(4) The Makeover; Part 2

Anddddd here comes major hottie, Theo 👍

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Makennah and Matt enjoyed comfortable small talk in the car. More like the majorly expensive tricked out blacked out brand new Grand Cherokee Jeep. Makennah nearly died when her butt cheeks touched the cool leather seats.

They showed up to the mall after Matt let Makennah scroll through his Instagram. He showed her specific girl's pages, pointing out particular outfits and giving her pointers. Makennah took mental notes while weighing approximately how much a wardrobe of this type would cost. Matt hadn't set a budget, but from the way he talked about what he was purchasing, he was looking to spend several hundred dollars on himself alone.

Surprisingly, Matt talked down her nerves and had a way of encouraging her without really realizing what he was doing. He was a natural big brother, even if Makennah wasn't his real sister.

"My friend, Theo, is meeting us in the food court. We'll go there first."

Wordlessly, Makennah nodded and followed Matt through the parking lot. Self consciously, she tugged on her shorts wondering what type of people they would run into in the mall. She was probably embarrassingly underdressed.

Briefly, Makennah questioned what kind of friend Matt hung out with. And she wondered if he would be as hot as Matt.

Inside the doors, the cool AC made the hairs rise on her arms as the chill set in.

Or maybe it was the drop dead gorgeous male model leaning on an oversized potted plant with his phone in his hand that Matt instantly approached, welcoming each other with wide smiles and a secret handshake.

Well Makennah was wrong about Matt having friends that are as hot as him.

Because this dude was smoking. Way hotter than Matt.

Turning to Makennah, Matt slapped his friend on the shoulder. "Theo, this is Makennah. My new sister."

Her heart beat faster at the fact that Matt called Makennah his sister and also the stunning way too charming smile Theo turned on her.

Theo reached out his hand. "Theodore Alexander Rose III at your service."

Makennah smiled nicely, remembering to show her teeth, and slid her hand into his. His warm hand enveloped hers. His charming smile morphed into a devil-May-care smirk as he looked Makennah up and down with sparkling chocolate eyes rimmed with full lashes. He lifted his chin and looked down at her, assessing the blush growing on her cheeks. Makennah got lost in her head imagining running her fingers through his full head of dirty blonde hair, just a shade darker than her own.

She remembered that she was still shaking his hand and that she was supposed to say something. "Uh...Makennah Claire Thomas. The first."

Rich people and their fancy names. Eye roll.

Theo released her hand and tucked his hands into his expensive jean pockets. "You can call me Theo of course."

Makennah just nodded in response. Mentally, she berated herself for staring for an ungodly amount of time and willed her heart beat to slow. She had seen and talked to, even dated, attractive guys before. Why the heck was she acting brand new around Theo?

"Let's get started, shall we?" Matt said, pointing in the general direction of the stores they needed to visit.

"Let's hit it," Theo said, dragging his hand through his hair drawing Makennah's attention to his very prominent, toned tanned biceps and triceps that rippled with each movement of his arm.

Matt led the way and Makennah started to follow, hoping to put some distance between her and Theo.

A smooth deep voice whispered in Makennah's ear causing chills to ripple down her spine. "No worries, Matt didn't realize you were staring at me, checking me out."

Makennah's mouth hung open in shock. She stopped suddenly, stunned that Theo had the gull to say that to her as if she was checking him out. Which she totally wasn't!

Okay, just a little.

Theo circled around her like a water flows around a rock in a river, unbothered and unfazed. He shot her a devilish smile over his shoulder as he trailed after Matt who hadn't even realized what happened.

In that one second, Makennah summed up all she needed to know about Theo: an assuming egotistical moronic player who couldn't keep it in his pants or mind his business a day in his life.

Makennah decidedly hated him.

And he wasn't attractive anymore.

Okay, so at least she hated him.

"Let's go here first," Matt instructed halting in front of a store obviously geared towards teenage girls. Makennah glanced up at the storefront but didn't recognize the name. Maybe it was a boutique. Although she spotted a few things that she might like, Makennah waited for Theo and Matt to proceed inside first.

"What are we looking for?" Theo asked, strolling behind Matt as if they frequented lady's boutiques often.

Nervously, Makennah chewed on her lip and trailed after the two heart throbbingly delicious teenage boys.

"Makennah wants some new clothes. I told her that I would show her around," Matt answered, covering for the real reason that they were shopping today. She appreciated Matt's decency in keeping it low key that she wouldn't fit in without his help.

Makennah ran her fingertips over a soft top with a bow around the waist, dragging her fingers around the wrack, fingering sleeves and noting the expensive fabrics.

"Take this!" Excitedly, Matt puked three shirts into Makennah's arms.

"And this!" Theo topped off the pile with a skirt.

