Staying Hopeful

Instead of going to the hotel, Stefan and Jamal walked into a discount clothing store so they could get Jamal the clothes he needed for his new job description.

Rows of shelves stretched before them, stacked with shirts, pants, and jackets in muted colors. The store was nothing like the high-end boutiques Jamal was used to, but it served his purpose.

Jamal pulled a plain gray longsleeved shirt from a rack and held it up against his chest. "How do I look?" he asked, smirking.

"Like someone who's trying too hard to be average," Stefan replied, crossing his arms.

"Perfect." Jamal tossed the shirt over his arm and grabbed another in black.

Stefan exhaled, watching him sift through a pile of chinos trousers. "So how long am I supposed to be here pretending to be you? Earlier she asked when I was leaving Westend."