20 He Might be Kind of Cool 6.2

Soon as we left Ben was eager to change out of his robe as if it was filth. Pulling it off quickly and tossing it into the back seat along with his glass which finally hit me. If he didn't need them why did he wear them? I took my robe off too and climbed into the passenger seat with my new thoughts. I wanted to know but also something in my gut just told me not to ask not after he stuck up for me like that. Maybe because he was a student he also just disguised himself so that he could keep his lives separate. Sounded reasonable to me. Just like outside of the monastery I didn't want people to recognize me as Jarret when I was trying to live a normal life as Stacey.

"Now that that's done, do you want to change?" Ben speaks breaking me from my thoughts.

"Huh?" I sadly missed exactly what he said.

"Did you want to change out of the boy clothes?" I look down picking at the collar of the skull shirt Ben bought for me. Honestly I want to wear what he bought me longer but that probably would seem weird and even creep to say I'm sure.

I shrug "If you don't mind stopping at the dorms I can change." I look out the window.

"I was thinking more like we go to Piera and I get you something you actually like to change into." He chuckles.

I turn to him mouth gaped open. "You will not!" I shout. "You already bought me these and they where expensive enough." I gesture to the clothes I was currently wearing.

He gives me a sideways smirk, "Are we really going to get into this argument again?"

"This is different there is no urgency to need clothes right away and I have clothes. If you don't want to go to my dorms I'm more then happy to just stay in these." I am rambling knowing he won't listen to me. "Or is it that you don't want to be seen having lunch with me looking like a teenage boy?" There I put a nail on my coffin as I feel myself sink in pity at my own words.

Laughter fills the car as we pull into Piera, like I said wouldn't listen. "As if. Stacey how about we think of it this was I'm a jealous bastard Briggs has been your everything. Everything we do, talk about every interaction somehow he comes up. I want to replace him be better then him. I can tell you like the clothes I got you I wanted to get you some as Stacey that you would equally. Ones you would be happy to wear for me. However; if boy jeans and Tee-shirts is what you want I will make sure to go get you a lot more as long as your happy. I know your sure not going to ask me to buy you things so I know I going to have to force it on you because your not use to it."

"But..." I begin to argue.

"But your not materialistic yeah I get that already." He arches his eyebrow as I cross my arms over my chest and pout in defiance. I don't hate him wanting to dote on me. It is uncomfortable because i'm not use to it and I don't want to be a doll but he even said it. He's not picking I am. Still clothes and stuff are expensive I'm grateful for the stuff I have. I can't imagine he makes a whole lot unless we start taking on a lot of missions that pay well. Not to mention school which I had spaced how I'd pay for it now that Briggs was gone I'm not sure. I'd probably need to get a side job just for that. Probably just be better to drop out after all.

"Earth to Stacey!"

"Huh?" Crap I had spaced out in my thoughts.

"Lets go Ben was out of the car holding open the door for me calling my name." I look up at him then over to Piera.

"I said your not buying me more clothes!" I say sternly. "It's to expensive. There are more important things to worry about and spend your money on instead of me." I don't know why it only hit me now but suddenly I realized with Briggs gone my survival financially was not set. He took care of everything and I was just realizing it. I had nothing of my own.

"Stacey I promise, I have more then enough to buy and take care of you for the next 200 years if need be. There is no need to have such a worried look on your face. I was only teasing before when I said you where expensive. Now please get out of the car. If you don't believe me, later I'll show you a bank statement." He chuckles at his own joke. I frown. This wasn't funny to me. "Fine be that way I'll go by every floral thing I find in there for you I know what size you where."

"You better not." I glare at him well you won't decided so it's on me. I'm your master and your my pupil so what I say goes and if I say throw out your old shit and get new stuff your doing it. At least if I was Briggs that's how it would work. Please don't make me be Briggs." He smiles pleadingly over his shoulder waiting for me. I sigh climbing out of the car. "Good after we will discuss why your suddenly stressing over me spending money on you over lunch this should be a good one. Though I'm sure I can probably already take a guess he says as he holds the door open for me to enter the store.

