. So it was no surprise when she got dressed up and headed into town. It just so happened that the Gap was having a sale, and that was definitely a do not miss opportunity. Walking into the store she smiled as she hear the click clack of her high heels on the tile.

For a few moments she let her eyes look about the store. The clearance racks, and half off racks. It was almost like Christmas, watching the people walk around looking and buying things. Avery wanted a part of this. So she bee lined for the half of rack. Looking through all the clothes and shoes and anything she could think of. It never took her long to shop. There was only one thing to say about Avery, the girl knew what she liked, especially in the clothes department. No surprise that in a half hour Avery had a lot of clothes. Mostly tops and jeans. She wasn't one for shoes. Happy with the shoes she had at home only replacing them for the season.

Checking out was the hard part. Having to haul those clothes up to the cashier was a bit of a challenge but Avery did it in stride. Paying the cashier and waiting anxiously to leave and go to the next store. Not even realizing how many bags she had she started to leave the store. a bag on both shoulders two bags under her arms and three bags in her hand. Opening the door was a challenge, one that proved too hard for Avery, Until she opened the door. Her feet wobbled and soon she lost balance. Her eyes got big and her mouth went a gap. "Oh no!" was all she could manage as her body fell to the ground in a pink blur.

[Sakhmet Richmond]

The Richmond siblings had arrived in Vermont at the tail end of winter and now was the time to break out the spring blouses and short skirts, showing off shapely legs and (with any luck) getting a bit of a tan before the summer and bikini weather.

She'd spent the morning tidying up the house but by the afternoon she decided she needed a break. Horus was still at school, Sett was at work and Anubis was...well, she wasn't entirely sure where he was. Probably busy liberating some new shinies. Regardless, she was alone in the house and had decided that a little shopping was in order. After all, a girl occasionally needed to spruce up her wardrobe, and she'd seen a flyer for The Gap which proclaimed a spring sale was ongoing. She couldn't let an opportunity like that to go to waste, so she'd very carefully 'put on her face', straightened her hair, filed her nails and then very casually tossed her purse over her shoulder and headed into town. The truth was that Ra probably expected her to spend the money he wired over on food and necessities....well, she figured that shoes and accessories and blouses and skirts counted as necessities.

She had just stepped onto the curb, reaching out a hand to open the door when it was yanked open from the other side and a young woman around her age spilled onto the sidewalk, bags scattering. Numerous bags: Someone had been on a serious shopping spree.

"Eek!" Sakhmet jumped backward automatically, out of the way of the other girl before her conscience caught up with her reflexes. "Oh my god, are you all right?" She knelt down to help the other girl gather up her packages, looking over her extremely pink outfit. "I love your blouse," She added conversationally, "Actually, the whole ensemble. It's adorable." The girl herself was adorable, but better keep that to herself.

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery blushed, trying to collect herself. After all she was into appearances and now her appearance was shattered. On top of that her hair was a mess, she didn't have to look to see that her hair was a mess. Gently she pushed herself up off the ground and looked at the girl who was trying to have a conversation with her. A blush appeared on her face as she gathered herself. After all she didn't want her first impression to be of a shambled young girl. Dusting herself off she smiled as she let the heat in her cheeks disappear and she became back to the bubbly Avery that everyone knows. Even though her hair was definitely messed up she still smiled at the girl. Smiling was her way of trying to cover up her clumsiness.

With a sigh she nodded. "I am ok thank you." Looking at the other girls outfit she got that 'oh my god where did you get that look' "Thank you and I love your outfit. Where did you get your blouse?!" At this point Avery totally forgot her hair was out of sorts. Even though she forgot her little habit of running her hand threw her hair helped. It straightened the mess and Avery held out her hand. "I am Avery. It's so nice to bump into some one that has good taste in clothes like me." In that since Avery meant thanks for not calling me Barbie and complementing my choice in clothing. She really hated to be called names and she rather enjoyed how she dressed and wished others liked the way she dressed.

Avery moved over slightly so that she wasn't in people's way. Picking up her bags she moved them over. After all she figured that there was to many to move by herself. Realizing she would have to call her uncle and get his driver to pick her up for a shopping trip again. After all this was her second shopping marathon in two months. Her uncle thought it was funny and Avery enjoyed just shopping none stop. "I seriously did not realize I had so much stuff." With a little laugh she leaned against the building, still collecting herself.

[Sakhmet Richmond]

"I bought it at Anthropologie," Sakhmet responded, taking the proffered hand and giving it the short, limp handshake of someone not quite confident in her interactions with other people. "They have adorable clothes."

