Song Above: Aj Tracey Butterflies feat Not3s

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"Where would you like to go next?" I groaned, adjusting the straps of the shopping bags I was holding.

I had so many attached to my arms that my skin was going red. I could feel the plastic digging into me but I chose to ignore it and struggle through the pain.

"Victoria Secret?" Rose grinned and I groaned.

We had been in the mall for a total of three hours so far looking for the perfect outfit for Rose. I think she got a little distracted from the mission and decided to buy a whole new wardrobe instead. I was the one lumbered with the bags, which I offered to carry since I was still feeling guilty.

Though If I had to go into one more shop and look through rows of hot pink clothes I'd go cross-eyed.

"Yeah, let's go to Victoria Secret," I tried to be enthusiastic but I wasn't doing so well. Rose didn't seem to notice and instead grabbed hold of my hand and yanked me across the mall.

"I hope they have the pink bra I saw online, I bet Brody would love that,"

"I'm sure he would," I muttered.

"Welcome to Victoria Secret," We passed a bleach blonde girl in staff uniform smiling at the entrance and I recognized her from school. I think she was in the year below us and I once heard she had got with Brody at a party.

I think Rose had heard the same rumor because as we passed she flashed her the filthiest look.

"What a bitch," She said quiet enough so only I could hear.

"Why is she a bitch?" I cocked a brow and waited for Rose's response. Just because she had slept with a guy didn't categorize her as a bitch. As far as I was aware she was quite a nice girl. She always said hi to parties and would always smile when you passed her in the hallway.

"Apparently she doesn't let her friends come to parties in case they get more attention than her and she slept with Brody and told everyone they were together even though they weren't,"

Okay, maybe she is a bitch then.

"And anyway, she isn't Brody's type," She added and I pretended to pay attention to a nude strapless bra that was on a stand. I didn't want to keep talking about Brody. I was getting sick of the sound of his name.

"Brody-"

"Rose, seriously I love you to pieces but I'm going to strangle you with this bra if you talk about him one more time,"

"That's not nice," Said a voice that was much lower than Rose's.

I froze and slowly turned around.

In between the neon thong stand and the stripped briefs stood Brody. The corners of his mouth quirked up and he seemed amused.

Ryan hovered next to him looking awkwardly around the store. He bumped into a mannequin and I tried not to laugh at the fear in his eyes when it wobbled.

"Hi, boys," Rose's eyes nearly bulged out her head. She quickly adjusted her dress and flattered her hair.

"Is this where you buy your underwear?" I cocked a brow and ignored Rose elbowing me in the ribs as a silent plea to shut up.

"No it's not actually, but this isn't where you buy yours, I don't see any grannie panties around," He made a point of scanning the place and I frowned at him.

"Like you'd know," I regretted the words as soon as I said them. Of course, he'd know. He'd taken them off more times than I could count on my hands.

His body clenched, his mouth set in a hard line "No I really wouldn't,"

"I buy my underwear from here," Rose added fluttering her eyelashes and I blinked, astonished.

"I bet you look great in them," He winked and I  thought I was going to throw up. I tore my eyes away from their shameful flirting and looked at Ryan.

He looked as if he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. I think he'd rather be anywhere else than an underwear store.

"Rose, how long will you be?" I asked and it took her a couple of seconds to register that I was still standing beside her.

"Probably twenty more minutes," She smiled with teeth whilst her eyes were telling a completely different story.

I got the hint. She wanted me to leave her for a while so she could be alone with Brody. I was more than willing to comply. I'd rather pull my eyes out than watch them any longer.

"Wanna go grab a smoothie Ryan?"

I saw relief wash over his face and he nodded his head. I dropped the bags I was holding next to Rose and rubbed at my arms. I'm surprised I hadn't lost circulation.

"Have fun," Brody said as we passed. A hard edge to his tone. I didn't know what that was about.

If he was still annoyed that I'd kicked him he needed to get over it. The way he's behaved recently has been unacceptable. I get that we were never friends and in fact hated each other, but that changed when we slept together whether we wanted to admit it or not.

As soon as we were out of earshot Ryan started laughing. It was a low throaty laugh and I couldn't help but join him.

"Did she really just tell us what underwear she wears?"

"Yep," I scrunched my face and shook my head in order to get rid of the mental image.

"By the way, I think grannie panties are a lot hotter than half the stuff in there," He nudged me, his lips turning up at the corners and I felt my cheeks heat.

"How come you guys were in there?" If he had noticed my attempt at changing the subject he didn't say anything. I just didn't want to go any redder than I already was.

This was the second time I had been alone with him. I liked spending time with him. I was never on edge with Ryan or afraid he was going to insult me like I was with someone else. He was relaxed and calm and didn't take life too seriously. It also helped that he was extremely good looking.

