The Run In

Chapter 8

"We spent almost exactly eight minutes in each of those stores."

"C'mon you already know I'm fast." I grinned at Aiden who was lazily cocking his head back, looking deep into the inky black sky.

We were sitting on a bench staring up at the clock tower in the main square of the mall, waiting for a sign of Kate's blonde hair and bundle of shopping bags.

I brought Aiden through three stores, each mapped less than 2 minutes away from each other on our way to this clock tower, giving us the perfect amount of time to weave through each store, find things on sale, take pictures of new and trendy articles of clothing, and make it to the clock tower just in under 30 minutes, giving us time to settle and wait for my green eyed friend to show up.

If she shows up.

I know she's had her eyes on a pair of high waisted denim shorts at PacSun so if she's planning on going there before coming here-

"We swept through those racks better than any Swiffer Duster could." He said, his voice breathy.

"Is that sweat I see?" I say, looking over at his temple.

"Probably, I did not think we would be moving that fast."

I chuckled under my breath and looked over the square.

It was quite beautiful actually. There were window boxes filled with purple and white pansies, ferns hanging from some awnings of stores and restaurants, and vines climbing up the clock tower, nearly three quarters of the way up. It reminded me of Rapunzel's tower.

There was an old song crooning faintly from the outdoor speakers of the square and I could hear crickets chirping back and forth like songbirds in the morning. People walking their dogs, walking their kids, walking their friends... they all moved fast and gaily to their destinations.

And I'm just chilling here with a boy. A boy that can make my own heart sing. And he doesn't even know me. He doesn't know anyone for that matter. Just me.

Well, and Kate.

Speaking of that nugget, where is she?

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aiden's head pop up.

"Now what?"

"Now we wait." I replied, kicking my shoe up and crossing it over my knee.

He groaned and tilted his head back again.

I didn't like my reply either. I was anxious to sit down in a restaurant with Aiden and Kate and giggle over ginger ale in fancy wine glasses. In a restaurant that served basil, tomato and mozzarella pizza. In a restaurant that had bread sticks.

Sweet, sweet bread sticks.

I saw his head pop up again. "Waiting is boring. Let's play 20 questions."

I looked over at him and cocked my eyebrow. "You mean like yesterday?"

He turned towards me. "Yes, like yesterday."

"I moved my body so it was facing him. "Alright. Shoot."

He adjusted his hat and stared at me devilishly, then was rubbing his hands together like he was keeping them warm.

Or plotting something incredibly evil.

"Where do you want to go to college?"

I kind of froze for a second. I didn't know what to say honestly.

"Uh..."

My eyes wandered to a dog lapping water into his mouth outside of Moosejaw. I felt like my mind was a slo-mo video. My heart was beating so fast.