2025-04-11 18:14:47Luxury Avenue was the kind of place Jackson had only ever walked past, never into. The massive glass windows displayed designer outfits with price tags that could feed an entire family for months. Everything about the place screamed wealth—gold-trimmed walls, velvet-carpeted floors, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling like something out of a royal palace. Even the air smelled expensive.
James and Andrew walked in confidently, dragging Jackson along. “Come on, bro, don’t overthink it. You deserve something nice,” Andrew said.
Jackson hesitated. “I know you guys don’t have this kind of money. Where’d you get it from?”
“Don’t worry about it,” James shrugged, but Jackson wasn’t letting it go.
After a bit of back-and-forth, they finally admitted it—they had been saving up their allowances for months to start a business after school, but seeing everything Jackson had gone through, they decided he needed the money more.
Jackson was speechless.
Fifteen thousand dollars wasn’t much in a place like Luxury Avenue, but to James and Andrew, it was everything. His chest tightened, and for the first time in a long while, he felt something other than shame—he felt valued.
Before he could say anything, a sharp voice interrupted them.
“What are you doing here?”
They turned to see a senior salesgirl approaching, her eyes scanning Jackson up and down like he was an insect that had wandered in by mistake. She acknowledged James and Andrew with a half-hearted nod but didn’t bother hiding her disdain for Jackson.
Jackson knew exactly what she was thinking. He didn’t belong here. His faded jeans, worn-out sneakers, and plain T-shirt screamed "broke." The cheapest item in this store was worth three thousand dollars—more than he usually had in his account.
James stepped in. “We’re shopping for our guy here.”
Julian, the salesgirl, scoffed. “Really?” Her tone dripped with sarcasm.
She didn’t stop them from entering, but she made it clear with every glare and suspicious glance that she was watching Jackson closely, expecting him to try something.
Ignoring her, the three of them explored the store, joking about ridiculously overpriced clothes and pretending to be interested in a silk shirt that cost as much as tuition for a semester. Jackson found himself actually enjoying the experience, despite the tension.
Then, the moment shattered.
A familiar voice rang out near the entrance, sweet but laced with entitlement.
“Tyler, can you get me that dress?”
Jackson’s stomach twisted.
Emily.
She walked in with Tyler, her manicured fingers already trailing over a gown on display. Tyler strolled beside her, acting like he owned the place.
The salesgirl’s attitude changed instantly. Julian practically ran to them, bowing her head slightly in respect. “Welcome, Mr. Tyler, Miss Emily. It’s so lovely to have you here.”
Emily beamed. “I saw this online and thought it would look perfect on me.”
“It would!” Julian gushed. “Let me get it in your size.”
Meanwhile, Jackson’s friends stiffened. They knew this wouldn’t end well.
“Let’s just pay and go,” James whispered.
They gathered the clothes they had chosen and started moving toward another sales counter to avoid Julian. They almost made it.
Almost.
Julian’s shrill voice rang through the store. “Hey! Where do you think you’re going?”
The room froze.
Customers turned. Employees turned.
Jackson turned red.
Julian stormed toward them, eyes locked on Jackson. “Trying to steal, are we?” she accused.
James and Andrew immediately protested, explaining that they were heading to another counter to pay. Julian wasn’t listening.
She grabbed Jackson by his shirt, her nails digging into his skin.
“Don’t touch him!” Andrew snapped.
Julian ignored him. “I knew someone like you didn’t belong here. You think you can come in and take whatever you want?”
Tyler and Emily had turned to watch the commotion, their interest piqued when they saw Jackson. Their favorite character.
Emily folded her arms, shaking her head. “Seriously, Jackson? Who are you trying to impress?”
Tyler smirked. “You don’t have to steal, bro. I’ll give you some change if you beg me hard enough.”
Laughter rippled through the store.
Jackson’s blood boiled, but he clenched his fists, refusing to give them the reaction they wanted.
Tyler, sensing an opportunity, leaned closer. “You know what? Let’s make this fun. Julian, call security and have them locked up.”
Emily hesitated. “But you wanted him at your party—”
Tyler waved her off. “This will make it even better.”
Before Julian could make the call, another voice spoke up.
“He wasn’t stealing.”
Everyone turned.
A younger salesgirl, Mercy, stood by the counter, arms crossed.
Julian rolled her eyes. “Stay out of this.”
Mercy didn’t back down. “They were coming to my counter to pay.”
Julian scowled. “They should’ve come to me.”
“You were busy kissing Tyler’s ass,” Andrew muttered.
Julian whipped her head around. “What did you just say?”
Tyler laughed. “Relax, Julian. If Jackson really wants those clothes, let him pay for them.”
Julian sneered. “Fine.”
She finally released Jackson’s shirt, but not before dragging her nails across his arm, leaving red marks.
Jackson bit his tongue and handed over the card James had given him.
Julian took it with unnecessary force, almost knocking it out of his hand.
She swiped it as everyone watched. Tyler hung his hand around Emily’s shoulders with a broad smirk on his face. He confidently expected only one outcome…
Insufficient funds.
A pause.
She tried again.
Insufficient funds.
Julian’s face lit up with cruel delight. “Aww, looks like someone’s broke.”
Tyler clapped his hands together. “No way. This is gold.”
Emily sighed, rubbing her temples. “Jackson, just stop embarrassing yourself.”
James and Andrew were confused. “That’s impossible. We had over fifteen grand on that card.” They knew something was wrong somewhere.
Andrew reached for the screen. “Let me see the total—”
Julian smacked his hand away. “Don’t touch that!”
Tyler chuckled. “What, you think she scammed you? Face it, you guys are just as broke as your little charity case over here.”
The store erupted in laughter.
Security guards were approaching now, ready to remove Jackson and his friends from the premises.
Jackson barely heard them.
His mind raced, his pulse hammering in his ears.
He wasn’t broke.
He had ten million dollars in his account.
And yet, here he was, being treated like trash, laughed at, humiliated.
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