Title: Mall Rats
Series: Destiny Found, part 5
Affiliated Series: Destiny Lost
Authors: Sonya and Erin
E-mail: sonyajeb@swbell.net OR carynsilver@yahoo.com
Rating: PG
Category: B/C/Amy/Other friendship, AU, relationship oriented
*Disclaimers and Timeline Info in Part 1!!!!*
--------------------------
It spread out before them like paradise. Mecca, some would call it. Others, Heaven. Three levels of greasy food, tiled floors, trendy shops, department stores, skylights to let in the brilliant California sun, fountains and trees galore in a maze-like interior landscaping scheme, and a few grimy, public restrooms. The Mall.
"I hate the mall."
Buffy Summers and Amy Madison slanted amused gazes at the reluctant girl following them in from the parking lot.
"It's a necessary evil," Buffy assured her.
"It's all a big trick," Sonya Parker groused, pulling her chestnut locks back into a severe ponytail. "An elaborate plan to part us from our hard-earned money. I think some evil demon somewhere invented the mall."
Amy laughed. "Maybe so, but it's still the only place in town we can find enough stuff to get you ready for your maybe-date with Oz tonight."
The thought of her evening's excursion brightened Sonya's outlook. "That's true."
"Yes," Buffy told her with a grin. "Repeat this to yourself when you lose your nerve: Must look good for Oz. Must look good for Oz."
"Must look good for Oz," Sonya repeated obediently, sending the girls off into paroxysms of laughter. They pushed through the swinging, glass doors three abreast and walked into the fluorescent lighting of the mall.
"So," Amy said, when she'd gotten control of herself, "where to first?"
Buffy surveyed the area. "It's got to be just the right place... How about the Wet Seal? They've got cute stuff."
"Why not?" Sonya said, letting them lead her where they would.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cordelia Chase examined all the new stock in the Wet Seal with a critical eye. She needed just the perfect thing for the party this weekend. Something that would make Percy West cry because he wasn't there with her.
Aura had said it was a pool party, but everyone knew that you didn't always swim at a pool party -- it got your hair all messed up, not to mention your make up. Once you dove into the pool, all artificial beauty was gone and you were left on your own merits. Aura, especially, didn't need that, so she probably wouldn't be emphasizing swimming. Cordelia knew she, herself, could handle it if she needed to, but she liked to be prepared for anything. Cordelia's plan of action for such an event was to wear a killer outfit, and bring her bikini and a towel along in a hip beach bag (or wear it under the killer outfit, depending), just in case she felt like getting wet later -- or if all the other girls were doing it, and she had to do it, too.
She fingered a sleek, silk sundress with thin straps and a form-fitting shape. The orange and pink tones -- the "in" colors this season -- enhanced her naturally tanned skin and her long brown hair.
"Percy, eat your heart out," she said with an evil smile as she held the dress up against her. "This'll show you to treat me like a blow up doll." The basketball star had been an incredibly boring date, but Cordelia had persevered through more sports talk that she ever cared to hear so that she could have the most eligible bachelor at SHS on her arm. It didn't hurt that he was quite the hottie, though a bit too bulky for her taste. It was when he tried to maul her in the front seat of his father's Beamer that she gave up on him. More accurately, she slapped him across the face and demanded that he drive her home. Which he did, without speaking one more word. That had been last weekend. So far, he hadn't tried to retaliate, but she wanted to make sure if he did try at the pool party, that she was ready with a flawless appearance and an impeccable wit.
"Oh, Sonya, this is you!"
The shrilled comment got Cordelia's immediate attention. She turned to see Buffy, Amy and Sonya standing in front of a skirt and sweater display. Amy was holding up a sleek black skirt for Sonya to look at. Cordelia lifted an eyebrow at the Fashion Emergency in the making. Where was that little guy from E! with a custom-made makeover when you needed him?
"I don't know," Buffy said, examining the skirt. "I'd go for something with a little more color." She peered at the sweaters and then pulled one out to show the others. "Something like this maybe."
Cordelia practically groaned. A black skirt and a green sweater with Sonya's coloring? Who were they kidding? She shook her head. Maybe it was because they were both blonde. They didn't know how to shop for a brunette. And, if her bewildered look was any indication, Sonya didn't know how to shop for herself.
Amy wrinkled her nose at the green sweater. "I don't like it, but then I'm kind of biased against lime green on any occasion." She turned to another rack and pulled out a white, form-fitting, button-up shirt with flared sleeves. "This might work... with Capri pants?"
[I just can't watch this any longer] Cordelia decided. Throwing her choice sundress over her arm, she walked toward the three girls with a purposeful stride.
They heard her heels clicking on the black tiled floor and turned to look at her with surprised expressions.
"Cordelia," Buffy said with a wan smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Shopping," Cordelia responded casually.
"Us, too," Amy piped up, juggling the black skirt and the white shirt.
"For what?" Cordelia asked bluntly. "A run-in with the fashion police?"
Amy's face fell, and Buffy looked at Cordelia defensively.
"We're helping Sonya find something to wear on her date with Oz tonight," Buffy said. "And we'd rather do it without the wisecracks if it's all right with you."
Cordelia felt her heart sink a little bit. "Look," she said honestly, "I wasn't trying to offend you. It's just... well... look at these things you've picked out for her." She appraised Sonya with a practiced eye. "Sonya has very fair skin. Black will make her look like a ghost and white will make her look washed out. This short style skirt won't do much for her figure or her legs. Neither will Capri pants. And green... well, not many people can pull off lime green and come out the better for it." She glanced at Buffy. "You are one of the few."
She took Sonya by the arm and led her over to the sundresses she had just been perusing for herself. "You need something like this. Something flowy that enhances your svelte lines. Skin tight only looks good on stick girls or someone with a double-D cup. Elegant is more your style, I think. And with your coloring, you'd look great in pastels." She looked at Sonya's eyes. "Something blue, especially, to bring out your eyes."
"Really?" Sonya asked. "I don't do the whole fashion thing very much, so I don't have a lot of experience."
"I've... uh... noticed," Cordelia said. She began flipping through the rack of sundresses. She found several blue ones in varying shades. "What do you think of these?"
"Oh!" Buffy cried, touching the silky material. "These are great."
Amy fingered a light blue one with silver accents. "This one is really pretty."
