October 13th

Skye and Levi hurried out of the art room as soon as the final bell rang, sticking close to each other as they rushed through other people in the halls, especially if they walked like turtles. They were wearing their matching jerseys today, looking absolutely adorable, so there was plenty of attention surrounding that, but they could care less. Of course, they had to take home "the Three Stooges" as Levi called them before their mall trip, but once they finally were on their way, it was smooth sailing from there.

With catchy Taylor Swift tunes blasting on the radio, Skye yelled the lyrics at the top of her lungs while Levi attempted to stay focused and not watch as she looked insanely adorable. They couldn't just crash and ruin the entire mall trip before it even happened, no way would that happen. Levi refused to ruin it, especially since Skye wanted to find a dress, and he would be damned if he wasn't going to help her find the best dress in the entire building. Hell, the best in the entire state. Maybe even the country, but that might be a reach.

"Oh, I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night. I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're bout to cry." Skye sang, doing the signature clap at the end of that certain line, which made Levi chuckle. "And I know your favorite songs, and you tell me bout your dreams. Think I know where you belong. Think I know it's with me..."

As they headed towards a stoplight, Skye sang the next lyric as she looked Levi right in the eyes, using her fist as a pretend microphone while she did. She then turned away as she belted out the rest of the song, having Levi entranced by her, but he snapped out of it once the car behind him beeped a few times. It was definitely loud enough to get his attention quickly, that's for sure.

"Eyes on the road, buddy!" She exclaimed, lightly slapping his right arm as he drove only one-handed. He was such a show-off, Skye knew that all too well, but she loved it when he did it anyway.

"I passed my driver's test with flying colors, don't worry!" Levi replied. "Besides, you don't even have a permit."

Oh, he did not just go there. Two could play at that game, especially in Skye's world. "Well, I was pretty damn good at bike riding until someone ran it over. Someone named, hm, I don't know, Levi Rudy Daniels!"

"I said I was sorry!" He whined. "And... stop using my middle name. I hate it."

"I hate mine too, but I don't complain." She shrugged.

If Skye got to know Levi's middle name, then he just had to find out hers no matter what it took. "Well, what's your middle name?"

"I'm not telling you," Skye smirked.

"I'll figure it out, Skye. Don't tempt me." Levi jokingly threatened although he meant it when he said he would figure it out. He would have his ways somehow.

"Aren't I already tempting you cause I said I wouldn't tell you my middle name?" She raised an eyebrow, and all Levi could do was change the subject and act like she wasn't one hundred percent right, which she was.

"I'm just gonna park-"

"Gotcha." Skye teased.

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sounds of me trying to park," Levi said, looking at the rearview mirror as he attempted to squeeze into a parking spot.

"Oh my god, you're such a dork." She rolled her eyes. The innocent remark reminded Levi of his ex-girlfriend, but he brushed it off as he knew Skye wasn't trying to be like Megan on purpose. He did see similarities between them, but Skye didn't dump him over the phone, so she was in his good graces.

"Alright, rate my parking job?" He asked as his attempt to change the subject.

Skye slightly opened the door to inspect, then closed it a moment later to give him a review of how he parked. "Not too close and not too far to the line. Solid ten out of ten."

"Yes," Levi whispered. His dad would be so proud considering all of the times Levi got yelled at while trying to learn how to park, especially parallel parking.

"You ready to be subjected to me trying on a bunch of girly shit?" Skye asked him, giggling towards the end of her sentence.

"What about me trying on Hawaiian shirts?" He chuckled. That was definitely going to be a hilarious sight, and Skye couldn't wait to laugh in his face about it.

"Now that I am ready to see." She said.

"Same goes to your girly dresses," Levi replied. Yeah, he absolutely couldn't wait to be blown away.

The two got out of the car, slamming the doors behind them and making their way through the sea of cars after Levi locked his car. The rainy pavements with puddles scattered around made them walk a little more cautiously, but that didn't work out as Skye slipped while she and Levi were crossing the street.

