"I was watching that," I mumble.
"There's no television today. We're going out." Sophie grins. "Go get dressed and hurry up; the guys are waiting."
"The guys?" I sputter out.
"Yup," Riley answers, throwing herself on the couch.
"Zach, Alex and Luke are coming with us," Colette explains, adjusting herself on the arm of the leather couch.
"Um...why?"
"Why not?" Riley points out with a grin on her face.
"Because I asked why...?" I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.
"We decided to invite them along, so we could all hang out with each other. Also, Alex was the one who came up with that idea because he noticed how you've been feeling down lately and we agreed on taking you out," Sophie tells me.
He's such a nice guy. I wonder why did I ever stop having a crush on him.
Right. I might have a crush on his idiot of a friend.
"Okay then," I reply.
"Go get dressed. Zach will be here in ten minutes," Colette says, looking down at her phone.
"You took his phone number?" I ask.
"No, I took his social security number. What do you think, bright spark?"
"That you took his phone number?" I say in a 'duh' tone.
"Just go," Lottie sighs.
| | | |
"So, um...where are we going again?" I ask, clearing my throat in the middle and cringing about how awkward I sounded.
Zach turns to face me from the middle seat of Alex's Jeep and grins. "We are going to the mall."
"You're meaning to tell me that you got me out of my house for a mall trip?"
Sophie turns her head from the passenger's seat. "It's going to be fun, Lyn. We can go shopping and we can...do other stuff that I can't remember right now."
"Yeah and besides, it's better than staying at home and doing nothing," Riley says from the right side of the middle seat.
"I was watching How I Met Your Mother, that is not nothing. Tracy and Ted's relationship is important," I respond, feeling offended for the show characters.
"Tracy and Ted are going to get married in the end, Anna," Colette rolls her eyes.
"Don't spoil it!" I quickly cover my ears.
"It's called 'how I met your mother', clodpole, it's already spoiled," she retorts.
"Still, don't spoil it."
"We're just going to hang out at the mall for awhile then we can go somewhere else if you want," Alex suggests, looking at me through the rear view mirror.
"I guess that is alright," I mumble and turn my head to the side, staring out of the window.
I turn my head to the left and notice Luke holding his phone while tapping at it. I scoot closer to him and poke his side. "Hi, idiot."
He looks up from his phone and grins at me. "Hey, Cherries."
"Who are you texting?" I ask.
"Jennie. She was just wondering if we could hang out later," he replies.
"You guys are hanging out now too?"
"Not really. It's the first time actually," he says.
"Oh," I smile.
I really want to ask him when and if they are going to hang out again, but I decide on keeping my mouth shut and not sounding too desperate.
"It's only tomorrow though, in case you were wondering," Luke tells me.
"Why would you think so?" I ask, chuckling nervously.
"You do the whole pursed lip thing when you're curious," he gestures to my mouth with his finger.
"I do?" I touch my lips with the tip of my fingers and Luke nods in response.
"I wasn't really wondering. I was a bit curious, but not really that curious and I don't mind; I mean-it's your life and it's normal, I guess," I blabber out.
"Uh-huh," Luke moves his head up and down slowly in a nod while smirking at me.
"What?" I huff in annoyance.
"Nothing," he answers. "Do you still like Alex?"
"I'm sorry?" I ask in shock. The guy is sitting right in the front. He could of heard us, but luckily he is too busy focusing on the road and the sound of the air hitting against the car is blocking anything in earshot.
"Do you still like Alex?" He repeats, only slowly this time as if he's talking to a kid.
"I heard you the first time, idiot. I was just a bit shocked by the question," I mumble the second sentence. "Well I guess I don't like him like I used to do in the beginning. Sure, I like him as a friend and he really is a very good friend, but the 'more than friends' feelings kinda disappeared."
"Is that because of someone else?" He questions.
Yeah, kinda sorta maybe you.
"No, not really," I lie, shaking my head.
"Okay."
That's it?
"Why are you asking?" I become curious of the sudden question.
"I just wanted to know, that's all," he shrugs.
"Alright," I respond.
He just wanted to know. Don't get excited over nothing, Anna...
Why did I even get excited?
Ugh. I don't like Luke. I don't like Luke. I. Don't. Like. Luke. Easy.
Not.
"You okay?" Luke asks with a hint of concern in his voice.
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"It's just with the whole Anastasia thing and today being her memorial day, I thought you would be upset," he says, leaning his head back on the seat and tilting his head to look at me.
My fingers go the bracelet on my wrist and I fumble with it. "I guess it's upsetting and I kind of feel like crap, but maybe this mall trip could make me feel better before I go visit her."
"Are you going alone?" I nod in response.
"You want me to give you a ride later maybe?" He offers.
"I don't know, Luke. I don't want you to waste your time on me or anything and I have to go to the florist's shop before heading there," I hesitate.
"It's fine. You're not wasting my time; I don't mind giving you a ride and we can stop at the florist's shop first," he says.
"If it's alright with you, I guess it's okay," I tell him, giving him a small smile.
