Chapter Nine – At the Swan Shore Mall!
"I love sunny days." Tom said licking his cone ice cream in ecstasy - which is slowly dripping down his fingers and mouth in heat - as Bianca gave him a funny look while Chris chuckled at his friend's comment.
"Remind me again why we hang out with him again?" Bianca asked Chris as they entered the shopping mall.
"Err…cause his dad is a cop and he gives us a free bail." Chris replied back as Bianca pondered over the comment for a minute before nodding with agreement.
"True but if he doesn't quit eating like a donkey, I'm seriously going to shove that cone down his throat. He's embarrassing me." Bianca replied back as Tom slurped away, oblivious to the conversation his friends are having about him, as they made their way through the shopping mall.
The beautiful day has brought everyone out to relax and to enjoy the sun that nature has to offer. The trio have decided to hang out in the San Francisco's biggest shopping centre 'The Swan Shore Mall' to celebrate the sunny day and plus a way for them to get out of the house, in order to avoid getting involved in demonic attacks that drops by unannounced. It was Monday afternoon, often this time you likely to find kids in school but due to being summer holidays, the shopping mall were littered with kids of various age. Small kids are running around, girls screaming in delight, some hanging about in small groups in front of shops, exhibiting rather a suspicious behaviour while the floor security guards paroled the place with their walkie talkies.
"You know for once they're actually playing a good song, than those cheesy background tunes." Bianca said to Chris and Tom as she eyed the three floors above, where the speakers are drumming out "What the Hell by Avril Lavigne!" across the shopping centre. "So Tom what happened to that Claire, you still seeing her?"
"Na, she was fun but she's not my type." Tom replied back as Chris raised an eyebrow at him. Claire was the redhead Tom hooked up with in the club, they went out on a date last night and he obviously did the deed and she seems crazy about him, but when things get interesting or near possible relationship, Tom goes berserk and ends it.
"Dude, she is so your type." Chris replied back as Tom shrugged, his blue eyes widened to express his feeling.
"She's dumb as you; got a great body, what more do you want?" Bianca asked her friend with a plastered smile.
"I don't know…there is something missing from her." Tom replied back as Bianca gave an unconvinced nod.
"Did she end it?" Bianca asked as Tom looked taken back.
"What? No!" Tom replied back as Bianca looked at Chris.
"She ended it." Bianca said as Chris nodded in agreement.
"Okay, what makes you guys think that she ended it." Tom asked as Chris shrugged.
"I don't know, you always say something stupid when you feel things are getting rather serious." Chris said to his friend as Bianca nodded. "So what did you say to her this time?"
"I wish it was that simple." Tom replied back. "Whatever I say to her, she seems to think that it's all a joke and laughs it off. I've never seen anyone this perky, aside from the time when your spell backfired on Bianca; even then, she beats Bianca in her perky tone and mood."
"Wow, that bad huh?" Chris asked as Tom nodded little fearfully.
"Hey!" Bianca swatted both boys on their heads. "I wasn't perky, I was just hyper, and besides it's your fault."
"How was I to know that my spell would backfire?" Chris asked as Bianca shrugged.
"Yeah, you shouldn't have tried to cheer up the darn beaver in the first place." Bianca said as Chris shook his head. He was trying to help the college's football team's mascot beaver, but apparently his spell backfired and Bianca became the next target in line, this made her the worse type of peppy cheerleader. Everything she spoke was in high tone and in a sing a song voice that Chris had to jam earplugs into his ears while trying to come up with a reversal spell.
"Well you shouldn't have tried to drown him with the water barrel either." Chris replied back to his friend.
"I was trying to cheer him up the mortal way." Bianca snapped back as her eyes landed on Tom sucking his fingers dry. "Boys!" Bianca hissed with a small growl as she snapped open her purse and grabbed a tissue, to hand it to the brunette hair mortal. "Here, use this."
"Thanks!" Tom grinned back as Bianca shook her head.
"I swear sometimes I feel like I'm the mother here." Bianca said as Chris smiled and shrugged.
"So Mom, what exactly are we doing here?" Chris said as they approached the large fountain in the middle of the mall. Chris grabbed the moment to sit down and look up at his friends, who stood around him with their arms folded in their chest.