"What about this one?" Sonya asked, plucking a two-toned blue one out of the bunch.
"It could work," Cordelia said. "But take these, too." She put the whole batch in Sonya's arms and gave her a gentle push toward the fitting rooms. "Try them on, and come out and show us each one."
"OK," Sonya agreed, a bemused expression on her face.
That left Cordelia standing with Buffy and Amy. The two blondes glanced at each other, and then back to Cordelia.
"So... Cordelia," Buffy said hesitantly. "I guess thanks are in order."
Cordelia lifted one shoulder in a careful shrug. "I just wanted to help."
"Yeah, but we shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and griped at you," Amy admitted. "Sorry."
"Me, too," Buffy added.
"It's all right." In a fit of honesty, Cordelia added, "I can't really blame you for thinking I was being mean. Sarcasm is my usual M.O."
Amy glanced at the sundress in Cordelia's arms. "Are you going to try that on? It's pretty."
"I was thinking about it," Cordelia admitted.
"Why don't you go do it now?" Buffy suggested. "Then you can model for us, too."
"And after that," Amy added, "we could go grab lunch at the food court before we go find Sonya some shoes to go with whatever dress she picks out."
Cordelia gave the two girls a surprised look accompanied by a small smile. "That sounds good."
"Good." Buffy nodded her head for emphasis. Then she gave Cordelia a little push in the direction of the fitting rooms. "Then go."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lindsey McDonald was one of the few men in the world who actually liked the mall. He took pride in his appearance, unlike a lot of the guys he knew from back east. And he was good at shopping. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and he was great at haggling over the price until he could talk the shop owner into a discount. Talking was one of his strong suits. That came from being a lawyer.
However, Lindsey's favorite thing about the mall was the people. He would sit back and watch them go by for hours, playing his little guessing game with each one. Lindsey could look at a person and within seconds, tell you all about them. It was an odd pastime, but he enjoyed it.
Take this one for example... the young, slightly-chubby girl in a too-tight mini-dress that tried to be trendy but just came off looking slightly ludicrous. She was a hanger-on, a wannabe. She had probably spent all of her life watching the popular crowd and wanting to be a part of it. But, Lindsey noted with a discerning eye, she didn't have what it took. Not by a long shot.
And the man with the wiry-thin frame and neatly combed hair, who sat perched on a nearby bench reading an incredibly dull-looking book? He wasn't nearly as smart as he liked to appear. It was obvious in the way he held himself. He had too much confidence. Most incredibly intelligent people Lindsey had the good fortune to meet were extremely shy and mild mannered. This guy was just too flashy. Too *there*. And he held the book stiffly, like he wasn't quite sure what to do with it. While most book lovers treated a book like a long lost friend, cherishing it with a simple touch.
Lindsey sighed, glancing at his watch. As much as he enjoyed his little game, he was tired of sitting here. Enough waiting. He stood up slowly, with an almost feline grace, and began walking to the nearest exit. He'd only gone a few steps when a familiar voice called out.
"McDonald! Planning to leave without saying goodbye?"
Lindsey grinned and turned around to face the newcomer. It was someone he hadn't seen in over 5 years. "Finn, what took you so long? I've been waiting for almost half an hour."
Riley Finn, an old high school chum, ambled over and pulled Lindsey into a quick hug, giving him a slap on the back. "What can I say? Traffic was hell."
Riley looked Lindsey up and down, noting with amusement that his friend was dressed in a long-sleeved, dark blue, button up shirt and dark slacks. His leather shoes were polished to a shine. "Dressed a little warmly for our fine California weather, eh?" Riley joked. He, himself, was wearing cutoffs and a grey T-shirt. His feet were encased in sandals.
Lindsey rolled his eyes. "Hey, I had an interview with the Mayor earlier. Had to look my best." He shrugged, grinning back at Riley. "At least I left my jacket and tie in the car."
"Thank God for small miracles," Riley muttered, only half joking. He and Lindsey fell into step together, cutting a path through the crowds of people easily. "So," Riley said, "how've you been? Taking the legal world by storm in true Lindsey McDonald style? I like the hair, by the way."
Lindsey looked up at his taller companion, a small smirk on his lips. "Thanks." He ran his fingers through his artfully shaggy, light-brown hair. "It's one of the last holdovers from college. I just couldn't bear to cut it." He shrugged his shoulders. "Though if I take that job at Wolfram and Hart, I'll have to cut it. They have a dress code, at least were the newbies are concerned."
Riley laughed. "I'm sure you'll forebear. We all have to make sacrifices, my friend."
"True," Lindsey nodded, fixing Riley with a pointed look. "Though I'm sure you know all about sacrifices. You must've sacrificed a lot to the military... such as the ability to keep in touch with your old friends."
Riley winced. "Okay, I guess I had that one coming."
"Damn straight," Lindsey agreed.
"But you don't understand how it is."
"Why don't you make me understand? Make me understand how you could completely cut ties with one of your oldest friends for over three years. I may not be the sensitive type, but that doesn't mean I don't have feelings." Lindsey pointed an accusing finger at Riley. "You never once answered any of my emails or phone calls. You wouldn't believe the number of messages I left for you at your folk's place. Then the Mailer-Daemon starts returning my messages from all your old addresses. Now, out of the blue, I get a call saying you're in California."
Riley sighed. "Look, the stuff I'm involved in... I can't talk about it. Not even to my oldest friend. It's really hush-hush."
Lindsey rolled his eyes. "You sound like some reject from an old spy movie." Doing his best spy-man impersonation, Lindsey said, "I'd tell ya, but then I'd have ta kill ya!"
Riley laughed and the tension between them was broken. Clapping Lindsey on the shoulder, he steered him toward the nearest exit. "C'mon. I've got to introduce you to the guys!"
Lindsey raised an eyebrow. "The guys? What, you have your own group of tag-a-longs now? I remember when you used to tag along after me!"
"Ha ha. Very funny," Riley responded. "I'll have you know that Forrest and Graham are both great guys. Good friends."
"Ooo-kay," Lindsey joked. "I can't wait to meet Tree Boy and Cracker Man. They sound absolutely fascinating." Out of the corner of his eye, Lindsey noticed something that made him do a 180 and drag Riley back from the exit sign. "But first, Mr. Military Man, I'd say some reconnaissance is in order. We should canvas the area for potential enemies and other... things of interest."
