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Being a natural early riser meant that Ari had earned herself a spot not too far from the start of the line. She hadn't counted on people lining up overnight, some of them blinking bleary-eyed as they continued to wait and some of them only having 'held' a place until the real shopper came by at a decent hour to relieve them. Ari wasn't as dedicated, or desperate, as either of those types. Normally cheap jewelry would have been enough for her, but her parents wanted her to have fancier things for social functions (and her upcoming prom, and 18th birthday). To placate them, she was counting on this sale to find things that would satisfy her parents' wishes for a high-class product, while still suiting Ari's own tastes and not sending her running screaming from the price tags.

So she waited, as she had for the past few hours, leaning against the glass window. A small notebook was out, random thoughts and ideas being jotted down. Apparently jewelry had to be coordinated with your outfit, so she was trying to remember what dresses she'd actually liked in the magazines and boutiques her mother had shown her. It wasn't going too well, since she'd only remembered that part while in line, and the corresponding journals were back in her bedroom, tucked away in neat order.

When a girl further up the line began calling out, Ari only glanced up to see who was making a fuss. It took her by surprise to realise that the girl with the princess-curls was staring at Ari.

Ari gave a tiny frown at being called 'red-hair', but then considering she had no idea what this girl's name was either, it wasn't like she could cast stones. With a shrug, she pushed off the window and walked up the handful of places to where the 'proper young lady' was waiting. (A few women might have given her arch looks as she cut the line, but Ari simply glared right back, and something about her worn jeans and heavy boots or maybe her wanna-make-something-of-it expression must have made them rethink their objections.)

Coming to a halt in front of the other girl, Ari thought maybe there was a tinge of deja-vu. Someone from school, maybe - the attitude seemed to fit Crystal, as did the deep wallet needed to shop here for fun. "Do I know you?" Ari asked. Confusion made her blunt, something she realised after the fact and tried to cover with a quick smile. "I'm kind of terrible with names..."

Ari gaped for a moment, unsure if she'd misheard or perhaps misunderstood Elegancia. She snapped her mouth shut before she could attract any flies (as her mother would say). Well. At least Elegancia wouldn't make a fuss if Ari forgot peoples' names in her presence, Ari supposed. She shrugged it off, deciding it wasn't her place to judge - it wasn't like Ari associated with girls like Elegancia much back in school, so there was no need to either suck up or pitch a fit either way.

"Yes, we may have passed each other in halls. I'm only a junior, though. I'm Ariana Knight."

Ari winced. See what had happened there? Elegancia gave off such strong formal vibes that Ari was giving her full name, as though being introduced around at a formal function her parents had dragged her to. She forced a smile and added, "Just 'Ari' is fine, though."

The movement at the doors caught Ari's attention. She straightened up, flexing her shoulders and preparing for the rush. She had no intentions of mowing anyone else down, but these women had better not think they could push her around. The sleeveless tank top that Elegancia no doubt disapproved of had the benefit of showing off the toned muscles of her arms, a subtle warning not to start a cat fight with Ari over any sale products.

Ari was quickly discovering that there was actually something worse than being referred to by her full name. It was being called her nickname by someone who Did Not Approve At All. By the time Elegancia paused for a reply, Ari was wincing every time the senior called her by name.

"On second thought, let's go with Ariana, if you'd prefer," Ari rubbed at her temple with her free hand. The other flipped open the tiny notebook where she'd been making notes as she recalled details of what she'd come here to purchase. "Let's see... I need something to match my prom dress. It's red and white, and tight down to here-" the free hand dropped to gesture around her knees, "-then, poof." The hands made a flaring-out motion. "Um, possibly there was lace. Or embroidery. Maybe. Anyway, it was the least scary of the dresses my mother approved of."

Because that would mean a whole lot to Elegancia.

"Oh, also something for my 18th later this year. I refuse to even think about clothes for it yet, so I guess the outfit can just match the jewelry, if I find anything I like."

Ari tucked the notebook away and looked back over to Elegancia. "How about you? Anything in mind, or just browsing?"

