Neighbors

Neighbors VIII

Chapter 8

P A R K E R  I S  N E R V O U S

The mall is alive. Literally. Its walls feel like they are shaking from all the feet falling down on the concrete like elephants. Actually, at this point, I believe an elephant is in the building.

"Why is it so busy?" Willy asks me as we walk toward the food area. Willy and I have been here multiple times and know where everything is. We also know the mall usually isn't this alive every week.

"I don't know. I know as much as you." I tell Willy, turning a corner. He's quiet for a second, then he breaths in and speaks.

"So you know how to load a gun?" He says after a second. I swallow at Willy's words and turn to him.

"No." I stick my tongue out at him and he laughs.

"See, I know how to hunt, fight, and fly an airplane."

"You only know how to drive an airplane because your dad was a pilot. Don't act like you learned it in the army. Otherwise, you would be in the air force."

"I know. Gosh." I smirk at Willy, remember how his dad was a pilot and would fly us around, over lakes and things.

"So, do you want to grab something to eat?" Willy asks as we enter the food place central.

"No. We have a mission. Find Parker."

"You mean, you have a mission. I would help, but I don't know what he looks like so I'm going to get some food."

"No!" I shout at Willy, but he's already walking away. "William Brent!" I shout. I only get the attention of a few girls walking by. One girl raises an eyebrow and leaves her group of friends to walk over to me. I recognize her from school.

She's a little over weight, and has short blond hair, revealing diamond earrings.

"Hi." She says, waving at me a little. She adds after awhile, 'you seem to be in trouble'.

"Um no, just my friend ditched me and now...um...he's a dick?" The girl laughs and rolls her eyes.

"All guys are. You're the new girl right? Quinn Grant?"

"Brent. Quinn Brent. Yes, I'm the new girl." I say, about to walk away. Then something strikes my mind.

"Oh, wait! You haven't happened to see Parker anywhere have you?" The girl raises an eyebrow.

"Um, yeah. He was a few people up the escalator from me when I came up with my friends. Why?"

"No reason. Just wondering." I say, fidgeting with my fingers. The girl gives me a disbelieving face and tilts her head.

"Do you think I was born dumb?" She says, a laugh in between her questions beginning and end.

"Um, alright fine. I'm looking for him because he told me to meet him here." The lie comes out of my mouth easily. But what am I going to say? Oh yeah, I'm looking for him so that I can get Grace to show up at his house and I can kind of hope her friend comes over so that I can talk to her about Andrew? Yeah, no.

"Really? I knew he liked you!" The girl's eyes get big and she smiles like she won the lottery. However, reel back in surprise at what she said.