Between The Lines

Chapter 16

I'm sitting in the kitchen eating toast when my phone chimes.

A text from Rebecca.

'Want to go shopping later?'

'Yeah, I'll pick you up around noon? :)'

A couple minutes later, she replies.

'Sounds good :)'

I hurry of to the bathroom to take a shower and get around.

I grab my keys and lock the front door before leaving.

I get in my car and start it up, turning on the heat on high.

I arrive at Rebecca's house a little before noon and see she's waiting for me.

"Hey!" She exclaims as she climbs into the passenger side.

"Hey." I smile.

We drive to the mall and park a block down from the entrance. Rebecca keeps telling me all the places she wants to stop and what she wants to get.

"Let's go into Forever21" she says.

I nod. I could use a couple shirts and maybe a dress.

We walk in and I spot a rack of cute dresses. "I'm gonna go over there." I tell her, pointing to the rack.

"Ok, I'll be in the bathing suits." She says. I make my way over to the rack, stopping to glance at a few shirts on the way.

I push a few dresses to the side, looking for one that I like best.

I come across a black lace dress that stops above the knees. The sleeves go just below my elbows and there's an oval shape cut out in the back.

I find Rebecca examining two bikinis when I find her. "What do you think of this?" I ask her, holding the dress up to my body. She nods. "That's cute!"

She holds up two bathing suits, one white with black diamond figures printed on it and a light blue one with tiny pink hearts.

I have her spin them around to see the back before deciding the white one.

"That one." I say.

"Really?" She asks.

"Yeah, it will fit your skin tone better."

"Good point." She smiles and puts the blue one back on the rack. "Let's go try these one."

We walk to the dressing rooms and a short lady opens mine for me and I thank her.

I take my clothes off and slip into the dress. I turn around to see how the back looks. The oval shape exposes most of my back and the front comes across my collar.

I step out of the dressing room to show Rebecca. "You look great!" She says with a smile.

"I really do like it." I tell her.

"So get it." She simply states.

I nod. "Alright." I smile. "Did you try yours on yet?" I ask her.

"Yeah. You were right. It does fit my skin tone." She says, holding the garment up.

I walk back into my dressing room and take the dress off. I put on my regular clothes and take the dress to the cash register.

Rebecca comes up behind me. "Where next?" She asks.

"Victoria Secret?"

She nods. "Yeah."

We make our way to VS and Rebecca heads off toward the PINK section.

I find the perfumes and find my favorite one, Noir Tease. I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn around to see Rebecca, a couple pairs of underwear in hand. "You should get something for your bad boy." She smirks.

"He's not a 'bad boy'." I laugh. "And besides, I have plenty."

"Why do you like him, anyway?"

"I don't know.. there's just something about him..." I smile at the thought of him.

"He seems sweet, just a little intimidating." She says.

"He really is nice he just has those tattoos as a cover-up." I let out a small laugh and Rebecca joins.

After we purchase our things, we walk around a bit.

"I'm a little hungry, wanna grab something to eat?" I suggest.

She nods. "Yeah, I'm craving Taco Bell." She sighs.

I laughs and hand the lady my money.

I grab my bag and wait for Rebecca to finish her purchase.

After we finish, we head to the food court. I tell Rebecca I want Subway while she hops into the Taco Bell line.

Once we get our food, we sit down at a small table.

Rebecca takes a bite of her burrito then points over to a table behind us.

"Isn't that bad boy?"

I turn to see Harry sitting at a table, just like ours, alone... with two meals.

Is he here with another girl?

I turn back around and choke another bite of my sandwich down. I nod at Rebecca. "Yeah, that's him."

"He's hot." She says.

"I know." I says.

"No, not Harry, the guy he's with."

I turn back around to see him sitting with a tattooed boy with blond hair.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in.

"Let's go introduce ourselves." I smile.

"No- Carly, I Can't-" she protests, while I take her hand and pull her out of her seat.

"You'll be fine." I assure her as we head off toward the table.

"Hi, Harry." I say.

He looks up at me and smiles.

"Oh, hey Carly."

"This is Rebecca." I gesture to the shy Rebecca standing next to me. "She works at the diner with me."

The blonde haired boy introduced himself as Niall.

"Come sit with us." Harry suggests.

"You sure?" I ask. He nods.

Rebecca and I go back to our table to get out things before sitting down with Harry and Niall.

Rebecca sits beside Niall and I, Harry.

Rebecca and Niall start a small conversation and I take it as my opportunity to talk to Harry.

Before I can say anything to him, he leans into me.

"Stay with me tonight? I miss you."

I smile and nod.