Levi quickly grabs her and saves her from falling, also helping her stand back up properly as her life practically flashed before her eyes. The sudden touch from him made Skye get incredibly nervous, but Levi knew to keep his hands off of her once she was standing up okay.

"I got you." He whispered while he helped her up, and she squeezed his arm in the process.

"Thanks," Skye said once the little slip incident was over, then they got back on their way to crossing the street, making sure no cars were coming their way, which there thankfully wasn't.

Skye and Levi walked through the mall entrance, their eyes meeting with the dozens of, if not a hundred, shoppers who dragged their massive shopping bags around, some with crying children who wanted a pretzel at the pretzel stand. They would definitely have to take a pretzel break later or even better indulge in Chick-fil-A or Panda Express. All sounded like really good options, but the two crazy kids had shopping to do, and they had to get it done with plenty of time to do homework to spare.

They walked into one of the main department stores, brushing shoulders with many middle-aged moms who gave them dirty looks as they said "excuse me" and walked past. Anyway, Levi had no trouble finding the clothing aisle he needed, but he had to scan through all of the racks full of button-up shirts in hopes to find a silly Hawaiian shirt in the midst.

Skye decided to help Levi out instead of abandoning him to look at dresses, which he was confused about. "You're not gonna go look at dresses? You don't have to help."

"If I know anything about shopping with men, it's that they're awful at it." Skye snickered. "Just trust me. I'll find what you need."

"Fair," Levi replied, then went back to scanning through racks in hopes to find something.

A few minutes later, Skye yelled out for Levi from afar, holding up one of the ugliest button-up shirts she had ever seen, but it was perfect for spirit week. "Would you look at that? Hiding in a rack full of plain shirts."

"Oh my god, it's so ugly." He laughed, looking in amazement at the hideous floral pattern with watermelons scattered around. "I love it."

"Come on, let's find some more stuff and have a little fashion show." She proposed, and Levi was all in, but only on a certain condition.

"Only if you give me a fashion show with your dresses," Levi said. Of course, he would want that. The guy was so in awe of her and he could hardly notice it.

"I'll give you a fashion show after we get some grub when you're done with your fashion show," Skye replied, her stomach grumbling as she pressed her hand against it. The two hadn't eaten since lunchtime at school, so they were definitely going to be jonesing for some food pretty soon.

"Deal."

After splitting up, Skye returned to Levi with a bunch of Hawaiian shirts (for both of them, not just him) and various bucket hats while Levi walked towards her with cargo shorts and some fanny packs, which was perfect to dress up as a "tacky tourist". There was no way Skye was going to put on a pair of cargo shorts, so she was going to leave that monstrosity to Levi.

"I see we've made great success, huh?" He chuckled.

"We make a great team, we been knew." Skye shrugged, which made her lose her balance with all the items she was holding, but luckily no clothing items were harmed.

"You got that right," Levi replied. "So, fashion show?"

"Fashion show."

Looking at her phone to text her dad back who was wondering if she was doing okay, Skye waited outside the dressing room while Levi tried on his first outfit. After hitting send, Skye looks up and hears the dressing room door begin to creak, and then Levi walks out with cargo shorts many sizes too big and the first shirt Skye had found for him. It made Skye burst into laughter, almost bringing herself to tears.

"Are you holding up your shorts?" She questioned, trying to contain her laughter.

"Yeah, I may have gotten the wrong size." He awkwardly chuckled. If the poor guy wasn't holding onto those shorts for dear life he would've probably accidentally shown Skye his underwear, which was not the plan whatsoever.

"May have?" Skye raised an eyebrow. "Please, those shorts are begging for a belt right now."

"Shush. I'll find the right size." Levi rolled his eyes.

"Go change. There's plenty more ugly shirts to try on." She giggled.

"Why don't you try on one of them and we can show our outfits to each other?" He proposed.

