Ready to Run Part 2

Chapter 15

Olivia

After Lexie interrupted Liam and I this morning, the mood was ruined so we got up quickly and I finished getting ready while Liam threw on some clothes. I'm a little worried about going to the mall and risking the boys being recognized but Lexie and I have to find dresses and neither one of us really wants to lose any time we have with them. Luckily, Liam knows the drill and dresses simply in skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, and a snapback pulled down low over his eyes. When we get downstairs I see Niall wearing athletic shorts and a soccer jersey and also sporting a hat. I'm hopeful that they'll blend in as normal college age guys.

We drive 45 minutes to a bigger shopping center because the Muncie mall isn't much to speak of. Hamilton Town Center is strange because it's set up like it should be in a warm climate like California, not Indiana. Some of the stores are connected but you have to go outside to get from one to another. It's actually a nice day out so we decide against driving from store to store in favor of parking the car and walking.

Halfway through the shopping trip it's clear we shouldn't have brought the boys along with us. When they aren't complaining about being bored they are running amuck through the stores. We tried to contain them in the beginning but now we are doing our best to ignore them. I'm minding my own business looking at a dress when I feel something hit my back.

"That was a shit throw dude. I'm sorry babe. Are you ok?" Liam says coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"It wouldn't have been shit if you could catch, ya dumb ass. But really, sorry Liv." Niall says with a shrug, retrieving the football they took from a bin of toys meant to entertain children that bounced off of me.

"Could you guys act like adults for like 10 minutes?" Lexie asks from the rack next to me.

"Seriously." I say in agreement, rolling my eyes.

"Aw we're just trying to have fun." Liam says with his arms still around me.

"Yeah. This is boring. We've been to like 6 stores and you both have tried on about 80 dresses each. Are we almost done?" Niall whines.

"Possibly. Liv are you ready to try on?" Lexie asks.

"I guess." I respond looking at the five dresses in my hand doubtfully. The sales associate that has been hovering around us pops back up to take our selections and leads us to the dressing rooms. It's pretty obvious that she's trying to figure out if the guys are indeed who she thinks they are. Once she's hung up our dresses she scatters away again and the boys sit down on the chairs outside while we change.

"How's it going in there?" Lexie calls over to me after a few minutes.

"I don't like this one. I'm taking it off." I respond and reach for the zipper.

"No way. Remember the rule." She says, reminding me of our agreement to let the other see anything we try on before dismissing it.

"Ugh fine." I say with resignation and open the door.

"Ok yeah you're right. That's awful." Lexie says referring to the hideous number I'm wearing. The pale blue color makes my skin look grey and the tight fit is anything but flattering.

"Yours isn't much better. What color is that? Baby puke?"

"You girls are ruthless. They aren't that bad." Niall pipes up. We just roll our eyes and go back into our changing rooms.

The next few dresses aren't much better. Even Liam made a face when I came out in a disgusting, yellow, one shouldered one. He tried to deny it and told me I looked beautiful, prompting Niall and Lexie to make gagging noises at the same time, but I definitely saw it. Niall isn't much help to Lexie either. He just sits back and nods with approval at each one.