Gemma and I continued down the mall, bags filled on our arms. "Okay, where to next?", She smiled, craning her neck to look around. I laughed watching her.

She is so me.

  "American Eagle or Hollister?" She thought for a second before finally deciding on Hollister. I laughed as she dragged my hand behind her, practically running down the lane.

  "Gemma.... Slow d-down!", I laughed, tugging my arm out of hers. Passers gave us weird looks but continued with their conversations. They were probably thinking that we were those obnoxious, crazy shoppers. No doubt in my mind that they're right...

  "Sorry." She laughed.

A sudden rush of darkness and overly sprayed perfume filled my senses, making me scrunched my nose a bit. I love Hollister clothes, just hate the fact that they spray like a dozen bottles of perfume every hour. There's a point where it can smell really good, and a point of overuse. This would be the second.

  "So.....", Gemma dragged on, flipping through a few shirts. I stood beside her, doing the same.

  "So...", I mocked, pulling out a white short sleeved shirt with a pink flower on the shoulder. Mmm... not really my type...

  "What happened last night. Like, the real reason you left?" her happy tone changed into a more cautious but direct one, making it kind of awkward.

  I don't want to lie to her, but I'm not really in the mood to get a lecture about Niall either.

  "Umm, everyone was drunk, Harry saw me, clearly was pissed that I was there, Louis looked like he was going to kill someone, and Liz and Audrey were both shit-faced, so I left. Didn't want to really be there anyway, so it's all good.", I rushed out, making sure to leave a reassuring smile while being satisfied with my answer. It wasn't a total lie, just not the full truth.

I placed the shirt back down, walking to a different display table. Gemma followed behind, grabbing a pair of jeans and a blue shirt to go with.

  "So no interference with anyone other than us couple of girls, Harry, and Louis?"

  Ugh. Seriously Gemma, can't you just drop it?  You make this so difficult.

  "Mmm, nope.", I said quickly, quickly walking to the back of the store.

  "Khlo, I know you saw 'that Niall kid'. '" she mocked me from earlier; her voice was heard right behind me. I stopped in my tracks, turning around to see her face in a smirk. I sighed, rolling my eyes.

  "Okay, yes. I did come into contact with Niall, but I promise we did nothing, and I promise that I want nothing to do with him either."

  She sighed, laying her clothes and bags next to her on a table. "Listen, Khloe, I can't tell you who you can and can't talk to, but just be careful around him, okay?" I nodded. "He's just trouble and I don't want you to get hurt."

  "Gemma, you have nothing to worry about. I don't like guys like him."

  She sighed again, looking down to the floor then back to me. "But he likes girls like you, and he'll do anything to get what he wants. I told you that this morning."

  "I know, and I meant what I said about that being disgusting. I want nothing to do with him, so no worries. It's a big campus, so I'll just stay clear of the house." , I smiled again, digging through another pile. Still coming up with nothing. Ugh, I just want some new clothes!

  She sighed again, picking up her things and thankfully changing the subject. "Not finding anything?" I shook my head no. "Okay, well I'm going to go check out, then."

  I silently nodded and took my phone out of my purse. It buzzed for the second time signaling I had two messages. I slid my finger across the screen, opening the message app.

  Mom: Hey sweetie. Hope all is well. Listen, dad and I can't make it tomorrow. We're sorry.

    Love you honey! ♥

  Okay. Well looks like Gemma and I have a few more stops to make.

It's not like I didn't see this coming. After a while, the same words and experiences all get old. There's a point where you get your hopes up so high and then everything comes crashing down. My life is like a dam, constantly being pushed and shoved around by the strength of the rushing current. One small thing out of place and the whole thing breaks and gets dragged away. My life has been made to fit my parent's lifestyle, always moving freely with them and going off of their schedules. You start to think that things will go back to normal, and your parents will be there to support you, but it doesn't. Instead, you have to fight the current just to stay put. To be placed among the thousands of others out there who are just trying to be stable. Have a normal life.

That's all I want. A normal life. Is that too much to ask for? I know it's selfish of me, especially after hearing Gamma's story and stuff, but I'm still a teen too. I want to have a normal life with friends who are there to support you and to have your back because you're you and not just because your dad is Nicolas Sparks.

I want my parents and me to be able to go out to dinner together without any business calls or talks. Without any interruptions. I want them to be able to come to my volleyball matches at actually see me, actually support me on the sidelines, not just with words.