"I was thinking…." Bianca said only to trail off when her eyes spotted something.
"Thinking what?" Tom asked as Chris looked confused but he studied her enough to see, that something behind him caught her attention, however just as he was about to turn around, she stopped him.
"Don't look now, but hot bartender at one clock." Bianca said as Chris taken back.
"Huh?" Chris asked little confused as Bianca rolled her eyes.
"Wyatt!" Bianca said as Chris did a little 'O' before looking around the large shopping mall.
"The guy he has a crush on?" Tom asked as Bianca nodded glancing towards the escalator behind the fountain. The three caught sight of Wyatt and his blonde girlfriend going up, arms linked together. "Looks like he's here with his girlfriend, dude."
"I can see that." Chris hissed back, not really understanding why he is really bothered at the sight of Wyatt with another girl, it's not like he even knows this guy properly or the possibility of Wyatt being bi or gay. It was one damn kiss that's messing with his head.
"I don't think she is his girlfriend." Bianca pitched in from next to Tom, as she observed the couple.
"Really?" Chris asked as Bianca nodded.
"Yeah, they could just be simply friends." Bianca replied back. At this comment, what seemed like little hope elevated inside Chris' heart but they were quashed by his rational part of his brain.
"What's his name again?" Tom asked his friend, who grumbled out his name. "Wyatt, huh? Well….WYATT!" Tom voice filled the mall, as Chris jumped up from his seat, while Tom looked away at the sight of Wyatt and Stella looking down in their direction - Chris chose that precise moment to look up in fear if they have noticed - only to be spotted by Wyatt, who waved at him in return.
"Well, I guess they've seen you buddy." Tom said as Wyatt and Stella made their way back down, however in response to his friend, Chris kicked him in the leg as Bianca backhanded his head. "Ow, what was that for?"
"What the hell were you thinking? Now they're coming this way." Chris shouted, more like spoke in a very high pitched panicked tone.
"Relax, we can see that." Bianca said to his panicking friend.
"Oh can you?" Chris asked before looking at his buddy Tom. "You totally made me look as if I'm begging friends with him."
"Come on dude, you like this guy, you gotta find out if you stand a chance or not." Tom said as Chris looked as if he has gone crazy.
"Are you; are you out of your mind?" Chris quipped as he quickly stole a glance in Wyatt and Stella's direction, only to find that both of them were making their way down the escalator. "First of all, he's straight, second, he has girlfriend and third, say even if he doesn't have a girlfriend or swing both ways, how do you expect me to compete with that?" Chris gestured towards the couple.
"It's too late now, put on your happy face because here they come." Bianca said to her friend at the sight of Wyatt and Stella rounding around the fountain corner. Bianca and Tom immediately turned away from Chris, pretending to blend in with the crowd as they spoke to the nearest girl about her new top, leaving Chris to fume under his breath.
"Chris." Wyatt said with a warm smile as he walked up to the witch to shake his hand. "Hey, what you doing here?"
"Same thing you guys are doing, I guess." Chris replied back, his voice sounding little awkward at the sight of Stella.
"Oh sorry, Chris this is my friend Stella." Wyatt said as Chris shook her head.
"I've heard lot about you Chris." Stella said with a smile as Chris looked taken back and little surprised.
"You did?" Chris asked sounding curious, as he wondered what Wyatt may have said about him. After all they only know each other for a day, what could he have known about Chris to tell her about him? What the witch doesn't realise is that he has the tenancy to make everyone feel comfortable, that even few hours with him, feels as if they have known him for months.
"Uh huh, don't worry they're all good." Stella said with a wink as Chris chuckled, nervously, quickly glancing behind to catch his friends are still talking to the girl, while eavesdropping on his conversation.
"So, you here on your own?" Wyatt asked the brunette.
"Oh no, I'm here with my fri…" Chris trailed off as he turned around to find Bianca and Tom walking away with arms in arms. "Ends..." Chris hissed as he turned back with a plastered smile. "I'm just waiting for them to come."
"Well, we were just about to grab something to drink if you like to join us." Wyatt asked as Chris shook his head.
