Ava - Shopping at Spring Avenue

"I'm sorry to hear that." Ava observed for a moment the way he drove.

He had both hands on the steering wheel and looking straight ahead, while glancing at her occasionally he said "hey its not your fault, death happens when you least expect it." "So what are we shopping for?" he asked changing the subject.

"I'm looking for a handbag or maybe a blouse for my aunt." "I don't know what to get her really."

"We can look around and if you see something, we can get it," he suggested. T

hey parked in the lower ground floor and took the lift to the second floor, of Spring Avenue Shopping Mall. They went into Padini the women's department, while she looked around for a suitable blouse.

"Hey I'll be in the guy's section," said Jaxon as he made his way to the men's department.

Not happy with what was on display before her, Ava decided the handbag was the best bet. So she went over to Vincci's which was located just beside Padini. Vincci was famous for its luxury handbags, purses, belts and shoes. She finally spotted what she had been searching for in the corner of the store. She found a pale pink purse in pastel shade and thought it looked so cute with the gold zips on the side. She decided to purchase it, heading straight for the queue that led to the cashier counter.

"That will be a hundred and twenty-five dollars ma'am," said the lady behind the cashier counter. "Okay", said Ava as she pulled out the cash from her long black leather purse and paid the lady. "Can I have it gift wrapped?" She asked the lady, "Yes, you may at the customer service counter to your right ma'am."

"Thank you", replied Ava as she made her way to the customer service counter. She picked out a navy blue wrapping paper with a silver ribbon. The lady behind the customer service counter, carefully unrolled the gift wrapping paper, cut it and began to wrap the purse in it using cellophane tape. Once it was wrapped, Ava thanked her and left the women's department in search of Jaxon at the men's department. She found him holding t-shirts and shirts in various colours and styles, looking unsure of himself, she offered to help him. "I'll hold onto these for you. Why don't you try them on the dressing room is that way," she said indicating with her head. "Alright", he said.

She made herself comfortable on the chairs that were available outside the dressing rooms. Jaxon was definitely lost, he knew the forest and its pathways but when it came to clothes he was completely lost as to which one to buy and what sort of styles suited him. He tried on the first one which was a red and black checkered shirt with long sleeves that you could roll up and button up.

"I like this one, it looks great on you," said Ava. Next he tried on a lime green t-shirt that looked luminescent. "No this one is way too bright," she said wrinkling her nose. He laughed at her expression and said "okay". He then tried on a sky blue shirt with vertical white stripes, "no, the cut does not suit you, here try the black shirt," she suggested. He tried it on and it fit him, it had brown buttons and the cut suited his body frame and size. "Take that one," she said smiling pointing at the black one. He nodded his head once as he heard her and took the red , an orange shirt and headed straight for the cashier counter.

"Well that's it I guess, you need to look for anything else?"

"No I think I'm good to go" she said in reply.

"Hey let's check out the cinema and see what's showing". At the cinema they were disappointed to find that most of the movies available were either horrors or psychological thrillers, remembering they were in the middle of October

Ava said "that's to be expected, romance, no sci-fi, and no adventure since we're in October." "You're right but come on I didn't think it would be this boring."

"Hehehe, neither did I, but at least we know what's showing," said Ava.

"I hate horror movies," he said thinking of the time when he watched Annabelle with his friend eight years ago.

"Strange, most guys enjoy horror movies," said Ava with a teasing smile.

"Not this guy," said Jaxon with a grin in return.

"I think the last time I went to the cinema was when Spiderman No Way Home came out and that's it."

"I missed that one," said Ava in return. "I have not gone to the cinema in ages, my friends got so busy with their love lives we stopped hanging out after a while".

"That's sad dudette" "Hahaha yeah it is, but I understand it as well," said Ava with a sigh.

"You want to head back to the hotel or you want to look around?" asked Jaxon.

"I don't mind popping in at the bookstore if they have one here." "I'd love to see the latest books on the shelves."

"Ok its this way", said Jaxon leading the way. They visited The Chosen Treasure bookstore, and the bell tinkled as they went in.

"Come in and welcome," said an elderly looking lady behind a white counter top.

"Hello, does this mall have Red Reads? The large bookstore," asked Ava.

"I'm sorry, ours is the only bookstore available", said the elderly lady whose name was Beatrice, reading her tag.

Ava said "that's alright thank you Ms Beatrice." "Do you happen to have Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers?"

"Yes we do, the movie is coming out next year, let me grab a copy for you from the back," said Ms Beatrice as she came back out of the store room with a book in her hand. She gave it to Ava, who held the book admiring the lovely cover that depicted a girl in a red ballgown.

"Thank you Ms Beatrice, I'll take this copy."

"That will be fifty-eight dollars," said Ms Beatrice.

"I don't need a plastic bag, thank you."

"Very well, thank you and please come again," said Ms Beatrice, as she and Jaxon left the quaint little shop tucked between Flora Works on the left and Timeless Pieces on the right.