Chapter Five

Tyler kissed his tooth loudly as he wandered out of a jewelry store. He'd been walking the streets of LA in search of a presentable gift for Ava. He's not a party freak. His heart constricted at how bad it'll make Ava feel if he gave the wrong gift. Is there anything like a wrong gift? Considerate Tyler.

It is been over two hours since he stepped out, and that'll be the third store he'd visited in search of a befitting gift. He walked down the block, beholding the beautiful city.

Car engines buzzed at his ears, and the blusters and whispers of other pedestrians ambling down the block too. The skies were beginning to turn gray, necessitating the need for Tyler to get the gift as quickly as he can. She sent the address already.

Tyler's gaze settled on a store by the other side of the street. He evaded the sidewalk and crossed to the side of the road. He rubbed his neck lazily, before pushing the door. It was a boutique. The bright lights made him freeze and squint his eyes for a moment. He bit his bottom lip to hide his nervousness. Fist clenched and eyes bulging out, he proceeded into the store. He walked to the first segment on his left. The rack had different types of bikinis hung on it. Black? Red? Green?....

Tyler paused for a bit, contemplating if she should swipe his card for bikini. "She might throw it to my face" he muttered under his breath.

Tyler and Ava had been friends for a while. It could be creepy if he goes as far as buying her a lingerie even if he hasn't seen the valley of her lap before. They've been on several outings, but they've never been to the beach. Ava had never suggested going to the beach. Are bikinis meant to be worn only at the beach? Confused Tyler.

Tyler walked past the rack with an indifferent look on his face. He proceeded to another row. A long tonnage of gowns - was assembled alluringly in front of him. Some of the gowns are well-designed and sophisticated. Tyler needed no soothsayer to tell him they'll cost a fortune. His eyes settled on a blue gown. It was silky and nice. Nice and fitting for a dinner date.

"Ava doesn't wear gowns" Tyler muttered to himself.

Ava isn't an aficionado for corporate wears, neither is she a fan of gowns, bikinis, and all the revealing and erotic stuff. She's a girl who's moderate in her grooming and style, regardless, beauty gives her away all the time.

Tyler shoved the gown back in the rack, letting out a disappointed breath. He proceeded to the next column. His instincts took over. He sucked at things like this. Maybe coming to a fashion store was a bad idea. He'd never pick something good for Ava.

He stormed out of the store, cursing under his breath as he strode down the street - searching for a birthday gift like it was some treasure he'd have to dive into the Atlantis to find. After a few moments of walking down the block, Tyler stormed into a wine shop with the hope of getting a nice birthday present. After all, the bottle of champagne is beautiful to behold - when it's popped.

"Welcome sir," the salesperson said. Tyler's eyeballs dilated because that was the first time a salesperson isn't staring at him with eyes prick with irritation. Too stunned to speak, Tyler saved the salesperson. He had a smile on his pale face. Not a genuine smile, but that kind of smile that salespersons wear to cajole customers. Tyler climbed into the store, eyes wafting at the long trails of bottles lined up for him to make a choice. He approached the first rack, trying to glance at the inscriptions on the bottles.

"Martel, whisky, vodka....ugh" Tyler sulked in a breath. "It is a birthday party. There'd be a lot of drinks. A single bottle from me won't make a difference" Tyler thought.

Ava is a party freak, she'll never leave a bottle of liquor empty. But Blondie won't host a bottle without a bottle of alcohol dripping in a cold sweat in her fridge. "This is also a bad idea" Tyler muttered. "Fuck" he cursed, storming out of the wine store.

Another thirty minutes passed. Tyler stormed into the store where female purses are sold. Tyler's intentions were simple - feed your eyes and get the fuck out. He approached the salesperson who had her face glued to a computer screen with her finger stomping the keyboard.

"...hey," Tyler said.

She looked away from the screen, and a frown clutched her face. Tyler's appearance depicted that of a retarded and homeless man. His hair - disheveled and unkept, his shirt, squeezed and partly buttoned.

"You look disgusting" she mumbled, her face still tightening into a frown. "How may I help you?"

Tyler paused for a split second. He's used to being berated and insulted. "I'm......here"

"To steal huh?" She interrupted. "Get out of my sight. Hey, there are cameras in here. I dare you to steal a pin" she said with a scowl.

Tyler departed from her desk, walking into the store like nothing happened. He strolled past a trolley. His eyes settled on a diamond purse. It shimmered differently from the rest of the purses on the rack. He ambled towards it, admiring the purse.

"Babe... This is really beautiful. We should buy this" a familiar voice echoed from the other side of the counter.

"Babe, we're on a budget. This purse costs a whopping one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That's too expensive"

Tyler creased his eyebrows, his lips widened at the voices. He dropped the purse in his hand and found his way to the side of the counter, where the voice emanated from.

His instincts were actually right. it was Raul - the quarterback and his ex-girlfriend - Charlotte.