MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2) (11 page)

12

When lunch period finally began, Oddily had shrugged off the near kissing incident and was munching on cafeteria food along with Nexa.

“Thank you for buying my lunch.” Oddily spoke between mouthfuls. “I love this meatloaf. Do you want me to share some with you?”

“No thanks. I’ll stick with my fruit salad.”

Oddily continued to eat while watching Starla and her friends at their reserved table. Observing them was a habit she couldn’t seem to break even after all that had happened.

Then she glanced around the table where she and Nexa sat, realizing that she was surrounded by her new friends. She was sandwiched in between Pepper and Carrie, and Nexa sat across from her. Oddily grinned when it dawned on her that her lonely school days were becoming a thing of the past.

“Give it back, dumb-ass!”

Oddily’s head perked up towards Starla’s table again. Only this time Kip was there, stealing Starla’s lunch from her.

“Oh my God,” Carrie began to laugh. “What’s up with that guy?”

“I guess Starla is his new victim.” Oddily mumbled, her attention returning to her friends.

“As I always say—payback is a bitch!” Pepper smiled broadly while giving Oddily the once over. “Damn girl, I know I keep saying this, but I really do love your new look.”

“Thank you.” Oddily accepted the compliment, this time without blushing.

“You kind of remind me of the model, Lily Cole…only shorter. What do you think Carrie?”

“Yeah, you’re right. She has the same heart shaped face and large eyes. Even her mouth is similar.”

“Who knows?” Oddily sighed. “Maybe she’s a relative of mine and I’ll never know.”

“That would be awesome!” Carrie’s face lit up at the thought.

“That reminds me,” Pepper spoke up. “Carrie and I are going shopping after school. Do you guys want to come with us?”

Oddily became excited and turned to Nexa. “What do you think—should we go?”

Nexa’s attention had been split between listening in on Maxim’s thoughts, and the conversation that was going on between Oddily and the others. It appeared that Maxim had the Zaylyn situation under control which meant the danger surrounding Oddily had been resolved. “No, you go ahead without me? I already made plans to be somewhere else.”

Oddily turned to the girls and grinned. “Where should I meet you guys?”

“I’m driving,” Pepper spoke up, “so meet us at my car.”

* * * * * *

After school, Oddily hopped into the back seat of Pepper’s black SUV and buckled up. She remembered their crazy trip to the carnival, driving with the windows down and music blaring. This trip was to be no different.

Oddily began to sing along with the girls, but stopped when she noticed Pepper pass by the shopping center. She leaned forward and tapped her on the shoulder. “I thought we were going to shop at the Village.”

“Girlfriend, I’ve got somewhere better—the Grand Opening of a new shopping mall in the next town.”

Oddily leaned back and stared out the window wondering what to do. She had told Nexa that she would be shopping at the Village for awhile and to relay the message to Maxim. Nexa said she would have Maxim meet her there around six o’clock in the parking lot.

Oddily leaned forward again and this time tapped Carrie on the shoulder and shared her dilemma.

“Hey, it’s no problem. I’ll have Pepper drop you off in front of ‘Popular Chic’ when we’re done. Ok?”

Oddily relaxed. “That would be great.”

“So tell me,” Carrie turned the stereo down, “what’s it like to have Maxim as a boyfriend? Is he a good kisser?”

Just the mention of Maxim put a smile on Oddily’s face. “I love how he kisses.”

“Yeah, of course you would say that, but what kind of lover is he? Is he passionate and wet, or reserved and dry?”

Oddily’s smile began to widen. “Do you really want me to tell you?”

“Hell yeah we do!” Pepper spoke up.

“Well, he can definitely be passionate, but I’m not sure what you mean by wet.”

“You know—when guys slobber all over your mouth.”

“Ewww, that sounds so disgusting!” Oddily began to laugh. “No, Maxim usually likes to tease me with soft gentle kisses; but once in awhile his kiss will become so intense, it takes my breath away.”

“Mmm, my kind of guy,” Carrie sighed. “Does that mean you’re still a virgin?”

Oddily’s hand flew to her mouth and began to blush.

Carrie made a face when she saw Oddily’s response. “Oops, I’m sorry about that!”

“Hey, there it is!” Pepper pointed up ahead.

Oddily leaned forward and stared in wide-eyed wonder at the enormous shopping mall up ahead.

“Carrie, how much money do you have?”

“Forty-seven dollars.”

“What about you, Oddily?”

“I think I have fifty or sixty dollars in my pocket. Let me check.” Oddily reached into her pocket and pulled out several hundred dollar bills.

“Where did that come from?” Carrie eyed the wad of bills.

“It’s from Maxim. He’s always giving me money.”

