Currency

Emma

Sophie held up a green dress to herself. "What do you think?" she spun in a circle.

"Try it on, I really want to see it!" Mara said. "Did you find anything you like, Emma?" Mara picked through her bag already filled with random articles of clothing.

Emma blushed deeply, but pulled out a light blue blouse. And a few pairs of pants. "Yeah, I don't know if I could justify the price though." she laughed, but it didn't reach her eyes. She really didn't belong in a boutique like this. She only had enough money to buy the blouse alone. It was all the money she had brought with her.

"Try it on anyway!" Mara urged. "And try it with those pants there."

Emma shrugged. It wouldn't hurt to try them on at least. Mara was right. So she inhaled deeply, sliding into one of the changing rooms. They were bigger than her walk in closet that had amazed her when she'd arrived at the school. Three walls were mirrors polished to be impossibly clear. Another wall, painted a pleasant shade of blue had a large plush couch and a vanity. There was a puffy, round ottoman to match the couch in the middle of the floor. She spun in a slow circle, her feet spinning easily on the white quartz floors. She almost let her mouth drop open at the sight of it. The light fixture that hung from the ceiling was made of shimmering crystals so large it almost defied gravity the way it hung from the ceiling by a single silvery cord.

When Emma had arranged the blouse she turned to look at the mirror. It made her eyes look as blue as the cerulean oceans on the continent. The blue fabric was like a cloud around her. It hugged the top of her torso before falling loosely to her waist, swaths of fabric swishing when she spun, exposing her waist where the slim white jeans Mara recommended met it. Her breath caught.

And then she smiled. Really smiled. She wanted to giggle. This was how she'd imagined the continent in a way. Her troubles were nothing more than worrying about a math test and trying to find a cute top for a party. She didn't have to worry about what she would eat next, who would get too close to her in the Pitts, whether or not Audenzitios decided her life had gone on for long enough. And though she knew it was silly, she just couldn't walk out of the store without the blouse.

"What do you think Mara?" she asked, exiting the room, practically glowing. She spun in a circle.

Mara gasped before she squealed out, "Sophie look! This is perfect! Look!"

Sophie peeked out of the room, "You're right Mara. Emma it looks absolutely perfect. And I have a pair or sapphire earrings that would go perfectly with that outfit!"

"Do you have somewhere to take that blouse to?" Mara asked.

"Well," Emma blushed, "Sophie, your brother invited me to a party tonight." she trailed off, looking at her feet. She didn't know why she was blushing.

Sohpie gasped, "That brat he told me that it was for the tourney team only!"

"You got invited to a party by Sean?" Mara asked.

"Yeah, he told me to bring a few friends." Emma said, fiddling with her fingers. "Have you two ever been to a party with them?"

Mara shook her head. "I'm surprised you did. They are usually limited for upperclassmen."

Emma shrugged, "Well, I don't know... we have chemistry together so—"

"You're in a class with Sean?" Sophie asked, "Emma, he's in senior year classes all advanced. Why are you in that class?"

Emma blushed, "I— Well I'm a senior this year. I'll be going to the college next year."

Mara gaped, "You're sixteen Emma, that's ridiculous. How did you do that…?"

Emma shrugged again, "Well the schools on the island were, to say the least, subpar. I quickly finished all the way through senior year. I read all the books they had in their library to simply learn something. There was always less teaching subject matter and more teaching things like behavior and rules and laws. Or something like that."

"That's why you aren't in any of our classes," Sohpie mused, "I mean, it is possible not to have any classes together, but unlikely. Especially since Mara and I barely have any classes together, so you'd be in at least one of our classes, you know?"

"So you're super smart then, right?" Mara asked, "Well, that's a dumb question…"

Sophie giggled, "Yeah, and that's why you're not ahead two years."

Mara rolled her eyes, failing to suppress a smile, "Shut up Soph."

The girls were checking out, the young woman at the desk smiling, her saccharine appearance almost sickening. Absolutely fake.

"Mara, how nice to see you here again, did you find everything you were looking for?" She asked sweetly, folding the clothes and placing them into Mara's canvas bag.

Mara nodded, "I'm glad you restocked the scarves. I was devastated to find out the display was going to be removed. I buy a new one every time I'm here."

The woman nodded. "Of course, we really want to keep our most dedicated customers happy."

Mara smiled in return, picking her bag up. She walked over to Sophie to wait for Emma.

"Hello, find everything you like today?" the sales clerk asked her as Emma placed the blouse up on the counter.

"Yes, thank you."

"This is all?" she asked, her smile almost faltered.

"Um yeah, thanks." Emma said, "Just the blouse."

The sales clerk shrugged before naming the price.

Emma nodded, pulling her wallet out. She tried to keep her fingers from shaking as she placed the dirty bills on the counter.

"You're joking, right?" The clerk asked with a chuckle. "We don't take those anymore. The continent has one system of currency, sorry hon."

"That's… that's fine," Emma said, starting to put them back in her wallet.

"Wait! I didn't even recognize you. You're one of those girls from the island." She said, "Well, sorry I can't accept your dirty currency." The clerk took the blouse from the counter, putting it on her side and waving Emma goodbye.

Her face turned red as she walked over to Sophie and Mara empty handed. She felt the stares of other customers on her back.

"Did you decide not to get it?" asked Sophie as they exited the store.

Emma shrugged, looking the other way, trying to hold back tears. It was just a stupid shirt, why was she so upset? "They um… they don't take currency from the island." Her voice turned to almost a whisper at the end. She blinked swiftly, keeping the tears at bay.

"What? Emma, say something next time. I can cover it for you. Let's go back!" Mara started to turn around.

"No! No, don't. It's fine, really. And guys, while this has been super fun, I'm actually really tired. Meet me at my dorm when you're done, you are the friends I'm bringing to the party." Emma smiled back at them, hoping they bought the act.

"Are you sure?" Sophie asked. "We've only been to three stores."

"We only have one on the island," Emma said, "I'll have to build my way up I guess. See you later."

They waved goodbye, and Emma practically ran down the stairs towards the bus stop outside the shopping mall.

She exhaled heavily, sitting down on the bench, resting her head in her hands. She let herself cry, alone at the stop. The bus wouldn't come for another seven minutes according to the schedule on the wall of the covered bus stop. Of course she wouldn't get the normal experience on the continent. She wasn't from the continent. She didn't really belong here. Not that she belonged on the isle either.

When the bus pulled up, she climbed on, swiping her bus pass, then making her way a few rows back. The bus was completely empty. Emma sighed. Originally, she was going to go back to her dorm, but when the bus stopped by the hospital, she climbed out. The bus driver waved, and she lifted a halfhearted hand in reply.

Then she ascended the steps to the sprawling hospital. Visitor hours ended in a few hours. She'd have plenty of time to see Gisa before she had to go back to get ready for the party.

"Here to see Gisa again?" asked the receptionist.