She mirrored the other girl's movement, brushing blonde hair back behind her ears. "Sakhmet Richmond." She gave a small smile and explained, "My parents were archaeologists and they were quite fond of Egypt. Most people have trouble remembering Sakhmet, so you're welcome to just call me Sakhy." She had to agree that finding someone else interested in fashion was a nice change of pace from the girls who sneered that any interest in appearance was a sure sign of shallowness; clearly one couldn't be intelligent and well-dressed, or so people assumed. "Yes! It's lovely to meet you, as well." She hadn't met too many people since moving to America as she'd largely been holed up at home, cooking for the boys...and when she did go out it was to buy groceries because she didn't trust any of them with that task.

She followed Avery's lead, taking a step toward the wall, allowing other shoppers and pedestrians to pass them by. "It's so easy to get carried away when there's a sale." She laughed, eying the bags with a mixture of curiosity and jealousy. "How are you carrying all those by yourself? I wouldn't have made it out of the store, I don't think I could even see over all those bags."

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery blushed. She had never had money before and she definitely knew what it was like to only be able to buy a few clothes at a time. However she wasn't too keen on staying quite. "Well, I didn't think I had that much. I'm not really use to being able to buy a lot of clothes at one time. I have only been rich for a few months if that and my uncle is being very nice at letting me buy more and more clothes. I donate the old closet to the salvation army. By old closet I mean my winter clothes and fall clothes." her face started to feel warmer and she could tell that her blush was spreading from one cheek to the other and it felt as if it would engulf her face.

Looking down at the ground Avery sighed. "I was going to call my uncles driver and have him tote me around today. Did you want to come Sakhy? I have more than enough room in the car and I would enjoy some help deceiving what to buy. I don't have many girlie friends. Oh and I like your name I think its pretty. My full name is Avery Sainsbury." Smiling she pulled out her phone and texted her uncle. It only took her a few seconds and then a minute for a reply. "Cool my uncle says I can call for the driver anytime!" Smiling widely she looked at Sahkmet.

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet listened with interest. A rich uncle? How very Victorian. "Ohhh, that must be lovely!" She sighed enviously. The Richmonds were far from poor, but the ability to buy entire closest full of clothes at a time wasn't something she was used to. On the other hand, she had more travel experience than most girls her age, so she supposed it was all relative.

"That's nice, that you donate your clothes." She added appreciatively, "Much better than letting it linger."

At the offer to join in the shopping spree (or at least to be driven by a chauffeur) she let out an unrefined squeal of delight. "Oh.My.God!" She shrieked, causing several passers-by to stare. "Oh, um mm, I mean, I would love to!" She corrected in an embarrassed whisper. "You're sure you don't mind?"

It was a bit discouraging that Avery didn't have many girly friends, because that meant she couldn't introduce Sakhy around. Maybe American girls just weren't that interested in looking chic. "Avery Sainsbury." She fished in her purse for her own phone, "Would you mind terribly if I ask your number? After all, girly shopping buddies should definitely be able to call one another. And besides, you'll have to come over to my house for dinner sometime. I live with my brothers and having another girl around would be nice." She loved her brothers, but there were some topics they couldn't discuss because they just didn't understand.

"So how long will it take this driver to arrive?"

[Avery Sainsbury]

Giggling, Avery nodded "Oh I am positive. I would love to have company when shopping. Your gonna have so much fun." Pulling out a piece of paper Avery wrote her number down and handed it to the girl. "I would love to come over and meet your brothers. I think that sounds like so much fun." Taking out her phone once more she looked at it and sighed. She had to call the driver which wasn't much fun at all. Avery wished that her uncle could just do it but then again she knew she was using his transportation. "Well give me one second and I will call him and ask him to pick us up right here. Unless..."

Turning she looked at the store then at Sahky. "If you wanted to shop here first I can call him once you go in to shop. That's no problem. After all it might take him awhile to get here." Avery started to dial the number and then held the little pink phone to her ear and let it ring. 'Marti? Oh hey, Uncle said that I can use the car today. Yea I texted him. Yes a shopping spree again. I know I'm excited for the spring clothes to. Well I'm at The Gap downtown. Ok see you soon.' Hanging up the phone she smiled. "Ok so he will be here in like ten minutes. Want to wait here or shop?"

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet accepted the slip of paper, flipping open her phone and typing in Avery's number. "Just keep your eye on anything you want to keep. Anubis has sticky fingers. And don't believe anything Sett tells you. He's a terrible fibber."

