Even Through the Storm

1. Rad Threads

 I walk up to my friend Dri's house. The front door is open so I walk right in. My friend is sitting at the dining room table on her cell phone. "Hey Dri," I say. She turns around. Her hair is auburn in color, her eyes hazel. It's summertime, so she is wearing her usual spaghetti strap tank and her favorite ripped jean shorts. Today, her tank is hot pink.

"Sup Lola," she says. I take a seat in the living room on her white, leather couch. "What's up?"

"Not much," I say. "Wanna go to the mall? I could use a new wallet." I say spinning my keychain around my finger. I lay down.

"Sure. Mom!" She yells upstairs. "I'm going to the mall with Lo! Be back by six!" It's currently three in the afternoon.

"Okay!" Her mom, Ms. Hudson yells downstairs. "Remember, your dad will be here at seven!"

"Okay!" Ms. and Mr. Hudson got divorced when Dri and I were seven. Ever since then, Dri and her brother Jonah switch houses every other week.

Dri and I go outside and get in my van that I got for my sixteenth birthday. I buckle my seatbelt then start the engine. I start driving. "So, what's the plan?" Dri asks.

"Um, how about Roxie's, food court, Rad Threads, anything else?" I ask.

"I'm good." An alert pops up on my radio's screen.

"Incoming call from Baby," My car's automatic, robot-sounding voice says. I hit answer.

"Hey Babe," I say. "You're on speaker. Dri's in the car."

"Hey, Dri," my boyfriend, Asher, says. "Where you guys headed?"

"The mall," I say. "Where you?"

"What a coincidence, the mall."

"Oh, are you on shift?" I ask. Asher works at Rad Threads, my favorite store. It's actually how we met two years ago, but at that time, we were just friends.

"I'm on break right now, but yeah. I have to get back to work in a few minutes. I just wanted to check and see if we were still on tomorrow." Every Friday, at six o'clock, Ash and I go see a movie at our local theater. He gets popcorn and I get a chocolate bar. After having a few pieces, I crush the bar up and sprinkle it on the popcorn. Ash hates chocolate so he always gives me the rest. It's been the same since we started dating six months ago. We haven't missed it once.

"Obviously," I say. "I'll see you in a bit, okay?"

"Okay, bye Babe."

"Bye. Love you."

"Love you too." End call.

***

Dri and I drive a little longer, then park the car and walk into the mall. "Boy or shopping first? Or food? I'm okay with food," Dri says.

"Um, Rad Threads. Ash's shift is almost over and I want my discount," I say.

"Threads it is." We walk into Rad Threads. Asher is behind the check-out counter, just like he was when we first met.

"Hey Babe," he says. "I would kiss you, but I'd get fired."

"It's the thought that counts," I say. I pick out five shirts and an action figure and bring it up to the counter.

"I'm guessing you'd like the discount?" Ash says. Dri walks up behind me.

"Can I get it too?" She asks.

"Anything for my friends. I'm guessing credit?" I swipe my card while he puts my stuff into a bag. I then step away so Dri can have her turn. "Credit too?"

"Yep. Don't go anywhere without it." She swipes it and he gives her a bag.

"Bye, Lo, see ya' tomorrow."

"Bye Babe."