"Brody said he saw you guys go in there and thought we should say hi,"

"And he probably wanted to perv," I said under my breath. Ryan laughed and my eyes widened at the realization he had heard me.

"That sounds like something Brody would do,"

"I don't know how you can like him,"

"He's not as bad as you think," He laughed and then turned towards me, "Once you get to know him he's a decent guy,"

I scoffed. "Yeah, I find that hard to believe,"

"No seriously," His tone changed, "Under all that thick amour or whatever you want to call it, he's normal,"

"I'll take your word for it," I said.

We walked past a shop and in the reflection of the window I saw that my hair was tangled. When Ryan wasn't looking I quickly ran my fingers through the knots in an attempt to maintain the chaos. I didn't know why but Ryan made me nervous.

He looked at me and I instantly put my hands to my side, "What do you want to do after school?"

His question took me a second longer than normal to answer and I shrugged, "If I'm honest, I haven't got a clue,"

He laughed, "Me neither. So much pressure to make a decision that will effect your life,"

"Sometimes I think fuck it, I'll become a stripper,"

His face went red and I almost wanted to laugh, "I mean I wouldn't judge you, hell I'd through a fifty your way,"

"Thank you," I bowed, "You'll help finance the crotchless pants and diamanté bra,"

He chuckled and shook his head, "Images, you are giving me images,"

We reached the smoothie shack in the middle of the mall. It was an independent company run by a guy I could only describe as a hippy. He wore multi-colored overalls with his hair in dreadlocks. I do not know what witchcraft he put into his smoothies but they were the best I'd ever tasted.

I ordered mango and raspberry whilst Ryan ordered banana and strawberry. We walked around the mall for a few minutes talking in between sips. I'd learned that Ryan used to live in a small town over an hour away from here. I noticed how his body language changed when he spoke about his old home. It was a mixture of sadness and proudness.

He was proud of where he had come from but sad that he had to leave. He seemed excited to be part of Brody's family and spoke highly of them, which was good considering Brody knew how to make your life hell if he didn't like you. Imagine having to live with him.

I almost shivered at the thought. I wouldn't be able to cope with seeing his face every morning and every evening. Even worse sharing a bathroom.

When we had got back to Victoria Secret Brody and Rose were still stood in the same place we'd left them. They were a lot closer than before and I could have sworn Rose's cheeks were going to burst any moment if she didn't stop grinning.

What could he be saying that was so great?

"Hi," It took a few seconds for them to register that we were standing awkwardly beside them.

"Hey," Brody cleared his throat and his eyes flickered between both Ryan and I. I noticed his stare lingered on me a lot longer but I could have just imagined it.

Rose didn't tear her eyes away from him and I was so close to snapping my fingers in her face to try and break her out this trance.

"What you two lovebirds up to then?"

"We were just talking about stuff," Brody shrugged nonchalantly.

"Stuff," I said slowly emphasizing each letter. I didn't understand why they were being so cagey about what they were talking about. I can't imagine it was that interesting.

"Yeah stuff," He repeated and this time I think we all felt the awkwardness in the air.

I slowly nodded my head glancing at Ryan who was now staring at the cartoon underwear stand in confusion and I had to stifle a laugh.

I took another long slurp of my smoothie eyeing Brody and Rose suspiciously when Brody did something that almost made me choke to death.

"You have mango on your face," He leant forward and gently wiped a patch of smoothie from my cheek. His fingers lingered for a second on my skin causing my cheeks to flush a crimson red. Our eyes met for a split second and I saw an emotion I couldn't detect in his eyes.

As if he'd suddenly realised what he had done he retracted his hand and kept it firmly to his side. My cheek still felt hot from where his fingers had once been and I tried to not look at anyone else afraid they'd question my reaction.

His once softened expression hardened, "I can't be seen with you looking like a special case,"

I scoffed the colour draining from my face, "Of course. Someone as shallow as you are constantly thinking about their image,"

He barked out a laugh, "Oh please. Save it for someone who cares,"

"I need to put bleach on my face now. Thanks a bunch,"

"It might be an improvement,"

"My fist in your face might be an-"

A loud yelp and the sound of an heavy object crashing to the ground caused us to stop mid argument and turn towards the source of the noise.

I flung a hand to my mouth and attempted to halt the laughter that wanted to desperately escape.

Sprawled in a heap amongst cartoon print thongs with an mannequin laying on top of them was Ryan.

With a bright blue spongebob squarepants thong on top of his head, wide eyed and mouth agape he spoke rapidly, "I thought they were glued to the floor! I didn't mean to lean on them,"

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