When they arrived at the mall Julie, Connie, Amy and Sam decided to split from the guys and explore the many clothes shops on offer.
"Ooh, this is cute", Connie said pulling a blue angora sweater of the rack and holding it up against her chest.
"Yeah it's nice but I think the red is more your colour", Amy commented before walking across to the other side of the shop to examine a dress that caught her eye.
Sam was busy rummaging through the sports wear aisle and so Julie took the opportunity to talk to Amy alone.
"That would look really pretty on you", she said walking up along side her.
"Thanks", Amy smiled.
"So err", Julie paused, she wasn't quite sure how to approach the subject but Amy took one look at her face and knew what she was thinking.
"Yes, I know about Sam and Charlie", Amy said glancing back over her shoulder to check that Sam wasn't in earshot.
"I'm really sorry".
"What for?" Amy shrugged her shoulders and placed the dress she'd been holding back on the rail. "It's okay, really. He likes Sam not me, and since she likes him so much too then who am I to stand in their way". Amy sure sounded convincing but Julie wasn't fooled.
"Amy I know how much you like him, and the fact that Sam's one of your best friends must make it so much worse", she smiled trying to comfort her friend.
"Thanks for reminding me", Amy replied glumly.
"I just want you to know that if you need to talk, well, I'm here".
"I'll be sure to make a note of that but for now, can we just forget about it", Amy tried her best to smile.
"Okay", Julie nodded, "but if you need anything just ask ..." she trailed of distractedly, watching something over Amy's shoulder. Amy turned to see what had caught her friend's attention. She saw Sam standing just out side the shop door chatting happily away with Charlie and Adam.
"Well, there is one thing", Amy said turning back to face Julie, "If it gets too much watching those two make googly eyes at each other all day, promise that you'll bail with me".
"Sure", Julie smiled and both girls turned their attention back to the clothes racks in front of them.
"So did you find anything that you like in there?" Sam asked once Charlie was through telling her where he and Adam had been.
"Well there was a really cool Calvin Klein sports top but I took one look at the price tag and nearly fainted", he answered with a broad smile. Sam giggled and playfully touched his arm. Adam stood idly by feeling entirely out of place.
"So where are you girls off to next", Charlie leaned in to Sam as he spoke.
"Oh I don't know, how about you?" She replied flirtatiously.
"Hmm, I really don't know. Got any suggestions?" Charlie responded by flirting back. Adam felt increasingly more uncomfortable, he cleared his throat loudly to remind them that he was there.
"You okay?" Sam asked giving him a strange look.
"Yeah, I'm fine", he answered almost sarcastically.
"Hmm, and what are you guys talking about?" Connie asked suspiciously as she exited the shop to join them.
"Wouldn't you like to know", Charlie joked.
"Are those two actually planning on buying anything, or are they just gonna waltz around looking at everything before deciding they hate it all?" Sam said glancing back in the shop at Amy and Julie.
"Their girls, that's what girls do", Charlie quipped.
"Well I'm a girl too you know and I hate shopping. As far as I'm concerned you walk in a shop see what you want and get it, quick and easy then it's done with. I hate all this standing around", Sam groaned. Charlie laughed and took her hand.
"Then you're my kinda girl".
Sam's stomach flipped and a huge grin hit her face. She entwined her fingers with his and gripped his hand tightly. Julie looked on in disgust as she stepped through the shop doorway with Amy at her side. Amy simply chose to ignore it, if she didn't think about it then it didn't hurt so much.
"Will you walk with me to get a soda", Sam asked Charlie choosing to forget about the rest of the group.
"Sure", he nodded, "What's say we meet you guys by the fountain in half an hour or so?" Charlie said already turning to walk away.
"Whatever", Adam said coldly.
"That'll be fine", Connie called after him and Sam.
"Well that was rude", Julie sneered with disgust.
"So where should we go now?" asked Connie.
"I don't know but wherever we go it better sell food, I'm starved", answered Julie.
"I should probably go find the rest of the guys". Adam spoke up.
"And why's that Banks?" Connie moved to stand beside him awaiting his answer.
"Yeah what's wrong with us Banksie?" Julie joined in.
"Or is it that you're still afraid of girls?" Connie teased.
"What are you talking about?" Adam shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not afraid of girls and I never was".
"Yeah right, remember when you first joined the ducks? It took two weeks for you to even say hello to me", said Connie.
"Yeah, and when I hugged you on your birthday last year, you went stiff as a board and turned white. I swear it was the funniest thing". Julie looked at Connie and though both girls tried their hardest they couldn't hold back the laughter that ensued.
Amy stood silently by watching Adam, he was staring at his feet with a mixture of anger and upset on his face.