"What's your favorite color?" Matt asked.

"Um...blue?" She answered more like a question than a statement. She wasn't actually sure. She just knew that she looked best in blue.

"You probably look good in blue," Theo said quizzically, looking her up and down again in an assuming way, picturing her in a blue outfit. "Get that dress, Matt!" Theo pointed across the store. While Matt retrieved the dress that Makennah couldn't see, Theo tossed another shirt on the growing pile in Makennah's arms. Quickly, Matt returned with the dress and laid it over the pile.

Makennah blew her hair out of her face and looked down at the stack of clothes in her arms. Nicer clothes than she had ever owned in her life.

"Let's get some jeans," Theo suggested.

"Good idea. What size are you Mack?"

"Mack?" Theo questioner. "Oh," he smiled. "I like it."

"I'm a 4. Or a 26." The only reason she knew the fancy number usually reserved for more luxurious jeans was because she happened to stumble across a few pairs in the thrift store.

"Get one of every color," Matt told Theo.

Makennah's arms started to ache with all of the clothes in her arms. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and flexed her arms to readjust the stack.

"This is probably a good start. Time to try on!" Matt clapped his hands and ushered her over to private hall with a round sectional couch in the center, overstuffed with fancy girly pillows.

"No. I really don't need to try on. It's fine."

"Yes you do," Theo argued.

"Yeah, we need to know what looks good and if we switch the color on any of these tops. Plus it will help us figure out what you like," Matt reasoned as he plopped down on the couch and motioned for Makennah to enter one of the open dressing rooms.

Makennah gulped. She really wasn't in the mood for a fashion show. Might as well get this started.

She opened the pink door, closed it, and dumped the clothes in the bench inside.

She sorted through the clothes and put some outfits together before she undressed. Her heart hammered in her chest to the beat of the pop music filtering through the speaker system.

A few seconds later, Makennah emerged from the dressing room in her favorite looking jeans that the boys picked out and a white flowy shirt.

"Nice, those jeans fit good. Spin around." Without any judgement or perversion, Matt doin his finger around, gesturing for Makennah to swirl around to get the full view of the outfit.

Uncomfortably, she obliged.

"I know what shoes she needs. I'll be back," Theo states before he disappeared. God, they were getting shoes too?

"Next outfit!" Matt cheered her on, pushing her back into the fitting room.

In a minute or two, she came back out in white, golden buttoned shorts with frayed ends and an off-the-shoulder peachy floral top.

"Oh that's perfect. You need some sandals too! I guess a size seven. Is that right?" Theo asked.

"Spin around," Matt said at the same time.

"I'm more like a six and a half," she told Theo.

"Alright, I'll get the right boot size too." Theo disappeared again.

"Great, we'll get that too. Next outfit!"

The anxiety that lingered in her chest started to dissipate every time she exited the dressing room. The boys assessed each outfit with clear fair eyes, noticing what looked better on her than what didn't.

Makennah was surprised that Theo stopped being so flirtatious and truly tried his best to find accessories and shoes that would properly compliment her outfits. Beyond that, neither of the boys judged her for not knowing fashion very well or already not owning such fancy items. Not once did they check a price tag or rule out an expensive item. Almost every shirt, jeans, dress, and shoes went straight into the "buy" pile instead of the "return" pile.

When Makennah tried on every outfit, she begrudgingly put on her old clothes that failed in comparison to the new outfits Matt was about to purchase.

"I'm kinda thirsty," Matt mentioned to Theo. "Wanna go get a drink?"

"Wait," Makennah yelped-whispered to Matt. He was about to ditch her to buy these?! She had no money! He knew that!

"We'll be back." Turning his back to Theo, Matt winked at Makennah and slyly slid the credit card in her hand.

Sighing heavily, Makennah smiled as best she could. The tears that bit at the back of her throat caused her to stumble over her words and she couldn't properly thank him. From now, she shouldn't underestimate Matt. Thus far, he proved himself trustworthy and that he would have her back.

The embarrassment that previously crept up her neck faded away as she approached the counter and laid the clothes down. Already, a stack of shoes and jewelry as well as a jazzy purse lay behind the counter waiting for her. The attendant politely checked Makennah out. Makennah watched the total wrack up with each item and her eyes grew bigger every time.

The total came to $397.26.

Makennah couldn't believe it. As best she could, she hid her shock and willed herself not to pass out. It felt so wrong to swipe Carolynn's credit card but Matt assured her this was the deal. So she just did it.

And walked out of the store with four bags and $397.26 worth of merchandise.

