Your POV

You open your eyes and look around uneasily. The quiet is unnerving. Bright orange shines through the blinders, casting shade onto you. You feel a cover wrapped around you, that's when you notice you lay on El's bed.

You roll the covers off and sit up, your clothes from last night are changed from the gray shirt to a dark black one. You don't remember changing.

You stand up, legs shaking underneath you as you stumble towards the door, opening it up you step into the living room.

The entire living room and kitchen is empty. You finally notice; Where is everyone?

Your limbs begin to tire almost immediately. You stumble into the recliner and fall on to it, sweat already begins to form on your forehead. You wipe the sweat from your brows and close your eyes.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

You raise your head from the recliner arm, face sweaty and eyes furrowed in annoyance. Someone pounds on the front door to the cabin, you sigh loudly. "Coming." You groan, trying to gather your breath.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

"I said I'm coming!" You yell hoarsely, trying to slide out of the chair to no avail. You grunt and push yourself off the recliner as you walk to the window to the right of the door. Who doesn't check who's on their front porch before opening it.

You peek the blinders down and look onto the Porch. Mike, Lucas, and Will stand in front of the door impatiently. "They're taking forever.." Mike says impatiently, tapping his feet on the wooden porch as the sun shines onto his pale skin.

You open the door, revealing yourself. Mike looks at you, as does everyone else. Surprised at the state you're in.

"Holy shit, You look terrible!" Mike exclaims, stepping inside the house. You hold the door open as everyone else steps inside.

"Where is everyone?" Will questions, looking around the house.

"I don't know..." You admit, closing the door.

"It's hot in here, when are you guys going to get an AC?" Lucas inquires, taking a seat on the recliner. He looks over at you as you respond.

"Those cost a lot, don't they?" You question. You try to avoid stumbling to the kitchen chairs.

"Uh. It depends on the one you get. I know Mike only has a fan. Probably why he looks like a wet sponge everyday." Lucas says, Mike flips him off.

"Anyways." Will looks between Mike and Lucas as they laugh. "Are you like- Sick?"

"It's really hot in here. So, I'm not sure whether it's that or the heat in general." You answer, rubbing some of the sweat from your forehead.

"I think the Mall has cooling inside." Lucas looks at you. "If maybe you wanted to chill in there with us." He finishes. You look over at the fridge, where a notepad hangs with a magnet onto it.

"I-" You want to say no but everyone looks at you with such anticipation. You'd hate to disappoint them.

Besides, how much damage can a Mall do anyways.

"Fine." You say, "Let me write a note first." You walk over to the fridge and take the notepad off of it. After ripping a piece of paper off it you place the notepad onto the fridge.

You search the drawers near the fridge until you find a pen. You find one and begin writing your note on the Kitchen table.

Going to Mike's House.

-Ten

The letter is short but precise, You leave it there on the kitchen table. The pen beside it. "Wait. I forgot something." You say, jogging from the kitchen table to the bedroom, careful not to fall. You search through the dresser drawers until you find it.

You open the last drawer of the dresser, there it is. You grab the black, leather wallet and take all of the money out of it. You've been saving up for the past few weeks. You put the money in your right pocket and place the wallet back into the drawer before walking back to the front door.

"Now are you ready?" Lucas asks, you think for a moment.

"Mike.. do you think I can ride on your pegs there?" You question.

Mike sighs, "Fine."

Will opens the door and you all exit; closing the door behind you.

☆☆☆

-One Hour Later-

"Three hundred? Who pays that much for some jewelry?!" You exclaim, looking over at the three boys beside you on the bench. You feel a rush of cold wind that sweeps your hair to the side as two girls run past you.

"Yeah, well you were the one who wanted to get El a present." Mike responds.

"Guys. Can we play D&D now?" Will asks, sighing.

All three of you sigh. "Later." You answer, looking around the Mall. You stand up, the nausea gone but the feeling of a sickness still there.

☆☆☆

El POV

I make the cup explode, sending the soda all over the girls. Me and Max run away, the stuff we bought swaying behind us in a bag as we run.

We both continue laughing as we run.

