Inked

8

I had expected the ride to the mall to be awkward after the previous encounter, but it actually ended up being pretty fun. We talked about anything and everything until we ran out of things to go on about. I don't think either of us really even noticed when we had finally reached the mall because we were both so caught up in our current topic. It was nice to talk with someone that wasn't Callie and Mia for a change.

We finally walk into the mall and are immediately greeted with a crowd of people moving throughout the different shops. Without even looking where I was going I step towards the crowd only to be hastily pulled back by Mason grabbing my hand. I snap back to reality to see a large, muscular man rush past me and lightly hit into my shoulder. 'Woah.' I thought. 'That was too close. If Mason hadn't pulled me back, that asshole would have just run me over.'

I was so caught up in my near death experience that I didn't even realize that I was still holding onto his hand. I blushed intensely and attempted to drop his grip only for it to tighten. I looked from our joined hands to his face in worry. He just smiled brightly at me.

"What are you-" I begin to ask before being cut off.

"You don't want to get lost in this crowd, do you? And besides, you just almost got run into because you weren't paying attention." I studied him, trying to figure out if he was serious. 'What about his boyfriend?' I thought, slightly concerned about his motives for the sudden gesture. Then, as if he could read my thoughts, he shook his head slightly and responded.

"Don't worry. Keith would be fine with this, I promise. It's completely platonic, right?"

'So his boyfriend's name is Keith, huh? He sounds like a douche.' I thought bitterly to myself.

"Right!" 'Wrong.'

_____________________________________________________________________________

We wondered in and out of a few stores and hadn't really seen anything that caught our attention. That is until we walked by a very cute looking little store named-

"Claire's!" I yelled excitedly. "Do you mind if we go inside?"

"Not at all! Lead the way." He replied contently smiling at me.

We walked into the very colorful store, still hand in hand, to find it surprisingly empty for how busy the rest of the mall was. At the front was a small station where a little girl of about seven was currently getting her ears pierced. She was extremely calm and relaxed despite the circumstances, which was the total opposite of me when I decided to poke holes in my ears. Especially considering that I was eighteen years old when I got them done.

My parents weren't exactly supportive of their only son's request to have earrings, which meant that I had to come up with the money on my own somehow if I was to go through with my ambition. And even though I did eventually save up enough to have to done, they were even less happy to actually see their little boy come home in a pair of pink rose earrings.

I smiled at the little girl before continuing on my adventure into the store. I browsed through all of the earrings and hair accessories before finding the thing that I would definitely be wasting twenty-four dollars on: flower crowns. I was in love.

They had the cutest little flower crown I had ever seen with little pink roses and white daisies entwined in it. Next to it hung a fairly similar one with blue and light purple flowers instead. It was settled, I was going to get these for Mason and I despite the fact that I would probably end up spending over fifty dollars. It was worth it.

I dropped Mason's hand and grabbed both of the crowns without explanation before hurrying over to the cashier. He followed me in a confused silence until we left the store.

"Why did you buys two flower crowns?" He questioned gesturing to the Claire's bag. I just smiled slyly before placing the blue and purple one on top of his head. He began to protest but decided it would be no use after seeing the complacent look on my face.

"Okay, I'll keep it on. But the jokes on you for spending fifty bucks on both of these." He joked.

"Oh shut up, you know you love it."