The love that hurt

Chapter 4

The next day I practically have to drag Hannah to the mall. We check out a few stores, but don't buy anything. After a few hours we go to the food court. I have a craving for some cheap chines food.

"What do you want? It's on me." I usually don't even think about paying, but I need to feel like a good person.

"I could go for a burger."

"Ew! Get your nasty meat out of here." I don't eat meat, It's weird and cruel.

"You get your gross rabbit food out of here," Hannah jokes.

I get my noodles first and follow Hannah to pay for her food. We sit down and start to eat. I thought I was going to be able to eat but Eli is on my mind.,I had the dream again. I need to tell Hannah, but I can't find the courage.

"Hey Hannah?" I ask, my voice shaking. "Can I, uh, tell you something?"

"Yeah, sure. You know you can tell me anything. What's bugging you?"

"Well you see..." I start but before I can finish I feel someone's hands on my head.

"Hey guys!" It's Judie "What are you  two doing here? You never come to the mall Hannah."

"Oh, Mark talked me into it."

"Woah, how did you manage that little buddy?"Judie asks as she rubs her hand through my shaggy hair.

"Well maybe if you were a good friend..." I joke with her because I hate when people call me buddy.

"Wow. Wwooww." She stretches her words sarcastically. "Well I don't know if I want to be friends with a little gay boy. How about that?" Judie jokes about my sexuality sometimes. I don't mind.

"Well what are you doing here alone, you loser?" I joke.

"Seeing a movie. Mostly trying to avoid my mom. She's pissed that I got sent home early. I mean, she doesn't even care I was protecting someone else. I swear she drives me crazy sometimes." She continues to rant for a few minutes.

I can see that Hannah is getting upset. She doesn't think there's ever a reason to be violent.

"You know your moms kind of right? You could have just gotten a teacher." Hannah's voice is harsh.

"Well there wasn't anyone else around and it wouldn't have been smart to wait and get someone."

"Yeah, sometimes we've got to take matters into our own hands. Someone isn't always going to be there to help us." I just had to put my thought in the conversation when I should have been stopping it.

"Well someone could have gotten hurt."

"Someone was getting hurt!" Judie starts to get angry.

"I like puppies. Like, have you seen Irish shepherds? So cute." I try to change the subject.

We all sit there and finish eating. You could cut the tension with a knife.

"So do you want to go shopping with us?" I ask Judie, and Hannah kicks me under the table. Her and Judie are friends but they tend to disagree a lot.

"Sure, I could use some new clothes."

We continue to go from store to store. We walk into hot topic, I love this store. All of the subjects I love. I immediately see the Riverdale section and run for it.

"Do you see this!? It's so beautiful!" I hold up a shirt with Kj Apa.

"No this one is better." Hannah holds up one with Cole Sprouse, raising her eyebrows. We have this argument all the time.

We continue to walk around and goof off. Judie puts on a head band with cat ears on it. She starts to sing milkshake. Me and Hannah put a pair on and join her. Once we finish an employee claps sarcastically.

"Thank you, we are Judie and the pussy cats" Judie takes a bow. Only she could make a joke like that.

After a few more minutes I check out. I bought a Love, Simon and a Melanie Martinez cry baby shirt.

"Ok can we find me some clothes now? We have been here like all day." Hannah complains.

"Fine one more store." I take her to rue 21. "Ok so I know you are a jeans girl but I don't care so try this on." I shove her into the changing room with a pastel pink high waisted skirt that fans out, and an over sized white shirt. She comes out with the shirt untucked and covering half the skirt.

"Ok no, tuck in the shirt."

Hannah tucks it all the way in

"No, like this." I grab the shirt and pull it out a little bit so it puffs up around the skirt. "There we go."

"Um ok" Hannah says as she look in the mirror. "I mean, I don't hate it." 

"Good. Ok wait one minute I see some jeans that are calling my name." I run to the men's section and grab a pair of jeans that are covered in zippers and holes. We check out, then leave the mall.

"Alright see you guys Monday." Judie waves goodbye.

"Bye." Hannah and I wave. I hop in Hannah's car. I plug in my phone and turn on Spotify. S.L.U.T by Bea
Miller comes on, Hannah and I sing along, loudly.

She drops me off at my house and it's almost four o'clock.