Strangers

Crosswalks

       When I first met Alex I thought he was a douche. Now I think he's a complete sweetheart. You would think that when he was in high school girls didn't want to be with him, because you know girls usually go for the douches. The type of guy that is good looking, dresses nice, is sporty, and outgoing, but is completely rude. Well all of those things are true about Alex, except for the being rude part. He knows how to get along with people. Alex doesn't make you do anything you're not comfortable with, but he makes you feel comfortable when you're doing those things. To be honest he does kinda make you do things but he knows his boundaries. Throwback to the elevator situation.
       Now here we are in his car looking for a parking space. We're at the mall but he still hasn't told me what we're doing. Of course we don't get a close parking spot so we have to walk there a little. Alex gets off first and open my door. "Thanks, you didn't have to do that." "I wanted to. It's what I was taught to do, to be a gentleman." The sidewalks always seem to be full. And by that I mean that there's more than like 5 people on them, because that's how many people actually walk from place to place where I'm from. Close to our apartment complex there isn't a lot of traffic and people, mostly because it's like a chill place. So this is a different side of Los Ángeles that I haven't experienced.
      We walk and look at buildings and the people inside them. There's a cafe with a little outside seating area and it's just like Instagram perfect, I keep it in a check list of places to visit in my head. We end up at a crosswalk. There's cars going so we can't cross. The lights here seem to take forever to change, because a crowd starts to form behind us. There was already a group of people in front of us, so now it's just a glob of people. The light with the big orange hand that tells us we can't cross finally changes into the orange walking man. Alex grabs my hand and we walk to the other side. "Sorry I don't need you to get lost in the crowd. This is just my way of keeping of you with me." "Oh it's fine. I thought I was gonna get lost in that crowd." I make a little awkward laugh to make my statement seem more believable and we keep walking. He could have just grabbed my backpack and kept me close, but whatever keeps me from getting lost.
     We finally make it to the mall and Alex lets go of my hand and takes out his phone. "What do you think we're gonna do today Mili?" He says as he records me on his phone. "I don't know but we gotta find out, and by we I mean me, because this is your idea." I point at him "I think this would actually make a good video is it okay if I film this whole thing and just keep it to myself?" "Go ahead, you can do whatever you want it's not like anyone knows me. Post me on Snapchat, Instagram Stories, Twitter, it's okay." I laugh and and walk a little further and look around. "Alright if you say so. In that case we're gonna need some help. Do you think your friend Ava can come help us?" He asked me. He seems pretty psyched about this video idea he has. "Probably she doesn't really have work, her aunt can handle it. I'll ask."

"Ava can you come hangout with me and Alex?"
"Share your location with me I'll be there as soon as I can. I'm not passing this up."