Burned

Chapter Two

"What do you think about this?" Ivelyn asked, holding up a barely-there pair of red booty shorts. The time on my phone told me we had been at the mall for two and a half hours. I was tired and in desperate need of Daniel. I had a lot on my mind and needed a distraction. Ivelyn's eyes narrowed in on me and as she was about to complain, I answered her.

"I think they're a little short," my reply wasn't what she was looking for.

"Hmmph," she pouted, putting the shorts back on the hanger. I crossed and then uncrossed my legs. She had at least five giant bags from various shops resting at her feet. I had bought a shirt and a new pair of earrings. The earrings were a little brown coffin that said "RIP" in tiny white lettering. I felt like they fit the mood. "You're no fun." This was her way of saying she was bored.

"Sorry," I responded deadpanned. I wasn't here for her amusement, despite what she thought.

"How are you and Daniel?" She changed the subject. 

"We're good, actually I was gonna see him--

"Have you guys boned yet? It's been over six months since you guys have known each other." She folded her arms over her chest. Her red lips curled around her question.

"Uh, has it?" I moved here in the middle of September and it was a couple of days away from June. Had it really been that long already?

"My bad, it's been seven months." She corrected herself, pulling a dress from the rack. It was a slinky red dress with sequin. It was bizarre that it had been seven months of me living in Salem. In some ways, it felt like it was yesterday that I moved here and in other ways, it felt like I had always lived here. "So, have you?" I raised an eyebrow, almost forgetting her question.

"Oh, right. I-" I touched the Amulet subconsciously. It jolted through me. "Yeah, we're fucked." It slipped out of my mouth before I could stop myself. It wasn't the way I would normally phrase it. I let go of the Amulet, staring at my fingers. The tips of my index and middle finger slightly glowed. 

Woah.

"Hmmph, so Daniel finally gave it up. Well, congratulations on de-flowering him." She shrugged. She hadn't noticed me touching the Amulet. My hands fell to my sides. 

"Uh, yeah I guess." I always forgot that Ivelyn and Daniel had history. They had sort of dated, but both of them chose to forget that. It hadn't ended well. 

"Is that why he's been acting weird lately?" She was referring to earlier at school when Daniel's eyes had started to turn red. 

"I don't know." I tried to keep my voice level. 

 "Should we get fro-yo? I'm feeling peckish." She stalked away, towards the food court. I stared at the bags that she left. Did she just expect me to take them? 

Normally, I would have probably grabbed them, but today I didn't. They weren't my bags and she hadn't even asked me. So, I took my bag and followed her to the food court. She was right about one thing, fro-yo did sound good.

"Where are my bags?" She screeched when she saw my empty hands. 

"Hopefully where you left them," I told her in monotone. Her eyes bulged and she took off, back into the store. 

"Order for Ivelyn!" The boy behind the counter called, then sat down the fro-yo down. I looked around, then went up to the counter. I picked it up, grabbed a spoon. then, took a bite. I doubt she would care and if she did oh well. It wasn't like she could afford to buy another one.

We were at the mall for another hour. At which point, my feet ached and my patience was gone. I was tired of walking about the mall, watching Ivelyn put on twenty different outfits. It was more than that, I had plans with Daniel.