Chapter 6: A New Wardrobe and Harassment

Date: September 18th, 2023

Location: Ellington Shopping Centre, City of Ellington

Time: 12:01 PM (Local)

The group wanders through the mall before eventually stopping in front of a store simply named; “Lads.”

“Dad, I’m going to go scope out the latest “Call of Honor” over at Play.” Kayla states as she starts to turn to walk off in said direction.

“That’s fine, meet us in the food court when you’re done.”

Allen follows Brad and Valorie into the store and looks at the clothes hanging on racks and folded on shelves. Pastel shirts with low-cut v’s and high cut shorts hang from racks. Allen doesn’t like his chances in this store. An employee spots Allen from across the store and skips over to him before planting herself right in front of him while offering a flirty smile.

“Hi cutie! I’m Emily, can I help you?” Kayla scowls at the store employee. Brad just watches with a smirk at Kayla’s jealousy.

“Yeah, I’m looking for new clothes but these, (he holds up a pair of short shorts) are not my style.”

Emily frowns briefly before she offers another flirty smile.

“Ah, you’re ONE of those boys!”

“One of THOSE boys?” Brad asks with a scowl of his own.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I meant no offense. It’s a new trend right now. The boys are calling it, “going butch.” She uses air quotes at the last words.

Emily motions Allen towards a back corner of the store before walk-skipping towards the area. Brad gently grabs Allen’s arm and makes sure he has Allen’s attention.

“You get what will make you feel comfortable. I just ask that you broaden your horizons and consider what’s popular. If you stick out too much, it might single you out more.”

“He’s right Allen, you’re trying to integrate. Don’t forget! Besides, you DO have the figure to pull off that fuchsia number on the rack to your right!”

Allen glances to the right and sees the slim cut shirt with a low-cut v that Eve spotted. Brad follows his gaze and smiles.

Without looking, Allen grabs a couple of the shirts that he estimates to be his size and then chases after Emily to the “Butch” section.

“Don’t forget shorts!” Valorie hollers after she grabs a couple off a rack and then chases Allen while waving them around.

Allen eventually catches up to Emily and exhales a sigh of relief. Clothes more fitting to his sensibilities greet his sight. Emily helps him pick out different pants and shirts as Brad wanders around with Valorie while they whisper excitedly as they pick out clothes of off racks. Allen shakes his head as he watches them with suspicion. Emily waves her hand in front of his face while he continues to try to keep up with what they were pulling off racks.

“So. Got a girlfriend?”

“Nope.” Allen sighs.

“Looking?”

“Not really. Priorities.”

“You’re too cute to be single, ya know?”

“Yup.” Is his simple reply as he inspects a pleated, grey turtleneck sweater. He rubs the fabric between two fingers as checks out the sweater. This is more like it! He misses the huff from Emily.

Emily’s flirting is interrupted as Brad and Valorie come over to them with arms loaded with clothes. Allen raises an eyebrow at the sight.

Allen’s cursing any god that will hear him as he stands in front of the mirror with the latest outfit Brad wanted him to try. He swears he’s having DeJa’Vu but can’t place it.

“You look like that hero from the historical vids, Han Solo. Quite dashing!” he snaps his fingers in recognition. Han Solo was many a star pilot’s idol, even centuries into the future.

Allen’s wearing black, tight pants made out of stretchy material. He’s wearing a shirt with a low-cut v and brown boots trimmed in fur. A black, light jacket also trimmed in fur around the hood completes the look.

“At least the boots are comfortable.” He thinks as he checks himself from different angles in the mirror. Allen’s train of thought comes to a sudden stop. He knows he’s said this before…. He had, pre-hospital visit. Brain injuries just tend to make things fuzzy. Brad, Valorie, and Emily INSISTED he model the outfits they had picked out. He relented after Brad said he wouldn’t argue about Allen’s “unboyish” choices if he humored him. Allen had unequivocally shot down the male rompers though. Allen also had just dug his heels in the ground as he was done playing dress up.

“Hurry up in there! We wanna see!” Valorie shouts from outside the dressing room. Allen glances at the pile of clothes on the bench and his resolve hardens. “LAST ONE!” he hollers back.

“Wow!” Valorie says with her mouth open. Emily’s nose starts to bleed, and she rushes for a tissue with a red face. Brad smiles with fatherly pride.

“You look really nice, Allen. Want to wear it out?”

Allen glances back into the dressing room at the pile of clothes and nods his head. Brad, Allen, and Valorie grab up all of their selections and head to the register where Emily is having an argument with another employee.

“Come on! Let me take this one, I’ll give you the commission!” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “It’s my last chance to seal the deal, I’ll ask if he has a friend or brother!” The other employee rolls her eyes and leaves the counter. Allen and his group thankfully missed this interplay. He walks up and plops the pile on the counter. Valorie and Brad add their armful to the pile. Allen catches a glimpse of the dreaded shorts in the pile and looks over at Brad and Valorie. Brad looks away and Valorie smiles an evil smile at him.

Emily rings everything up while trying to engage Allen who looks on disinterestedly. She finishes up and Brad hands her a card to pay. They gather up the bags and walk out of the store with a smiling Emily following behind. She gives one last wave as they walk away before heading back into the store.

“That girl was thirsty!” Valorie says as she takes one final look back.

