In Between Codes

Chapter 9

Tamy rolled her eyes but smiled. "Thanks, Samantha." With her guidance, Tamy quickly mapped out a plan. "I'll grab two sets of the silicone patches, two everyday bras, and four sports bras. That should keep me within budget, and I'll still have a little leftover for something fun."

Laura gave her a thumbs-up. "Good choices. You're going to love your new wardrobe."

As Tamy made her way to the cashier, something caught her eye—panties. She hadn't really thought much about them, but now... now they seemed important. She hesitated, her gaze lingering on the display.

Laura, always perceptive, leaned in with a conspiratorial grin. "Oh, and I meant to tell you—I looked it up, and if you want to really hide your... thingy, especially with the cheerleading uniform, you're gonna need packing underwear."

Just then, Samantha's voice chimed in again. "Don't worry, Tamy. I've already ordered some packing underwear for you. They're arriving tomorrow. But if you want to grab some regular panties for the time being, I suggest a four-pack. You'll need to drop one of the sports bras to stay within budget, though."

Tamy paused, then explained to Laura that the packing underwear was already on its way, but she still wanted something for when she was at home.

Laura smiled knowingly. "Got it. And if I may, you should definitely go for the darker ones. They're more... grown-up."

Tamy nodded, a little more confident now. "Thanks, Laura."

Then, something else caught her eye. A pastel pink pajama set with a unicorn on it, hanging on a nearby rack. It was soft, cozy, and totally her style. Her heart skipped a beat. "This is so me," she whispered to herself.

Samantha's voice came through again. "If you buy this, you won't have much left for everyday clothes."

Tamy hesitated, glancing back at the pajamas. The price wasn't terrible, but Samantha was right—she had already spent a chunk of her allowance. Still, it was just too cute to resist. "I'll take it," she whispered, imagining how comfy she'd feel lounging in it.

After paying, they moved on to the sports store, where Tamy picked out a couple of pairs of sports skirs and a leotard. By the time she was done, her wallet was empty. "Alright, I'm officially broke," she said with a satisfied sigh. "We can head home whenever."

But Laura just laughed. "Oh, we're not done yet! You might be out of money, but we're still going to have some fun. Let's check out the cute outfits."

Tamy grinned. "You're right. Let's go."

She spoke discretely to Samantha. "Help me pick out some outfits, just like you did with Alison last weekend."

Samantha's response was almost immediate. "Already on it. You and Laura are going to look amazing."

With Samantha's secret guidance, Tamy suggested outfit after outfit. They both tried all sorts of combinations of tops, skirts, and accessories. They took turns snapping selfies in the fitting rooms, comparing looks and laughing at their misadventures.

But after a while, the energy started to fade. Tamy stretched, stifling a yawn. "I think that's enough for today. I'm pretty wiped out," she said with a smile.

Laura nodded, clearly ready to call it a day. "Same here. Let's go wait for my mom outside."

As they waited, the evening settled in around them. The parking lot was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the overhead lights. The mall doors occasionally swung open, letting out the last few shoppers, their footsteps echoing before fading into the calm of the night.

Tamy and Laura sat on a bench, the air cool against their skin. Laura shifted closer to Tamy, her voice quieter now. "Hey, can I ask you something... kind of personal?"

Tamy looked at her, curiosity sparking. "Sure, ask away."

Laura hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Have you ever kissed a boy before? Or, in your case... maybe even a girl?"

Tamy blinked, caught off guard. "No... I haven't," she admitted, her voice soft. "Never really thought about it."

Laura studied her for a moment before asking, "If you had to choose... would you want your first kiss to be with a boy or a girl?"

Tamy shrugged, unsure. "I don't know. I never really thought about it, honestly." She felt her cheeks warm slightly at the thought. It wasn't something she'd ever given much attention to.

Laura smiled, leaning in just a bit. "What if... your first kiss could be a surprise? Like, completely spontaneous. Or would you rather it be something you'd practiced for—like knowing exactly what to do?"

Tamy paused, her brow furrowing as she thought about it. She wasn't the spontaneous type—she liked knowing what she was getting into. When it came to new things, she liked reading the instructions, getting familiar with the process before diving in. "I guess it'd be better if I knew what I was doing," she said, her voice thoughtful.

Laura's eyes twinkled, and before Tamy could react, she leaned forward slightly. "Well then... what if we practiced?"

Tamy's heart skipped. For a split second, she hesitated, unsure of how to respond. But in the silence between them, something felt right about it. Slowly, she leaned in, closing the gap, and her lips met Laura's in a soft, tentative kiss.

It was brief—just a moment in time—but it felt significant. Tamy could taste the sweetness of Laura's lipstick and the faint fragrance of her perfume, like jasmine and vanilla mixed together. It was perfect.

Laura pulled away with a smile, her eyes playful. "How was that?"

Tamy, still processing the suddenness of it, nodded, her lips tingling. "It was... nice."

Just then, Laura's mom pulled into the parking lot, her headlights sweeping over them. Laura sat back, grinning as she stood up. "Guess it's time to go."

Soon after, they were in the car, the drive back feeling peaceful, almost like a dream. As they pulled up to Tamy's house, Laura handed her a bag with a smile. "These are some of my old clothes," she said. "I was going to donate them anyway, so... thought you might want to try them out. You know, until you're fully settled in with your own stuff."

Tamy smiled, touched by the gesture. "Thanks, Laura. That's really sweet of you."

With a wave and a nod to both Laura and her mom, Tamy stepped out of the car, her hands full of bags.