Ryder's POV

After we checked in and everything, we went to the shops and Gray pulled out a black card.

My eyes widened. "Wow," only incredibly rich people had those kinds credit cards.

"Basically, don't feel guilty, go ham, pick up whatever you like, we're well funded." Blake said. "Me, Taylor, Jared and Tex will be sat over there," he pointed to a Costa in the corner, near the glass wall where I stood about 7 years ago.

"We'll be looking in some of the shops down there," Roman said, dragging Reeve along with him, in the opposite direction.

"I feel like looking at clothes today," Josy said, " Sierra, will you help me pick something out?"

Sierra nodded, "Yeah, we can have a look,"

"Shopping's on me today," Gray said.

"Thank you," I said. "Honestly, it means a lot,"

"Sometimes, you gotta live a little," he said.

Samuel joined us, and we went to the nearest baggage store, where we picked out a nice four-wheel suitcase for me. It had a light blue shell, which was definitely my colour.

Samuel took it upon himself to roll it around for me. We went to a clothing store, and Sierra and Josy looked at clothes, not too far from us. Gray wandered around with us, with a basket, to put in things I wanted. I looked at the hoodies. There was every colour I could have wanted.

"I'm not sure which one . . . " I trailed off. "I'm thinking royal blue, or baby blue,"

Gray sighed and put them both in the basket.

I grinned, "Right, well-funded, I remember,"

"Why don't you get one of all of the colours?" Samuel said. "You have to fill that suitcase somehow," he added.

I looked to Gray and gave an approving nod. "Uh, okay," I picked out some more and now I had red, orange, yellow, turquoise, lime, baby blue, royal blue, purple, black, white, and grey. It was a big suitcase, and plus, it was a fresh start, I had no clothes. I felt guilty occasionally, but I reminded myself that a black card meant that he had a lot of money. 

I found some black and blue jeans, skinny, non-skinny, and also some cargo joggers, since they were more of my style.

Samuel helped me choose some t-shirts from the women's section, but I wasn't really seeing anything that took my fancy, so Gray suggested we go to the men's shirts section.

We found lots of designs that were my kind of style. "Hey, Ryder, how about this?" Samuel grinned, holding up an Avengers shirt. 

"They sell merchandise now?" I asked. 

"It's not officially theirs, it's just companies trying to profit off them. Shall we get matching ones?" He asked, holding up Hulk and Black Widow 'his and hers' t-shirts. I blushed and nodded.

Gray shook his head jokingly, but held the basket out for him anyway.

I finished up in that shop, getting some shoes and socks and underwear and stuff. Gray paid and we left. Sierra and Josy had picked out some dresses, which looked really nice, and Gray paid for those too. We went out to the seats at the terminal. Me and Samuel sat on our heels on the floor, and opened the new suitcase, removing labels off clothing and packing them into it. 

Once we were done, we went into some different shops, and I got more shoes, and other non clothing items. 

"Hey Ryder come here," I followed Sierra and Josy. "Look at this dress. I know it probably doesn't seem your style, since you haven't got any other dresses today, but sometimes we have balls and parties at our base, and you'd look beautiful in it."  She held up a black dress. It was just above knee-length, and it had long sleeves, made of a material that would hug my skin, till the waist, when it turns into a swooshy skirt. It was simple, but paired with the right stuff, would be beautiful. 

"Yeah, black is definitely your colour, and here are some things to go with it," she held out a pair of simple black heels in my size, a black jewelled set of necklaces and earrings, and a clutch. 

I smiled. "I guess it couldn't hurt to have one, in case the opportunity arises," the women squealed.

"Don't tell Samuel," Sierra said, and rushed to buy them, confusing me. I felt happy. It was nice to have them acting like how my mother should have.

Samuel came over. "What was that about?"

"Oh, they just wanted to ask if I wanted something," I paused, "Hey, Sam," I said, not realising that the shortened version of his name had slipped out my mouth. 

He tilted his head, grinning. "Yeah?"

"Aren't you gonna get anythi- Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, confuzzled.

"Nothing," he said, a smile in his voice. 

"What did I do?" His expression was contagious, making me smile too. 

"You called me Sam. Nobody calls me Sam," he said. 

I blushed, embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to,"

"No, no, don't apologise. I like it, it can be our thing," he said, lowering his voice at the end. He cleared his throat. "Can I uh, call you Rye?"

I nodded. "Yeah, please, I like that too," 

"Cool," he said, untensing. 

Gray joined us. "You two okay?"

"Yeah," Sam held up a pair of Pacman socks. "Can I get these?"

Gray chuckled. "Sure, kid. And Ryder, pick out an iPhone 12 case, and any other electronic things you'd like,"

After discussing it with Sam, I chose a cool dark blue protective case, and a pair of Beats. I also got a blue Beats Pill+ speaker, as Sam said I'd need one for workout purposes.

We went back outside the store, and once again untagged and packed clothes. Sierra and Josy hid the dress and it's accessories in their own bags, suspiciously. I'm not sure why they said to not tell Sam. 

We sat there talking, and some time later Gray said he was going to get a coffee with Blake and the others. 

"Do you two wanna get fast food or something?" Josy asked.

"Sure, I'm kinda hungry," I said. 

"Me too," Sam agreed.

"I'll stay here and watch the stuff," Sierra said. "Bring me a strawberry milkshake?" she asked Josy, who nodded.

We grabbed food and returned to Sierra. While we ate, Roman and Reeve returned with a few shopping bags. 

Roman opened a box and showed us some brand new Timberlands. "What do you think?" he asked nobody in particular.

"They look cool," Josy said. I nodded like-mindedly.

"Reeve got himself a new muscle tee," Roman added. "Did you guys buy things?" 

Sam flipped up the lid of the suitcase for him to see. We all had our mouths full.

"You should probably pick out something to change into, so that we can leave your old clothes here," Sierra said. 

I nodded. "Question," I stated. 

"Go on, love," she said. 

I pulled the ring off my finger. "Can I keep this?" 

It was a simple silver band ring, with 'sic parvis magna' engraved on it. She took it from me, inspecting it. "Greatness from small beginnings?" she translated. 

"You speak latin?" I asked.

She nodded. "You do?" 

I shook my head. "It's just a phrase I know. I speak french, spanish and german though,"

She nodded understandingly. "Yeah I s'pose you can keep it. Only this though," she added. I thanked her. "Why? Where did you get it from?" 

"My cousin had it made for me. He said that even though I haven't had the best start to life, that I would become a great person, and achieve great things,"

"That you will," Roman said. 

Everyone went back to eating and Sierra gave me the ring back. 

"What should I wear?" I asked Sam.

"Whatever you like," he said. 

I chose a pair a black dad jeans, and a plain black t-shirt, with a dark (royal) blue hoodie, with white socks and black air force 1s. 

I went to the toilets and changed into my new clothes. I rolled up the bottom of my jeans and re-tied my pony tail. I disposed of my old clothes and left the toilets, joining the others. Jared, Blake, Tex and Taylor had now returned with Gray. 

Taylor whistled. "You sure know how to put an outfit together." he complimented me. 

"You look very cool," Sam added. 

Sierra placed an arm around me. "I have never known anyone who has dressed so simply, but yet so attractively."

I blushed. "Okay thanks,"

"She looks good, but stop harassing the poor child," Gray said, thankfully.

Everyone settled down, and soon it was time to board the private jet.