I blinked through groggy eyes, my ceiling turning from a blur to its pale white color. Glancing at my phone, I realized it was already one in the afternoon. Furrowing my eyebrows, I also noticed a text from Sarah.
Closing my eyes, I cursed myself for feeling bad about the way I yelled at her. It was annoying enough that she was in my business, but now I had to feel bad about it?
I sent a reply, telling her to meet me at the mall at two o’clock. There was no way in hell I was going to her house or going anywhere private.
Public places were a sure way to prevent her from having a meltdown. I had a feeling it might end that way.
Sighing, I began to prepare for the day before heading out to the mall. On my drive there, my mind wandered to last night’s events.
Whatever was going on between Kara and me was beginning to lure me in more and more. All the signals were there.
Even if she was playing hard to get, or she actually was hard to get, it didn’t matter because she had shown signs that she was into me too.
I’d be an idiot to pass up a chance with a girl that pretty. Not only that, but she definitely wasn’t boring.
By the time I arrived at the mall, I realized I was smiling to myself like a dumbass. It turned into a scowl when I remembered I was about to meet Sarah.
My stomach growled, alerting me that I’d forgotten to eat.
Before I could text her to meet me at the food court, I walked into the mall to find her waiting.
With a roll of my eyes, I realized that she knew I always parked on this side of the mall from when we were dating. Walking up to her, I greeted, “Hey.”
Sarah turned and faced me, staring up at me with painted green eyes. Whatever she’d done with her makeup, it was over the top today. No doubt due to me.
Sarah smiled, “Thanks for agreeing to meet up. I was planning to come here to shop anyway. I wasn’t sure you’d want to come with after what I pulled last night.”
I did my best to hide my scowl. This was a fake act—trying to play the victim card so I’d say the words to forgive her or brush it off.
“Yeah, it was rude. I’m here for whatever closure you need,” I bluntly replied, staring straight ahead. I began walking toward the food court, knowing she’d follow.
Sarah huffed, knowing I wasn’t caving. It was only a matter of minutes before she’d start blowing up on me and blaming me for what happened.
From beside me she asked, “You don’t need any closure?” Sarah had purposely tried to sound soft and coy. This time I did roll my eyes. She was anything but.
Shaking my head, I replied, “Nope.” I could imagine her fists balling up. I’m sure she was seething, but I didn’t want to look at her.
Sarah scoffed, “Are you kidding me? Why are you acting this way? It’s been like two weeks now; you should be groveling to get back with me.”
My head tingled, as if someone was staring at me. Turning to look around the food court, I was stunned to find Kara and her friends staring at me. Just as I looked at them, Kara turned her head in an attempt to hide.
Smirking to myself, I called out, “Kara.”
The brunette turned, giving me a forced smile. “Jason.” My smirk widened when I noticed she called me by my real name and not the usual Jackson.
It seems she did too, because she scowled, causing her friends to chuckle.
My eyes remained glued to Kara’s until a hand waved in front of me, breaking our trance. “Hello?” Sarah snapped at me with an angry glare.
I glanced at her as she attempted to tug my arm while throwing daggers at Kara.
“We’re only here to talk, Sarah,” I muttered to her while prying her clingy arm off of me. “You originally came to shop at—what’s that one store you girls shop at? Fly and 16?”
I pretended to think, not giving a fuck wherever she wanted to shop.
“Forever 21, but—” Sarah never had the chance to finish her sentence.
“Okay, well we were done talking anyway.” I sent her a heated glare, letting her know not to push it. I hoped she wouldn’t pull the same shit as last night.
“I’m texting Laura. Don’t bother calling me later.” Sarah huffed and stomped away.
“I wasn’t planning to,” I muttered. The frustrated aura surrounding me began to evaporate the further she got. That was a massive fucking mistake.
Deciding to stick around, I sat down next to Kara. “How are you ladies doing?” I stared between her friends, Layla and Jessica.
“Good!”
“Amazing.”
They both replied in unison.
Whispering from beside me caught my attention. I craned my neck to see another blonde saying something to Kara. He looked familiar.
“He looks like you.” I stared at the guy, gesturing to Layla. I remembered him going to our school.
“That’s because he’s my brother.” Layla stuck her middle finger out at him.
“Liam.” The guy introduced himself.
I nodded and replied, “Jason.”
“Well, now that you two are acquainted, I’ll be back. I’m starving.” Kara quickly dismissed herself and stood, ready to run away.
As we walked to wherever, I continued to sneak glances at her, amused. I knew she noticed that I was, which only made it funnier to me. Kara continued to ignore me as she walked up to the cashier wearing a red visor.
“Chips and guac, please.” Kara ordered, and the worker quickly grabbed them.
“Three seventy-five,” the girl with a strand of pink hair muttered. While Kara was digging into her pockets searching for the change, I had already handed the cashier my card. The sound of the register opening caused Kara to snap her gaze back up.
After a moment of realizing, she muttered, “I could’ve paid”—she opened the bag of tortilla chips—“but thank you.”
I simply nodded as we walked back to her group of friends. The silence continued as I continued to ponder. It was obvious that I had to make the first move.
“We should hang out sometime.” I finally spoke up, breaking the silence. Kara stopped and turned to face me. “What’re you do—”
She cut me off.
“You want to hang out with me? After you just spent the last week irritating me?” Kara snapped, causing me to blink with confusion. “Why?”
Her brown eyes burned holes into my skull. I suddenly felt like I’d approached things very wrongly.
As I gathered my thoughts, I decided I wanted clarity. “So,” I drew the word out, “there’s no connection here?” My question caused her to cough on her food.
Staring at her with an honest question, I was stunned to find her enraged. “Have you ever tried being just friends with a girl for once?” Kara’s brown eyes were full of fire.
I stood silently, hoping I wouldn’t say the wrong thing. I still wanted answers, though. My eyebrows furrowed.
“I thought you were into me. What about that one time in the hallway? And the dancing at Layla’s?” Kara’s mouth flopped open like a fish.
Letting out a long sigh, I realized where this was going. The entire time she didn’t know what was going on, whereas I was misreading things. Is that why she was so angry?
It was a bit disappointing to see that she was like the other girls at our school.
I gave her one last glance before walking away.
