New Girl - The Creatures

Chapter 39

The boys eventually trailed out to the driveway, and we piled into different cars as we did during any mass outing. Jordan, Dan, Seamus, and James were in one, and Sly, Aleks, and Max were in the other. I chose to get into the latter, mostly so that I wouldn't have to feel the palpable tension between the three of us.

"HA! Sam likes me more!" Sly yelled to the other car as Dan began recording. "Sam! You're breaking my heart!" Jordan hollered back as I climbed in. "I need to see other cars, Jordan! I can still be friends with yours though," I chided back, enjoying the banter. I closed the door as Jordan pretended to cry. I was glad that his back windows were tinted so that I wouldn't have to make eye contact with those two just yet.

Max drove much better than Jordan and was way more zippy. Jordan drove a bit like my grandma, whereas Max's car had some really nice acceleration. Aleks and I were in the back seat and Sly was up front, trying to talk Max into giving him the aux cord. "Bro what I'll play is gonna be fire!" Sly yelled as Max expressed his disdain. He started pleading, and eventually, Max caved.

Sly giggled maniacally as he plugged his phone in. A familiar 8-bit melody came on, followed by a guitar riff. We all groaned as Sly played more of his band's music, this time being the infamous Homies Unite.

"Hey, you ever wanna fucking blow your brains out?" Aleks said to me, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smile. "All the time, my friend. All the time." I said back, watching Sly jam out in the front seat.

Max eventually stole the aux cord back and played some instrumental acoustic, obviously making Sly depressed. As soon as we got out of the car and at the mall, Sly leaped out of the car and scolded Max for not letting him be himself. He tried desperately to sound serious, but couldn't help but grin like a mischievous child.

Jordan pulled up in his car a few moments later. They departed his vehicle and Dan started recording. "Hey there everybody, we're here at the mall to do some special shopping for tomorrow's grand opening! We won't give away any hints, so for all you know we could be opening up a ball pit or a hunting-your-friends range. James would be a mighty fine kill this hunting season," Dan finished in a mock, gruff country accent.

James flipped him off before trying to sidle up to me. He doubled back suddenly, and I assumed it was because he remembered that he and Seamus aren't supposed to influence my decision in any way, like some weird game show.

I sighed and walked in with Sly and Aleks, listening in to their conversation on which one of them was more of a little bitch. "Sam! Sly wears Pokemon shirts and religiously plays Minecraft, is he not a little bitch?" Aleks asked, trying not to grin. "I mean, Aleks you do the same thing. Dare I mention Spookycraft?" I chided back as the group made the way to a JCPenny at the south end of the mall.

"Damn dude, she has a point," Aleks laughed, turning to Sly. "YEAH, so leave me and my Hipo shirt alone!" Sly whined. The mall was somewhat busy for a Thursday afternoon, so their strange conversation was ignored by most onlookers. I chatted with Sly as we kept walking about the newest Pokemon game, glad I had something to take my mind off of the two of them brooding in the back.

*James POV*

I felt so lame. Having to stand back and simply watch as Sam had fun with the others, being herself again, was miserable. All I had wanted for months was for her to feel okay again, and now that she was I couldn't even be there with her. Seamus seemed unperturbed by this, texting away on his phone as Jordan and Dan stood back and commentated on the rest of the group in front of them.

We finally made it to the JCPenny, and Sam was left by herself heading to the girls' swimsuit section as the rest of us went to the men's. Dan was more discreet about recording here since it was stuffy and perfumey and there were too many old ladies to make a scene. I managed to slip away from the horde and went over to where Sam was, checking out some one-piece swimsuits.

"Hey," I said, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I walked up to her. "Oh, did you and Seamus permit talking to me now?" she teased, not even looking up. I frowned and said nothing. Eventually, she glanced up at me. "What? Am I not allowed to be annoyed?" she protested. "I didn't think it would bother you that much," I muttered.

"James," she sighed, running her hand through her hair. It was so curly and bouncy today, all I wanted to do was play with it. I snapped back to reality as she continued. "You guys basically just asked me to choose between my best friend and the guy I had intense feelings for like it's some shitty game show. That lame as fuck," she said, the annoyance in her voice crystal clear.

I felt a stab of hurt when she called me her best friend. I hated that I was doing this to her. "I'm sorry. If I had it my way this wouldn't even be happening," I said. She picked up a really pretty, plain black one piece. The neckline scooped down a little, but the back as super open and it would show off all the freckles that she had.

"Is that so? What would we be doing instead?" she teased, holding the swimsuit up to her body and looking in a full-length mirror.

*Sam POV*

I could feel my heartbeat quicken as I saw James behind me in the reflection of the mirror. He had such an intense look in his eyes, and my heart felt as though it would climb out of my throat as I turned back around. "I would be taking you on a date. We could go to an arcade and I could win you one of those stupid giant teddy bears and watch as you concentrate on a pinball game or one of those racing games. I would beat you, obviously," he grinned, unable to keep himself from joking with me.

I stepped closer to him. I had to say it before I couldn't. I could hear the guys over on the opposite end of the store now, Seamus' voice noticeable and far away. "What else would you do?" I said softly.

He pretended to think deeply, and I almost started laughing before I heard him whisper, "This," and felt his hand on the side of my face. I closed my eyes and leaned in as his lips touched mine. The smell of his cologne was intoxicating. So was his kissing. He was soft and careful, but each second was more intense and lovely than the last.

He jumped back suddenly as Jordan's voice was becoming louder. Throwing me an apologetic look, he darted through some clothing displays to the bathroom, conveniently nearby. I felt dazzled after his kiss, unable to keep from getting lightheaded. "Sam! Have you seen James?" Jordan asked me, the entourage behind him. "I thought he was with you guys? Did you lose him? Oh my god, now we have to send out an Amber alert!" I said, feigning the concern of a mother.

Seamus seemed to deflate slightly, but out of relief or disdain was unclear. James emerged from the bathroom and walked over. "Why are we all in the ladies section?" James asked. "James, you of all people should know that leopard print is the best quality only in the ladies section," Dan said, holding out a scrappy looking bikini top. "It brings out your eyes," Seamus said. James made a Vogue face before heading back to the men's section, likely to grab some nondescript pair of swim trunks.

We all headed to the checkout, where James and I had to pretend like we didn't just kiss passionately in front of the one piece swimsuits, and I couldn't help but think about how difficult this charade of having to sneak around would end up being and whether or not it was worth it to just tell Seamus straight up that I was not interested in the slightest.