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❝she was music.

but he had his ears cut off.❞

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I SHUT THE DOOR to my car and enter the mall, a blast of air conditioner ruffling my hair as I push the doors open. Not surprisingly, it's crowded due to the fact that it's Saturday.

Already as I step on the escalator, the smell of cheap, greasy fast food wafts up my nose and I scrunch up my nose in disgust. I hate fast food. Pizza is the only thing I'd eat - if it's considered fast food.

I walk into Aerie, the swimwear store where the girls and I are supposed to meet. Running a hand through my hair, I search for the group.

"India! Over here!"

My head snaps to Heidi, enthusiastically waving her hand at me. Ruby and Phoebe stand next to her, but only Phoebe spares me a glance. As I walk closer to them, I hear Ruby and Phoebe debating whether or not Phoebe should get that bathing suit; it's a deep red strapless bikini.

"Are you also going to buy something for tomorrow?" Heidi asks with a grin as she looks through the racks holding bathing suits.

"No, I already have plenty in my closet," I reply, rolling my eyes.

"The more the merrier," Ruby pipes in with a shrug before flipping locks of shiny blonde hair over her shoulder.

I pull my phone from my pocket, flipping through my feed. "I don't think that statement applies for this."

"Which one should I take?" Phoebe asks showing two bathing suits. The one in her right hand is a navy blue one piece that would show all of her stomach and back, save for a thin line that'd cover her belly button, connecting the top and bottom piece. The second one is a white two piece that has ruffles on the bra with strings that would tie behind her neck.

I point at the white bathing suit along with Ruby, and she nods back.

"So, you've been really hitting it off with Hunter recently," Heidi says with a suggestive smile to Phoebe. My eyes leave the screen of my phone to catch Phoebe's reaction.

"Yeah, I have to look amazing tonight," Phoebe says, biting her lips as they pull into a smile.

"I bet he's great in bed," Ruby says with a wink. Her words brought a scowl on both, Phoebe and Heidi's lips. Heidi quickly realizes her mistake and tries to put an impassive expression on her face as she turns back to looking at the racks of clothes.

Ruby throws her head back and laughs lightly; I, however, could see the subtle fear in her voice. "I was just kidding, Bee. He's all yours."

She rolls her eyes and flips her jet black, sleek hair over her shoulder. "I know."

She walks away to another section of the shop, and we follow her as I sigh. I'm never one to like shopping, I mean, it's fun at first, but that's where it ends. The walking would make my legs stiff and ache, and I already have everything I need.

"But truth is . . . We never actually had sex," Phoebe says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I'm not surprised. Hunter isn't like the other popular guys in school; he doesn't look at sex as a hobby and something that he'd do with any girl.

"But I'm planning on doing it with him tomorrow at the party," Phoebe says with a small smirk, eyeing her nude painted, shiny nails. "That's why I also need new, sexy lingerie."

Her words are like a slap in my face. I clench my jaw as Ruby and Heidi giggle, not taking my eyes off my phone.

That's what I told Hunter to do the other day, and I didn't have any problems doing so. The saying, 'easier said than done', has been affecting me a lot lately, I think bitterly.

"I think that's all that I'm getting from here," Ruby says, "are you guys done?"

They nod, and we walk to the cashier. I wait for them to pay as Phoebe continues to blabber on her and Hunter until we walk out of the store and into Victoria's Secret.

"Which would look better on my skin, India," Phoebe asks we walk side by side, leading Heidi and Ruby deeper into the store, "lacy white or red?"

She stands in front of a full-length mirror, shifting between both hangers of red and black lingerie as she places them in front of her. My eyes meet with her coal-black, angular eyes in the mirror, and I resist the urge to roll mine. She already knows the answer to the question, and I know exactly what she's doing.

"Red," I reply nevertheless.

"Think it would drive him wild?" she asks, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

My eyes stay glued to hers. Two can play that game. "Absolutely. And go with the red heels, it'll add the perfect touch."

Her expression drops a bit as she looks away in an annoyed manner, the smirk no longer on her face.

Feeling my phone buzz in my pocket, I pull it out to see a text from Jeromy.

Jeromy: All the guys are going out for pizza. Do you wanna come?

Biting my lip, I look up to see the girls talking about going to American Eagle. It sounds like they still have the whole mall to visit.

India: My knight in shining armor. You have rescued me from the wrath of walking for the next three hours. Pick me up asap.

Jeromy: I'm already outside.

I can't help but grin as I push my phone back into my pocket.

"What's got you so happy?" Ruby asks as she leans against the cashier counter.

"Nothing," I say nonchalantly. "Listen, I have to go now. I'll see you, guys, tomorrow?"

"Where are you going?" Heidi asks with a frown.

"My mom wants me to run some errands, so Jeromy's here to pick me up."

"And what about your car?" Phoebe asks skeptically with a raised eyebrow.

"I'll come back for it tomorrow," I say, already walking away. I wave my hand at them, not turning back. "Bye."

I hurry down the escalator, occasionally muttering excuse-me's, and walk out of the mall.

True to his words, Jeromy is standing outside, leaning against his shiny, black, Mercedes. The sun glints on his blonde hair, and once he sees me, he pushes his sunglasses up his hair and waves me over.

I cross the street, and he raises his hand, palm facing towards me; I high-five him with a smile.

"We should really get our own custom handshake, don't you think?" he asks.

"Yeah, that would be cool." I laugh. A thought pops into my mind, and I ask him, "How'd you know I was here?"

"Hunter told me that you and the girls were here to do some shopping," he explains.

Suddenly, the car lets out a honk, making me jump with wide eyes. Jeromy bursts out in laughter, and I punch him hard in the arm; he doesn't flinch but laughs even more. I give him an annoyed expression as I look to his right, through the window shield and see a bit of hair over the passenger's seat.

"Who's that?" I ask, walking to the backseat's door as he stops laughing.

"Hunter," he says, turning around.

"Why didn't you tell me he came?" I grumble, but I'm not sure he doesn't hear me when he doesn't reply and enters the car instead.

I step into the car as Jeromy ignites the engine. I meet Hunter's eyes in the rear-view mirror. Last time we talked, it didn't end on a good note. But then again, it never does with him. After a few seconds, he averts his gaze as I start talking.

"So, the whole basketball team is there?" I ask.

"All except Brandon. He has a project do with Sarah Williams," he replies with a wink that I can see from the rear-view mirror. I roll my eyes in reply.

"So, how's the project between you and Phoebe, Hunter?" Jeromy asks with a sly smile.

Hunter gives him a dirty look, and my grimace breaks into a small smile when Jeromy laughs back at him.

"I bet you're failing. I mean, come on, dude, three years and you haven't done it, yet? It's Phoebe Yang!"

"You know it's not like that," Hunter replies.

"Whatever you say," Jeromy says with a shrug, not taking his hands off the steering wheel.

I tune them out as I lean against the window, and watch the scenery blur past us. The window is hot when I press my cheek against it, and I close my eyes, enjoying the warm blanket of sun on my face.

What is it really like, Hunter? I want to ask him.

What is it really like?