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Chapter Twelve "Northbrook Court, here we come!" The friends linked arms and strolled through the automatic doors. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tate The mall. The guys were at the mall. Shopping. But I didn't want to object. I've always enjoyed this sport--yes, I consider it a sport. It's all about getting good deals before everyone else, baby! Anyways... I admit it was a little weird shopping with them, but I figured that it should be at least 1000 times better with them since, well, they're them! "Where to, where to?" Pat said thoughtfully. The guys all shrugged and looked at me. Boy did I hate being the decision-maker. I mean, you can't please everyone no matter which option you opted for. I decided to play it safe and say, "I think I'm up for some ice-cold cappuccinos. How about you guys?" Brendan of course was one of the most enthusiastic of them all, having toiled in the hot, summer sun with deadweight on his back. "Well then, I guess it's settled. Off to Gloria Jeans!" "HOORAY!" Michael, Pat, and Robbie cheered. A group of stern-looking women passed us by, giving us rotten looks. "Children these days! Always stirring up something just to get attention!" one of them said, which I thought was a bit rich coming from someone who could have been heard from the other side of the mall. All of us exchanged gleeful looks as we noticed a long run in her stockings, and began to skip our way towards the food court. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brendan The mall. I could tell the rest of us guys were thinking, "What are we DOING here?" but, Tate seemed to be really enjoying herself, so we didn't object or run out of the building. "Go for it, Brendan," Robbie hissed at me through gritted teeth. He jerked his head in Tate's direction, who has happily skipping along with Michael and Pat. "Go for what?" I asked, stalling for time. What was I going to do or say to her? He rolled his eyes and said, "You know, Tate. Don't you remember anything I told you during our little talk 'n' walk?... Our walkie-talkie?" "Of course I do," I answered, glancing at Tate and the others. "It's just... won't it be kind of awkard, and not to mention a little too late?" He shook his head. "It will be 'a little too late' if you don't take this opportunity. I'll take care of the others, you and Tate... you and Tate should enjoy yourselves. And trust me, I will be subtle." I was a bit unnerved--what the Tang considered subtle was what others considered as boisterous. But, I've been seeing a different side of Robbie lately--a more romantic side--which obviously wasn't my area of expertise. Nor was it Robbie's, but he seemed to know what he was doing... or at least I hoped he did. The Tang looked at me mutely and jogged ahead. Quietly he snuck up behind Pat before exclaiming, "FLAT TIRE!" and catching his foot on Pat's sneaker. I winced slightly--my black and white Pumas were donning his feet. Pat stopped and turned around to see the Tang's face of utter glee and mischief. He scowled, and Robbie took this as a hint and ran off into Books-A-Million, Carney at his heels. Smirking, I watched after them until I heard a slight bit of giggling coming up behind me. "They're something, aren't they?" Tate laughed, now standing at my side. I blankly looked down at her for a moment. "Huh? Oh! Yeah... they sure are." She smiled and waved a hand in front of my face. "You okay there, Brendan?" I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. "Yeah. Just peachy-keen." "Well, all right then!" But she didn't continue off towards the cafe. Nope. Instead, she grabbed my hand and tugged on it until I had started dragging my feet. Inwardly, I cringed. She was heading for a clothing store. "What happened to the iced capuccinos?" I whined. She cackled evilly. "Long forgotten, that's what." Time to meet my doom. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tate He didn't complain much once we'd gotten inside, although he quickly took the nearest seat and watched me shop around with his arms folded. Honestly, he's so stubborn. I wonder why I went out with him in the first place?! .... Just remembered why I did. Dang. Well, that certainly did put a damper on things. I walked out of the store with nothing. Eh, oh well. No biggie. I wasn't in much of a shopping mood anymore anyway. So, we just picked a random bench in front of one of the fountains and sat there. We didn't speak for a while, but that didn't last very long since we weren't used to not talking to each other. "So..." Brendan began, clicking his tongue. "Hmmmm," I responded, letting my shoulders rise and fall. Suddenly, I felt his arm falling around me. That was so like him. "Slick, very slick," I told him sarcastically, laughing. He grinned and said, "Would you rather me have done the yawn-and-stretch maneuver?" I shook my head, "Nah. That's just cheesy." "Well, I'm the King of Cheese." "Does your kingdom come on a platter? I love cheese." He laughed, slouched slightly in his spot and yawned. "You can buy it at your local grocer." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrick "Ah, that's more like it!" I whispered to Robbie and Carney as we spied the two behind the water fountain. "Adda boy, Brendan," Robbie said with a grin. I glanced at him. "Are you sure it's all right, letting these two carry on like this? It's going to be so much worse once she's gone, you know. Brendan's going to be... not in a good state." "Neither will she--she'll be in Georgia." "No, I mean, Brendan won't be... he won't be okay without her. They're practically inseparable. It cannot be one without the other." "Looks like it will have to be in this case." "... Unfortunately," Michael piped in sadly. Simultaneously, we all sighed and shook our heads. It was a real stinker knowing that nothing we could do would be able to save them. ... And they didn't even get a chance to double-date with Kev and Mina. |