"What are you on now, McDonald?" Riley asked, confused.
Lindsey pointed at a group of four girls sitting at a table in the food court. Two brunettes and two blondes. Each stunningly beautiful in her own right. "That's what I'm talking about, man."
"Same old Lindsey. It's nice to know some things don't ever change." Riley grinned and elbowed his friend with a meaningful leer. Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, he asked, "So, which one in particular caught your eye?"
"The brunette."
"Oh, the glamorous one on the left? She's so your type."
"She *would* look great in my Porsche, but I was actually talking about the one on the right with the curls."
"Really? Her? But she looks so... um... hostile."
Lindsey winked at his friend. "Hostile can be fun."
Riley rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever, man."
"Seriously, though, there's something about her. I don't know how to describe it, but I have this feeling."
"A feeling?" Riley raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, like she's someone that I'd want to meet."
Riley gave Lindsey a push in the direction of the girls' table. "Well, then let's arrange that meeting!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cordelia frowned at her limp Caesar salad. "This is practically inedible."
Sonya leaned across the table to look at the wilted lettuce and the sorry excuses for croutons. "You're right." She sat back down and took a big bite of her cheeseburger. "You should've gone for something soaked in fat and calories like the rest of us."
"It's all the food court can do that still tastes good," Amy added, squeezing some mustard out for her corny dog.
"Want a nacho?" Buffy offered, extending her plate of Cheez-Wiz and beef covered tortilla chips with jalapenos and sour cream on the side.
"Ug!" Cordelia wrinkled her nose and looked pointedly away from the nachos. "Those things look disgusting!"
Buffy shrugged. "Yeah, but if you eat them really fast you don't notice."
"Oh, that is so gross!" Cordelia said, but all four of them were laughing. The socialite took another bite of her salad, and that was when the two most gorgeous guys she'd seen in quite a while chose to walk up to their table.
"Hello there," the shorter one with great hair said, flashing them all a killer smile.
"Hi," Amy replied, giving them her normal, perky smile.
"Hey," Sonya added. Buffy didn't say anything.
"Hi," the taller guy said, with a smile of his own.
Cordelia hastily swallowed and wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. Once she was satisfied that she didn't look like a cow grazing, she flashed the guys her mega-watt smile. "Why, hello."
"My name is Lindsey," the shorter guy announced, gazing at each of them in turn. Cordelia thought she noticed his eyes lingering on Sonya for a little longer than necessary, but promptly dismissed the notion for its sheer impossibility.
Lindsey gestured to his friend. "This is Riley. We saw you over here and felt compelled to come over and say hello."
Amy giggled.
Trying not to roll her eyes at the blonde witch's lack of flirting skills, Cordelia tossed her hair in her sexiest manner and then gazed up at Lindsey with her best wide-eyed, innocent look. "I must say... I'm glad you did." She picked up Buffy's plate and held it out to the guys. "Nacho?"
Riley shook his head, but Lindsey grabbed one and popped it into his mouth. Cordelia marveled at how he completed the potentially-messy maneuver without getting the smallest drop of cheese on his classy clothes.
"Thanks."
"Do you guys go to UC Sunnydale?" Amy asked. She had to tilt her head up to look them in the eye.
"Why don't you pull up a couple of chairs?" Cordelia inserted quickly.
Buffy stood up. "You can have mine." Then she turned and walked toward the Bath and Bodyworks store across from the food court.
Lindsey slid into her chair, and Riley pulled one over from the next table.
"That was a little peculiar," Riley muttered, frowning after Buffy.
Sonya gave him a disgruntled look and stood up herself. "She misses her boyfriend. He's away at school in Europe." She started toward the Bath and Bodyworks. "I'm going to go check on her."
"Should I come?" Amy asked worriedly.
Sonya shook her head. "It's OK. Stay and enjoy the... nachos."
Lindsey watched Sonya go, and, once she disappeared into the nearby store, he looked at Amy. "To answer your question, I don't go to UC Sunnydale, but Riley, here, does."
Riley hastened to say, "I'm a graduate student there in psychology."
"Really?" Amy inquired prettily. "I've always been interested in psychology."
Satisfied that Amy was finally getting the hang of things and wouldn't interfere with or embarrass her, Cordelia turned her full attention on Lindsey. "Well, if you're not in college, what do you do?"
"I just graduated from law school," Lindsey took great pride in informing her. "I'm going to take the bar in a few weeks, and I'm also in the process of interviewing for jobs."
"A lawyer?" Cordelia repeated. "That's fascinating." Visions of a wealthy, handsome boyfriend with a (possibly) great car and the ability to buy her lots of expensive presents flashed through her mind.
On the other side of the table, Riley had finished telling Amy about his mentor at college, the renowned Dr. Maggie Walsh, and asked, "Are you in school?"
"Yeah..." Amy started, but Cordelia interrupted her.
"We go to UC Sunnydale. Both of us."
While Amy was looking at Cordelia in surprise, Riley asked, "Undergrads?"
Cordelia donned what she hoped was the self-effacing smile of an undergrad. "We're seniors." That at least was the truth. They would be seniors when school started in a few months. She raised a pointed eyebrow at Amy, and the other girl finally caught on.
"Yes," she embellished. "I'm studying... English."
While Riley and Amy continued to talk, Lindsey leaned toward Cordelia and asked, "And what are you studying?"
Cordelia already had that answer ready. "Fashion design."
He nodded, giving her the once over. Apparently he liked what he saw, judging from the gleam in his eyes. "I can see that about you."
"Yes," Cordelia replied, fingering her necklace in a way that drew attention to her classic neckline and perfectly tanned skin. "It's a really challenging program, and UC Sunnydale has one of the best in the country."
"I'm sure."
When Lindsey smiled at her again, Cordelia knew he was hooked. "So... how long are you in town?"
"Only a few days. Just time enough for a job interview and some downtime with Ri'."
Cordelia gave him her best pout. "That's too bad."
"Well, I might be back..." He let the comment trail off suggestively.
"I could give you my number," Cordelia said.
Lindsey pulled out two business cards and a pen. "Write it on the back of this one."
Cordelia did so. Lindsey pocketed that card and handed her the other one. "So you can call me."
She smiled enigmatically. Then she stood up. "Amy and I have to go. We've got to hook up with Buffy and Sonya."
