Battle Scars

chapter 10 - the best boyfriend ever

I've been spending a lot of time with Brandon. Since we said we loved each other a few weeks ago we've been inseparable. Nearly every day we go to Brandon's "favorite place on earth" that we've recently named Our Place. Sometimes we go there just to get away from the house and others we go to talk. Either way I love it. Today though, instead of Our Place, he's taking me to the mall.

"You know, taking me to the mall is pointless. I don't have any money," I say when he told me.

"I know. That's why I'm bringing my money," he says with a smile, "go get ready!"

"No, Brandon, I'm not letting you buy me anything."

"Yes you are. I'll get you whatever you want," he says still smiling. Before I can refuse, he heads to his room.

I search my closet for something to wear for a while. Eventually, I go with dark blue skinny jeans with combat boots, a thin white shirt with the words Love Pink across it and a bright blue tank top underneath. First I try to put my hair up in a ponytail but it ends up looking stupid. Instead I decide to put it in a fish tale braid draped over my shoulder. Like always, I go with no makeup - partly because I don't really know how to do my makeup. I decide to ditch the brackets I wear everyday to cover my scars. Brandon has really helped me become more open, he even convinced me to tell his moms.

I jump a little when my door opens and Brandon pops in, "You ready?"

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We've been to about every store in the mall and every time Brandon sees me looking at something, he offers to buy me it. I already told him I won't let him buy me anything though. I know he's just trying to be nice but I don't want him to get the wrong idea. I do love him, there's no way I can deny it, but we can't be together.

"This is Mariana's favorite store," he says as he opens the glass door for me.

We walk around for a while and I have to be honest, shopping isn't exactly my favorite thing to do but I love spending time with Brandon. He grabs my hand and leads me to the jewelry section. We look through the earrings, necklaces, and bracelets and everything looks extremely expensive.

The only thing in the store that catches my eye is a silver bracelet with an infinity sign made out of diamonds with the word hope on it. It looks just as expensive as the others. Brandon sees me looking at it and he goes over to it and gently picks it up. I shake my head at him, telling him I don't want it.

"Come on, it's only," he checks the price tag, "$2.50. The diamonds aren't real. Let me get you something?"

"No, Brandon."

We're about to leave when he grabs my hand and pulls me to the cash register. I look at him with a confused expression until he sets the bracelet in front of the cashier. I'm about to protest when the cashier speaks.

"Is this all," she asks in a sweet voice with an exaggerated smile. Brandon nods and I glare up at him.

When she rings it up, I see that it's not $2.50. It's $250.00. I look up at Brandon, my eyes wide.

"I knew you wouldn't let me get it for you if you knew how much it is," he explains.

"Brandon! I didn't even agree to let you buy it for me when I thought it was cheep!"

He shrugs and picks it up from the counter. He holds the bracelet in one hand and my left wrist in the other. I can't even be mad at him! I smile up at him as he clasps the bracelet together around my wrist. He holds my hands and for a moment we just stand there, looking at each other smiling.

"Wow, I wish my boyfriend did that for me," the cashier says with a laugh.

"Yeah. I have the best boyfriend ever," I say, still looking at Brandon, confirming our relationship.

At first he looks surprised, then he just smiles and replies with, "Only because I have the best girlfriend."

We walk out of the store hand in hand. No one and nothing can ruin this moment..... Except the one person I actually hate. There his is. Standing by a tree a few yards away. His blond hair cut shorter than it was last time I saw him. His evil smirk across his evil face.

Liam Olmstead.

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Author's Note:

Any predictions? What do you think will happen with Liam?! (To be honest I don't even know!) What do you think will happen with Brandon and Callie?! How about with Jude and Callie?! Anyway, thanks for reading you guys, your comments make my day!