I fell asleep. I rubbed my eyes and looked up at the sky. The sun had traveled quite a bit across the sky. Lindsey lay next to me fast asleep. She looked so peaceful with her head rested on her hands and her chest rose up and down with her silent breathing. I didn't want to wake her up, but we had lost track of time.

Our plastic bag had blown a few meters away and my rolled up bag of Doritos lay at my feet. We had each finished our drinks and the Chipotle bag was filled with trash. I gently shook Lindsey's shoulder. She started to stir and stretched her arms out. I watched her come back to life and she looked up at me. 

"Good morning," I said. Sitting up she mumbled something inaudible and ran her hand through her hair.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"5:30." 

"I guess I should take you home."

"I guess you should."

We cleaned up and threw away all our trash. The ride back to my house was silent, but it was in no way a bad silence. The silence had presence. The words not spoken were the loudest. It wasn't announced, but our status together had reached a whole different base. Finally, we pulled up to the front of my house. 

"I'll See you soon?"

"Of course," I smiled.

I felt such an overwhelming warmth. I walked up my stairs two at a time and went to my room feeling ecstatic. I wonder if I'll see her at the mall too.

~Friday~

Finally the day of the mall trip rolled around. Ever since I was a kid field trip days have always been my favorite. I looked through my closet wondering what clothes I should put on for the day. Don't ne silly. I put on my favorite red short shorts and a black t-shirt. I look the same as I usually do and there's no problem with that. I grabbed my wallet, stacked with cash and put on my checkered vans. 

I felt so free walking to school. There was no need for me to bring a backpack so I pranced all the way to the building. When I arrived I looked around the commons for my friends. 

"Nicky!" I heard Amelia call.

I turned towards her voice and waved. 

"What's up guys!" I smiled.

"Someone's giddy this morning," Prudence said.

"Glad you noticed. I'll tell you why later. What's the plan for the mall do we have certain pathing?" I asked.

"Um I think we should just walk around and go to whatever catches our attention," Bellamy replied.

"You think they have a Spencer's there?" Saffron giggled.

"Oh now we're talking," I said.

We waited for us to receive our assigned busses. Saffron, Bellamy and I were in a but and Elgort, Amelia and Prudence were in one on their own. 

"We'll meet up at the entrance to the mall," said Amelia.

Everyone agreed and soon we were all on our way.

I spent the ride looking out the window trying to figure out which one of the senior busses had Lindsey. 

"Hey Nicky, you're really disengaged right now. Something on your mind?" Saffron pried, pulling me from my trance.

I huffed, "Didn't I say that I'd tell you later. Patience is a virtue."

"Fine be that way."

We arrived at the mall and parked in the lot. The teacher chaperones gave some final reminders, but I don't think anyone was listening anymore. I looked outside and saw familiar blonde locks. I smiled 

"You guys are free to go," said the teacher.

I hopped out of the bus with Bellamy and Saffron and we saw the other half of our group waiting underneath a tree.

"Alright now that we're all here I suggest that we make one round trip around the mall and decide the priority stores," directed Prudence.

We waited as the main mass of high schoolers entered the mall. Finally once the front entrance had cleared out my friends and a few other like minded individuals walked in.

The entrance we were going through was the food court. Already there were people ordering food and sat lounging at tables.

"We should go around the mall in a clockwise direction," suggested Bellamy. 

We all agreed and went to the left when the path split, first passing by Justice and Claire's.

"Guys look it's Claire's. Who wants nipple piercings?" I joked.

"I think it's illegal for a children's store to do that," said Elgort.

"But what if an adult comes in and asks for piercings?" chimed Amelia.

"See now we're talking!" I exclaimed.

Next we passed by Lids, the hat store, and saw some of the boys in there. Normally I would love to get myself a hat, but I wanted to wait for the infestation to clear out. 

"Put Lids on the priority list," I said.

Pretty soon we came to the end of the mall that had the two story JC Penney. 

"Should we go upstairs?" Prudence asked.

"Let's go all the way around on the first floor and then around on the second floor," I said.

We walked around the main floor and I was constantly keeping an eye out for Lindsey. I wanted to know what stores she was into, what types of clothes she liked to wear and her favorite foods.

Finally we found ourselves back at the food court. It was nearly 12. 

"Shall we stop to eat? I could go for something right now," said Saffron.

Music to my ears! From Chick-Fil-A to Jamba Juice there was fast food to meet anyone's taste. Today I was really feeling Panda Express.

"What were you thinking? I'm in the mood for Panda," I answered.

"Yeah okay. Does anyone else want anything?" Saffron responded.

"I'm not eating," said Elgort.

Amelia looked towards Prudence and Bellamy," We could all share something if that's okay with you."

They both nodded in agreement.

"I'll go find us a table," Elgort offered.

We rendezvoused at the table and talked and shared food. Then I got a text.

Hi Nicky
How's lunch?

I looked around the food court to find her watching me. No luck.

Pretty good thank you

I wanted to buy you something :)

Yeah?

I'll come find you later

Where are you headed next?

Top floor

Meet me at H&M

 I'll let you know when I'm there

"See if you're staring at your phone like that you have to tell us what's up." 

Putting my attention back on my friends I stared at Bellamy who was the one questioning me.

"It's a bit overdue isn't it," I smiled," Put simply... she confessed."

I watched the shock roll over my friends faces like a wave and it turned into excitement. I looked away embarrassed.

"So does that mean you guys are dating now?" asked Amelia.

"I mean... I don't really know. Neither of us formally asked, but it's probably safe to say I'm off limits," I responded.

"Congrats queen," said Prudence.

"Um, anyways, she says she wants to buy me something so she'll meet me at H&M when we pass by upstairs."

"Aww how cute," Amelia teased.

We finished eating and began our round through the second floor. We walked by the stores looking at where we wanted to go and approached H&M. Lindsey was leaning on the wall next to the store and looked up from her phone when she saw me come.

"Hey guys. I'll take Nicky from here. I promise I won't keep her for too long," she greeted.

"Oh no, you can keep her for as long as you need," Saffron joked and winked at me. I squinted at him.

"Ok guys I'll meet you where ever you end up. I still have to go to Lids, too," I said waving.

They walked off and it was just the two of us. I turned to Lindsey and she held out her hand. I took it with glee and we walked into the store together. 

"So what did you want to buy me?" I asked.

"I was gonna ask what you wanted."

I took a moment to think. Then it hit me.

"A sweatshirt will do," I said, guiding her to the isle. 

A bright orange sweatshirt instantly grabbed my attention. 

"You want this one? It's literally yelling at me," she said.

"I like it though," I looked around the racks," They don't have my size, though" 

I went back to the original one and held it up.

"It looks like it could fit me quite well," Lindsey said.

"And you significantly longer than me," I eyed her.

She laughed and put her arm around me, "If it fits the both of us we'll be fine. Let's go check it out. I don't wanna steal you from your friends."

The truth was, I didn't mind her stealing me from them. I loved being around her. Her energy made me feel ways that I couldn't put into words. I texted my friends asking them where they were. Spencer's. Oh boy.

"Here. You can keep the sweatshirt for now. I'll see you around," Lindsey smiled handing me the bag.

I thanked her and turned away.

"Wait! On- One more thing," Lindsey stuttered. 

I turned back and was greeted with a peck on the forehead. 

"Bye," I said and practically skipped away.

I found the gang waiting for me near the entrance of Spencer's. 

"So are we going in here just for funsies or are some of you actually gonna buy something useful," I asked.

"We'll figure that out when we get there," Bellamy said.