Besties

The Great Food Court Incident of '05

The dynamic between Tom and me could be best described in two words: chaotic energy. As the years passed and we grew closer as friends, we got ourselves into quite the predicaments. One example? The day of the Great Food Court Incident of '05.

I had somehow convinced Tom to come to the mall with me, which that in and of itself should have been a warning sign to us that something bad was going to happen. The day actually started off alright. Tom helped me pick out a few new shirts, including a black one with a dark red Superman "S" in the middle.

"Really?" I glared at him when he held it up.

"What? I'd get you a Smallville one, but I can't find one at the moment," he shrugged. "Take the shirt, Pearce."

"I thought we already established I prefer Marvel to DC, Welling."

"Come on, you're literally best friends with Clark Kent."

I was quiet, looking at the shirt.

"Ugh. Fine."

I grabbed the shirt out of his hands, throwing it on top of the stack hanging over one of my arms. Tom had several bags from various stores sitting around his feet full of items we'd already bought. Fifteen minutes later, we walked out of the store with five more shirts (including the Superman one) and started making our way to the food court.

"Alrighty, you wanna just each go get something we want and meet back up at one of the tables?" I asked him.

"Sounds like a plan."

We split up, each heading in a different direction to buy ourselves lunch. I got a pretzel from Auntie Anne's, and then stopped by a little Chinese place to get an egg roll and some Kung Pow chicken. I found Tom back at one of the tables surrounded by our various shopping bags and digging in to a slice of pizza. There were several other items from various other places as well.

"Are you really going to eat all that food?" I asked, sitting down.

"Nope. You're gonna help me," he smirked.

"Tom, this is way too much food for two people."

"So we'll take some of it to go. Dig in."

We chatted idly while attempting to make a dent in the plethora of cuisine on the table. At one point, Tom said something funny which caused me to snort soda all over the table. Some managed to get on him, and he got this devious look in his eye. Next thing I knew, food was flying back and forth across the food court as we both started attacking each other. We didn't stay by our table, utilizing the entire span of the court.

People screamed and ran for cover as they were caught in the crossfire of the food fight. A couple younger kids joined in, turning it into a full on war. Tom and I were both laughing and dodging, finding anything we could to defend ourselves.

"You're dead, Scarlett!" Tom yelled at me from behind a trash can, tossing a plate of fries in my direction.

"Not if I get you first, Thomas!" I laughed, throwing a smoothie back.

"Everybody freeze!"

A deadly silence fell over the entire food court. Most of the kids ran off to their parents until Tom and I were the only two left in the court besides the security officers that had just shown up. Tom's arm was cocked back ready to throw another plate of food. I had wisely dropped the plate that had been in my hand on the floor beside me and we were both frozen in place as we stared back at the two officers standing in the middle of the court.

"Are you two responsible for starting this?" one of the officers demanded.

"Yes, sir," I responded, watching Tom lower the plate in his hand guiltily.

"I'm going to have to ask the two of you to take your bags and leave the premises."

"Yes sir. We'll get right on that," I nodded.

Tom and I headed back over to our table and gathered the bags in our arms. They were covered in food and drinks and I would have to wash all the items when we got back home. The officers escorted us through the mall to the entrance, telling us we were forbidden from returning for two years.

Tom and I remained serious the entire time we were escorted out, but the second the officers were back in the building and we were alone, we both busted out in fits of laughter.

"I've never gotten banned from the mall before," I chuckled.

"Well congratulations," Tom grinned at me. "You and I are now not allowed to return for two whole years."

"You're a bad influence."

"No, I'm a great friend."

"That's the same thing!"

"No it's not!"

"It is if you're making friends like you," I quipped.

Tom shoved my shoulder so I stumbled to the side a little. I shoved him back in retaliation and we continued laughing and teasing each other the entire cab ride back to my apartment.

"I got the perfect name for today," Tom announced while leaning in the doorway watching me put my new clothes in the wash.

"Oh really?" I asked him.

"The Great Food Court Incident of '05."

I chuckled, shaking my head and rolling my eyes. I hated to admit it, but it was the perfect name for what had occurred today. Something told me we'd be looking back and laughing about this for a long time.

"Yeah, alright," I nodded.

"I better see you wearing that Superman shirt I picked out for you," he threatened jokingly, pointing a finger at me.

"Of course."

Tom seemed satisfied with my answer, smirking smugly to himself.

"Hey, Jensen's new show is airing in two days. Want to get together at my place and watch it?"

"Who's Jensen?" I inquired.

"Jensen Ackles? I've mentioned him multiple times now. He worked with me on Smallville during season 4 before he left for some new show by the Warner Brothers studio? I think it's called Supernatural."

"And you want to watch the premiere, huh?"

"You don't have to if you don't want to. I just thought since you refuse to watch Smallville, then we could bond over this."

"Alright. I have an audition earlier that day, but I'll try to make it over. Just text me when you want me to come and I'll see what I can do."

"Awesome. I should probably get going. Talk to you tomorrow."

"Bye, Tom."