"I mean you've never even had a girlfriend have you?" Julie continued. Adam didn't respond. "Well, have you?"
Adam decided he'd had enough and without saying a word he turned and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Connie called.
"I think maybe you guys took it a little too far", Amy said watching Adam leave.
"Oh come on, we were just kidding around, Adam knows that", Julie stated.
"A jokes a joke but like I said, you took it too far".
"She's right Julie, I think we really upset him. We should go after him", said Connie.
"Why? He'll be okay in a minute, he's probably just gone to fine the other guys".
"I'll go", Amy said quickly.
"Are you sure? You hardly know him?" Connie asked.
"Yeah, somebody should. I'll come find you again when I'm done".
"Okay, we'll still be in the mall. Oh but I think we're going to the movies in an hour or so".
"Well if I don't find you I'll try there."
"See you later then".
"Yeah, bye". Amy turned and with quickened pace headed in the direction by which Adam had left.
She ran around frantically searching for him but couldn't see him anywhere. Just as she was about to give up she caught sight of him heading for the exit. He was walking very quickly, practically sprinting.
"Adam", she called through the crowd. He didn't seem to have heard her. She raced to catch up with him; he was already outside by the time she reached the exit.
She stepped outside too and looked from side to side to see where he'd gone. He was quite far up the street turning on to a path that led down to the lake. Amy set off running determined not to lose him. 'Boy he's fast' she thought.
When she reached the lakeside she found him sat on an old wooden bench staring out at the water.
"Adam", she panted, struggling for breath.
"Amy, what are you doing here?" he glanced at her then looked back at the lake.
"I ... well, Connie said ... and", she rambled vacantly. "I really don't know what I'm doing here, I just followed you and this is where I ended up".
"You followed me? Why?"
"I don't know the answer to that one either". Adam stared at her strangely. "So are you gonna scoot over and let me sit down?" Adam slid across the bench making room for Amy. She sat down and looked at him, he'd gone back to facing the water. Amy didn't know what to say, so she didn't speak at all. She stared at Adam silently; he had a far away look on his face, lost in his own thoughts. He was perfectly still and yet, his eyes danced, following the ripples on the water's surface.
"They're right you know", suddenly the silence was broken.
"Huh?" Amy shook her head as if waking from a trance.
"Connie and Julie, they're right. Everything they said was true", Adam spoke quietly.
"No, Adam they didn't mean any of that".
"Yes they did, that's what they really think, it's what everybody thinks".
"I don't think that".
"The guys are always giving me a hard time about it. Sad little Adam Banks, never had a girlfriend, can't even talk to girls, he's too afraid".
"I'm sure they don't really think that, they're just kidding around".
"No they're not, they mean it, and it's true", Adam's voice raised slightly and Amy detected a note of anger.
"So you're telling me that you can't talk to girls?" Amy asked looking directly at him.
"Exactly, that's why I've never had a girlfriend, that's why I'll never get one".
"Correct me if I'm wrong here but, most people would consider me to be a, girl". Amy smiled slightly. "In fact, it's medically proven that I am indeed a girl".
"Well, yeah, of course you are ... what are you talking about?" Adam looked deeply confused.
"So we've established the fact that I'm a girl right?"
"Once again, what are you talking about?"
"What I'm talking about is the fact that I'm a *girl*, and unless I imagined it, you've just been sat here for the last five minutes *talking* to me". Adam looked at Amy and she began to laugh faintly causing him to smile.
"Now, I don't know what you used to be like around girls, I don't know the reasons for you never having had a girlfriend, in fact, I don't know much about you at all. But what I do know is that you're a really nice guy, with a really cute face, and any girl would have to be crazy to not want to go out with you".
Adam blushed and looked at his hands, he sat twiddling his thumbs not knowing what to say.
"Besides," Amy continued, "the rest of the guys have no room to talk. I mean, does Portman have a girl friend? Nope. Has Averman ever been on a date? Don't think so. You're all as hopeless as each other but that doesn't matter right now, you're still young and you have so much more to learn and experience. Including what it's like to have a girlfriend, don't allow anyone to make you feel like there's something wrong with you."
"Thank you", Adam said sincerely.
"That's okay, just one more thing. Don't go throwing yourself into a relationship with the first girl that comes along just because then you can say that you've had a girlfriend. Hold out for the right one and I promise you, you'll be glad you did."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure".
"You seem to know everything about the whole dating game, and yet, you don't have a boyfriend. Why is that?"
"I guess I just haven't found the right one yet".
They sat in silence for a moment.
"So do you think we should get back to the mall, find the guys?" Amy asked staring up at the clear blue sky. Adam lent back against the back of the bench and followed Amy's gaze up to the clouds above.
"I think I'd rather stay here", he said wistfully. Amy leant back too, her head falling on Adam's shoulder.
