*1 day later*

“Luke! So are we going out or not?!” Kane’s voice filled the silence of our house. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon and we usually just stay in with our parents but Ashton and the others wanted to go out.

“Did you ask dad yet? Mom said to ask him if he could drive us.” I yelled back from my room. It would probably be easier to go up and have a normal conversation with Kane but I wasn’t really in the best mood to get up.

“He said he would! Are you ready? ‘Cause Iris just messaged me that they are at the mall already.” I rolled my eyes. Even my brother has a better love life than me. Even though he wasn’t open to admitting it, he and Iris has a thing going on.

“Just let me wallow in misery.” I yelled to my pillow. I rolled out of bed and straightened my clothes. I didn’t want to go to the mall because that was where Aislinn and Calum’s ‘date’ is.

“Dad said be ready in five!” I stood up and walked towards where my bathroom was. Its door was parallel to my room’s door and it was just a few steps away from my room. I washed my face and fixed my hair and walked back to my room to grab my wallet and phone.

“I’m done!” I ran up the stairs and waited by the door while Kane ran down then stood beside me. “You look spiffy.” I looked at him from head to toe and he looked extra dressed up.

“Eh, it’s been a while since I went out with you guys. Might as well look good.” He shrugged it off and opened the door to our garage, which was just by where we were standing.

“Is that really the reason why? Not a certain Iris?” He rolled his eyes and smiled. “Doesn’t mean I tease you and Aislinn that you can tease me back.” He tried to stand as tall as me but I was still towering him.

“Not even close, brother.” I messed his hair up which annoyed him so he responded with a light punch on my stomach. “Hey! No getting rough, boys.” My dad ran down the stairs and tossed me the keys.

“You might as well practice driving to the mall. When’s your test again?” My dad walked in the garage and walked towards our car. “Uhm, in two weeks, dad.” I walked towards the driver side of the door and Kane walked to the backseat.

It was a short drive to the mall; it was about ten minutes. We all quickly hopped off the car. Kane and I walked towards the mall entrance while my dad walked to the driver’s side of the car then quickly drove off.

“Hello?” Kane immediately answered his phone after two buzzes and walked off while talking. “I would punch somebody if I see Aislinn and Calum.” I whispered to myself. It is a large mall; three floors to be exact so if I still end up seeing them then I would know the world is mocking me.

It took about half an hour to get to where the others were and once we were together, we just walked around with no specific destination. We all unconsciously paired up and I was left with Amber.

“Buddy system!” Amber immediately wrapped her arm around my left arm and I just smiled at her. The others just laughed at us and went back to what they were talking about right away.

“Where are Calum and Aislinn? I thought that she would drive us but we ended up driving here separately and I also texted Calum but he was not replying.” I just shrugged, pretending that I had no idea at all where those two idiots were.

“She’s probably busy with uni things. Didn’t she text you guys?” I pretended to be curious but it was probably the last thing I wanted to talk about. “I think she texted Ash and apologized for not being able to come but she didn’t really explain why.” She shrugged as a sign of letting it go.

Amber’s arm was still intertwined with mine. Although I felt awkward about it, I just let her because I know it was just the way she is. I looked around at our group and saw how close Kane was to Iris. His arm was around her shoulder and they just laughed together.

“I wish we were like this. I wish you would just intertwine your arm around mine without care and I wish I can just put my arm around you without being too nervous.” I sighed as I finished my thoughts.

“Oh my gosh!” Amber suddenly let go of my arm and ran towards someone at the nearby Aldo shop. I squinted my eyes to see clearer but all I could see was his back. She went behind him and covered his eyes.

“Calum!!” He turned around and the others ran towards him. “Yo, my man. You could have at least replied to us. Why are you here?” Michael punched his arm and Calum rubbed it and pouted.

“Uhm, I just…sorry, I’m here with someone.” He replied quietly and everyone went wide-eyed at his reply. “Who?!” As soon as everyone got curious, a familiar voice came from the store. “OH.MY.GOSH!”

Notes