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Ben greeted me, and after settling in the car, I sent Xander a text.
Nadia: Hey, can we hang out after textile class today?Maybe shop and go out to eat?
Xander: New phone. Who dis?
I laughed out loud. Of course, he wasn’t going to make things easy.
Nadia: I’m sorry.
I bit my lip. What else was okay to text?I didn’t want you to judge me.
Xander: I’m sorry too for criticizing you when you just wanted advice.See you outside my dorm.
Nadia: Great!
A weight lifted off me, but at the same time, a familiar sadness took its place and drained me of all the happiness I had earlier. Xander had been my only friend for so long.No one wants to be friends with one of the slow kids.
Another layer of my early life peeled back, and I had no parachute to save me from falling into the darkness. The constant rejections when I tried to be friendly, the utter loneliness.
“Slow” was the label the kids branded me with because I was behind when I went to school. Once the nickname took, there was no way to shake it. Even when I left the special classes aftera few years, no one let me change. Through middle and high school.Only Xander.
Xander was always abrasive, but he treated me like I was normal, and that was what I liked most about him.He showed me how I could escape with creativity.While I tried to do things on my own, I needed my best friend.
Xander held up his hand. “I know you already made a deal with the devil.”
I rolled my eyes. “Paul’s not the devil.”
“He’s otherworldly gorgeous and offers you everything for a price.”
I looked away. “I don’t know why Paul chose me. I’d have seen him without him giving me anything.”
He placed his arm around my shoulder. “God, you’re uptight. I know you, Nadia. But you’re with him now, and you’re his princess.” He scanned over me from head to toe. “Let’s elevate your profile until you get your shopper. Did he give you a card yet?”
My mouth dropped open. “How on earth did you know about the card and shopper?”
Xander grinned. “It’s standard for these situations. Anything else?”
“He mentioned redecorating the apartment and my studio.”
His eyes widened. “He’s serious. Okay. If he gave you all that, then he wants you to give that card a workout.”
I took out my phone. Did I have a budget or limit? “I’m not sure what I’m allowed…Let me check with Paul first.”
After a few rings, he came on the line. “Nadia.”
My stomach filled with butterflies at hearing his voice. “Hi. Um, I don’t want to bother you.”
“You’re not.”
“Can I use the credit card, and what’s the…limit?” I whispered, feeling embarrassed, like I was asking for my allowance early.
“There is no limit. You can get whatever you want.”
I walked away from Xander’s wide eyes for more privacy. “Can I purchase things not for me?”
I couldn’t shop alone, and Xander would never ask me for money. But I couldn’t leave him behind. He always helped me and my family when we needed it. When Dad got sick and couldn’t hire extra help, Xander worked in the bakery for free. When he was still in Wisconsin and I had to work, Xander would take Dad for his dialysis.He taught me how to sew and bought me my first sewing machine.
“I’m not micromanaging money. Just let me know if you want to buy a country.”