"Alright, fine." Skye sighed. "Luckily, I know just which one to pick."

Skye walked over to the dressing rooms, then Levi handed her a bunch of hangers so she could pick a shirt to try on. The shirt she chose was actually what Levi was going to try on next, as it was his favorite out of the shirts Skye found. "Awe, that's my favorite one."

"But I like it too," Skye whined. Obviously, there was no way Levi could say no to her, so he just had to take the loss.

"Dammit." He cursed under his breath.

"Honestly, I would wear this whether it was tacky tourist day or not." She shrugged, eyeing the yellowy-orange floral pattern with flames on the bottom. "Gives me Rue from Euphoria vibes."

"Same! It's really stylish." Levi pouted.

Seeing how Levi was bummed, Skye got an idea that seemed silly, but it was one that Levi could never say no to. "Say, let's have a custody agreement."

"Custody agreement?" He questioned her.

"Yeah, we take turns wearing the shirt whenever one of us wants to wear it," Skye replied. Silly, yes, but cute? Absolutely.

"Can't we just find a duplicate?" Levi asked. He wasn't wrong, but sharing clothes was an insanely adorable idea, and it was very coupley as well.

"Shh, custody agreement sounds more fun." She said.

"Yeah, you're right." He chuckled. There was no way Levi couldn't give in.

"Oh, and we'll flip a coin on who gets to wear it on Thursday." Skye proposed, as it was only fair considering they both liked the shirt so much.

"Bet." Levi grinned, then the two quickly scrambled to separate dressing rooms so they could showcase their tourist outfits to each other.

A few minutes later after Skye was done, she asked Levi if he was done getting changed as well, which he was. "You ready?"

"Ready!" Levi replied. They then unlocked their doors and walked out, both giving a pose as they showed off their looks.

"How do I look?" Skye asked, cracking a smile as she posed for Levi.

"Amazingly touristy." He chuckled with his cheeks turning a tint of ruby red. "What about me?"

"The same goes for you." She said. "I think we pretty much nailed tacky tourist Thursday."

"Yeah, and I found the right size shorts." Levi joked, which made Skye laugh. Yeah, there wouldn't be any more of that issue.

"Awe, no more holding them up for dear life." Skye teased.

"I know, but hey, we're gonna rock this thing." He said. Honestly, Levi would've been struggling for hours if he didn't have Skye to help him. See, he wasn't the only one helping out, she was just as much of a help for him as he was for her.

"Facts." She replied. "I think I'm pretty much done shopping for Thursday."

"Alright, we can get back into our normal clothes, checkout, and go get something to eat," Levi said, which was just enough for Skye to hear to get her to zip back into the dressing room.

"Bet. Be right back."

After changing back into their normal clothes, Skye and Levi came out with the clothes they picked out and put the remaining ones they didn't want on the return rack, then got ready purchase their items before going out to eat. "Ew, now we look disgustingly normal compared to our tourist outfits."

"I think we still look good." Levi teased, although he always thought Skye looked good.

"Yeah, okay." She rolled her eyes. "Let's hurry up and checkout. I'm starving. Ravenous even. I'm using big girl words now."

Not paying attention to what Skye was saying, Levi quickly grabs Skye's arm out of nowhere and shields her, pulling her in a completely different direction than they were supposed to go in. "Code red, code red, code red."

"Why are you-"

"I just saw Megan." He interrupted and whispered to Skye.

"Oh, fu-"

•••

MARIA TALKS!

what a cliffhanger am i right 😳

nah i'm kidding this is kinda a lame cliffhanger but i will be coming through with some wild cliffhangers eventually, just you wait 😌

and as i always and will continue to remind you, don't forget to vote. also i should mention that you shouldn't feel afraid to comment either? i love seeing everyone's reactions, but don't be that person who comments and doesn't vote 🥴 voting is the bare minimum imo

hope you enjoyed this chapter doe!