Thieves in the Night

5. Get Away

Where was I again? Oh yeah, the mall. It can be the best place, or it can be the worst, depending on how you view shopping. I, however, view it as both. I groan as Rachel pulls into one of the closest spaces before the handicap spot.

"Why the mall? Couldn't we just go for ice cream and a movie?" I whine. My pouting face is met with her stare of force.

"Woman. We never shop anymore and asking Jack to do it is like pulling teeth!! Now, today we celebrate you emerging from that turtle shell of yours and coming from your shackles of studying all the time." She pushes me towards my door and I groan again, opening the car and getting out. The rest of the teens climb out the car and I stare at the humongous and looming building before me.

I feel like an ant looking at a human. If humans has hundreds of stores and even more ants crawling around inside them. I stuff my hands in my hoodie and it rubs against my bare stomach, serving as a reminder that I should probably buy myself a shirt.

We walk into the store of stores, gazing around at all the shops and windows. "I still hate this place," I mumble. Rachel looks at me, very giddy and excited.

"You get to choose the first place as we are honoring you today," she cheers, bouncing on her heels. I can't help but smile at her eagerness. I guess I can do this for them. No matter what I'm dealing with, it can be put off if they're happy.

"I need a couple good shirts for cheap. You know I don't shop, and I only have a hundred bucks," I say, trying to figure out the best place to find some decent shirts. Maybe I can replace the one dad bought. It won't have the same sentimental value, but at least I'd have one like it.

"I know a place," Jack chimes in. Rachel and I stare at him. "What? You think that because I got a Lincoln I don't know how to get good cheap clothes?"

"Bishhhh...I didn't think you shopped!!" Rachel laughs out. I nod in agreement. "Anyways, you know I'm the queen of sales and apparently, this one can shop. Question, does everyone have money?"

"Yeah, why?" Xavi asks, looking skeptical. A sly grin spreads across her face and I can almost see the diabolical wheels in her head turning.

"Your horns are showing," Jack says blatantly. She grins wider and chuckles evily, rubbing her hands together. "And so is your tail."

"We are gonna go in pairs. Except Jack. You go by yourself. The pairs are me and Simon and Kei with Xavier," she announces. My heart stops and I look at the white blonde boy. I can see a blush in his cheek, making me turn away.

"I-I can shop with Jack," I mumble embrassedly. It's not that I have a problem with Xavier, but 1) I can tell Rachel is just trying to set me up with him and, 2)

"Nice try. But we're splitting up to find you new clothes," Rachel beams. I roll my eyes as she loops her arms through Simon's, practically dragging him away.

"Well, we're away from her now. Wanna just shop as a group or something? I hate being alone in the mall," Jack whines, pouting. I laugh a little, nodding again. Hm...I sure do nod a lot. Need a better way of saying yes.

Me, Jack, and Xavier walk in JCPenny's, headed to the women's section. Jack leans on my shoulder as I look through a rack of cute shirts.

"Hey Kei?" Jack whispers. I look down at him and I can see a huge blush on his face. He bites his lip as his eyes meet mine and they slowly lower to my lips before he looks away, making me raise my eyebrows. He moves off my shoulder and clears his throat. "You don't have anything under your jacket do you?"

I peek at my shoulder to see my black bra strap very much exposed and my face starts to burn. A small squeak of embarrassment leaves my lips as I cover my shoulder again as realization settles in that he either saw in my hoodie, or the bra strap. Either way I wanted to dive into the middle of the clothes racks. "N-no I don't. That's why I need a shirt," I utter. He nods and rubs the back of his neck.