"Yeah, me too".
"Ooh, this is cute", Connie said pulling a blue angora sweater of the rack and holding it up against her chest.
"Yeah it's nice but I think the red is more your colour", Amy commented before walking across to the other side of the shop to examine a dress that caught her eye.
Sam was busy rummaging through the sports wear aisle and so Julie took the opportunity to talk to Amy alone.
"That would look really pretty on you", she said walking up along side her.
"Thanks", Amy smiled.
"So err", Julie paused, she wasn't quite sure how to approach the subject but Amy took one look at her face and knew what she was thinking.
"Yes, I know about Sam and Charlie", Amy said glancing back over her shoulder to check that Sam wasn't in earshot.
"I'm really sorry".
"What for?" Amy shrugged her shoulders and placed the dress she'd been holding back on the rail. "It's okay, really. He likes Sam not me, and since she likes him so much too then who am I to stand in their way". Amy sure sounded convincing but Julie wasn't fooled.
"Amy I know how much you like him, and the fact that Sam's one of your best friends must make it so much worse", she smiled trying to comfort her friend.
"Thanks for reminding me", Amy replied glumly.
"I just want you to know that if you need to talk, well, I'm here".
"I'll be sure to make a note of that but for now, can we just forget about it", Amy tried her best to smile.
"Okay", Julie nodded, "but if you need anything just ask ..." she trailed of distractedly, watching something over Amy's shoulder. Amy turned to see what had caught her friend's attention. She saw Sam standing just out side the shop door chatting happily away with Charlie and Adam.
"Well, there is one thing", Amy said turning back to face Julie, "If it gets too much watching those two make googly eyes at each other all day, promise that you'll bail with me".
"Sure", Julie smiled and both girls turned their attention back to the clothes racks in front of them.
"So did you find anything that you like in there?" Sam asked once Charlie was through telling her where he and Adam had been.
"Well there was a really cool Calvin Klein sports top but I took one look at the price tag and nearly fainted", he answered with a broad smile. Sam giggled and playfully touched his arm. Adam stood idly by feeling entirely out of place.
"So where are you girls off to next", Charlie leaned in to Sam as he spoke.
"Oh I don't know, how about you?" She replied flirtatiously.
"Hmm, I really don't know. Got any suggestions?" Charlie responded by flirting back. Adam felt increasingly more uncomfortable, he cleared his throat loudly to remind them that he was there.
"You okay?" Sam asked giving him a strange look.
"Yeah, I'm fine", he answered almost sarcastically.
"Hmm, and what are you guys talking about?" Connie asked suspiciously as she exited the shop to join them.
"Wouldn't you like to know", Charlie joked.
"Are those two actually planning on buying anything, or are they just gonna waltz around looking at everything before deciding they hate it all?" Sam said glancing back in the shop at Amy and Julie.
"Their girls, that's what girls do", Charlie quipped.
"Well I'm a girl too you know and I hate shopping. As far as I'm concerned you walk in a shop see what you want and get it, quick and easy then it's done with. I hate all this standing around", Sam groaned. Charlie laughed and took her hand.
"Then you're my kinda girl".
Sam's stomach flipped and a huge grin hit her face. She entwined her fingers with his and gripped his hand tightly. Julie looked on in disgust as she stepped through the shop doorway with Amy at her side. Amy simply chose to ignore it, if she didn't think about it then it didn't hurt so much.
"Will you walk with me to get a soda", Sam asked Charlie choosing to forget about the rest of the group.
"Sure", he nodded, "What's say we meet you guys by the fountain in half an hour or so?" Charlie said already turning to walk away.
"Whatever", Adam said coldly.
"That'll be fine", Connie called after him and Sam.
"Well that was rude", Julie sneered with disgust.
"So where should we go now?" asked Connie.
"I don't know but wherever we go it better sell food, I'm starved", answered Julie.
"I should probably go find the rest of the guys". Adam spoke up.
"And why's that Banks?" Connie moved to stand beside him awaiting his answer.
"Yeah what's wrong with us Banksie?" Julie joined in.
"Or is it that you're still afraid of girls?" Connie teased.
"What are you talking about?" Adam shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not afraid of girls and I never was".
"Yeah right, remember when you first joined the ducks? It took two weeks for you to even say hello to me", said Connie.
"Yeah, and when I hugged you on your birthday last year, you went stiff as a board and turned white. I swear it was the funniest thing". Julie looked at Connie and though both girls tried their hardest they couldn't hold back the laughter that ensued.
Amy stood silently by watching Adam, he was staring at his feet with a mixture of anger and upset on his face.
"I mean you've never even had a girlfriend have you?" Julie continued. Adam didn't respond. "Well, have you?"