“Woo
hoo
!” Pepper hooted. “Does he have a brother?”

The parking lot was already jammed full, making it difficult to find a parking place; but when they finally did, it was in close walking distance.

“Oh my God, I just spotted my favorite store! I’ve got to go inside and check it out!” Carrie began to dodge her way through the maze of window shoppers, oblivious to whether Pepper and Oddily had followed.

Oddily tagged along, all the while staring into various storefront windows enticing her to come inside and shop; but, she needed to stay close by her friends. Strangely enough, she should have been enjoying herself, but all she could do was to think of Maxim.

“How do you think I’d look in this dress?”

Oddily walked over to the mirror where Pepper was holding up a sundress. It was in a shade that clashed with her beautiful dark skin.

“Well?”

“I like the style, but does it come in another color?”

“Yeah, there’s a whole rack of them.”

Oddily found the dresses and brought one back to show Pepper. “What about this yellow one?”

Pepper held up the dress and had to agree. The color was much more flattering to her skin. “Hey Carrie…our new friend has an eye for style!”

“Great. She can help me with these.” She held up an arm full of garments.

Oddily felt a surge of confidence as she followed the girl’s around the store and gave them her input. The next store was the same. They entered a trendy boutique where Oddily bought a blouse she thought Maxim would like. She had never fussed with her appearance before, but now she cared very much how she looked. In fact, she was beginning to live every day in a mood of expectant happiness.

“We’re being followed, guys!” Carrie nudged Pepper with her elbow.

“They’re good looking too!” Pepper followed her best friend into another dress shop.

Oddily followed suit, but not before she glanced over her shoulder and saw the boy with black hair wink at her.

“Did you see that?” Oddily ran to catch up with the girls. “I think one of them tried to flirt with me!”

Pepper laughed at the wonder in Oddily’s eyes. “Don’t take it to heart girlfriend. There are probably fifty other girls he’ll flirt with before the day’s over.”

“Oh, okay!” Oddily glanced at the clock on the wall. It was four thirty, which meant they had been shopping for over an hour.

“By the way, I’m curious,” Pepper glanced at Oddily’s shopping bag. Why aren’t you buying anything? You certainly have enough money.”

“Umm…a lot of styles look silly on me.”

“How do you know when you’re not trying anything on?” Then Pepper had an idea. “You know what, I want to pick out some things for you to try on, and then tell me what you think.”

Oddily bit her lip and stared up at her.

“Don’t give me that look because we’re doing this.”

“No, I can’t!” Oddily became visibly shaken.

“Hey, what’s with you?” There was a note of tenderness in Pepper’s voice.

Oddily pulled Pepper off to the side and confessed, “I don’t like to undress in front of other people.”

“Even in front of girls?”

Oddily nodded.

“I don’t understand. What’s the big deal?”

Oddily frowned. “That’s the problem. I wish it was a big deal, but it’s not.”

“Okay, now you’ve lost me.”

“It’s my boobs,” she whispered.

“What about them?”

“They’re kind of…not there.”

Pepper suddenly erupted in a fit of laughter. “Damn girl, you had me scared for a minute.”

“It’s not funny!” Oddily crossed her arms over her chest.

“No, it’s pathetic!” Pepper made a clicking sound with her tongue. “You’re just a late bloomer, that’s all; and besides, there’s nothing wrong with having small breasts.”

“That’s what Maxim says.”

“Well then, there you go. You should listen to him.”

“But guys like big ones.”

“Get real! Not all of them do! Look at me. Do I have big knockers?”

Oddily stared at Peppers chest with disbelieving eyes, “Oh my, you’re small too.”

“Glance around the store and tell me what you see?”

Oddily began to count the less endowed females and stopped at seven. “Wow, there are a lot of us. I had no idea.”

“That’s because you’ve been fixated on noticing only the large ones.”

“So if I undressed in front of you, you wouldn’t make fun of me?”

“I think you’ve been around that dumb-ass Starla for way too long,” Pepper complained. “You need to clear your mind of what that girl had done to you, and have a little more faith in the people who care about you.”

“You’re right.” Oddily found comfort in Pepper’s insight about small breasts, and allowed the new sense of satisfaction towards her body to set in before she asked, “Where’s the dressing room?”

By the time five forty-five rolled around, the three had found a seat inside the food court.

Pepper had already slipped off her sandals with a groan. “Remind me to never wear new shoes when we go shopping!”

Carrie leaned over the table. “Hey, those boys are checking us out again.”

“Where are they?” Pepper turned her head and spotted them by the hotdog stand.

“Should we invite them over?”

“We don’t need to,” Pepper slipped her shoes back on. “It looks like they are going to invite themselves.”

“How do I look?” Carrie became giddy with excitement.