“Are you coming?” I put my hand on my hip and sigh in frustration. Carter’s mouth goes tight as he gives the valet one last look and begins to walk toward me. Actually doing what I tell him for once too. “About time. I thought you were going to stand there all day giving that poor guy detailed instructions on what you do and don’t want him to do with your precious car. Why do you even take it anywhere? You should keep it locked up in the garage so nothing will ever happen to it.” I say the words half joking but inside I almost wish Carter would do those exact things to me. Maybe not lock me up but keep me safe so that nothing will ever happen to me. So I don’t have to worry.
“You know I’m an asshole” is his response.
“Yeah. I’m getting that.”
His hand goes to my back as he uses the other to open the door to go inside the mall. “So why keep giving me shit about it?” His mouth turns up in a half smirk.
“I think you might need someone in your life to give you shit,” I counter. That smirk turns into a full smile. He shakes his head as he ushers me inside the mall. I don’t know what it is about our banter but it puts me at ease. I’m like a child pushing my boundaries with him but he keeps on letting me slide. I think he enjoys it as much as I do because he keeps on egging me on. Maybe I’m the first one to actually call him on his shit. I mean is that even possible? That people just allow him to do and say as he pleases? It sure looks that way.
We continue to walk through the mall side by side. We’re silent as we walk but he keeps his hand on the center of my back. Of course Carter had to take us to the high end mall on the rich side of town instead of the regular one. I don’t even recognize the names of half of the stores we pass. All I know is they look extra fancy. I begin to feel a little self-conscious about what I’m wearing. I push those thoughts aside and remember why we’re here in the first place. I am starting a new school. I’m not sure how but it’s happening. I have no doubt about that. I’m pretty sure it’s the same school parking lot where I first climbed into Carter’s car for my little nap. The place is super fancy. A word I find myself using a lot since I’ve met Carter.
“Here.” He points toward a store. I see a few people our age turn to look at us as we make our way to it. They stare at us dumbfounded and I wonder if they know Carter. He shoots them a look and they take off. Well, I guess he’s not Mr. Popular. I can’t blame them. His attitude is terrible about ninety-five percent of the time.
“Did you know those people?” I ask because I’m curious to see why they were in such a hurry. Hoping it wasn’t me that made them take off. They were all well dressed and looked like people Carter would be friends with. Did they take one look at me and already decide they don’t want to associate with me? I’m sure my regular department store clothes were the first clue that I don’t belong in their circle.
“I think they go to our school,” he says with a shrug. He thinks? I’m not sure I’m going to be making any new friends at school if I’m hanging out with Carter. He gives looks that send people running. I wish I had that superpower. I wouldn’t use it like he does though. I generally like most people. I just want to be able to use it on jerk-offs like my mom’s boyfriend.
“Are you coming?” Carter says with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. When I look up I see a sour look on his face from me looking at the two guys that he’s just run off.
Now I’m starting to think he’s getting jealous. First with the valet and now with the two guys.
“For a guy who said last night you have no interest in sleeping with me you have a weird way of showing it.” He starts to open his mouth but I cut him off. “Ripping my clothes off. Snipping at men who look my way.”
He opens his mouth then closes it. “Come on.” Now it’s me motioning him into the store. “I’m going to need your wallet to afford anything from inside this store.” I walk ahead of him. I turn my head to look at him. “Or maybe I already have it,” I joke. I don’t, but I at least expect for him to reach to check. He doesn’t. He nearly shrugs.