Amy looked surprised, but she went along with it. "Bye, Riley. It was really nice talking with you."
"Yeah," Riley agreed. "Oh, hey, what's your last name?"
"Madison," Amy told him. "Why?"
"So I can look you up in the campus directory."
Cordelia jumped in. "Amy lives at home to save money. You'll have to look her up in the regular phone book." She smiled one last time, giving Lindsey a lingering look. "Bye, guys."
"Bye," Riley said.
"Later," Lindsey told them.
Then Cordelia swept Amy off in the direction of Bath and Body works.
"Wow," Amy said with a giggle. "That was fun. I've never lied to a guy before."
"It has its uses," Cordelia told her. "Never be afraid to embellish a little when it comes to guys."
"But why did you drag us out of there so fast?" Amy asked. "Riley was really nice."
"I'm sure he was," Cordelia answered, "but there's one very important thing you have to remember when you want a guy to call you."
"What's that?"
"You have to leave him wanting more."
"Oh." Amy thought for a minute. "Do you think Riley wanted more?"
"Sure," Cordelia agreed, in the mood to be nice.
Amy grinned. "Do you think Lindsey wanted more?"
Cordelia's smile widened. "Definitely."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Buffy," Sonya said, giving the blonde close scrutiny, "are you OK?"
The words broke the Slayer out of her reverie. She had been smelling "Tea Rose" scented bath gel and thinking about the last time Xander had given her roses, on their sight-seeing tour in London. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Guess I wandered off for a minute there."
"You wandered off to London, didn't you?" Sonya asked perceptively.
Buffy nodded and put the bottle back on the shelf. "Good guess."
"I know that look," Sonya replied. She hesitated for a minute, and then muttered, "I'm kind of worried about you, Buffy. It seems like..."
"All I do is mope about Xander being gone?" Buffy let out a bark of laughter.
Sonya nodded. "I just... I... I'm just a little worried about you. I mean, I've never gone through what you're going through, but is this the normal response?"
"I don't know," Buffy admitted. "I just know that I miss him a lot."
"But, like today," Sonya said, "those guys came over to our table, and you practically ran away."
"I didn't want to talk to them," Buffy replied with a shrug.
"Do you ever think that it might be better if you dated other people?" Sonya blurted. "Not for serious, or anything, but just to take your mind off of things?"
Buffy was shaking her head before Sonya even finished her sentence. "No. There's no one else I want to be with. And there's no one else he wants to be with. We both know that. Now we just have to wait."
"I'm sorry," Sonya said. "I'm no good at this girl talk thing. I should just leave it to Amy."
"No!" Buffy shook her head. "You're great, Son. And I probably should try to be more cheerful. I guess people are sick of being around Mopey Buffy all the time."
It was Sonya's turn to shake her head. "No, it's OK. You should be just as mopey as you want to be. If Oz were gone, I'm sure I'd be mopey, too... if I knew that we were actually dating! Arg!" She dropped a bar of bright blue glycerin soap in frustration and had to squat to pick it up. When she stood up again, Buffy enfolded her in a hug before she could move.
"Thanks, Sonya."
The hug was more natural this time than it had been in London, when they'd bonded a little during their sight-seeing adventure with the boys. Sonya didn't have that stiff feeling for very long.
Afterwards, Buffy sniffled and said, "You're really good at this girl talk stuff. And I'm sure this concert with Oz is a date."
"Thanks," Sonya replied with a grin. "I hope so, too."
"And even if it's not, when he sees you in that sundress, Oz is going to be a drooling hunk of man."
Sonya started giggling. "That's really hard to picture."
Buffy was laughing, too. "I know."
"Hey, guys."
They turned to see Cordelia and Amy approaching.
"Hi," Buffy said, finding a real smile for them. "How were the guys?"
"So cute," Amy said. "It was fun, and Riley was so nice."
"How was Lindsey?" Buffy asked Cordelia.
The statuesque brunette smiled mysteriously. "A very worthwhile use of my time. If he moves to Sunnydale, I think I'll be all set."
The other three exchanged semi-confused looks, but then shrugged it off.
Amy said, "We told them we were in college, and they believed the whole thing. It was great. I think Riley is going to call me."
The four girls started to make their way out of the bath store and into the mall proper.
Sonya looked at Amy in surprise. "You lied? *You?*"
"I couldn't tell the truth," Amy answered. "It would have blown Cordelia's cover, too."
"But what if he does call?" Sonya asked curiously. "Are you just going to keep on lying?"
Amy looked pained. "I didn't think that far ahead."
"If she wants to keep him interested, she will," Cordelia said airily.
"But you're both seventeen," Buffy tried again.
"Not for much longer." Cordelia checked her watch. "Two months, five days and about sixteen hours and I will officially be an adult."
Buffy shook her head. "You guys are insane. But whatever." She and Sonya exchanged amused looks.
"Come on," Cordelia ordered them, heading for the escalator.
"Where are we going?" Sonya asked, adjusting her grip on her shopping bag.
"The shoe store on level three," Cordelia answered. "We've got to find you some little strappy numbers to go with that new dress you bought."
"She's right," Buffy said, linking arms with Sonya and propelling her more quickly to the escalator. "Let's go."
The four girls laughed and talked on their way to the beginning of their shoe quest, and as they rode up the escalator, the sunlight filtering through the mall skylights halloed them and made them sparkle.
On the first floor, Lindsey and Riley paused by the door and looked back, admiring the girls.
"So, was that a good investment of our time?" Lindsey asked.
"Sure," Riley agreed, "but you didn't get to talk to Sonya."
Lindsey shrugged. "It's all right. Things worked out anyway."
"Cordelia was more your type than you thought?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Score one for team Finn."
"Shut up, Riley!"
The tall, blond guy just grinned. "Hey, man, when I was a freshman and you were a junior, I studied your technique. I'm a graduate of the Lindsey McDonald Training Program."
"What?" Lindsey shook his head. "You're hopeless, Ri'."
"No, but I am late. We both are."
"To meet your friends?"
"Yeah, they've been waiting for us back at the dorm for half an hour."
"It's OK," Lindsey said. "If they're normal guys, they'll understand stopping to pursue beautiful women."
"I'm sure they will," Riley admitted, "but now we've got to go."
And with that, the two guys turned away from the escalator and walked out of the mall and into the sunny parking lot beyond. The Porsche, and the rest of their lives, were waiting.
