Lights, Camera, Action

Animals

TEN - ANIMALS

MARK’S POV

When I got back to LA after Thanksgiving, I realized how stir crazy I was getting, hanging out in my apartment all the time. I needed to get out and do something fun, so I was more than excited when Alyssa asked if I would go shopping with her. I didn’t exactly love shopping unless it was for nerdy things, but I would still be getting out of my apartment. Plus, I needed to figure out what to get Alyssa for Christmas, and I figured going shopping with her would give me some insight on what she might like.

It was a chillier day in California, so I put on jeans, my red plaid shirt, a lightweight hoodie, and some sneakers and I headed out the door. There wasn’t much traffic, so the drive to Alyssa and Aubrey’s place was short. When I knocked on the door I heard Webster bark and run to the door and a few seconds later it opened and he circled me, his tail wagging crazily.

“Hey buddy!” I kneeled down and petted him, only stopping when he left momentarily to grab a toy, which was when I actually was able to say hello to Alyssa.

“Hi. Sorry, but Webster wants all my attention. I don’t know if I can leave now,” I chuckled.

“Yeah, sometime’s I’m convinced that he likes you more than me,” she rolled her eyes. She was in a black v-neck tee, skinny jeans, and burgundy Toms, and she looked great as always, her blue eyes sparkling.

“Yeah, right. Nice decorations, by the way. It looks awesome in here,” I said, noticing all the work she and Aubrey had put into making their home look like Christmas.

“Thanks. Well, are you ready?” she asked, slipping a charcoal gray cardigan on.

“Yep.”

“Alright, let’s go, then. Bye Webster!”

I actually very rarely ever went to the mall. Alyssa, on the other hand, knew where every store was. Or at least, almost every store. She went to Yankee Candle to shop for her mom, and we sniffed all the new festive candles before picking out the best one. She picked up a new wallet for her dad, some movies for her brother, and then she began to walk into Victoria’s Secret.

“Um…I’ll just wait outside…” I decided.

“Oh, come on. I’ll be quick, I just need to buy a gift card for Aubrey,” she assured me.

“I don’t want to be the one awkward dude in the store. Plus, what if one of my fans sees me or something? That would be weird,” I complained, imagining the scenario in my mind.

“Fine, be the one awkward dude waiting outside then, if you’re more comfortable with that,” she sighed, walking in without me. I was going to do just that and walk over to the side of the store, but I hesitated and ended up looking ridiculously indecisive over whether or not I was going in. At that point, I hurriedly decided I would just go in.

“Fine, but please make it quick!” I told her when I caught up. She smirked at me and made her way to the cash register. But, of course, she got distracted on the way and stopped to look at something.

“You said you just had to get a gift card,” I reminded her, nervously looking around at everyone who was probably judging me.

“Mark, we’re in the perfume and lotion section. This isn’t even awkward. And besides, you’re not even the only guy in here.”

“Yeah, but every guy in here has the same ‘Please kill me’” facial expression,” I noticed, scanning the room.

“Oh, stop,” she hit my arm lightly before picking up a couple perfumes and comparing them. “Which one do you like better?” she questioned me, making me smell two different scents.