Like To Be You ✓

twelve

Tyler and I are cycling to the City Centre. I believe I have a scowl on my face, not because of me not liking this decision, but because of the sun that glowers down on my face. I can feel beads of sweat rolling down my back and it makes me feel uncomfortable. I squint as we manoeuvre through the streets. There's minimal traffic today, but the City Centre's parking lot is crowded when we park our bikes.

I think of how easier it would've been if we'd just driven here. No sweat making me feel icky. There are two empty parking spots from my vantage point, so therefore minimal parking hassle, and I wouldn't have spent ten whole minutes trying to open the bike shed and find the goddamn lock and key.

The first thing I do is rush to an open stall selling shaved ice. Tyler raises his hands in confusion as he watches me jog away. I buy two cones, one blueberry, one lime, and hold out the blueberry ice in Tyler's direction. He fumbles to grab it and mutters a thank you.

"So," I bite off a chunk of the ice, which makes my teeth tickle. Tyler grimaces as he watches me shudder. "Where to?"

He cracks a finger joint, making me cringe, and laughs. "The arcade opens in five."

"You want to watch bored parents and screaming children?"

"We could be a part of the screaming children."

"That sounds horrifying."

He digs the tiny plastic spoon into his ice. "It sounds fun. I could get some of the stress off my chest."

The sun beats down on us, making me regret my decision of wearing jeans and not shorts, so I move towards the mall. The fountain comes in view as we pass through the open square. I smirk.

People are sitting at the rim of the fountain, chatting away, eating, wearing sunglasses and doing nothing, watching pigeons flutter at their feet, and typing away on their phones.

My phone vibrates in my pocket just as we pass under the freezing AC at the entrance doors. I pull it out and see a text from Zayne, as well as four other texts he'd sent earlier.

8:54 am

Zayne: Tf u at?

8:59 am

Zayne: Excuse you u cant abandon me like this

9:47 am

Zayne: :(

10:04 am

Zayne: oh yeah I just remembered that you're skipping with ur bf

And now, at 10:41 am:

Zayne: So, how's it going? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Me: Shut up please

Zayne: Finally! Don't you ever ignore me again or I'll kill you

Me: I wasn't ignoring you. I hadn't checked my messages

Zayne: idk idc tell me about ur lil date

Me: Stop texting like that. Spell properly for God's sake

Zayne: no fuck u

Me: fuck u too

Zayne: no homo tho

Me: Pay attention is class, loser

Me: in*

I pocket my phone. The shaved ice is melting in my hand and rivulets of sugary water have already made my fingers sticky. I slurp it all down quickly and in my moment of absolute concentration on the task at hand, I nearly slam into Tyler, who has come to a stop in front of me.