Series: Destiny Found, part 5
Affiliated Series: Destiny Lost
Authors: Sonya and Erin
E-mail: sonyajeb@swbell.net OR carynsilver@yahoo.com
Rating: PG
Category: B/C/Amy/Other friendship, AU, relationship oriented
*Disclaimers and Timeline Info in Part 1!!!!*
--------------------------
It spread out before them like paradise. Mecca, some would call it. Others, Heaven. Three levels of greasy food, tiled floors, trendy shops, department stores, skylights to let in the brilliant California sun, fountains and trees galore in a maze-like interior landscaping scheme, and a few grimy, public restrooms. The Mall.
"I hate the mall."
Buffy Summers and Amy Madison slanted amused gazes at the reluctant girl following them in from the parking lot.
"It's a necessary evil," Buffy assured her.
"It's all a big trick," Sonya Parker groused, pulling her chestnut locks back into a severe ponytail. "An elaborate plan to part us from our hard-earned money. I think some evil demon somewhere invented the mall."
Amy laughed. "Maybe so, but it's still the only place in town we can find enough stuff to get you ready for your maybe-date with Oz tonight."
The thought of her evening's excursion brightened Sonya's outlook. "That's true."
"Yes," Buffy told her with a grin. "Repeat this to yourself when you lose your nerve: Must look good for Oz. Must look good for Oz."
"Must look good for Oz," Sonya repeated obediently, sending the girls off into paroxysms of laughter. They pushed through the swinging, glass doors three abreast and walked into the fluorescent lighting of the mall.
"So," Amy said, when she'd gotten control of herself, "where to first?"
Buffy surveyed the area. "It's got to be just the right place... How about the Wet Seal? They've got cute stuff."
"Why not?" Sonya said, letting them lead her where they would.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cordelia Chase examined all the new stock in the Wet Seal with a critical eye. She needed just the perfect thing for the party this weekend. Something that would make Percy West cry because he wasn't there with her.
Aura had said it was a pool party, but everyone knew that you didn't always swim at a pool party -- it got your hair all messed up, not to mention your make up. Once you dove into the pool, all artificial beauty was gone and you were left on your own merits. Aura, especially, didn't need that, so she probably wouldn't be emphasizing swimming. Cordelia knew she, herself, could handle it if she needed to, but she liked to be prepared for anything. Cordelia's plan of action for such an event was to wear a killer outfit, and bring her bikini and a towel along in a hip beach bag (or wear it under the killer outfit, depending), just in case she felt like getting wet later -- or if all the other girls were doing it, and she had to do it, too.
She fingered a sleek, silk sundress with thin straps and a form-fitting shape. The orange and pink tones -- the "in" colors this season -- enhanced her naturally tanned skin and her long brown hair.
"Percy, eat your heart out," she said with an evil smile as she held the dress up against her. "This'll show you to treat me like a blow up doll." The basketball star had been an incredibly boring date, but Cordelia had persevered through more sports talk that she ever cared to hear so that she could have the most eligible bachelor at SHS on her arm. It didn't hurt that he was quite the hottie, though a bit too bulky for her taste. It was when he tried to maul her in the front seat of his father's Beamer that she gave up on him. More accurately, she slapped him across the face and demanded that he drive her home. Which he did, without speaking one more word. That had been last weekend. So far, he hadn't tried to retaliate, but she wanted to make sure if he did try at the pool party, that she was ready with a flawless appearance and an impeccable wit.
"Oh, Sonya, this is you!"
The shrilled comment got Cordelia's immediate attention. She turned to see Buffy, Amy and Sonya standing in front of a skirt and sweater display. Amy was holding up a sleek black skirt for Sonya to look at. Cordelia lifted an eyebrow at the Fashion Emergency in the making. Where was that little guy from E! with a custom-made makeover when you needed him?
"I don't know," Buffy said, examining the skirt. "I'd go for something with a little more color." She peered at the sweaters and then pulled one out to show the others. "Something like this maybe."
Cordelia practically groaned. A black skirt and a green sweater with Sonya's coloring? Who were they kidding? She shook her head. Maybe it was because they were both blonde. They didn't know how to shop for a brunette. And, if her bewildered look was any indication, Sonya didn't know how to shop for herself.
Amy wrinkled her nose at the green sweater. "I don't like it, but then I'm kind of biased against lime green on any occasion." She turned to another rack and pulled out a white, form-fitting, button-up shirt with flared sleeves. "This might work... with Capri pants?"
[I just can't watch this any longer] Cordelia decided. Throwing her choice sundress over her arm, she walked toward the three girls with a purposeful stride.
They heard her heels clicking on the black tiled floor and turned to look at her with surprised expressions.
"Cordelia," Buffy said with a wan smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Shopping," Cordelia responded casually.
"Us, too," Amy piped up, juggling the black skirt and the white shirt.
"For what?" Cordelia asked bluntly. "A run-in with the fashion police?"
Amy's face fell, and Buffy looked at Cordelia defensively.
"We're helping Sonya find something to wear on her date with Oz tonight," Buffy said. "And we'd rather do it without the wisecracks if it's all right with you."
Cordelia felt her heart sink a little bit. "Look," she said honestly, "I wasn't trying to offend you. It's just... well... look at these things you've picked out for her." She appraised Sonya with a practiced eye. "Sonya has very fair skin. Black will make her look like a ghost and white will make her look washed out. This short style skirt won't do much for her figure or her legs. Neither will Capri pants. And green... well, not many people can pull off lime green and come out the better for it." She glanced at Buffy. "You are one of the few."
She took Sonya by the arm and led her over to the sundresses she had just been perusing for herself. "You need something like this. Something flowy that enhances your svelte lines. Skin tight only looks good on stick girls or someone with a double-D cup. Elegant is more your style, I think. And with your coloring, you'd look great in pastels." She looked at Sonya's eyes. "Something blue, especially, to bring out your eyes."
"Really?" Sonya asked. "I don't do the whole fashion thing very much, so I don't have a lot of experience."
"I've... uh... noticed," Cordelia said. She began flipping through the rack of sundresses. She found several blue ones in varying shades. "What do you think of these?"
"Oh!" Buffy cried, touching the silky material. "These are great."
Amy fingered a light blue one with silver accents. "This one is really pretty."
"What about this one?" Sonya asked, plucking a two-toned blue one out of the bunch.
