A Day At the Mall
Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight characters or the stores mentioned.
He's not sure what has happened to exactly bring him to this situation – to this realization. He's thought back over the last few days, weeks, months, years…hell, he's gone all the way back to pre-school. It makes sense and yet at the same time it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. How does it work out when you suddenly realize that you're in love with someone? Well not just someone – this isn't just any old person. No, this is his friend's sister, his beta, his own best friend – Leah. Jacob looks up watching Leah as she's standing in front of a mirror looking at her feet. Yes, he, Jacob Black, had agreed to go shoe shopping with Leah Clearwater. Well actually he didn't agree because she didn't necessarily ask him to go shoe shopping with her. He frowns thinking about how he's spent the last what? Forty-two minutes sitting in this uncomfortable tiny ass chair holding other bags from Forever 21, Hot Topic and even the Coach store. Why is there a store strictly dedicated to purses? There's not a guy's wallet store…is there? But she asked him simply for a ride to the mall so that she could do some shopping all courtesy of the Pixie leech giving her a huge gift card…who knew they came in such a large amount.
"Hmmm…I don't know." Leah mumbles to herself still scrutinizing over a pair of yellow peep toe heels. He has to admit that they do look good on her and make her legs look even longer. Leah Clearwater has legs that could go on for days. "It's not like I go anywhere to warrant them." Leah mumbles to herself with a small pout. Jacob straightens up thinking that finally she's going to acknowledge his presence and ask his opinion on the shoes. It's what his sisters always did when they made him go shopping with them. He's been waiting for Leah to realize that she's not made him stick around with her from store to store. That he's here because he wants to be here – for her, with her. He could've been at the arcade down at the other end of the mall, the food court, Game Stop playing one of the demos. Surely she must realize that this would be total hell for him if he didn't enjoy watching her bend over in search of a size 8 ½ - although he's not enjoyed the other girls' boyfriends getting a view of the same thing either. Jacob growls quietly as he looks over the group of guys who are still hanging outside the store smirking and whispering amongst themselves about the 'tall Indian girl with the short skirt'.
"Lee." Jacob calls out his patience starting to wear thin.
"Yea?" Leah calls back not even tearing her eyes away from the shoes or a pair of wedges she's now holding.
"Get the shoes." Jacob states and feels his breath hitches as Leah finally looks at him. Her soft hazel eyes looking intently into his own eyes and her plump lips scrunched up into a slight pucker.
"Getting bored? I told you that you didn't," Leah says but is cut off by Jacob.
"I know what you said and you know what I said. But I'm telling you to get the shoes because you obviously like them." Jacob says getting up from the chair stretching. "And besides they look really good on you." Jacob adds walking to stand behind Leah and smile at her reflection.
"Well just me liking them and you claiming to even know what you're talking about when compared to the practicality of the shoes are different matters altogether." Leah says back leaning on Jacob as she puts the shoes back on again.
"Practicality?" Jacob repeats placing a hand carefully on Leah's waist – for added balance, of course.
"Yes, I have to be practical in my final decision. I don't want to buy a pair of shoes that I'll never wear or might destroy because of Paul's big mouth."
"What if you had a reason to wear them?" Jacob asks as Leah admires the shoes one more time.
"Well, then I could see getting them." Leah says hesitantly not really seeing where this is all going.
"Alright, then it's decided." Jacob says gently pushing Leah down into the closest chair.
"What's decided?" Leah demands with a frown as Jacob kneels down in front of her and removes the shoes before boxing them up.
"The shoes, of course." Jacob answers grabbing both boxes of the shoes Leah was so indecisive over. Leah blinks as if trying to make sure she's seeing what's really in front of her. Jacob takes the opportunity to hand the shoes to the sales girl and grabbing the rest of Leah's bags follows her up to the counter.
"Wait, Jake. Wait." Leah says jumping up and joining him. "Just because you say 'it's decided' doesn't mean that I'm getting the shoes." Leah says with a frown.
"Ok." Jacob says nodding his head and throwing in a casual shrug.
"Then she can put the shoes back." Leah says with a hint of finality in her voice eyeing the sales girl.
"She can…but, she's not gonna." Jacob answers with a smug grin. "She would if you were buying them. But you're not so there's no need." Leah looks up at Jacob wide eyed and completely stunned. The girl at the register can only smile back and forth between the two loving the exchange.
"You can't buy those shoes, Jake." Leah states while narrowing her eyes at him.
"I don't see anyone else interested in buying them." Jacob answers and then nods his head agreeing to the amount of the purchase. "You're not the only one Pixie gave a gift card to." Jacob throws out winking at Leah.