☆☆☆

Your POV

"What about this? How much do these cost?" You point at the two bracelets on the counter. One is a white heart with a keyhole inside of it. The other is a black bracelet with a key.

"That's twenty dollars." The woman with black hair and a nonchalant posture says from behind the counter.

You sigh and pull the last bit of money out of your pocket. Two fives and a ten. The woman slides the two bracelets towards you and you grab them up.

"Thank you." She says, you nod and walk out of the store; the crowd absorbing you into their spiral of endless movement Will, Mike and Lucas follow close behind you; trying to keep up with you in the crowd.

You never did like crowds, always too much much to look out for. And it's when your at your weakest, you can't do anything if someone shot at you right now. And that's what's scares you.

A voice brings you out of your head, "Are you sure she'll even like that? Maybe you should just get another one." Mike says.

"Dude. Don't give him bad thoughts like that." Lucas responds to Mike.

"Guys, It doesn't matter what it looks like right? It's the thought that counts." Will speaks up, just as you reach the Mall's exit.

"Yeah, Exactly. I think she'll like whatever I get her." You say, stepping outside and walking over to the Bike racks.

They begin to unchain their bikes as you stand beside them, waiting for them to be done.

You listen as the Malls exit doors open and footsteps rain out, you only realize when they stop behind you.

"Holy shit! No way!" A girl's voice exclaims.

You turn around, El and Max look at the four of you; surprise visible on their faces.

"What are you doing here?" You question.

You notice the two bracelets still are in your right hand, you shove them behind your back; forgetting for a moment that you have pockets in your shorts.

"Shopping." El responds, Holding the ice cream cone up for you to see.

"This is her new style, Do you like it?" Max gestures towards El's clothes. You didn't notice before.

El wears a black shirt-type thing with multiple different colors splattered onto it. Her hair is done in a different style.

"She looks pretty— but she's not supposed to be here so I'll just take her home." You say, reaching towards El's hand.

"And are you?" Max questions, stunning you for a moment. Max doesn't wait for a reply before speaking again. "She's not your pet."

"What?! I never said she was! Why are you doing this?!" You ask- Half pleading. Your stomach hurts terribly, and your heart aches with every movement. You just want this to be over.

"Ten.." El whispers. "Are you okay?" She asks, her doe eyes gazing into your eyes.

"I was buying her a gift." You say, revealing the two bracelets. You outstretch the key bracelet towards El.

"She doesn't need your excuse!" Max rips the bracelet from your grip and flings it behind her. It skids across the ground and skimmers to a stop under a gray car.

You feel a pang of Anger, but suppress it. You doubt anyone notices it, but the atmosphere tenses and you can feel it.

"Why would you do that?!" Mike yells, pointing at Max.

Max gently shoves El, sending her out of her daze. She steps forward wrapping herself into a large hug with you. One glance at Max and you can tell this is not what she expected her to do.

"See! She wasn't even mad at him and you threw the bracelets he got for them! Your the asshole Max!" Mike yells, stepping forward to confront Max.

Lucas steps forward. "Dude come on, calm down." He says.

"Are you o-k?" She questions lightly into your ear as you hug. Her right hand rubbing your side lightly.

You nod quietly. Her voice is smooth like butter, even as the voices around you argue with each other. "Friends don't lie." She says, her hand still rubbing you.

She looks up at you, into your eyes as you speak. Her brown doe eyes gazing into yours with undying love.

You're reluctant, but you still want to tell her. She's known you for most of your actual life, she knows your personality, when your sick, when your down. "I'm a little sick, and it's hot out here. That's it." You say, smiling at the girl. She smiles back, placing a small kiss to your lips as she does so.

A bus pulls up behind the two of them. Its tires screeching to a halt loudly. "I love you." She murmurs, pulling away. Eleven finally looks back at the bus as Max drags her away towards it. The two of them get on, you walk over to the bus windows and try looking for El and max but can't find them.

The bus drives off, Leaving you there, standing, sick, and confused.

Everyone looks at you, waiting for a response.

"I don't want to go home now." You sighing.

"Boys night?" Lucas questions, glancing at you. Halfheartedly you shrug.