Entering Piera was almost like coming home as the older sales associate Catherine who has acted motherly to me came rushing to my side and hugged me as if she hadn't seen me in ages. Though I guess she hadn't worked that night when I recently came to change that night I ran from Ben and the monastery, and before that I had been gone with Briggs on a week long trip. So after he had passed I had stayed away until the day of his funeral both times she wasn't working so I guess to her it would be a long time.

"Stacey; Hun! Where have you been. I have been worried sick. When I got back from vacation your pack was gone and I was told you disappeared." Ben watched in amusement as Catherine cupped my cheeks turning my head from side to side inspecting me.

I put my hands in hers and smiled. "I am fine Cat. I'm sorry I concerned you again. I just didn't need to stash my stuff for a while so I took my pack with me." She took a deep breath.

"Oh thank god that's all. If your not needing to hide your pack here then what brings you here today?" Her eyes then light up as she realizes Ben's existence. "Oh my; could it be your on a date. Our little Stacey on her first date she Announces nice and loud to have everyone's attention." I try to shush her but she squeals and hugs me with excitement she won't let me tell her otherwise.

Ben clears his throat oh thank goodness he would correct her. It's not like he wants to be accused of dating someone like me. She let me go and pushes me back to stand next to him and smiles.

"Dear me I'm so sorry I'm being so rude. I'm Catherine I'm the Store Manager here and Stacey has always been as dear as a daughter to me." She held out a hand.

I waited for Ben to correct her he smiled back taking her hand shaking it firmly. "Ben, I am honored to meet anyone who is family of my Girlfriend." The words came out like butter and my mouth hit the floor.

"What are you saying, we aren't." He wraps his hand around my waist.

"No need to be shy my sweet. I don't intend to hide how crazy about you I am." He smile mischievously playful at me. He turned to look back at Catherine "For our first date I wanted her to finally pick out an outfit she would like and feel beautiful and confident the way I see her." Catherine's eyes spark. She was in sale mode as she nods taking my hand and ushers me from rack to rack pulling on clothes of different styles. Least she listened when I said yes or no to if something was cute or not. As she ran off to another rack with an idea for an item to pair with jeans she had grabbed I browse as a rack with dresses. A light blue thigh high sundress with hourglass waist catches my eye. It's spaghetti straps are a black lace that goes around the v-neck and also the bottom trim of the dress. Be type of dress a girl might where on a first date I let my hand drift over the feel of it.

"You like it?" I jump startled from Ben whispering in my ear. I hadn't noticed he was behind me.

"I shake my head and walk away trying not to blush. What was I even thinking I wasn't shopping for a date. I was shopping because I was ordered to and because Ben said he would pick out things I hate if I didn't come in and pick something out. Though I was getting tired hungry and annoyed from shopping. Finally in a changing room I quickly go through the clothes I do like some that I try on Catherine makes me show those to her. I feel embarrassed seeing Ben watching me from across the store as she makes me turn in the outfits.

Finally I'm done trying on the clothes stack. I have the one I'm going to get it's cute but cheap When I hear Catherine. "Stacey sweety open up. Begrudgingly I open the door expecting a new stack of clothes when she hands me a dress. Not just any dress but the blue one I had been looking at had Ben told her I was looking at it so to tease me I am now to try it on and be forced to dance around in it knowing full well it won't look good on me.

I shake my head "No thanks Cat, I already got what I'm buying besides stuff like that doesn't look good on me." I laugh but she just smiles.

"If you have what you are buying I will take it as well as the other out fits. While you change into this. I'll have your shoes wait out here to match."

What did she mean to change into it and already had shoes picked out. "I looked at the dress horror struck the security tag was already gone and so was the price tag. "He didn't!" I Gasped in shock.

"Yep all bought and paid for he asked me to bring it to you to wear for him that is if you would. He added that part on there. I reassured him that you would." Her smile so gentle and knowing. Is this own mothers acted to there daughters being nosy about there date wardrobes and stuff. The look told me she refused to let me where anything else . I take the dress, she comes in the fitting room grabbing all the clothes not waiting to find out which one I wanted. Not that it mattered now Ben had decided after all. I have to admit I had never worn a dress so gentle and elegant so unlike me. It was light I almost felt naked as I stepped out of the fitting room for all to see. Bens million watt smile captured me. Later leaving the store.

"What do you mean you bought all the outfits I showed off go back in and return!!!" I shriek as he put several bags ignoring me in the trunk.