The Summer Before Senior Year

Seth

I walked over to one of the sofas to get a little comfortable because I knew we were going to be here a while. All was well in CandyLand (my little name for Candy Crush) until I noticed that one of the store attendants was checking me out and had caught my eye. Oh come the fuck on, I thought. I turned away very quickly so that she wouldn't get the wrong idea but by the time I looked away from CandyLand again, I saw that she was sitting beside me which made me jump.

"Jesus Christ! Do not ever do that again!" I said still in shock. I saw Riley looking at me from the corner of her eye and she grinned cheekily at my direction. God, not her too.

"You look seriously adorable when you're scared." the raven-haired girl sitting beside me chuckled. 

I was lost for a moment, or more, which brought and awkward silence that she decided to end by clearing her throat.

"I'm Lesley." she brought out a hand to shake me which I took. "I work here but I don't think I've ever - "

"You haven't." I assured her. "I'm in that camp that's around here."

She nodded in understanding.

"So you came here with your girlfriend then?" she nodded in Riley's direction before she continued, "Guys don't usually go shopping with girls if they aren't brothers or boyfriends. And only the special kind." she smiled.

Only if she was actually my girlfriend, I thought. Lying wasn't in my nature but it could help get Lesley off my chest. I really didn't want any more girls lying in my wake. Getting rid of them was super hard but she'd never see me again so I decided to just go with my imagination.

"Yeah she is. She's beautiful isn't she?" I said turning to look at her and at that, I turned to look at her. She was smiling as she looked at her phone and began to make her way over to me. God, I really wanted this girl to be mine and mine only. It was always painful for her to come talk to me about guys that had hit on her that she liked. It just hurt like a bitch.

"Hey babe." I said to her in a rush and put my arm around her shoulders before whispering to her, "Just go with it."

"So how long have you guys been together?" Lesley asked.

"Since sophomore year." Riley quickly answered. "He's definitely one of the better guys I've dated." she smiled satisfyingly. Lesley seemed to be content with this answer and left us. Somehow, I just knew that she didn't fake the answer she gave to her. And it brightened my spirits a lot.

"She's cute!" Riley squealed once Lesley was out of earshot.

"I've got eyes for another." I waved it off. "Did you get it?"

"Are you gonna tell me who she is?" she wiggled her eyebrows at me. Seriously, what is up with people these days, wiggling eyebrows suggestively?

"Don't answer a question with a question Leroy and," I pretended to put some actual thought into it, "Maybe I'll tell you one day. Just maybe." I winked which earned me an eye roll. I had to tell her sooner or later and I pick sooner just so she doesn't jet off casually dating some A-class asshole. Before you go back home for summer, I thought. That actually didn't sound too bad.

"And yes, I got it." she smiled cheekily raising the top to me. "It's even super cheap!"

She then giddily pulled me over to the counter so she could pay and continue the hunt for her shoes which, admittedly would take a LONGER time than clothes shopping. I always preferred shoe shopping because I believe shoes actually make the outfit. Oh Lord, I was talking like a damn female.

Pull yourself together Winters. 

"So where exactly can we find these shoes that you didn't bring and have to buy?" I asked as we left the store.