Chapter 48

**Bella -Rose POV**

Sarah and I got ready and slowly dragged our feet towards Amanda's car where she sat impatiently checking her watch.

There is a reason for us to be this reluctant. You would do the same if you are in our place. Want to know why?

Amanda+ shopping = (minimum of 4 hrs.) * (pain in the ball of the foot due to usage of high speed+ pain in arms due to carrying the load exceeding the capacity)/ (exhaustion) - (Money spent by Amanda).

If you can solve the above equation then you will understand what I'm talking about. For those of you who are poor in mathematics like me, let me explain in simple terms.

Amanda loves to drag Sarah and me around the expensive cloth stores where blue-collar workers like us can only watch but couldn't touch the product. After that, she gives us a 30-minute break to regain our energy. And then she embarks on the journey to find accessories, shoes, and handbags.

If we are lucky then there is a high chance of ending this adventure within 4 hours. However, if Amanda is in a mood like now, we may as well pack our blankets and pillows with us. No kidding.

I mumbled to Sarah as we walked at a snail's pace towards the car, "what are the chances?"

"None. Target has been engaged. You don't have a chance. It's better to accept your fate", Sarah said gravely.

"Thought so. If I bake 2 batches of cookies for you, will you plan a decoy?" I asked desperately to bribe Sarah.

"Even if you bribe me with 10 batches, I couldn't do a thing. There is high surveillance. Thinking about escaping in this tight security is a huge risk", Sarah said as she pointed with her chin towards Amanda who started tapping her fingers on the steering wheel.

"10! Now you are being greedy", I scoffed at the ridiculousness.

"When the danger is high, you need to raise the stakes. I can't risk my life if there is not enough incentive", Sarah replied cunningly.

"3 and no more", I tried to bargain with her.

"You are being so cheap. 3! Really Bella? I might as well join Amanda. At least she buys lunch for being nice", Sarah marched towards Amanda with longer strides. I hastily walked to catch up with her and replied,
"Talk like that and you might as well wag your tail when she pets you. 4 and that's my final offer", I said, determined to win this bargain.

"Nope. Still too low. I guess you will like squeezing yourself in 100 different dresses", Sarah smirked devilishly.

I shivered at the horror Sarah painted. I can picture it clearly as daylight- my skin turning red and sweaty from the abuse Amanda has made. My fingers shivering from the (n+1) dresses it has to zip up and remove. My ribs are protesting as they are at the brink of being crushed yet again for another dress. If they can speak, they would be begging "please, no more".

"Please Sarah. For the sake of our friendship. You can do this, can't you? A friend in need is a friend indeed", I upped my game as I pleaded my case in desperation.

Sarah sighed as if I'm asking her to donate a kidney to me. " 5 Batch of cookies, Bells. And I want every batch with a different flavor. No objections. Should be packed and delivered to me personally. And extra cookie dough packed separately", Sarah tickled her fingers off.

"Done. Done. Now, what's the plan?" I waved my fingers in agreement and looked at her face expectantly. If a competition is made between a puppy's look and mine, I might win it. I was THAT amplifying my inner cuteness.

"Plan? I thought you had the plan", Sarah stopped her marching suddenly, and turned towards me. I collided with her back and stumbled. Before I could fall down, I regained my balance and asked her,

"Seriously? If I have planned beforehand, I would have executed it by now", I sighed at my hopelessness. Red skin, here I come (internally crying like a baby).

Amanda lowered her window and pounded one long, sharp note on the horn. She then tilted her head out of the window and shouted, "what's taking so long? Come on, hurry up. We don't have time. We have a lot of stuff to do"

"She is saying as if we are going on a sale on Walmart and there is only last stock left", Sarah said to me as I resigned myself to my fate.

"I wonder if she ever stepped foot on Walmart", I tried to think about such an occasion happening and found none.

"I would love to take a picture of her reaction when she looks at the sale racks", Sarah snickered.

"Who knew you could be so evil, Sarah?"

"Guys, come on. We don't have all day", Amanda yelled.

At the last step, I called back Sarah and said, "Forget about those 5 batches. If I survive this, you owe me a treat"

"That's not fair. What does it have anything to do with me?" Sarah wailed at the injustice. Tough luck. If I suffer then she must too. Insert evil laugh.

"You are a willing participant. That's enough reason", I told her and sat on the backseat swiftly, before Amanda may pull the steering wheel in her frustration.

After entering into the store what happened there... I couldn't tell in words. ** content not shown as it violates the policy of writing about extreme violence. (Note- this is written by the author so, please don't be scared. Bella has not been murdered… yet) **

Suffice it to say, we (mainly Amanda) were able to manage to buy THE dress. Only after trying a gazillion and one dress. I wish we had tried that dress first. However, when I looked at the bill, my heart stopped for a second saying- "will meet you in the next life", before picking up its speed. My brain cells were withering helplessly inside me at this injustice.

I shakily extended my card to the cashier. The cashier tried to take the card from me but I don't know how my fingers got glued to the card (really don't know...giving an innocent look). I was seriously thinking about a tug of war with the cashier when Amanda dropped the bomb, "I will pay for the dress".

Cue jaw drop. Sarah and I stared at her as if she is an alien just dropped from the sky.

"Who. Are. You?" Sarah asked, stunned.

I stood still as a statue with my mouth gaped open for all the flies to have a vacation inside me.

"What? It's not like I haven't done this before" Amanda made light of the historic event that's taking place.
Amanda stood before me as a goddess with eye hurting brightness. I can hear the chord in the background. It's the feeling of when you walked for miles in the desert thirsty and your throat parched, and suddenly she materializes in front of you with a flask of water. I would have cried if I was not tired.

"No, you haven't", Sarah said with a subtlety of ripping a bandage and dispelling my glorious imagination. I poked my elbow in her stomach to stop spouting her gibberish.

"Anyways, it's in the past. Consider this as my apology for last night", Amanda said as she swiped her card.
"Wow. I wish I had words with you too. How about tonight?" Sarah said unceremoniously as she gazed at the bill enviously.

Before Sarah can open her mouth some more and ruin this eye-catching big gesture of Amanda- which is very important to me right now, I pulled her towards the entrance.

After peeping into some more shops, I was at the stage where I was contemplating crawling instead of walking when Amanda so casually said, " next stop, makeup".

I couldn't even manage to cry a single teardrop after hearing that. I'm that tired and dehydrated.
Sarah fared better. Of course, she did. Her body is not abused like mine.

I tried to plead my case once more. "Is it really necessary? I heard no makeup is the new fashion"

"Nope. You need all the help in that department, trust me", Amanda patted my hand that is holding the dress.

Ouch. Talk about friendly advice. Why bother feeling sorry! I accepted the fact that making me look pretty is like starting a fire in a rainstorm.

With utmost reluctance, we entered another shop. I looked at the various varieties of contours, highlights, blush, foundation, etc., and all I could think about is how can one face handle this much makeup? It's like we are dipping our face in it.

Though reluctant to use it, I have full confidence in Amanda's taste in makeup and her style. Hence, I gave her full reign to buy whatever she presumes correct with my only condition,

"I want to go as minimal as possible. It has to be natural Amanda".

To which Amanda replied, "Leave that to me", off-handedly.

That's what I was afraid about. I should have used Scott's name as a bargaining tool when I had the chance. If for nothing else, at least, he would have been useful for this purpose.