Those same bags sat at the boys feet as Makennah retreated to yet another dressing room, even frillier than the last with a tufted wingback chair, a rose gold rimmed oval mirror, and white swirling hooks for the clothes to hang on. In this store, Makennah added a few items that caught her eye to the pile of clothes when the guys weren't looking. They learned their lesson from the last time and remember to pair boots, sandals, and jewelry with the clothes she picked out so that she could try on the entire ensemble.

Makennah started with a casual outfit.

She slid a watch on her wrist and strapped gladiator sandals on her feet before she exited the dressing room.

Both Matt and Theo nodded their head appreciatively. "Where did that shirt come from?!" I like it!" Matt asked.

Makennah stood in front of the mirror and fingered the hem of her shorts. "I picked it out."

"Low key, I like it," Theo said, leaning back in one of the chairs in the dressing room area while appraising her outfit.

"Next!"

Makennah hurried into another outfit. If anyone asked, she would deny that she was enjoying this. Truly, she was thrilled. Never in her life was she able to go on a shopping spree. She never knew that one could feel so free buying clothes.

When Makennah exited the dressing room, Theo's eyebrows shot up for a split second in pure male appreciation while Matt was preoccupied with his phone. Uncomfortable and yet feeling prettier than she ever had in her life, Makennah dramatically flipped her hair over her shoulder and sauntered over to the mirror like a supermodel. Theo laughed a little at her antics which made Matt lift his head. "Dang that's nice. Perfect for a party."

Party? Her heart did a little thrill at the prospect of going to a legitimate party that wouldn't end in Makennah dragging an ex boyfriend home drunk and rubbing his back while he vomited all over the place.

The dusty orange high waisted skirt accentuated Makennah's tiny waits and curvy hips as well as elongating her tan legs. Makennah's muscular arms were on display in the skinny strapped black crochet bralette top - another outfit that Makennah put together herself that matched black high heels with straps around the ankles.

"Wow you look fabulous!" A worker came around and complimented Makennah every now and then. "I have the perfect necklace for that! And some lipstick! I'll be right back."

This was her favorite outfit. Definitely. Although she showed more skin, she felt beautiful and comfortable. The outfit fit her like a glove. Makennah thought she deserved to feel this way more often.

"Good shoe choice," Matt complimented.

"Here we go!" The woman returned with a good necklace that she clipped around her neck. It hung perfectly on her chest in the right position between the bralette cups. "This is the lipstick. Never been used. Go ahead and try it on."

Obediently, Makennah expertly swiped the cinnamon-red colored lipstick matched Makennah's complexion wonderfully.

Standing in front of that mirror in the full ensemble, Makennah forgot about the world around her. For a second, she forgot where she came from and who she was. In that moment, she was just another pretty girl in a nice store trying on clothes like anybody else.

"This deserves a Snapchat. Come on." Theo stood to his feet and came to stand behind Makennah. Matt followed suit and stood on Makennah's side. Theo dragged out his phone and opened the Snapchat app.

"Oh um..." Makennah started.

"Come on. Don't be nervous. Look pretty," Theo instructed. "Pose or something! Everyone in the school is gonna see this.," Theo added when Makennah stood there unsure of what to do.

Sighing, Makennah popped one hip out and sucked in heir stomach. She flipped her hair attractively to the side and propped her hand up on the tiniest part of her waist. She tilted her head and pursed her lips a little as Matt scoot in closer and Theo circled around to her side - half behind her and half beside her.

Her breathing hitched as Theo leaned in for the picture and slyly slid his hand around her hip. From the pose that looked back at them in the mirror, Matt wouldn't be able to see how intimately Theo was touching her. For the picture. Definitely for the picture, Makennah told herself.

Theo lifted his phone and flexed his bicep while standing strong with wide shoulders. He snapped the picture and Matt immediately stepped away. "Got a call. I'll be back. Check out when you're done."

Theo posted to the picture and Makennah swallowed roughly...nervously.

Without further ado, Makennah decidedly put it out of her mind how Theo had touched her hip, almost on top of her butt, and how it made her feel. She started back to the dressing room when Theo stopped her with his words.

"Hey."

Makennah stopped and stuck her head back out of the dressing room door. "Yeah?"

"You look really beautiful," Theo said sincerely, with kind serious eyes and a gentle smile reserved especially for her.

She couldn't stop the smile that bloomed on her face. "Oh...thank you."

Theo snapped a photo of her before she could realize what he was doing. "Saving that one for myself," Theo said under his breath.

Makennah didn't know what that meant. So she tucked her hair behind her ears and returned to the dressing room. Looking in the mirror again, Makennah slapped her hands to her cheeks when she saw the startling red blush on her cheeks. There was no way Theo could be a nice guy. She already categorized him.

And there was no way she could keep thinking about how attractive he was.

Yeah, she was done with that.

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Xoxo

W. Carolina