She slipped her phone back into her purse as the other girl called her chauffeur, watching as clusters of women (some friends, some intergenerational) entered and exited the store. Here and there a woman left with no bag, or a tiny one, but that was rare. Most of the people leaving the store were laden with shopping bags, obviously taking full advantage of the sale.

"Ten minutes?" She repeated, gnawing the inside of her lip as she considered how little time that actually gave her to peruse the sales racks. "I suppose I'll wait. There are so many people in there, I'm sure everything's been picked over." She decided. She could return to The Gap later, when she was alone. Might as well check out Avery's favorite stores while she had a native guide. She might learn of some places nobody else knew about.

"So you live with your uncle?" She asked curiously, "or do most of your family live in the area?" She was used to bizarre family arrangements, having grown up with her brothers once her school days had begun. Still, she had to remind herself that it was far more likely that all of Avery's family simply lived close by. There was also the possibility that Avery was only visiting her uncle, but if that were the case it seemed unlikely she would be so excited to have Sakhmet as a friend, because they wouldn't be close by.

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery slipped the tiny phone back into her purse and then sat the purse down next to her bag. "It is a nice day for shopping, I think Gabriel's might be open, that's a nice place to shop too." Then Avery listened to her question. It was hard for her to answer it, not knowing the protocol on how to say I'm a meta and make it rain. Let alone how she was going to explain that this made her mother run away, why her mother left her Avery still had no clue what happened, not talking to her since she started Hammel. Letting out a sigh Avery just decided to come out with what happened.

Flipping her hair back Avery let herself think for a moment. "No I don't live with my uncle. I got to Hammel. I visit my uncle very often though. He is the only family I have now, I think that might be why I get to go on shopping sprees. I think he sees himself as my father, which is cool, because I never knew what that was like before. guess being sent to Hammel scared my mother away and now my uncle is all I have left." Avery sighed expecting the girl to run off.

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet could feel her heart-strings being tugged at Avery's story. Damn maternal instincts. She struggled to keep from flinging herself at the other girl, instead offering an empathetic smile. "Ohhh. That's so sad. I can't even imagine! My parents spend so much time traveling, but for them to be scared away is just....it's unfathomable."

She did agree that having a wealthy uncle who allowed her to go on shopping sprees was extremely cool, though. "So you said you attended Hammel? My baby brother attends Hammel. His name is Horus." She added, just in case Avery hadn't made the connection with the Egyptian theme. "I'm sure you've seen him and his friends around, they're impossible to miss." At least, that was what she'd been told. She still had yet to meet Sammy and Vincent and Ember, but they sounded a trip. A very difficult to ignore trip.

She scanned the street for any car that remotely looked like it might belong to a wealthy uncle-type, reverting back to their previous conversation. "Gabriel's? Is that a chain or is it something local? I would love to find the cute, local boutiques. How fun! And we can get our nails done and you can come over for dinner. I've made plenty." She paused uncertainly, wondering if perhaps that was over-stepping the first-meeting bounds just a bit. "Err, that is, if your uncle won't mind."

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery thought for a moment. Being normal like Sakhmet would be a nice vacation from her everyday reality. Plus getting to meet even more people in a totally relaxed family environment would be nice. Avery smiled wider as she saw the car pull up. "Our ride is here. I really don't know any local chains. I know a boutique but I don't even know its name." Thinking for a moment, Avery started to put her bags into the car with a smile and a nod. "thank you for coming to get us."

Soon she had everything in the car and she waved to Sakhmet to get into the car with her. "I really don't think my uncle would have an issue with me coming over to visit. I usually just stay at Hammel and eat and stuff so It would be a nice change."

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet clasped her hands in front of her, waiting while Avery chatted with her uncle's driver. That must be really interesting, having hired help.

When the other girl waved at her she opened the car door, sliding in beside her. "Oh, you eat cafeteria food?" Sakhmet grimaced at that thought. She had yet to come across a cafeteria that served food to her standards, and while she understood the why of this she still couldn't bring herself to like it. "In that case you definitely have to come eat with us. I can't imagine the food at the school is very good."

The car hummed to life, leaving the curb with a smoothness Sakhmet hadn't realized a car could have. She peered about at the interior with interest, feeling very much as if she'd just stepped into a James Bond movie.

"So where are we heading?" She queried. Maybe the nameless, mystery boutique Avery had mentioned earlier.