"Yea, but, Jake you can't. I can't take them – that is I'd never wear," Leah begins finding herself stuttering trying to make sense of the whole exchange.
"Thank you and you two have a very nice day." The girl at the register says with a huge smile that only grows as Leah glares at her.
"You too." Jacob says and then puts his arm around Leah's waist and leads her outside the store. Narrowing his eyes at the group of the guys still hanging outside the store he feels a sense of satisfaction as they all quickly move on.
"Jake." Leah says earning a huge grin.
"Look, you're my beta and my friend. I just want to do something nice for you every once in a while." Jacob says nonchalantly. "So, I got you the shoes you wanted. That go with the yellow dress from Forever 21," Jacob says holding up said bag. "And since its Friday night you will have a place to wear your new outfit to." Leah freezes staring at Jacob and he can't help but think she looks cute when she's clueless.
"Have Sam and Emily planned something tonight and this is just your way of buttering me up so that I will go?" Leah demands angrily.
"What? No, oh gawd, no." Jacob says shaking his head. Since breaking off from Sam's pack he's been grateful to no longer have to put up with the imprints sickening love and signs of affection. That and last time he crossed paths with Sam he wound up with a pretty nasty scar across his chest – at least he came out the better in their confrontation. "You know I can't stand Sam anymore than you. No, I'm talking about a date, Lee."
"A date?" Leah asks repeating the word thoughtfully.
"Yea, you remember them, right? Boy likes girl, girl likes boy. Boy asks girl out, girl says yes. Dinner, movie…and…I'll think of something from there." Jacob says shaking his head – he's just improvising all of this as he goes.
"So…you…like me?" Leah questions teasingly as she leans into Jacob's chest.
"Well…yea, yea I like you. Why the hell else would I follow you from store to store watching you try on every dress and pair of shoes in the stores?"
"A dare." Leah answers matter-of-factly. Jacob snorts and suddenly wishes that it had been a bet because it'd be the easiest 60 bucks he ever made.
"Nope, no dare. So…are we on?" Jacob asks starting to feel anxious. Sure Leah seemed to be warming up to the idea of him liking her; but this was Leah Clearwater and she had no problem cutting guys down no matter what.
"You did buy the shoes and it's the least I can do to say 'thank you'." Leah says thoughtfully as she walks ahead of Jacob.
"The least would be nothing – actually. But you like me too, right? So it only makes sense, right?" God why is this suddenly becoming so hard? Can't she just say 'yes' and be done with it? Jacob Black hasn't asked too many girls out – in fact, he's never asked a girl out. His first 'date' was with Bella and she asked him to go with her.
"Well…I like you…a little." Leah says holding up her thumb and index finger with a little space in between the two.
"That's a start." Jacob says laughing and taking her response as a 'yes'.
"So…I guess I'm done shopping then?" Leah asks as Jacob's smile only grows and he directs them out the closest exit.
"Yes, besides I have to go and get ready."
"And actually plan our date?" Leah asks before wrapping her arms around Jacob's bicep. Jacob can't help but feel a bit smug knowing that he's walking out the mall with Leah Clearwater on his arm.
"I thought girls like guys to be spontaneous."
"I can already spontaneous phase into a giant wolf. Spontaneity has lost it's novelty with me."
"Well…I think I can change that." Jacob whispers into Leah's ear before kissing her temple gently.
"We'll see." Leah says turning her head to hide a blush. Jacob bites back a chuckle knowing better than to call Leah out about her shy behavior. Besides he's excited about his first date, first real date with Leah. Dinner and movie seems easy enough…but right now he's gotta remember where he parked.
A/N: So here goes another update. This is based off of an experience I had with a friend at the mall...not sure how things will work out. Hmm...but anywho I'm super excited right now because I'm going to...wait for it...wait for it...THE TWICON IN CHICAGO THE END OF JUNE! \(^o^)/ WHOO! I'm going to meet Kellan, Alex, Bronson and Kiowa! It's just some of my fave WILFs. I'm already being told by co-workers to behave myself and to avoid any sexual harassment charges. LOL. But I'm waiting on a friend to see if her hubby will let her go - HA! She's going anyway with our without his permission. She's just playing it cool. I spent the WHOLE day thinking about Alex. ^_^
And, and...Chaske will be in Indianapolis along with BooBoo! Now, don't get me wrong. I still HATE Sam but Chaske is so hawt especially with his hair growing out. Sighs. ^_^ I'm gonna get my photo taken with the wolves. *sings to herself and dances* And there my heart goes racing and me not breathing. Phew...but you know what to do.
Even if you don't review at least tell me if you've gone to a Twicon or are planning on going.
KKJ
