STILL | NH |

EIGHT

Rigby

"So are we going to talk about it or are you going to avoid it?" Looking up at June over the top of the clothing rack, my fingers trialed delicately along the dark green velvet hangers as I slid them side to side looking for possible choices.

"There isn't anything to talk about, therefore there is nothing to avoid." I watched her turn around as she mouthed 'okay' to herself, raising her eyebrows at the same time.

"I'm just saying, Rigs. If Leo ever looked at me the way Niall looked at you, I would literally propose to him myself." She placed a black pair of pants in my hands after coming back towards me, ushering us towards the fitting room of the store.

"He doesn't, seriously. We're friends. I've told you this like—a million times." Pulling open the door to the fitting room next to hers, I gently shut it before continuing on. "Yeah, we hang out a lot but that doesn't mean there is anything romantic going on. What is it with women and men not being able to be friends?"

"Jesus Christ." Hearing her mutter to herself while I could hear her slipping on one of the pieces of clothing in her stack of things, her voice carried over the divider to me. "I'm not saying you can't be friends, I'm saying that the smoke show of an Irishman with ocean blue eyes couldn't stop looking at you, while he was on a fucking date."

When I say that June had not stopped talking about the night we went ons double date and ran into Shelby and Niall, I mean she has not stopped talking about it.

She finally saw what he looked like that night he followed me on Instagram. Of course being the good friend that I am, I immediately took a screenshot and sent it to her before following him back before I exited out of the app to text Brandon back.

Forgoing trying on the pants, I pulled the straps of a deep cobalt colored dress over my shoulders, the satin fabric was cool and smooth to my touch as I adjusted them into place before opening the door to meet her in the small hallway. "He was probably staring at all of Leo's tattoos, not me. Okay, you have to buy that June.. Do you see yourself?"

"Shut up, oh my god." She adjusted her footing, looking back at the way the open back of the periwinkle sundress she had tried on showcased the delicate curve of her spine. "Look at this dress! Leo would die. He would literally die. There's absolutely no way I'm leaving without this." Turning to me, her hair fell into place and her seafoam green eyes were on fire, the way her excitement was so readable across her features made me love her even more. 

"That's why I said you have to get it. He wouldn't be able to keep his hands off you." Mirroring the pose she made in the mirror, my eyes trailed over the dress I had tried on before walking back into the small cubicle to change back into my jeans. Zipping them up, I called out to her, "Plus, you could wear it to multiple things. Like, Niall's birthday party—"

The words barely left my mouth when I heard the door to her room fly open, the resounding bang of the handle hitting the wall making me jump in place.

"Rigby Jane Watkins, open this fucking door."

"What?!" Pulling the door open and standing there in my plain black bra, I laughed as she looked at me with wide eyes.

"His birthday? Is that why we had to come shopping? Oh my god, I dare you to tell me you are just friend's one more time.." I could practically see her mind moving at warp speed, my laughter was still ringing out around us as she kept going.

"No! June, you're the one who wanted to come shopping.. Do I need to take you to the grippy sock hospital?!" Pulling my shirt over my head, popping my head out to see her scrolling through her phone muttering to herself in concentration.