Family Tradition

“Enough shoe shopping, Bec! You’ve already bored me to tears shopping, and I’m sure these guys are even worse off than me. I’m at least used to your shopping habits. But could we please not subject the helpless boys to the same torture?”

Rebecca looked back to her friend with a small smile. She did have a weakness for shoes, and all of her friends who went shopping with her knew this. Besides, it had become almost a ritual to stop by the shoe store and browse.

“Oh hush, Ivy. Besides, I think I have more than earned this. I did just finish an essay exam in Dr. Munroe’s class. And everyone on campus complains about those. And as for the guys, I gave them both fair warning. And I haven’t heard any complaining.”

Rebecca turned and walked back over to where the two guys were standing looking at several pairs of dress shoes. She smiled and nodded just a bit.

“Ivy seems to believe that I’m boring you to tears by my shoe shopping fascination. If that’s true we can leave. I’m probably not going to buy anything. Just a habit of mine, almost a ritual really.”

“Oh no, it’s alright. Besides, this guy has a thing for shoes as well. I’ve had to tear him away from several purchases on this visit alone. And he’s visited me multiple times.”

Rebecca laughed lightly at Jon’s words. Then she remembered that he was a Chicago native himself. Then why would Petey have asked her to show them around? She was getting to be more suspicious of her brother as the day wore on.

She gave up trying to determine her brother’s logic and reason, as there was not likely to be an answer to such a question, and simply turned back to Spencer with a smile.

“So I have a fellow shoe shopper, do I? That’s good because that means someone else understands about the habit, right? And don’t feel like you have to agree or hang around here while I browse. I can always drag Ivy out to shoe shop with me some other time. Or I could drag Petey out. Although that idea is starting to sound appealing at the moment.”

“Drag Pete where? And don’t even think about asking me to go shoe shopping with you again. Besides, you promised me a movie the other day. If I recall, it was in response to a bet that you lost. So let’s go before I drag you out of this store.”

Rebecca turned back to where Ivy had walked up. She rolled her eyes playfully then turned back to the two guys with a dramatically apologetic smile.

“Well, it looks like our friends have overruled our shoe shopping habits, Spencer. I think we should leave before this one at least gets too testy for anyone’s good.”

“Sad but true it seems. Perhaps we shall go on a shoe shopping spree another time. Without the shoe dislike friends. Although now I’m curious as to what this bet of yours was on. Could one of you lovely ladies explain, or is it top secret female gambling?”

Rebecca laughed at Spencer’s question and the smirk on his face. Both boys were turning out to be rather nice and interesting, and she could see why they would be liked.

As they were leaving the shoe store, Rebecca was about to answer Spencer’s question when she noticed a group of what appeared to be crazed fangirls. She shuddered out of habit, a slight groan escaping her lips. Not again!

Spencer must have noticed because he leaned over slightly and laughed, lowering his voice to where only she could hear, stopping near the door.

“Don’t worry. Besides, they may not even be here for you. A few autographs and polite conversation and we can continue on our way. Jon’s the ladies man around here anyways. If we can convince them he’s on a date with Ivy even, we might could get them away faster.”

Rebecca smiled gratefully and gave Spencer a quick one-armed hug. She had forgotten that the boys were probably even more accustomed to the fangirls than she was, as they seemed to have their own following as well. And she couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of having Ivy and Jon pretend they were on a date. It certainly had its appeal. She grinned mischieviously and turned back to where Jon and Ivy were standing.

“We’re about to be hit with fangirls, Ivy. Our solution is this. Get up close to Jon and hold his hand and such.” Rebecca lowered her voice as Spencer went to tell Jon about the plan. “And you shouldn’t be complaining either. I can tell you think he’s hot. So that’s not a problem. Now go before the fangirls attack them before we even leave the store.”

Rebecca playfully pushed Ivy along as she walked over to where Jon and Spencer were standing pretending to be interesting in a sneaker display. She walked up beside Spencer and lightly touched his arm.

“So, are we agreed?”

“Reluctantly, but yes. Jon hasn’t seen some of the insane things fangirls have done up close and personal yet. But at least he understands and will follow through, if it comes to that.”

“You two realize that I’m standing right here, don’t you? Let’s just go ahead and get this one over with. If you don’t mind, that is.”

Jon looked over at Ivy to see her response. At Ivy’s shrug, Rebecca couldn’t help but laugh. She took Spencer’s arm and began pulling him back towards the exit, laughing under her breath.