"Oh no, I-I I can't impose, but thanks for the offer." Chris smiled looking at Wyatt and then at Stella. After all he doesn't want to interrupt their day out, couples loves to spend their time together not chaperoning a loser with them, plus they make him look awkward – especially the way they were dressed. Stella was dressed in soft gold coloured dress, which seemed like a two piece but its originally one piece, with her skirt that fans out in the back into a traditional petal hem. Wyatt was suited and booted in Blue faded jeans, white full sleeve t-shirt, with a faded denim vest jacket – currently in trend – Whereas Chris, he was suited in Black jeans, white t-shirt and white very thin fabric white hooded vest.
"You're not imposing." Wyatt replied back as Chris smiled at him but subconsciously glanced towards Stella.
"Come on, it'll be fun." Stella said with a wink. "I'm sure your friends can find you if you send them a text of where you are." As if on cue, Chris' phone buzzed.
Grabbing his cell from his pocket, Chris' left eyebrow arched at the sight of message from Bianca flashing up on the screen. He pressed open to read: Go with them! I'm taking Tom to check out few things, catch you soon."
"Is that your friends?" Wyatt asked as Chris nodded with a smile. "What did they say?" At this Chris gulped, since he had two choices; he could take up on Wyatt's offer and go with him or lie to them about his friends being here and go and find Bianca and Tom.
"Are they late?" Stella asked as Chris half nodded, his mind still not made up to give full answer to their question.
"See, you're given a sign to have drinks with us." Wyatt said with chuckle, earning a chuckle from Chris.
"I guess so!" Chris replied back as his mother's voice filled his mind. "Everything happens for a reason."
"So that's a yes then?" Stella asked as Chris nodded.
"Alright!" Wyatt said with a hint of triumph in his voice.
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Chris exhaled deeply as he took in his surroundings. Wyatt & Stella dragged him to Starbucks on the second floor, which he assumed they were heading earlier on before Tom called them down. Wyatt has gone to get the drinks, leaving Stella and Chris alone, as they both sat by the corner window side couches.
Chris couldn't help but fidget under the calm but carefully studying eyes that was on him. He kept glancing towards Wyatt in hope of him coming to rescue him, since he doesn't really know Stella much and left alone with a person who doesn't say anything but just stare at you, can creep anyone out. Chris blamed Bianca and Tom for this, since if it wasn't for them, he wouldn't be in this situation. Chris merely smiled awkwardly when he caught Stella' blue eyes before grabbing the menu from the table, pretending to keep himself occupied.
"So what do you do?" Stella asked as Chris looked up.
"I-I I…Just graduated from college, so in between jobs at the moment." Chris replied back as Stella nodded.
"Oh, what did you do your degree on?" Stella curiously asked, studying Chris carefully, whose gaze kept flickering back and forth from Wyatt to her.
"Just Science & home economics." Chris replied back as Stella smiled, taking pity on the nervous guy who sat before her.
"Sounds very interesting." Stella said as Wyatt approached them with three drinks.
"Coffee Frappuccino for the lady," Wyatt said with a smile, sliding Stella her drink, before taking his seat next to her, as he pushed Chris' drink towards him. "Vanilla crème Frappuccino for the Monsieur." Wyatt said with a wink.
"Thanks." Chris replied back trying not to blush at the wink Wyatt gave him; instead he began to slurp his drink, usually focusing on something else helps him, however this didn't go unnoticed by Stella, in response she only grinned.
"So what you guys talking about?" Wyatt asked the two curiously, however before Chris can reply, Stella beat him to it.
"We were just talking about you." Stella replied back with a smile, as Chris looked little taken back while Wyatt raised an eyebrow, which in Chris' view looked so adorable, but he didn't let that show however he did wonder if Wyatt does his eyebrows, since they were in perfect shape.
"Oh, good things I hope." Wyatt said as Stella shrugged with an eye roll, in return Wyatt looked at Chris, who also shrugged with plain confusion of what Stella was talking about. It seemed like they were lost in some game they don't know they were playing. "Anyways…" Wyatt said shoving Stella lightly aside with his shoulder as he looked at Chris. "So Chris, how old are you?"
"Twenty two."
"Hey, you're only two years younger than Wyatt." Stella said shoving Wyatt with her shoulder, resulting in the blonde to poke himself with his drink's straw across his face, leaving Chris to chuckle at the sight, while Stella looked innocent. "Oops, my bad."