"I suppose," Ari was hesitant to agree, if only because she actually did agree in entirety. 'Ariana' seemed far too posh for a girl who ran around in jeans and tank tops, and frequented shady gyms in her spare time. It was, like the name 'Elegancia', much better suited to proper young ladies of distinction like the senior before Ari. Elegancia was the type of girl who would no doubt die of horror before accepting a nickname like 'Elly'. (Ari was half tempted to try it just to see.) Every mother's dream child, Ari supposed.

Meanwhile, Ari was torn between offense that she would need donated and jewelry, and interest in the item the other girl mentioned. It was hard to find decent amethysts, as any girl who went looking would know. Most were so light they might as well not be purple at all. Certainly no where near matching Ari's eyes, as Elegancia said hers did. "Um, thank you..." I think, was the unspoken addition.

She frowned as her watch ticked past the appointed time for opening. The line began to shift restlessly, murmurs rising. Rising up on her toes, Ari (at 5'11") could easily see over the few people ahead of them. "No sign of life in there," she told Elegancia. "Maybe the workers have nicked off with their pick of the items?"

Ari had no problems being used as a wall. In fact, noticing that Elegancia had fallen behind, Ari took a firm grip on the other girl's wrist. Plowing through the crowd, Ari towed the socialite along in her wake.

She was thankful they'd been so close to the head of the line, because even with only a handful ahead of them, it wasn't easy to beat the other ladies to the cases. Those who tried to move Ari aside with a jab to the ribs soon found the redhead had no compunctions about using her heavy boots to stand firmly on delicate high-heeled feet. Thus, Ari, and by proxy Elegancia, had less trouble than they might have in keeping their premium positions.

Not much for silver, Ari had lead them to the cases of gold jewelry straight away. She herself had stopped when she'd caught a glimpse of red. "Ooh, I like this," Ari spoke as though they were leisurely browsing, but wasted no time in snapping up a gold-and-ruby necklace. The rubies were a deep shade of red, edging close to garnet territory. "I think it would go with my prom dress."

Now, what else had she been looking for again...? Digging out the tiny notebook she'd been using in line, Ari flipped through the pages while absently repaying a shove from behind by stomping back onto the offender's foot.

"Have you found anything interesting yet?" she turned her head to the side to ask Elegancia.

Ari looked over in the direction Elegancia had indicated. "The pearls?" she questioned, thinking they were the only non-gaudy piece over that way. Elegancia seemed to have very nice taste, so Ari didn't think it was any of the pieces trying to dangle gems larger than an eye. It didn't even occur to Ari that the brunette was asking Ari to clear a path so Elegancia didn't have to fight her way through - to Ari, it sounded like a request that they both go over that way together. "Alright, stay close!"

With that, Ari was off again, uncaring of the feet she stepped on, or the ladies she (very forcefully) nudged out of the way. She wedged her way up to the counter with the pearls right as someone else reached for them. Her arm shot out, getting under the other woman's and lifting it up in a move only a shade too gentle to be fighting block.

"Quick, grab it," she advised Elegancia, who was hopefully still at Ari's side.

Ari couldn't help a cry of disappointment as the necklace snapped. The pearls went rolling, taking a few pushing women down with them. The redhead bit back a snigger. To Elegancia, she said, "That's horrible. I can't believe something so expensive could be so badly made." For a few seconds she wondered if they were all being ripped off, before deciding that surely Elegancia would know if this were actually a knock-off place. Maybe women just got extra boosts of strength during sales? Who knew.

So when Elegancia pointed out another piece of jewelry she liked, Ari was all set to help her out. "I'm good for now," she said. At least Ari had one piece already. It was only fair to make sure the other girl received the same. "Alright," Ari mimed rolling up sleeves she didn't up, "lady on a mission coming through!"

It was getting harder to make her way through the crowds as more and more women poured into the store. Arriving close by the mannequin, Ari was just thankful that people were focusing on the display shelves for now. "Can you get it now?"she asked Elegancia.