"It could work," Cordelia said. "But take these, too." She put the whole batch in Sonya's arms and gave her a gentle push toward the fitting rooms. "Try them on, and come out and show us each one."
"OK," Sonya agreed, a bemused expression on her face.
That left Cordelia standing with Buffy and Amy. The two blondes glanced at each other, and then back to Cordelia.
"So... Cordelia," Buffy said hesitantly. "I guess thanks are in order."
Cordelia lifted one shoulder in a careful shrug. "I just wanted to help."
"Yeah, but we shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and griped at you," Amy admitted. "Sorry."
"Me, too," Buffy added.
"It's all right." In a fit of honesty, Cordelia added, "I can't really blame you for thinking I was being mean. Sarcasm is my usual M.O."
Amy glanced at the sundress in Cordelia's arms. "Are you going to try that on? It's pretty."
"I was thinking about it," Cordelia admitted.
"Why don't you go do it now?" Buffy suggested. "Then you can model for us, too."
"And after that," Amy added, "we could go grab lunch at the food court before we go find Sonya some shoes to go with whatever dress she picks out."
Cordelia gave the two girls a surprised look accompanied by a small smile. "That sounds good."
"Good." Buffy nodded her head for emphasis. Then she gave Cordelia a little push in the direction of the fitting rooms. "Then go."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lindsey McDonald was one of the few men in the world who actually liked the mall. He took pride in his appearance, unlike a lot of the guys he knew from back east. And he was good at shopping. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and he was great at haggling over the price until he could talk the shop owner into a discount. Talking was one of his strong suits. That came from being a lawyer.
However, Lindsey's favorite thing about the mall was the people. He would sit back and watch them go by for hours, playing his little guessing game with each one. Lindsey could look at a person and within seconds, tell you all about them. It was an odd pastime, but he enjoyed it.
Take this one for example... the young, slightly-chubby girl in a too-tight mini-dress that tried to be trendy but just came off looking slightly ludicrous. She was a hanger-on, a wannabe. She had probably spent all of her life watching the popular crowd and wanting to be a part of it. But, Lindsey noted with a discerning eye, she didn't have what it took. Not by a long shot.
And the man with the wiry-thin frame and neatly combed hair, who sat perched on a nearby bench reading an incredibly dull-looking book? He wasn't nearly as smart as he liked to appear. It was obvious in the way he held himself. He had too much confidence. Most incredibly intelligent people Lindsey had the good fortune to meet were extremely shy and mild mannered. This guy was just too flashy. Too *there*. And he held the book stiffly, like he wasn't quite sure what to do with it. While most book lovers treated a book like a long lost friend, cherishing it with a simple touch.
Lindsey sighed, glancing at his watch. As much as he enjoyed his little game, he was tired of sitting here. Enough waiting. He stood up slowly, with an almost feline grace, and began walking to the nearest exit. He'd only gone a few steps when a familiar voice called out.
"McDonald! Planning to leave without saying goodbye?"
Lindsey grinned and turned around to face the newcomer. It was someone he hadn't seen in over 5 years. "Finn, what took you so long? I've been waiting for almost half an hour."
Riley Finn, an old high school chum, ambled over and pulled Lindsey into a quick hug, giving him a slap on the back. "What can I say? Traffic was hell."
Riley looked Lindsey up and down, noting with amusement that his friend was dressed in a long-sleeved, dark blue, button up shirt and dark slacks. His leather shoes were polished to a shine. "Dressed a little warmly for our fine California weather, eh?" Riley joked. He, himself, was wearing cutoffs and a grey T-shirt. His feet were encased in sandals.
Lindsey rolled his eyes. "Hey, I had an interview with the Mayor earlier. Had to look my best." He shrugged, grinning back at Riley. "At least I left my jacket and tie in the car."
"Thank God for small miracles," Riley muttered, only half joking. He and Lindsey fell into step together, cutting a path through the crowds of people easily. "So," Riley said, "how've you been? Taking the legal world by storm in true Lindsey McDonald style? I like the hair, by the way."
Lindsey looked up at his taller companion, a small smirk on his lips. "Thanks." He ran his fingers through his artfully shaggy, light-brown hair. "It's one of the last holdovers from college. I just couldn't bear to cut it." He shrugged his shoulders. "Though if I take that job at Wolfram and Hart, I'll have to cut it. They have a dress code, at least were the newbies are concerned."
Riley laughed. "I'm sure you'll forebear. We all have to make sacrifices, my friend."
"True," Lindsey nodded, fixing Riley with a pointed look. "Though I'm sure you know all about sacrifices. You must've sacrificed a lot to the military... such as the ability to keep in touch with your old friends."
Riley winced. "Okay, I guess I had that one coming."
"Damn straight," Lindsey agreed.
"But you don't understand how it is."
"Why don't you make me understand? Make me understand how you could completely cut ties with one of your oldest friends for over three years. I may not be the sensitive type, but that doesn't mean I don't have feelings." Lindsey pointed an accusing finger at Riley. "You never once answered any of my emails or phone calls. You wouldn't believe the number of messages I left for you at your folk's place. Then the Mailer-Daemon starts returning my messages from all your old addresses. Now, out of the blue, I get a call saying you're in California."
Riley sighed. "Look, the stuff I'm involved in... I can't talk about it. Not even to my oldest friend. It's really hush-hush."
Lindsey rolled his eyes. "You sound like some reject from an old spy movie." Doing his best spy-man impersonation, Lindsey said, "I'd tell ya, but then I'd have ta kill ya!"
Riley laughed and the tension between them was broken. Clapping Lindsey on the shoulder, he steered him toward the nearest exit. "C'mon. I've got to introduce you to the guys!"
Lindsey raised an eyebrow. "The guys? What, you have your own group of tag-a-longs now? I remember when you used to tag along after me!"
"Ha ha. Very funny," Riley responded. "I'll have you know that Forrest and Graham are both great guys. Good friends."
"Ooo-kay," Lindsey joked. "I can't wait to meet Tree Boy and Cracker Man. They sound absolutely fascinating." Out of the corner of his eye, Lindsey noticed something that made him do a 180 and drag Riley back from the exit sign. "But first, Mr. Military Man, I'd say some reconnaissance is in order. We should canvas the area for potential enemies and other... things of interest."