"So you finished college then?" Wyatt asked wiping himself with a napkin as Stella nodded with Chris.
"Yup, just graduated this year." Chris replied back somewhat proud of his accomplishment, after all, those four years have been a pure hell for him, with doing never ending assignments throughout his life, it's like a huge break to be finally to get it done. "Really glad I'm done though, all these years of hard work, its finally over and now I've got a freaking degree. Yay."
"Wyatt here is a drop out." Stella interjected alarming Wyatt as well as Chris. "From school."
"Oh…" Chris trailed off, feeling immediately bad, almost guilty for mentioning his graduation.
"Thanks Stella." Wyatt said through his teeth, clearly annoyed by his friend but she was busy looking at Chris.
"Why did you drop out?" Chris asked wondering if there is a reason for Wyatt's dropping out, or whether he's a rebel that he chose to drop out of boredom. If it's for the latter reason Chris wouldn't be surprised, since Wyatt clearly has the bad boy going for him.
"Just family issues." Wyatt said to Chris, who gave a nod and went almost quiet. "I'm not too bothered about it to be fair. Not everyone gets to finish school and I'm one of them, if I had a choice I wouldn't have dropped out but I didn't, so here I am." Wyatt finished with a chuckle.
"Working behind a bar." Stella interjected with a wink.
"For now…I bet with your experience you could own a club of your own." Chris said trying to interject some positive feedback into their conversation. "I mean in today's economy, having degree doesn't really count cause everyone is looking for experience."
"Oh Wyatt here has plenty of experience." Stella said with a quirky grin as she patted him on his arm. "Don't you Wyatt."
Wyatt smiled as he leaned in towards Stella. "What you trying to do?" Wyatt hissed next to Stella' ears, who in response smiled and grabbed the menu, hiding both their faces from Chris – causing the Witch to raise his eyebrow at them, At the same time, Chris spotted Bianca and Tom by the window waving at him. Chris also didn't miss the straw hat that sat on his friend's head, - who looked like a goof ball.
"Trying to see if he's a keeper or quitter." Stella whispered back while Chris waved off his friends to get away from the window side – who were parading their clothes to him from outside.
"Or you're trying to scare him away." Wyatt hissed back as he eyed Chris over the menu, just in time for the witch to quickly pull his hand back to scratch his head, while Bianca turned to Tom, pretending to show it to him. "Besides didn't I tell you, I'm not interested in him?"
"Then why are you bothered if he cares or not?" Stella hissed back with a smile, while Chris on the other hand returned his attention back to his friends. Bianca showed him a black top, in response Chris shook his head, causing the phoenix to throw her hand up in the air in annoyed fashion.
"Because I have a good reputation in front of him and I don't wanna ruin it." Wyatt replied back as Bianca showed Chris a red dress, which the witch liked enough to show thumbs up.
"I still say you like him." Stella replied back to the blonde, who in response pulled the menu card off Stella' hand and placed it on the table, just as Bianca dashed out of the view.
Tom on the other hand, slow and confused didn't have time to react, instead he stood there looking at them alarmed, Chris, thinking quickly raised his drink to his face while he flicked his finger in tom's direction – sending the mortal flying across the window and out of view, just in time for Stella to look outside as a tray flew past the window.
"Sorry about that, Stella didn't know what she wanted." Wyatt smiled as Chris shook him off.
"It's alright." Chris smiled stealing a quick glance towards the window to see Bianca and Tom walk past the shop – only both of them were covered in red sauce, Tom had a large piece of plant leaves sticking out of his straw hat and limping lightly as Bianca dragged the guy away by his ears, looking really pissed off, while everyone watched them as they walked away.
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Hey guys Hope You All enjoyed this Massive Chapter as some of you were quite disappointed by the length of the previous chapter.
As Always my awesome readers get their upmost gratitude . So huge thanks to: Wragziez, WCLF, Drumline, Nocturnal Rose, I-Love-Trunks1, BatX, 1, Wesdrewlover & CelticWolfster.
You All know what to do if you wanna find out what happens – trust me, next Chapter is very good. *wink, wink* so press that button. ^_^