Adam decided he'd had enough and without saying a word he turned and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Connie called.
"I think maybe you guys took it a little too far", Amy said watching Adam leave.
"Oh come on, we were just kidding around, Adam knows that", Julie stated.
"A jokes a joke but like I said, you took it too far".
"She's right Julie, I think we really upset him. We should go after him", said Connie.
"Why? He'll be okay in a minute, he's probably just gone to fine the other guys".
"I'll go", Amy said quickly.
"Are you sure? You hardly know him?" Connie asked.
"Yeah, somebody should. I'll come find you again when I'm done".
"Okay, we'll still be in the mall. Oh but I think we're going to the movies in an hour or so".
"Well if I don't find you I'll try there."
"See you later then".
"Yeah, bye". Amy turned and with quickened pace headed in the direction by which Adam had left.
She ran around frantically searching for him but couldn't see him anywhere. Just as she was about to give up she caught sight of him heading for the exit. He was walking very quickly, practically sprinting.
"Adam", she called through the crowd. He didn't seem to have heard her. She raced to catch up with him; he was already outside by the time she reached the exit.
She stepped outside too and looked from side to side to see where he'd gone. He was quite far up the street turning on to a path that led down to the lake. Amy set off running determined not to lose him. 'Boy he's fast' she thought.
When she reached the lakeside she found him sat on an old wooden bench staring out at the water.
"Adam", she panted, struggling for breath.
"Amy, what are you doing here?" he glanced at her then looked back at the lake.
"I ... well, Connie said ... and", she rambled vacantly. "I really don't know what I'm doing here, I just followed you and this is where I ended up".
"You followed me? Why?"
"I don't know the answer to that one either". Adam stared at her strangely. "So are you gonna scoot over and let me sit down?" Adam slid across the bench making room for Amy. She sat down and looked at him, he'd gone back to facing the water. Amy didn't know what to say, so she didn't speak at all. She stared at Adam silently; he had a far away look on his face, lost in his own thoughts. He was perfectly still and yet, his eyes danced, following the ripples on the water's surface.
"They're right you know", suddenly the silence was broken.
"Huh?" Amy shook her head as if waking from a trance.
"Connie and Julie, they're right. Everything they said was true", Adam spoke quietly.
"No, Adam they didn't mean any of that".
"Yes they did, that's what they really think, it's what everybody thinks".
"I don't think that".
"The guys are always giving me a hard time about it. Sad little Adam Banks, never had a girlfriend, can't even talk to girls, he's too afraid".
"I'm sure they don't really think that, they're just kidding around".
"No they're not, they mean it, and it's true", Adam's voice raised slightly and Amy detected a note of anger.
"So you're telling me that you can't talk to girls?" Amy asked looking directly at him.
"Exactly, that's why I've never had a girlfriend, that's why I'll never get one".
"Correct me if I'm wrong here but, most people would consider me to be a, girl". Amy smiled slightly. "In fact, it's medically proven that I am indeed a girl".
"Well, yeah, of course you are ... what are you talking about?" Adam looked deeply confused.
"So we've established the fact that I'm a girl right?"
"Once again, what are you talking about?"
"What I'm talking about is the fact that I'm a *girl*, and unless I imagined it, you've just been sat here for the last five minutes *talking* to me". Adam looked at Amy and she began to laugh faintly causing him to smile.
"Now, I don't know what you used to be like around girls, I don't know the reasons for you never having had a girlfriend, in fact, I don't know much about you at all. But what I do know is that you're a really nice guy, with a really cute face, and any girl would have to be crazy to not want to go out with you".
Adam blushed and looked at his hands, he sat twiddling his thumbs not knowing what to say.
"Besides," Amy continued, "the rest of the guys have no room to talk. I mean, does Portman have a girl friend? Nope. Has Averman ever been on a date? Don't think so. You're all as hopeless as each other but that doesn't matter right now, you're still young and you have so much more to learn and experience. Including what it's like to have a girlfriend, don't allow anyone to make you feel like there's something wrong with you."
"Thank you", Adam said sincerely.
"That's okay, just one more thing. Don't go throwing yourself into a relationship with the first girl that comes along just because then you can say that you've had a girlfriend. Hold out for the right one and I promise you, you'll be glad you did."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure".
"You seem to know everything about the whole dating game, and yet, you don't have a boyfriend. Why is that?"
"I guess I just haven't found the right one yet".
They sat in silence for a moment.
"So do you think we should get back to the mall, find the guys?" Amy asked staring up at the clear blue sky. Adam lent back against the back of the bench and followed Amy's gaze up to the clouds above.
"I think I'd rather stay here", he said wistfully. Amy leant back too, her head falling on Adam's shoulder.
"Yeah, me too".