Chapter 11
“The shoes stay!” Court argued with Rebel, trying to hold on to the last vestige of the person she actually was. They were the only thing she’d be wearing for three days that were all Court and not some dressed-up version of what she thought others wanted to see.
Rebel grabbed them and tossed them at the closet, only to have them hit the wall just beside the open door. There was a reason Rebel wasn’t in sports. “Honey, those don’t go with anything you’re going to wear this weekend. Besides, they are gaudy. And they make your feet look like you're fourteen.”
“One of the best basketball stars of all time created those just for me.” Rushing over to the shoes, Court picked them up. They were her newest favorites, just not for any of those reasons. They were nice shoes, and she had only worn them a few times.
Rebel grabbed them away from her. “You don’t watch basketball, and you bought them online. Which leaves me baffled as to why the obsession with the shoes.”
“They make my feet feel and look good.”
Rebel rolled her eyes and looked at the bag that was packed, sitting by the door. “Do you have any footwear that would go with any of the outfits we bought?”
“Footwear?”
“Shoes that aren’t usually worn by teenagers?” She tossed them again into the closet. This time they landed in the middle of the walk-in.
“These are too expensive for teenagers.” She left them, but swore to herself she was taking them no matter what anyone said.
“You don’t know much about teenagers, but it doesn’t matter. You need shoes.” She started pacing. “I knew we should have bought you shoes, but Ellis insisted you had footwear that worked. Which you don’t. I don’t know what she was thinking.”
Sitting down on her bed, Court hated herself already.
The capris she had on were white, and the shirt was pink, and she felt like jumping out of her own skin in the outfit.
Adding a pair of uncomfortable shoes wasn’t going to improve anything.
“It doesn’t matter, I’m calling this all off.
I don’t want to go. I have nothing to wear, and it’s just stupid. ”
Rebel’s eyes went soft at her words. It seemed she knew Court was hitting a wall. “You can wear my sandals, as long as you bring them back in one piece. I happen to love these.”
Court knew the woman loved tall shoes because, like her sister, she was on the shorter side. Tall shoes were a staple in her work wardrobe. “I can’t do heels, and I won’t. I can pretend to be fem, but there is just so far I can go.”
“Not these, silly,” she stuck out her foot and admired her red high heel with a heel so thin Court didn’t know how it didn’t break when she walked.
“I have a pair of flat sandals in my car. They’ll work for the entire weekend, drawing no undue attention.
We’re luckily the same shoe size, so it’ll work. ”
Hurrying out of the apartment, Rebel left the door open and Court alone.
The only part of her that was comfortable right now was her feet, which were bare.
The capris were cargo style, which was an improvement on all the others she’d tried on for the sisters.
Nevertheless, they weren’t her style. But even she had to admit they made her legs look long, and her ass was perfection right now.
Plus, she had a pocket for her phone, something she had noticed the Ellis sister’s clothing usually lacked.
“Okay, they’re brown, which feels a little wrong, but we’re desperate right now since time is limited, which means we’re going to just do it.” She held out the sandals as if they were her most prized possession.
“Like my Jordans. I should wear them.” She suggested as she took the shoes from her.
Tow tapping, Rebel’s patience was running short. “Do you really want me to call Ellis right now? She’s in court, but would walk out if she knew you were going to wear these shoes with that outfit.”
“I won’t tell her.” Court promised, hugging them to her.
“I will.” She said and sounded just like her mom.
It wasn’t the first time it had happened, but it gave Court chills every time it happened.
And not once had she ever told Rebel she’d hate it.
The sisters both disliked the idea of turning out like Ji Ellis, but Court would love to be just like the woman. She was confidence personified.
“Fine, but I might fall in love with them and never give them back.” She teased as she analyzed the shoes in her hands. At least they didn’t look like they were uncomfortable. Not unlike almost everything else Rebel wore on her feet.
“If that happens, you can have them. I’ll just have you buy me new ones. I know you're good for it.” She handed them over reluctantly. “Are you still nervous?”
“Yeah,” she admitted, there weren’t that many people in the world she’d admit that to, and Rebel was one of them.
Sitting down next to her, Rebel took a shoe and undid the buckle. “If it gets too uncomfortable, just leave. You don’t have to stay the entire time. But Ellis is right, you need this. Closure or whatever it is. This is a once in a lifetime chance. Take it.”
“I know, I just don’t want to.” Taking the shoe, she slipped it on her foot and was surprised it did actually fit. They had never shared shoes before.
“That’s how life is. A bunch of shit you have to do even if you don’t want to.”
“What do you do that you don’t want to do?”
“Nothing, baby, my life isn’t like yours.” Jumping off the bed, Rebel dropped the other shoe on her lap.
Shaking her head at her friend, she slipped the second sandal on. “Why are you in such a good mood? You’ve been tossing out baby’s and honeys as if you’re in love with me.”
“I have a date tonight.” Rebel said and giggled.
“Oh, I see. With who?”
“The saleswoman from Sole.” She named the store they had been in two days before.
Court rolled her eyes. “No, I was there the entire time.”
“Then you missed when she slipped me her number. I guess I still have it.” She blew on her knuckles and rubbed them on her skirt.
Getting up, Court took a few tentative steps on the sandals. They were comfortable, but she wouldn’t admit that to Rebel. Not today and not ever. “Are you still upset about the Stephanie thing? She wasn’t into you.”
“Yes, she was. You just had to prove yourself and steal her.” Rebel scowled.
“Believe what you want. I have to go.” Court grabbed her overnight bag and briefcase on her way out of her bedroom. Sure, she probably wouldn’t work, but if there was downtime, she liked to keep busy.
Rebel followed behind her. “Or we could just keep talking about this. I know you think she wasn’t into me, but that’s not the vibe I was getting. She was so into me.”
“That wasn’t the vibe that was happening outside your head. She wasn’t interested in you.”
“Maybe if I see her this weekend, I’ll check out her not being interested in me. Do you think she’ll be out at the Button again?”
“I wouldn’t know. And I thought you had a date tonight. Will you be taking her to the Button?”
“Later, after the date. Tonight marks a week since you ran into her. What if she shows up again and you’re at this weekend family thing? Will she go home with me?”
“She was getting over a breakup last weekend. So probably not.”
“It’s only been a week. Isn’t she still getting over that breakup?”
“No.” She smirked and winked. After their night together, Stephanie was over her ex. There was no doubt about it.
But for a moment she thought about not going this weekend and heading to the button to find that woman again. Except she knew that another night with her was an even bigger mistake than actually going to her father’s house.