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Chapter 4: Remembering the Pain

*The next morning*

*Alexa's POV*

       We grabbed breakfast on the way to the mall. Our favorite breakfast joint. Mickey's. Great hash-browns. Amazing bacon egg and cheese croissants. The coffee was superb. My favorite was white mocha with caramel syrup and whipped cream to top it off. Chloe's choice was straight up black coffee. No cream. No sugar. 

     When we arrived at the mall, we were at the south entrance. "You two kids have fun. Call me if you need anything. Remember we're meeting up at the food court at 2 p.m.," Chloe's granddad said as we were leaving his car. 

   He was meeting with some clients a couple of blocks down. Important business. We nodded and said our goodbyes. 

    Chloe slipped her arm into mine like we always did. "So. What are you looking to get today, costume-wise?" She asked as we headed for the two sets of double doors. 

    "Hmmm." I thought aloud and squinted a bit as I had my free hand rub my chin. Suddenly, I froze in my place. 

    No. F*cking. Way. Dallas Carter is here. Seriously?! My ex. The biggest f*boy I have ever met. The one I thought was going to be different. 

*Flashback*

    Dallas has been an absolute gentleman. He takes excellent care of me and doesn't ask me to pay when we go out. He's a real stand-up guy- unlike my ex Chad. 

    Chad would try to decide where I was going and who I was talking to, but I wasn't allowed to ask the same of him. He would never want to take pictures with me, and I could not post anything associated with our relationship. 

    Anyway, I was finishing up with my makeup. I didn't want it too heavy on the makeup because Dallas said it makes me look ugly. After I finished with that, I placed the brush back in its container. 

    I grabbed the already heated curling wand and began curling my hair in 2-inch sections. It took so long for me to master the curling wand, but it was worth it. I love when my hair is curly, and so does Dallas.  

    After about half an hour of curling, I was about to finish when I got a text from Dallas. I set the wand down and turned it off. 

    I grabbed the phone and opened up the message. It read: Hey babe, we still on for tonight? I replied: Yeah, babe. My padre is dropping me off in about 10 minutes. I'll be there soon. Love you. Xoxo. 

   I put the finishing touches on my hair and then went to my closet to put on my cute PTV T-shirt and matching hoodie. I grabbed my black ripped skinny jeans and put them on and my black and white converse. 

   In this phase, I wanted to dress like a punk, and Dallas also loved it. He said it makes me look sexy as hell. It filled me with great confidence.  

   After that, I grabbed my cell and left my room. "Padre! I'm ready. Can we leave now, por favor?" I asked, searching for him in the house. 

   "Sure, Princesa. Let me grab my keys and change clothes, and then we'll go. You can wait in the car." He said from his room. 

    I went to wait in his 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. God, he loves that car more than me- I think. Haha, I'm kidding. He better loves his only daughter more than a car. At least I think I'm his only-- you know what, Lexa? Don't go there. 

    Ten minutes later, we were almost at his house. My phone buzzed. Another text from Dallas reads: Hey, sorry. I have to cancel. Something came up. Can we reschedule?