Nikes - A Blake Richardson (New Hope Club) FanFiction

Prologue

I stood in front of these huge shelves which were overcrowded with branded shoes. My best friend -and actually my only friend- Eva had decided to do a shopping tour on our last day together. Or at least our last day together for the next year. She knew that shopping wasn't quite my hobby but she had asked me anyway and I had agreed.

I also wasn't a big fan of all these branded articles. I mean, everybody was wearing those, but what are the differences between common shoes and branded shoes except for the logo and the price? I didn't know. In my perception they were only very expensive and nothing else.

But now when I stood in front of them and watched the shoes way too long I got curious how branded shoes would look on me. I had never worn branded clothes before because of my attitude.

Okay, when I would look one more minute at these special pair of shoes (the shoes were simply black with a white Nike logo on them, nothing really special, but somehow they had caught my eye) I would definitely fall into trance. Before I could change my decision again, I took the shoes from the shelf and sat down onto the nearest stool and put them on.

I had to admit that I hadn't expected them as so comfortable! Wow, it was like standing on a sofa!
I stood up and looked skeptically into the mirror and asked Eva, who I expected to be right behind me. "How do they look on me?"

Eva didn't answer, but instead another voice from right behind me, where I had thought Eva would be. "Yeah, they look really good to be honest." It was a male voice.

As I realized that it wasn't Eva, I shocked and immediately turned around to see to whom I had accidentally talked to. It was a boy with brown hair who eyed my whole body, not only my shoes. I could literally feel how I blushed. How embarrassing! I had talked to a stranger without knowing it. And how he looked at me right now! I was definitely not used to be eyed by a guy. And not even by such a handsome one!

"But I bet even the cheapest shoes would look awesome on you." He said with a smirk and winked at me.
Okay, stop. Without a doubt, that was too much for me. I quickly turned around and ran away, to the other side of the shop. Fortunately I found Eva there who gave me a confused gaze.

"Did you see a ghost? Or why are you running like that?" She laughed.

"There was a guy." I said out of breath.
She laughed out loud again.

"Did he flirt with you?" She asked.

"Yes, I assume it was a flirt."

"Oh that explains everything." She still giggled. "Show me that guy."

I shocked. There was no way I'd go back to him after this embarrassing situation.

She laughed again.

"Don't make such a surprised face. You have to go back anyway. Or did you want to go without your shoes?" Eva pointed at my feet. I still wore the Nikes from the shop. That meant that I would have to go back. I face palmed myself.

Eva took my hand and walked happily to the shelves where I was before, pulling me with her.

Thank goodness, the boy wasn't there anymore. I sighed.
I quickly went to the stool and put my old shoes on.

"So, where is the boy?"

"Obviously not here."

Normally I wasn't rude but Eva knew exactly that I didn't feel comfortable when boys were around. And when they started to flirt ... no.

Even though the boy from before was very hot, my instinct told me to run. It was crazy actually, but it was just how it was.

"Was it this guy?" Eva pointed at a boy a few meters away from us, fortunately looking at the other direction, otherwise it would have been very embarrassing when Eva pointed at him that obviously.

"No. Unlike 'my' boy" I gestured the quotation marks with my fingers. "he has blonde hair."

"But he looks good though. Let's talk to him." Yes, Eva was the absolute opposite of me.

"No!" I said, half in panic. But she was already on her way. I rolled my eyes and followed her.

Suddenly two other boys joined him and there was he. The boy from before. Shoot, I had to get away! But it was too late already. Eva had talked to them.

I shyly stepped behind Eva and hoped that she didn't find them as attractive as she told me so that we could leave soon.

The boy with the brown hair looked at me and recognized me with an amused glance. Oh no.
He smirked. I blushed again.

He came closer to me and asked "Why did you run away before? Did I scare you?" He giggled.
Like I had been afraid of, he made a fool of me. But not only in front of Eva but also in front of two more handsome guys.

"I just ... wanted to try the shoes, you know, if I can run with them and stuff."
I didn't know from where it had come but I was proud of the tough answer.

He only nodded and smiled as if he exactly knew what was going on in my head but I was glad that he didn't say anything else.

Eva flirted a few more minutes with the boys and I tried to not look constantly at "my" boy.
Instead I looked at my shoes and considered if I should buy them or not.

Then Eva turned around and pulled me at the cash desk.
"So. Do you want to buy them or not?"

I still didn't know it. Unsure about my answer I looked around the shop as if I would find a solution somewhere there. My gaze was caught by the boy again and he looked back and nodded with a friendly smile. I understood, he meant that I should buy them.

"Yes, I want to buy them." I said and gave the cashier the shoes.

Wait. Since when did I do what a strange boy recommended?

I hadn't had much time to think of it further because Eva pulled me already out of the shop and we went on. Nobody of us said anything about the boys again.

I kind of regretted that I hadn't talked with the boy. He had seemed really cute and friendly when he didn't flirt.

Anyway. Why should I think about him when I would never meet him again...

***

There it was. The day when I would finally fly to the UK. For one year. Alone. Okay, I would have a guest family there, but the reasons why I flew were ... let's say, not easy to tell.

Now it was time to say goodbye. There weren't many people here for saying goodbye to me at the airport. Two, to be exact. My best friend Eva and my older brother Adam. There weren't more people who cared about me being far away for the next year. But I didn't need more. I loved it how it was.

Eva hugged me tightly and told me that I would manage it. I appreciated her always right words in the right moments. She was a true friend and I would give everything for her.
She finished the hug reluctantly.
I turned to my brother. I looked into his eyes and touched his scar with my fingertips. My fingers followed it from his right temple to his collar bone. For other people it looked scary. But for us it was a memory of our past which would never fade away.

"Goodbye Selena." My brother said. We pulled each other into a tight hug. I would definitely miss Eva but I had no idea how I would survive without my brother. He was the only person I had and who understood me exactly.

I finally said goodbye and walked away.

Now I was alone.
Now I had to fend for myself.