  I know that they want to, and that work just gets in the way, but I feel like that's all they ever do. Work. Constantly racing to meet deadlines, or rushing in and out of meetings. Traveling to city after city, trying to advertise. For once, I just want to be selfish and say, 'no, they're mine, and only mine.", but I know if I did that not only could they lose their jobs, but they wouldn't be very happy with me, and I'm not usually the type to upset.

I just wish they understood how important it was that they come and spend time with me. How important it was to me to have them be involved in my life. I just want that so badly.

    "All set?", I asked as Gemma reappeared by my side. She nodded and we headed out.  "Do you mind if we stop by Kohls or T.J. Maxx? I need some things."

  She nodded and started walking that way. We made small talk and shared a few laughs.

  When we finally got there, I went straight towards the home and style section.

I don't need much, just a bit to liven up the room a bit.

I placed a package of white bed sheets into the cart along with a few new throw pillows.

I don't know why, but I have an obsession with throw pillows. My bed has always been covered in them. They interest me how each is different from the other.

  I also grabbed a small lamp and a few bathroom items, along with a few new picture frames. I love pictures. Never can get enough.

  I feel that each picture has its own story and meaning behind it, making it unique and special. No two are the same or have the same meanings. Kind of like people. We all have a story behind us that only the shutter button can tell. A memory and a past. It can tell all, from love to hate. Birth to death. You can never have too many, and you find yourself always being one short.

  "What? Is it already 3? Since when?!", My head whipped up to see Gemma staring dumbfounded at her phone. I chuckled, walking over to her.

  "Is it really?", I asked as I stood in the checkout line.

  "Yeah... Where did the day go?" I chuckled at her, quickly placing my items on the counter so that they lady could check me out. I watched as she slowly took one by one, running the scanner over the tag.

  Any day now would be great!

  Gemma stood beside me, still staring at her phone. "Wanna go get something to drink?" I nodded and smiled at the lady who politely handed me my bags.

  "Uhh, sure." We walked side by side out the doors and into the main entrance of the mall. "Where do you want to go?"

  She shrugged, looking around before her eyes lit up on something ahead of her. I followed her gaze to a dark, small brewery. It had a large wall made of dark stone with two doors, the windows of them completely filled with darkness.

  She started walking towards the small café as I stood still, staring at the place. I suddenly started to follow her as people started to fill out around her, making me lose sight.

  I quickly saw the doors open and a familiar brunette walk in. I followed her, walking in. The door was heavy as I pulled it against my chest. The dim light of the brew was relaxing along with the low alternative music playing in the background.

  I walked and stood next to Gemma who was already ordering.

  "I'll have a caramel mocha, light milk, and extra caramel.", she winked at the barrister. He was around our age, maybe a couple years older, but very attractive.

  I glanced at his name tag, reading the engraved letters. Trenton. I glanced back to his eyes as he was staring at me. I felt my cheeks grow extremely hot as I blushed. He just smiled.

  "Anything for you, babe?", I smiled at his voice. He had an accent too, but it was different than Gemma or Harry's and his friends. It was more intriguing and exciting. 

  "A small hot chocolate, please." He smiled, punching the amount into the cash register. I tugged at my purse, pulling out a couple dollars to I pay for our drinks. Gemma slapped my hand away, placing her money on the counter.

  "Gem, I can pay for it. Trust me.", I looked at her, smiling slightly. She shook her head, moving the money towards Trenton. He sat patiently, waiting for us, smiling.

  "No, I got it this time. I don't want you blowing all your money on me.", I stared blankly at her, giving her the 'you have got to be kidding me' look. She smiled as Trenton looked between us, cautiously taking the money. I sighed, running a hand through my slightly wavy hair.

  "Gemma, I have way more than enough to pay five dollars for a couple drinks.", I protested. She laughed, as Trenton handed her the extra change.

  I watched as he pulled a pen from the collection in a small coffee cup, and a notepad, scribbling Gemma's name down, only instead, spelling it with a 'J'. I chuckled to myself looking to Gemma who was on her phone.

  "What's your name, princess?", I turned my head back to the guy who shone a perfectly white smile. I blushed at the fact that he called me princess.

  "Um, Khloe." I stated, giving a small smile back.

  "Beautiful name, for an even more beautiful girl." My mind suddenly raced back to last night at the party. Niall had said the same thing to me. That was the first time he'd made me actually blush. It was also the last time before he started to be a total jerk; trying to get me to sleep with him. I mentally scoffed at the fact.

  Gemma suddenly pulled me back to reality by pulling me away with one last glance and smile to the man. He smiled back. I turned back to Gemma and stopped dead in my tracks as I stared ahead of me.

  You have got to be kidding me.

9/19