Hanging With The Boys

12.

I WAKE UP Sunday morning, bright and early so I can get ready for my day out with Kenzie and squeeze in a bit of homework before she picks me up. I'm not sure what high-school girls do when they hang out, but Kenzie texted me saying we'll go to the mall and shop, chat and get some food. She pulls up in front of my house at ten and I grab my purse and meet her in the driveway.

"You look cute." Kenzie compliments me.

"Thanks! You do too!" I say, sliding into the passenger seat of her car.

"Ready for some retail shopping and gossip?"

"So ready!" I squeal excitedly.

We talk about our new favourite songs, our favourite movies, books and stores to shop at as we make our way to the mall. Pulling into the parking lot we start the gossip.

"How's your weekend been going so far?" she asks me when we get out of the car.

"It's been...eventful to say the least." I sigh.

"So you've been reeled into the Riverview drama, I'm guessing."

"You can say that for sure. I was walking through the hall on Friday and Merissa called me a slut, saying I was just going to jump from guy to guy and that's the only reason I hang out with Luke, Forrest, Tyson and Ian."

"She's just jealous that you haven't even been here for a month and you already have more guys interested in you than she has throughout the course of high-school."

"Yeah, right." I roll my eyes at how ridiculous the idea is.

"No, really! In my classes, all the guys are talking about how hot you are. They all wanted to take you to homecoming but Evan beat them to it. I'm pretty sure the only reason no one else has tried to ask you out yet is because your friends are trying to keep them at bay, telling them that you need time to adjust to the new school and environment before you get into a committed relationship."

I can't help but laugh at how accurate that sounds. It would be just like Tyson or Luke to protect my heart when I don't need protecting. I shrug it off, thinking of it as cute for them to be so considerate of my feelings.

"Anyways, I pushed Merissa up against the wall and started yelling at her about respecting girls and supporting one another. I was so close to punching her, but Luke pulled me off and talked me down. Of course, Merissa told Forrest all about it, except she had to spin the story in her favour."

"So did Forrest say anything about it to you?" Kenzie asks, eager for the gossip.

"Yeah, he said that she told him about it, and that was the final push for him to break up with her."

"He did not!"

"Yeah, he did." I nod.

"Oh my god. He's so into you."

"You think?"

"Totally, he broke up with his girlfriend for you."

"I don't think that's reason enough to think he likes me or anything. They were headed for a breakup anyways; it was bound to happen."

"Whether it's him or one of the other guys, I'm also 100% positive that one of the four of them have a thing for you."

"That's exactly what Evan told me! I highly doubt it, though. But you can daydream about it if you want. Why can't guys and girls just be friends without everyone assuming that romantic feelings will form?"

"We'll see what happens. Only time will tell." She smirks and then we proceed to shop to our hearts content.

Once we've done our fair share of shopping, where we picked out outfits for each other, complimented each other in the fitting room and got a bunch of fall clothes, we make our way to the food court to grab lunch.