"What are you on now, McDonald?" Riley asked, confused.
Lindsey pointed at a group of four girls sitting at a table in the food court. Two brunettes and two blondes. Each stunningly beautiful in her own right. "That's what I'm talking about, man."
"Same old Lindsey. It's nice to know some things don't ever change." Riley grinned and elbowed his friend with a meaningful leer. Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, he asked, "So, which one in particular caught your eye?"
"The brunette."
"Oh, the glamorous one on the left? She's so your type."
"She *would* look great in my Porsche, but I was actually talking about the one on the right with the curls."
"Really? Her? But she looks so... um... hostile."
Lindsey winked at his friend. "Hostile can be fun."
Riley rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever, man."
"Seriously, though, there's something about her. I don't know how to describe it, but I have this feeling."
"A feeling?" Riley raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, like she's someone that I'd want to meet."
Riley gave Lindsey a push in the direction of the girls' table. "Well, then let's arrange that meeting!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cordelia frowned at her limp Caesar salad. "This is practically inedible."
Sonya leaned across the table to look at the wilted lettuce and the sorry excuses for croutons. "You're right." She sat back down and took a big bite of her cheeseburger. "You should've gone for something soaked in fat and calories like the rest of us."
"It's all the food court can do that still tastes good," Amy added, squeezing some mustard out for her corny dog.
"Want a nacho?" Buffy offered, extending her plate of Cheez-Wiz and beef covered tortilla chips with jalapenos and sour cream on the side.
"Ug!" Cordelia wrinkled her nose and looked pointedly away from the nachos. "Those things look disgusting!"
Buffy shrugged. "Yeah, but if you eat them really fast you don't notice."
"Oh, that is so gross!" Cordelia said, but all four of them were laughing. The socialite took another bite of her salad, and that was when the two most gorgeous guys she'd seen in quite a while chose to walk up to their table.
"Hello there," the shorter one with great hair said, flashing them all a killer smile.
"Hi," Amy replied, giving them her normal, perky smile.
"Hey," Sonya added. Buffy didn't say anything.
"Hi," the taller guy said, with a smile of his own.
Cordelia hastily swallowed and wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. Once she was satisfied that she didn't look like a cow grazing, she flashed the guys her mega-watt smile. "Why, hello."
"My name is Lindsey," the shorter guy announced, gazing at each of them in turn. Cordelia thought she noticed his eyes lingering on Sonya for a little longer than necessary, but promptly dismissed the notion for its sheer impossibility.
Lindsey gestured to his friend. "This is Riley. We saw you over here and felt compelled to come over and say hello."
Amy giggled.
Trying not to roll her eyes at the blonde witch's lack of flirting skills, Cordelia tossed her hair in her sexiest manner and then gazed up at Lindsey with her best wide-eyed, innocent look. "I must say... I'm glad you did." She picked up Buffy's plate and held it out to the guys. "Nacho?"
Riley shook his head, but Lindsey grabbed one and popped it into his mouth. Cordelia marveled at how he completed the potentially-messy maneuver without getting the smallest drop of cheese on his classy clothes.
"Thanks."
"Do you guys go to UC Sunnydale?" Amy asked. She had to tilt her head up to look them in the eye.
"Why don't you pull up a couple of chairs?" Cordelia inserted quickly.
Buffy stood up. "You can have mine." Then she turned and walked toward the Bath and Bodyworks store across from the food court.
Lindsey slid into her chair, and Riley pulled one over from the next table.
"That was a little peculiar," Riley muttered, frowning after Buffy.
Sonya gave him a disgruntled look and stood up herself. "She misses her boyfriend. He's away at school in Europe." She started toward the Bath and Bodyworks. "I'm going to go check on her."
"Should I come?" Amy asked worriedly.
Sonya shook her head. "It's OK. Stay and enjoy the... nachos."
Lindsey watched Sonya go, and, once she disappeared into the nearby store, he looked at Amy. "To answer your question, I don't go to UC Sunnydale, but Riley, here, does."
Riley hastened to say, "I'm a graduate student there in psychology."
"Really?" Amy inquired prettily. "I've always been interested in psychology."
Satisfied that Amy was finally getting the hang of things and wouldn't interfere with or embarrass her, Cordelia turned her full attention on Lindsey. "Well, if you're not in college, what do you do?"
"I just graduated from law school," Lindsey took great pride in informing her. "I'm going to take the bar in a few weeks, and I'm also in the process of interviewing for jobs."
"A lawyer?" Cordelia repeated. "That's fascinating." Visions of a wealthy, handsome boyfriend with a (possibly) great car and the ability to buy her lots of expensive presents flashed through her mind.
On the other side of the table, Riley had finished telling Amy about his mentor at college, the renowned Dr. Maggie Walsh, and asked, "Are you in school?"
"Yeah..." Amy started, but Cordelia interrupted her.
"We go to UC Sunnydale. Both of us."
While Amy was looking at Cordelia in surprise, Riley asked, "Undergrads?"
Cordelia donned what she hoped was the self-effacing smile of an undergrad. "We're seniors." That at least was the truth. They would be seniors when school started in a few months. She raised a pointed eyebrow at Amy, and the other girl finally caught on.
"Yes," she embellished. "I'm studying... English."
While Riley and Amy continued to talk, Lindsey leaned toward Cordelia and asked, "And what are you studying?"
Cordelia already had that answer ready. "Fashion design."
He nodded, giving her the once over. Apparently he liked what he saw, judging from the gleam in his eyes. "I can see that about you."
"Yes," Cordelia replied, fingering her necklace in a way that drew attention to her classic neckline and perfectly tanned skin. "It's a really challenging program, and UC Sunnydale has one of the best in the country."
"I'm sure."
When Lindsey smiled at her again, Cordelia knew he was hooked. "So... how long are you in town?"
"Only a few days. Just time enough for a job interview and some downtime with Ri'."
Cordelia gave him her best pout. "That's too bad."
"Well, I might be back..." He let the comment trail off suggestively.
"I could give you my number," Cordelia said.
Lindsey pulled out two business cards and a pen. "Write it on the back of this one."
Cordelia did so. Lindsey pocketed that card and handed her the other one. "So you can call me."
She smiled enigmatically. Then she stood up. "Amy and I have to go. We've got to hook up with Buffy and Sonya."
Amy looked surprised, but she went along with it. "Bye, Riley. It was really nice talking with you."
