All The Pink Bags

"This one?" Aurora held up the bag, rushing to the mirror with a skip in her step. "You think this suits me?" She posed, the bag perched on her arm, then gave a little twirl. "Okay! I'm taking this one."

Daisy chuckled. "Nice to see you not hesitating to spoil yourself for once."

Aurora's smile faltered, almost imperceptibly. The weight of the money she received that morning sat like a rock in her gut. She turned, hesitating. "Daisy… I actually—"

"Oh! Who do we have here?"

A loud, too-familiar voice rang out from the boutique entrance. "The freshly downgraded heiress and her forever-broke sidekick!"

Daisy's eyes rolled so far back she nearly saw her own past mistakes. She turned sharply toward Aurora and hissed under her breath, "Go. Pay for the bag. We're leaving." Then, louder, without even glancing toward the newcomer, "I don't need my day ruined by a walking warning label."

"Why, why, why?" Roxanne marched forward with her usual entourage of overdressed shadows. "Go on, buy yourself more. I'm not here to interrupt your… hmm… window shopping?" She tossed her head back, laughing with her friends like they were filming a cheap drama.

Aurora didn't respond. She simply walked toward the cashier, clutching the bag a little tighter.

But Roxanne was faster. She stepped in and grabbed Aurora's wrist just as she reached the counter. "Are you sure you can pay for this bag?" she gasped theatrically, eyes wide. "Let me see…"

Before Aurora could react, Roxanne snatched the bag from her hands and turned it over dramatically.

"The price isn't that bad," she said sweetly, "but are you sure? You know, being the 'pillar' of your struggling family and all… Siblings' tuition, your crumbling house, groceries… everything on your shoulders. Should you really be spending on something so... unnecessary?"

"And what does that concern you?" Daisy snatched the bag back. "Mind your own business…"

Roxanne covered her mouth, annoying as always, "Are you paying for her? But you can't even pay for your own food these days, right?"

Daisy shut her eyes in an attempt to calm down, but her breath started to shake in anger, "If I struggle to eat, that's not your matter to butt in for. I didn't ask for your charity, did I?"

Roxanne's smile twitched. "Touchy." She leaned in slightly. "It's just sad to see how far you both have fallen. Not long ago, you were dripping in gold. Now you're just… clinging to scraps."

Daisy opened her eyes slowly, her voice steady despite the storm under her skin. "Clinging still means I haven't fallen, doesn't it?"

Roxanne blinked, thrown off for a beat. 

"And for the record," Daisy added as her sharp gaze met Roxanne's eyes, "we're not here to impress anyone. Least of all someone who's only relevant when she's talking about other people's misfortunes."

Roxanne cleared her throat, trying to recover her poise. "Well… I'm not here to talk about your misfortunes. I'm just saying, back when your chin was permanently raised to the sky, you acted like you were too good to be friends with us. Maybe if you had stuck around, you wouldn't be struggling now."

Daisy scoffed, passing the bag back to Aurora, "Do I look like I am struggling right now?"

Roxanne looked her up and down slowly, lips curling into a mocking smile. "Well, if that outfit's borrowed, then sure…" she shrugged her shoulders, "you look decent. But if that's the best you've got left in your closet… yikes. Starting to look a bit desperate, don't you think?"

Daisy didn't flinch. She tilted her head slightly, her voice smooth, almost pitying. "Funny. You talk like someone who's never had to struggle… but remind me, how many boyfriends have funded your little shopping addiction?"

Roxanne's eyes widened. "Excuse me?! Are you seriously implying I—"

Daisy raised an eyebrow. "Hit a nerve?"

Roxanne scoffed. "Please. I don't need to sell my body, thank you very much. My family's rich enough to support me. I don't have to serve coffee at some sad little café just to feed myself!"

"Yeah, whatever…" Daisy said, rolling her eyes. "Are you done?" She turned towards Aurora.

Roxanne laughed bitterly. "Honestly, it's kind of sad. You used to walk in here like you owned the place. Now look at you… playing assistant to your assistant. What happened, Daisy? Daddy's credit card stopped working?"

Daisy's fingers clenched. Her jaw tightened, but her voice stayed calm, "I should really fix that mouth of yours. She's my best friend. Not my assistant."

Roxanne scoffed, "Whatever makes you sleep at night."

Before Daisy could take another step forward, Aurora gently pulled her back. "Let it go," she whispered. "She's not worth it."

Daisy looked at her, her eyes flashing, then slowly dimming into something heavier. "Still… I hate this feeling."

Roxanne folded her arms, turning to the boutique staff with a voice loud enough for the entire store to hear.

"You know, I've always loved this place," she said, sighing dramatically. "But lately, it's just… changed. Letting in people who clearly can't afford anything? It's ruining the atmosphere."

A few heads turned. A cashier shifted uncomfortably behind the counter.

Daisy let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "What exactly determines who can afford something and who can't, Roxanne? The bag they carry? The clothes they wear? Or is it just whoever you feel like mocking that day?"

Roxanne tilted her head smugly. "I mean, it's pretty obvious when someone walks in looking like they belong in a clearance bin."

Daisy's smile sharpened. "Careful. That mouth of yours is writing cheques your daddy might not want to cash."

Roxanne flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Please. We all know the only reason you used to strut around here was because of your last name. Now that the Sinclairs are broken, you're basically a charity case. It's honestly embarrassing watching you cling to people like her just to stay relevant." She nodded toward Aurora, who stiffened.

That was it. She had enough.

Daisy stepped forward, pulling her wallet from her bag in one smooth motion. She slapped her black card onto the counter.

"I will take all the pink bags from this store!"