Someday

Chapter Ten

Leah's Perspective

Is she even coming? I never really accepted her invite, but she didn't really give me any time to decline. I feel conflicted.

Maybe staying at home would've been a better choice. Seth already fixed the whole coffee problem so I don't really have any reason to get irritated with him. Then again, Cassidy would've been waiting here for nothing if I didn't come.

Sighing, I scanned the area searching for any signs of a certain fawn haired girl. To my dismay, I didn't see her. She must've thought I wouldn't come. Should I head home?

Taking my phone from my bag, I saw a message from Ivan. Seems like him and Ashton are going out today. He should've told me that before I went here.

================================
To: Ivan
Can't for today. I'm waiting for someone.
================================
From: Ivan
Who?
================================
To: Ivan
I'm not really sure. First time meeting them.
================================
From: Ivan
Hey! Are you doing online dating?!
================================
From: Ivan
That is dangerous at so many levels! Get yourself over here!
================================
To: Ivan
Relax. I'm not into online dating.
================================
To: Ivan
Where are you and Ash going?
================================
From: Ivan
Mall!!!
================================

Seeing his reply, I nearly choked on air. They're coming here! Ah what an awful coincidence... Hopefully Cassidy forgot about today...I feel like I just jinxed myself.

"Good morning, Leah!" Cassidy greeted me with a smile. Behind her are two bodyguards and one maid. I knew she was rich, but I didn't think she'd need an escort to the mall.

"M-Morning." I nervously greeted back.

"I apologize for the delay. I had to talk to mother about my agenda for the day." Now I know why I assumed she's rich. The way she talks is... carefully worded...? I don't know how to explain it, but there's something about the way she talks that'll give off a rich vibe. "Shall we get going?"

"Sure." Well, this just added to my problems. It'll be near impossible for us to avoid Ashton and Ivan if she has escorts. I'll just have to be good at hiding.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" She asked while we walked to whatever store she has in mind.

"Yes, before I left the house." It's literally 10 in the morning. There's no way I'd wait for breakfast this long.

"That's good. We can proceed with playing at the arcade." There's at least 89 percent chance that Ashton and Ivan would go there. Ivan is a gaming addict.

"Have you...ever been to an arcade before?" I asked.

"Once when I managed to sneak away from my guards. Why?" She asked, looking at me. The fact that she emits a strong aura attracts a lot of people. Why couldn't she dress like a normal person? She had to dress like she's going to a business party or something...

"Just curious... Is it alright if we watch a movie first?" I asked. I'll have to avoid the arcade for as long as I can.

"Is there a movie you want to see? I can ask one of the guards to fetch us some tickets." She said as she ushered one of the guards to come near us.

"Yes miss?" The guard asked. I felt so intimidated by his presence that I didn't notice I was holding my breath.

"Leah? Which movie is it?" Cassidy asked.

"Oh! It's this one." I pointed at a random movie displayed on the large screen beside us.

"Joker...?" She stared at it for a moment before thinking. "I heard it was quite a dark movie." Does she not like these kinds of movie? I can- "You and I must have similar tastes!" So she likes it...

She told the guard to get some tickets before he walked away. "It'll start in an hour. We can walk around the mall in the meantime." I said.

"Sounds good." The mall should be putting me at ease, but I feel stressed out. I'm already a nervous wreck beside Cassidy then Ashton and Ivan just had to come here.

...

It's too quiet! Should I try opening up a topic? I don't really have any plans on befriending her. Then again...she is trying her best to befriend me. Thinking about this is giving me a headache.

Huh?

"Say...have you ever tried going in a photo booth?" I asked after seeing one.

"Is it that machinery that develops ones picture in a long strip?"

"Ahaha... that's one way to describe it." She made it sound complicated!

"In that case, I haven't." She said.

"There's one over there." I pointed at the colorful booth beside a phone store.

"Oh. So that's what it looks like." She walked ahead of me. We didn't enter the booth immediately as she was immersed in checking the outside of the booth. I looked ahead to see two familiar guys. Stopping myself from panicking, I grabbed her wrist.

"Let's get in!" I immediately pulled her in the booth. That was one close call.

"You can design it, right?" She asked while we sat on the chair. Nodding, I inserted a coin then listened to the machine talk. "This is such an interesting machine." Why does she talk like she comes from a different era?
.
.
Cassidy went on about how nice the pictures turned out. Half of my attention is on her while the other half is paying attention to our surrounding.

"Here's your copy." She handed me a strip of pictures. Thanking her, I placed it in my bag. When we got ready to move to our next destination, her bodyguard, who bought us tickets, came back.

"Should we head to the cinema?" I asked.

"We still have 53 minutes." She said after she checked the time.

"Do you have any other place in mind?" I asked.

"I want to purchase something at the bookstore." She said before whispering something to her maid. The maid nodded before leaving with one of the bodyguards. "Shall we?"

"Yes..." I'm starting to get used to her way of speaking. It still doesn't change the fact that she's attracting a lot of attention. Please! Let luck stay at my side at least for the next couple of hours!

"Is there something troubling you?" She turned her head to look at me. "Am I making you feel uncomfortable?" She asked.

"N-no! I was just...thinking. A lot of stuff is on my mind." I said before laughing to make it sound light.

"You can talk to me about it." She said.

"It's nothing serious. Really." I assured her. "Look! We're here already." I motioned towards the store in front of us.

"Indeed, we are." She went in first. I followed after only to see Ashton walking at the second floor of the store. Luckily, he didn't see us but he sure will if we stay here for too long.

"Cassidy, what book are you looking for?" I asked.

She smiled then said, "You said my name. I'm glad." I guess I slipped. Nonetheless, she seems happy that I said her name. "This could be a start." She said to herself, which confused me, before facing me and saying-

"To answer your question, I'm looking for a book about mending relationships."