“Yes Val, being too desperate is definitely not attractive. Learn from her.” Brad simply states.

Allen is just trying to get his manhood to sit correctly in his too clingy pants. Brad looks over and sees what Allen’s doing.

“Allen, go to the bathroom if you need to adjust. You’re attracting the wrong type of attention.

Allen looks up and sees more than one girl leer at him. He suddenly feels like he’s in enemy territory. Valorie subtly shifts over to his side and walks closely to him. Allen doesn’t argue.

They arrive at the food court and smells in the air make Allen’s stomach grumble. Brad hears and lets out a chuckle.

“Looks like it’s lunch time. Allen, does anything catch your fancy?”

“I don’t know, there’s a lot of choices.”

“I’m grabbing a hotdog, want one Allen, dad? Valorie asks as she directs his gaze to a hotdog counter.

Allen and Brad nod their acceptance and follow Valorie up to the counter. They make their selections and then move to an empty table to wait for their order. Allen sets his bags down with a sigh. Brad and Valorie sit opposite to him. Allen brings a foot up on his knee and starts to rub it through the boot while rotating his ankle.

“You’ll have to break them in. Walking around today will help. After we are done eating, I’ll take you to get a cell phone.” Brad says with sympathy.

Allen chuckles. “That shopping I’m interested in. Shopping for clothes wore me out.”

Brad and Valorie chuckle and they all talk about the clothes Allen had gotten today. Eventually their food arrives, and they dig in. Allen takes a bite out his hotdog and groans in satisfaction. The hotdog pops in his mouth as he takes a bite, and he closes his eyes as he chews. Allen is savoring the taste when Eve speaks.

“Allen, about the hotdog….”

“Don’t ruin it, Eve. I need this.”

“But Allen….”

“Eve. Please. Ignorance is sometimes bliss.”

Eve shuts up at this. While Allen and his companions are enjoying their food, a group of girls sit down at the table behind him.

Allen just washed down his latest bite with a gulp of soda when he feels a finger tap on his shoulder. Brad and Valorie stop their conversation and scowl at the source.

“Hey handsome, we saw you from over by Star-Buzz. You dating anyone?”

Allen slowly turns around in his seat and his eyes land on 4 girls all staring at him. He puts his soda down and addresses the group.

“Look, I appreciate you taking the time to come talk to me, but can’t you see I’m with my father and big sis and just want to enjoy a meal with them?”

Brad smiles when he hears Allen say this and Valorie beams at being called his big sis and she starts to realize that she should see him as her little brother. The girl who tapped him on the shoulder scowls but then quickly replaces it with a smile.

“Aww, don’t be like that cutie. We just want to talk.”

“And I just want to eat.”

“HEY, DON’T BE A STUCK-UP PRICK!” one of the other girls hollers. Brad places a hand on Valorie’s shoulder as she tries to get up to defend Allen.

“Young lady, my son clearly has no interest in you, why don’t you leave him alone and let us eat in peace.”

“You stay out of this limp-dick, let your son handle his own!” Another girl chimes in.

“HEY TATER-THOT! YOU LEAVE MY FATHER OUT OF THIS! GET ZEROED, BITCH!” Allen shouts.

The food court goes silent. Brad stares at Allen with his mouth open. Valorie is torn between shock and trying to not burst out laughing. The girls all look at Allen in open shock too.

“What? No one FUCKS with me OR mine!” Allen states as if what just happened is normal as he points one finger down at the table to emphasize his statement. He then crosses his arms across his chest and leans back in his chair with a resolute nod.

Eventually, everyone gets over their shock and normalcy returns to the food court. Brad is still recovering from what just happened and Allen continues to eat his hotdog and fries. Valorie’s curiosity finally wins out and she asks Allen. “Get zeroed?” Brad tries the words out by mouthing them.

“Get screwed. Get fucked. Get the hell out of here. Take your pick.” Allen says without missing a beat. He doesn’t tell them that term actually comes from your ship getting blasted out from underneath you and you suddenly find yourself sucking vacuum. (I.E, your life zeroed out)

“While I understand you defending yourself and I’m happy you felt the need to defend me too, I don’t appreciate the language, Allen. It’s not becoming of a young man.”

“Heh….my bad. I just don’t like people messing with those I care about. I don’t abide bullies. I’ll watch my words more.”

Allen smiles and Brad’s initial horror from the language evaporates at the words. He smiles back at Allen and then glances at the girls behind Allen again before looking around for security. He spots an officer over by the entrance who’s watching the scene. Brad nods and goes back to trying to enjoy lunch again. Valorie picks up her food after a chuckle and goes back to eating. “BOBIRELLA!” she says in her head. Allen eventually finishes and looks around for a waste receptacle.

“I’m going to toss this, you guys finished with yours?” Brad and Valorie smile and thank Allen as he grabs up their trays. Allen walks over to the closest trash can and empties the trays and then sets them in the bin on top of the can. Then he turns around and walks back under the watchful eyes of the girls. As he goes to sit down, a loud smack rings out and pain blossoms on Allen’s right butt cheek. The thin material of the pants do nothing to soften the blow. Allen grits his teeth together to quell the sudden violence in his heart.

“Allen, 4 hostiles to your six!”

“No. Shit.”