Melanie and I sat at my kitchen table. My mom wasn't home yet, so at least I could talk to Melanie in peace. Melanie kept trying to think of ways to get Freddie to go out with me. Surprisingly, I was anxious for a good idea. Well, I guess it wasn't that much of a surprise. If I didn't make Freddork fall for me soon, I'd cease to exist. And, personally, I liked living.
"It's going to be rather difficult to make Freddie like you on the current circumstances." Melanie said sadly.
"Thanks a lot." I muttered.
"It's true!" she yelled, "We're just going to have to change a few things…"
"Y-You don't mean…?" I asked.
"I do." she said with a sly smile, "Shopping time."
It was like a nightmare. Millions of little shops filled with frilly dresses and mini-skirts. Salons with makeup, pedicures, and manicures. Jewelry like rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Melanie wouldn't even let me go to the food court for ham.
"How about this?" she asked, holding the five-hundredth dress in front of me.
"Uh-huh, no." I said as I eyed the lace around the edge. Melanie sighed.
"Oh well." she said, "Guess it's time to try out a new store."
"I don't wanna…" I whined.
"Now, Sam, don't you want to get Freddie to like you?"
"No but I have to." We walked out of that shop and tried a bajillion more. And a bajillion more after that. And after that. And after that…
"I need a rest!" I finally shouted, and plopped onto a bench.
"I guess we can stop for awhile." Melanie said, "We've bought enough for now." Halleluiah! I thought. I was about to close my eyes when I saw Carly. Oh crud! I thought. Carly couldn'tsee me shopping! Then she'd ask why and end up thinking I liked Freddie and I did not want that.
Hurriedly, I grabbed the bags (since Melanie couldn't hold them 'cause she was practically air) and ran into the nearest store.
"What's wrong?" Melanie asked as she caught up with me.
"Carly's here! I can't let her see me!" I whispered. I thought I'd just 'til I saw Carly passed; until she walked right into the store. I dropped the bags at Melanie's invisible feet and ran. I ran through almost the whole store. She kept getting close to me but I was able to turn the other way and run. But, finally, I met a dead end.
"Sam? Sam?" I heard her say. I tried to think fast. I looked around me, and saw a bunch of accessories. Perfect! I thought. I grabbed a hat, scarf, and big ol' sunglasses. Then I tried to act casual so Carly would pass me up. She didn't.
"Sam?" she asked from behind me. I didn't turn around. She said my name again.
"Oh, no, child…" I said in a fake granny voice, "There's no Sam here, just me…"
"Oops! Sorry, I thought you were my pal, Sam." she said.
"Oh, that's alright, child…" I said. I waited for her to walk away. After half a minute I turned around; and came face to face with Carly.
"Oh, I told you, child, there isn't any Sam here…" I said nervously.
"Really?" she asked doubtfully, "Then just who are you!" She yanked off my disguise. I stared at her silently.
"Uh…" I mumbled.
"Why'd you run away?" she asked. I couldn't tell if there was more anger or surprise in her voice.
"Um, well…" I said, "I sort of…"
"We were shopping." I heard Melanie say. I saw her walking towards us.
"Dude, she can't hear you, remember?" I told her. I probably looked like a lunatic, talking to the air.
"Oh yeah, oops." she said.
"Uh, who are you talking to?" Carly asked.
"Melanie." I answered.
"Where is she?" I sighed. Time to explain.
After a painstaking hour (actually only fifteen minutes but it felt like an hour, okay?!) of retelling the whole dang story, I waited for Carly's reaction.
"Well, I guess that sort of makes sense…" she said. What?! I thought. I was immensely relieved she didn't think I was crazy but did that make her crazy because she believed me or what?!
"You believe me?" I asked.
"Yeah, you aren't lying, right?" she said, eyeing me skeptically.
"No! It's just…it sounds crazy, doesn't it?"
"Totally, but only something like this would drive you to a mall." She grinned uncertainly. I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew! That's good. Now how about buying me a smoothie?" I asked.
"Hold it." Melanie said, "Sam, this is too important for you to just willy-nilly go and buy a smoothie." I rolled my eyes and left with Carls. Melanie sighed. She eventually caught up with us as we left through the doors, though I wished she had just stayed in the mall.