See Harolds chapter for an explanation of today...

December 6

Leshawna:

It was bustling, loud, bright, among other things.

And I loved it. The mall, my second home, is where my sista's and me shop till we drop! Especially during the Holiday Season! Ooh, I can't want to get my hands on those sales!

I admit that I'm not much of a morning person, never have, never will be. But c'mon, you GOT to get up early if you want to get all the good stuff at my favorite store, Expression. They have everything a girl like me needs to buy to live. I got my hoop earrings and my kumquat shirt there, in case you were wondering.

So picture this. I'm strolling through the mall with my girls Victoria, Ashlei, and Jasmine, keeping my eyes opened for everything I needed, at three o'clock in the morning. Thankfully, we're keeping each others eyes opened with the use of coffee, and we went to bed early last night. We will do anything for extreme shopping. 300 stores in two hours.

Despite the early hour, the mall was actually as busy as it would be on any normal day, maybe more. We were shoving through the crowds like weed-whackers to grass, but apparently, so was everyone else who wanted their hands on the latest Tyrawear boots.

"Move it! Bootylicious T.V. star coming through!" I yelled over the crowd, trying to get my hands on those shoes. If I didn't buy those shoes for Lindsay, I would never forgive myself. You see, I was not only buying presents for my family and friends, I was buying gifts for everybody of the TDI crew, even Heather. Though I'll step back when she opens hers…I'm jokin', I wouldn't do that to her.

Yet.

Anyways, with my girls watching me outside the boundaries of the crowd, I finally reached the stand where the boots were. I grabbed the boots that I thought were her size, and retreated from the crowd.

"Holy Crap, Girl, you made it out alive!" Victoria commented when she saw me emerge.

I laughed. "Just barely. And girl, remind me never to go back in there!"

Suddenly, the loudspeakers came on, and a really nasal voice (whether it was the person themselves or the system I don't know) spoke from it, "Attention shoppers, attention shoppers. All Total Drama Island merchandise is now marked twenty five percent off and can be found at the Joy Toy store in the east wing of the mall. I repeat, all Total Drama Island merchandise is now marked twenty five percent off and can be found at the Joy Toy store in the east wing of the mall. Have a nice day."

I rolled my eyes. I had already seen the stuff they were selling. They had plates with our faces, plastic marshmallows, fake Gilded Chris's, and costumes (Don't even get me started on the costumes!) and dolls made to look like us. You wouldn't believe how many 'me's I saw this year on Halloween!

"Hey Shawnie…" Victoria said, a sly tone in her voice which I instantly caught.

"Oh no! I am not going near that store! You know how many people would come up to me and ask me to sign those things? I wouldn't be able to leave without being mobbed!"

"Aw come on, Leshawna!" Jasmine whined, "Just think! The producers might have set up a temporary confessional cam in the store for the buyers! And I could enter another audition tape! And you might meet some people from the show, like Ezekiel, Cody, Harold, Owen, and Izzy! And you could all sign your dolls! And then you could go to Ezekiel's house! And then we could all spend Christmas there with everybody from TDI! And then we could be part of a Christmas special, and get invited to the next season!"

Jasmine just went on and on and on. I mean, I love her and all, but dang she could close her mouth every once in a while! Victoria, Ashlei and I just stared at her as she continued to illustrate her dreams of winning the next season (I pray there won't be). After a few minutes had passed, we all looked at each other, shrugged, and walked away.

And Jasmine just stood there, oblivious to everything going on around her.

In some way that I don't understand myself, Victoria and Ashlei eventually got me to the Joy Toy store. The second we stepped foot in the store, just as I predicted, a little girl said, "Mommy! There's the girl in the box! Only she's not in the box anymore!" and I was swarmed by fans.

"I am so getting you two coal this year!" I hissed to my giggling friends.

* * *

When I finally got through the fans, Jasmine had caught up to us and the others had finished going through the store.

"Look Leshawna! I found a Harold doll!" squealed Ashlei as soon as I was free, and she handed it to me.

I looked at it with a soft eye. The doll was a good likeness to him. It even had his little moustache and freckles. I smiled and said, "I wonder what Harold's doing right now…"

"Looks like Shawnie's in L-O-V-E" sang Ashlei.

"Honestly, Leshawna, why don't you ever call him? I'm sure he…" Victoria trailed off as she saw me glare at her.

OK, so it wasn't like I didn't like Harold anymore. He was still one my friends, and yeah, I still liked him. A lot. But…It's just that…I can't…he can't…we can't…I don't know…

OK, fine. I can't lie to you guys. I, for the first time in my life…am scared. Not like the phobia challenge scared. I'm scared of me and Harold together. It's not Harold. It's me. What if I do something wrong? What if it just doesn't work? Harold's a really, really good friend, and I don't want to risk anything we have over some butterflies in my stomach when I see him flexing his muscles…his cute little man biceps…No! Not allowing myself to go head over heals over some guy.

That little voice in my head said, "But Leshawna, honey, he's not just some guy…he's Harold."

I mumbled, "Shut Up."

"Excuse me?" Jasmine said. I snapped back to reality and realized my friends were still staring at me. I stammered out, "Oh, sorry girls. Daydreaming."

My friends aren't exactly subtle; they shared a brief, conspicuous glance before Ashlei said, "Ok, girl. But now you got to go shoo. We've still got to shop for ya."

I eyed them sharply. Victoria sighed and put her hand over her heart. She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling and said, "I promise on my honor that we will not make any sort of communication with Harold in order for you two to talk or meet or anything." She looked back at me. "Satisfied?" She asked.

I merely shook my head and grinned at my friends before walking off. "Meet you in the food court in half 'n hour, girls. And thanks for the promise."

"Laters!" waved Ashlei right before the girls grabbed their bags and walked off, whispering and laughing the whole time.

* * *

I sat at a lone table in the food court, sipping a latte. I was BORED out of my mind. I already got everything I needed, and a certain red head was running around in my thoughts.

My eyes darted down to the cell phone on the table. It would be simple just to call him. Just say hello. Maybe chat a bit.

But I know our conversation, no matter how short, would only make it harder for me and him. So I tried thinking about other things. Total Drama Island...Christmas…Caroling…Gifts…

Oh no…

I dug through my bags until I found it. It was a long cape, made of soft indigo material and had shining silver stars, the perfect wizard's cape for Harold. He had told me once that his cape was getting worn out.

How was I going to get this to Harold without causing him any pain?

Just send it to him. But CALL him first.

As if to prove the point, my phone started ringing. I picked it up, and found it was a text from Victoria.

~So the same grl that faced mobs of shpprs cn't call 1 guy?~

I angrily texted right back.

~None of your bzness~

It took only seconds before she replied.

~Have Faith~

I couldn't even reply before she then sent

~Have Trust~

and

~Have Courage~

I didn't reply, and she didn't send anything else. So I just sat there, staring at my cell.

Suddenly it rang again. This time it was a call. Expecting Victoria again, I said into the phone, "I just can't, OK?"

"Leshawna?"

I froze. That voice was not Victoria's. Her voice wasn't deep and throaty. Her voice didn't send chills up my spine. Her voice didn't belong to Harold.

To be continued…