Page 40 of Catch Me
“Sure.” She points toward the back of the store. “The men’s section is back there, shoes over in that direction, and belts and accessories over here by the window.”
“Perfect.” I turn to Andreas. “I’m going to check out the accessories. You should look over the shoes.”
He cocks his head sideways, giving me an ‘Are we really doing this?’expression. I worry my bottom lip, feeling tense when the bell at the top of the door rings as more customers enter the store.
Eventually, he nods and gives me one last look before going toward the men’s section. A relieved breath passes through my lips, and I go over to look at the accessories.
There isn’t anything in particular that I’m looking for in this store, but I’d heard it recently opened, and Mya agreed to go with me.
Speaking of, I pull out my cell phone and go to the ‘Besties’ group chat.
Me:
I’m going to kill you for leaving me, Mya!
I stuff my phone back into the pocket of my leggings and continue scouring the accessories section. There’s a pair of gold, dangly earrings that look cute, but when I hold them up to my ears I decide I don’t like them.
However, before putting them back I decide they would look good on Mya, so I hold onto them.
As I continue browsing, I end up coming to a stop in front of a magazine rack. Vintage magazines. Directly in front of me is an actual copy ofEbonymagazine’s July 1962 cover with Diahann Carroll on the cover.
I raise my hand to lift the magazine from the rack but stop just short of touching it as memory of my mother snatching this very magazine out of my hand and telling me what a waste of my time and energy it was.
“Fashion won’t get you anywhere in life! Just look at your aunt. A grown woman who had to live with roommates to survive. She died penniless with no husband. We had to take her in when she got sick. Is that what you want for your life? To waste it on some silly dream of clothes and fashion?”
She screamed those words as she tore up my fashion magazine collection, a few of which had been left to me by my aunt.
My vision becomes blurry as that day passes through my mind.
No, I’m no longer that teenage girl who lived and died on the words my mother spewed at me, but I lower my hand, all the same.
I give one final look at Diahann Carroll beautifully modeling pastel colors in one of the images.
“Isn’t she just stunning?”my aunt had asked when she first showed me the magazine.
I clear my throat and walk away from the rack, suddenly not feeling the energy to do much shopping. Instead, I head to the counter to purchase the earrings for Mya. While I do so, I console myself on the fact that I’m here in L.A.
Despite my parents’ objections, I’ve come out here to pursue the career I want, to pursue my passions for the first time in my life.
That should be enough for me.
“Did you find anything good?”
Andreas’ voice behind me startles me. I quickly blink away the tears in my eyes before turning to face him.
“These earrings. I think they would look great on Mya. You?” I infuse my voice with enthusiasm that I no longer feel.
He eyes me for a beat too long. My skin tingles underneath the weight of his attention and I look away.
“Not much, but isn’t it up to my stylist to choose the clothing for me?”
When I look back at him, he has an eyebrow lifted. I glance over to see the sales associate eyeing us, eagerly ready to assist.
“Right,” I say, getting back into half-truth. “You know, we might have to come back to this one.”
Andreas nods and looks over at the clerk. “Maybe next time.”
I head for the door, not waiting behind, but Andreas stops. “Just need to make a quick run to the restroom. One sec.”