"Yeah," Riley agreed. "Oh, hey, what's your last name?"
"Madison," Amy told him. "Why?"
"So I can look you up in the campus directory."
Cordelia jumped in. "Amy lives at home to save money. You'll have to look her up in the regular phone book." She smiled one last time, giving Lindsey a lingering look. "Bye, guys."
"Bye," Riley said.
"Later," Lindsey told them.
Then Cordelia swept Amy off in the direction of Bath and Body works.
"Wow," Amy said with a giggle. "That was fun. I've never lied to a guy before."
"It has its uses," Cordelia told her. "Never be afraid to embellish a little when it comes to guys."
"But why did you drag us out of there so fast?" Amy asked. "Riley was really nice."
"I'm sure he was," Cordelia answered, "but there's one very important thing you have to remember when you want a guy to call you."
"What's that?"
"You have to leave him wanting more."
"Oh." Amy thought for a minute. "Do you think Riley wanted more?"
"Sure," Cordelia agreed, in the mood to be nice.
Amy grinned. "Do you think Lindsey wanted more?"
Cordelia's smile widened. "Definitely."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Buffy," Sonya said, giving the blonde close scrutiny, "are you OK?"
The words broke the Slayer out of her reverie. She had been smelling "Tea Rose" scented bath gel and thinking about the last time Xander had given her roses, on their sight-seeing tour in London. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Guess I wandered off for a minute there."
"You wandered off to London, didn't you?" Sonya asked perceptively.
Buffy nodded and put the bottle back on the shelf. "Good guess."
"I know that look," Sonya replied. She hesitated for a minute, and then muttered, "I'm kind of worried about you, Buffy. It seems like..."
"All I do is mope about Xander being gone?" Buffy let out a bark of laughter.
Sonya nodded. "I just... I... I'm just a little worried about you. I mean, I've never gone through what you're going through, but is this the normal response?"
"I don't know," Buffy admitted. "I just know that I miss him a lot."
"But, like today," Sonya said, "those guys came over to our table, and you practically ran away."
"I didn't want to talk to them," Buffy replied with a shrug.
"Do you ever think that it might be better if you dated other people?" Sonya blurted. "Not for serious, or anything, but just to take your mind off of things?"
Buffy was shaking her head before Sonya even finished her sentence. "No. There's no one else I want to be with. And there's no one else he wants to be with. We both know that. Now we just have to wait."
"I'm sorry," Sonya said. "I'm no good at this girl talk thing. I should just leave it to Amy."
"No!" Buffy shook her head. "You're great, Son. And I probably should try to be more cheerful. I guess people are sick of being around Mopey Buffy all the time."
It was Sonya's turn to shake her head. "No, it's OK. You should be just as mopey as you want to be. If Oz were gone, I'm sure I'd be mopey, too... if I knew that we were actually dating! Arg!" She dropped a bar of bright blue glycerin soap in frustration and had to squat to pick it up. When she stood up again, Buffy enfolded her in a hug before she could move.
"Thanks, Sonya."
The hug was more natural this time than it had been in London, when they'd bonded a little during their sight-seeing adventure with the boys. Sonya didn't have that stiff feeling for very long.
Afterwards, Buffy sniffled and said, "You're really good at this girl talk stuff. And I'm sure this concert with Oz is a date."
"Thanks," Sonya replied with a grin. "I hope so, too."
"And even if it's not, when he sees you in that sundress, Oz is going to be a drooling hunk of man."
Sonya started giggling. "That's really hard to picture."
Buffy was laughing, too. "I know."
"Hey, guys."
They turned to see Cordelia and Amy approaching.
"Hi," Buffy said, finding a real smile for them. "How were the guys?"
"So cute," Amy said. "It was fun, and Riley was so nice."
"How was Lindsey?" Buffy asked Cordelia.
The statuesque brunette smiled mysteriously. "A very worthwhile use of my time. If he moves to Sunnydale, I think I'll be all set."
The other three exchanged semi-confused looks, but then shrugged it off.
Amy said, "We told them we were in college, and they believed the whole thing. It was great. I think Riley is going to call me."
The four girls started to make their way out of the bath store and into the mall proper.
Sonya looked at Amy in surprise. "You lied? *You?*"
"I couldn't tell the truth," Amy answered. "It would have blown Cordelia's cover, too."
"But what if he does call?" Sonya asked curiously. "Are you just going to keep on lying?"
Amy looked pained. "I didn't think that far ahead."
"If she wants to keep him interested, she will," Cordelia said airily.
"But you're both seventeen," Buffy tried again.
"Not for much longer." Cordelia checked her watch. "Two months, five days and about sixteen hours and I will officially be an adult."
Buffy shook her head. "You guys are insane. But whatever." She and Sonya exchanged amused looks.
"Come on," Cordelia ordered them, heading for the escalator.
"Where are we going?" Sonya asked, adjusting her grip on her shopping bag.
"The shoe store on level three," Cordelia answered. "We've got to find you some little strappy numbers to go with that new dress you bought."
"She's right," Buffy said, linking arms with Sonya and propelling her more quickly to the escalator. "Let's go."
The four girls laughed and talked on their way to the beginning of their shoe quest, and as they rode up the escalator, the sunlight filtering through the mall skylights halloed them and made them sparkle.
On the first floor, Lindsey and Riley paused by the door and looked back, admiring the girls.
"So, was that a good investment of our time?" Lindsey asked.
"Sure," Riley agreed, "but you didn't get to talk to Sonya."
Lindsey shrugged. "It's all right. Things worked out anyway."
"Cordelia was more your type than you thought?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Score one for team Finn."
"Shut up, Riley!"
The tall, blond guy just grinned. "Hey, man, when I was a freshman and you were a junior, I studied your technique. I'm a graduate of the Lindsey McDonald Training Program."
"What?" Lindsey shook his head. "You're hopeless, Ri'."
"No, but I am late. We both are."
"To meet your friends?"
"Yeah, they've been waiting for us back at the dorm for half an hour."
"It's OK," Lindsey said. "If they're normal guys, they'll understand stopping to pursue beautiful women."
"I'm sure they will," Riley admitted, "but now we've got to go."
And with that, the two guys turned away from the escalator and walked out of the mall and into the sunny parking lot beyond. The Porsche, and the rest of their lives, were waiting.