9 Chapter 9: Friends

Chapter 9: Friends

I requested Trevor to drive us to the mall.

I sit at the passenger’s seat while Elaine and Christine are at the back. The breeze is blowing through our hair as Christine played The Chainsmokers’ songs at the background.

“Do you want me to pick you later, girls?” He asked when we were already out.

“We’ll just give you a call,” I answered.

Elaine changed her clothes into jeans and a T-shirt while adoring a matching navy blue blazer. The three of us looked at each other with the same thought in our minds: “C’mon!”

We run inside the mall and didn’t mind the guard who is standing by the glass doors. We stop and look at each other, mentally asking what we are going to do first or where we will head first.

“Let’s try pretty clothes first,” Elaine suggested, and we agreed. We went to different designer stores and tried different matching attires without buying any of it.

We tried cowgirl suits, hiphop clothes, blazers, cardigans, bikinis, and a lot of other clothes that are displayed. We let the saleslady take pictures when we are wearing those clothes. We tried a lot of shades, scarves, hats, and bags in each store in the mall.

We laughed the whole time and shopped for different things. I bought Andy a sketchpad that he might like while Christine bought some accessories for her mother. We were about to eat ice cream when we saw a photo booth.

We paid six dollars to the guy who let us in, and we did wacky poses while wearing different kinds of hats and wigs. The guy printed three copies for each photo and gave each one to us.

“You look funny here, Hailey,” Elaine said when we were eating at a nearby fast food chain while watching the pictures.

“The blue wig looked hideous on you, Chris,” I commented and showed them a picture. We all laughed hard, inviting the stares of some old people and their middle-aged sons.

I was returning all of my copies to the envelope when I just saw Stephen with a kid about Andy’s age. I froze at my seat but still managed to swallow a lump in my throat.

I take a deep breath. “Oh, my. He’s here,” I announced.

“Who?” Christine continued eating, but Elaine did not budge because she got the message.

“Stephen Cutler?” Elaine asks, and Chris instantly gives me a teasing look.

“Don’t hallucinate, Hailey,” they both chorused.

“I’m not. Look outside.” I tell them and when they glance, they see Stephen trying different caps on the kid’s head who looked annoyed but still smiling.

“Hmm. I think Mr. Fate’s getting in the way,” Christine stated.

“Where are you going?” I ask her.

“Let’s follow him,” she said while giving me a challenging look.

“You mean stalk him?”

“Hmm, a little, but it’s not the whole point. Just for fun.”

“Let’s do it then.” Elaine supported Christine, so I had to agree. We went out with our shopping bags and followed Stephen and his possible brother.

Stephen and his possible brother went inside a toy store. We hide behind the big teddy bears while the two were at the other side. The kid points at something, and a salesman comes over. Stephen asks about a video game while the kid followed the salesman. Just then, Elaine recklessly dropped a teddy bear on the floor. Stephen turns around and then approaches our direction.

“This can’t be good,” Elaine said under her breath, and Chris and I hushed her. He picked up the fallen teddy bear and grabbed another one, being oblivious to the three stalking girls behind the fluffy bears. He compared the two of them and returned the other one. He went to the counter and bought it then the kid came around and showed him a video game CD. They went to the cash register and bought all of it then walked out after everything was packed.

“That was close.” Elaine wiped her perspiration by the back of her hand at her forehead.

“I wonder for whom he will give the teddy bear to,” I wondered while we were walking out.

“For his mother?” Christine laughed.

“Or worse for his girlfriend,” I said and frowned when I said the last word. “Do you think he got a girlfriend?” I inquired with a heavy tone.

“He just moved here from London. Or I don’t know. Maybe he left one back at London.” Elaine theorized. “But you should be careful with Dana. I saw them talking by the locker’s hallway this morning, and obviously she’s like flirting.”

“That witch.” I said and my phone beeped. I read a text message from Trevor that he’s waiting for us outside.

“My brother’s here.” I told them and they followed me as I walked towards the exit.

“Thanks, guys. Earlier, I felt like the world’s so dark, but now I think the day’s shining again. Perhaps I’ll try out for the Homemakers’ Club where they cook and all. Maybe I’ll unexpectedly enjoy it,” Elaine said.

It was a smile with hope and redemption shining through. Girls are universally known to cry their hearts out during heartbreaking moments, but eventually their pain would subside after it. They only need a few of their girls and some shopping money.

“You can’t cook, Elaine,” Christine teased. She hates being really emotional.

We carrying our shopping bags when we are headed to the parking lot where Trevor was leaning by the convertible, playing with his keys.

“I said we’ll call you.” I give him my bags and Elaine and Christine are hesitant at first, but eventually they handed him their bags too.

“I thought I’m just your personal driver and now the carrier of shopping bags?” Trevor raised an eyebrow, and we chuckle as we ignored his remark.

While Elaine and Christine are exchanging tips for removing dark spots from the face, I wondered about Stephen and the quiet kid along with him.