Dove grabbed her keys from the counter when the phone rang, breaking the morning's calm. She sighed, glancing at Dustin, who was pacing by the door, fidgeting with his backpack.
"We're gonna be late!" Dustin whined. "Steve's waiting for us at the mall!"
"I'll just be a second," Dove said, holding up a hand as she picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Hey, Dove! It's Max," came the familiar voice on the other end. "Listen, me and El are having a bit of a.. boy emergency, and we were thinking of hitting the mall. You know, retail therapy. You wanna tag along?"
Dove raised an eyebrow, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Boy emergency, huh? What'd they do this time?"
"Oh, the usual," Max replied, her voice dripping with exasperation. "Mike's being.. well, Mike. And honestly, I could use a break."
Dove chuckled. "Lucky for you, I was already planning to go to the mall today. Do you want me to pick you up?"
"Thanks, but we're gonna take the bus. Can you believe El's never been on one? We'll meet you there."
Hanging up, Dove grabbed her bag and called out to Dustin. "That was Max. I'm gonna tag along with her and El today."
"Seriously?" Dustin groaned, looking frustrated. "Whatever, let's just go. We're gonna be late!"
"We'll be fine." Dove rolled her eyes, pulling him toward the door.
The drive to Starcourt Mall wasn't long, but the excitement bubbling from Dustin made it feel like an eternity. The parking lot was already packed, and as they approached the entrance, Dove spotted Max and El waiting near the doors. Max waved casually, her other arm resting on El's shoulder as they exchanged a few words.
"Hey, you two," Dove greeted, stepping out of the car with a smile.
Max immediately sidled up beside her, and El offered a shy smile from behind. Dove couldn't help but notice how different El seemed outside of their usual chaos—she was still getting used to the 'normal' side of life.
"Hey, you two," Dove greeted as they walked up.
Max immediately came to Dove's side, while El smiled shyly from behind her.
"I've got to talk to Steve quick," Dove said, gesturing toward Scoops Ahoy. "Mind waiting a minute?"
Max shrugged. "Take your time. We've got all day."
Dustin, however, was already halfway to Scoops Ahoy, his excitement too much to contain. Dove followed at a more measured pace, entering the cool air of the mall and weaving her way through the weekend crowd. By the time she reached the brightly lit ice cream parlor, Dustin was already at the counter, talking animatedly to Robin, who stood behind the counter with an unimpressed expression. Dove recognized her from school, the sarcastic edge to her smile familiar.
"Is he here?" Dustin asked, practically bouncing on his toes.
"Is who here?" Robin replied dryly, not bothering to mask her boredom.
Right on cue, Steve burst out from the back room, his sailor outfit looking even more ridiculous in person. A wide grin spread across his face the moment he saw Dustin, his whole demeanor lighting up.
"Henderson!" Steve shouted, rushing around the counter to meet him. "He's back!"
"You got the job!" Dustin said, grinning ear to ear.
"I got the job!" Steve crowed, mimicking a trumpet with his hands and reaching out to complete their secret handshake in exaggerated, choreographed moves.
Dove crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she watched them. She caught Robin's eye for a second, and the girl raised an eyebrow at her, clearly amused by the whole thing.
When the laughter died down, Robin leaned on the counter. "How many children are you friends with?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Steve ignored her, his gaze finally landing on Dove. For just a second, there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes—like he hadn't expected to see her there. The confident smirk faltered for a beat, replaced by something more uncertain, but he quickly recovered.
"Hey, Dove," he said, straightening his sailor hat like he was trying to regain his usual composure.
"Hey," Dove replied, her smile softening as she stepped away from the wall and walked closer. "I need to talk to you for a sec."
Steve nodded, his eyes shifting to Dustin. "You good, dude? Gonna get some ice cream?"
Dustin grinned, already eyeing the display case. "I'm good. I'll be here, obviously."
As Dustin darted toward the counter, already pestering Robin about the flavors, Dove and Steve moved just outside of the shop. The noise of the bustling mall seemed to fade as they stood together, a tension settling between them.
"So, what's up?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with something deeper.
Dove shifted awkwardly on her feet, watching as Steve's gaze drifted between her and the brightly lit mall around them. The noise of people bustling past felt distant, like they were in their own little bubble. She took a deep breath.
"I haven't told Dustin yet," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the mall.
Steve's eyes snapped back to hers, his expression turning serious. "Told him what?"
"About us," Dove clarified, feeling a knot tighten in her chest. "About the breakup."
Steve blinked, his eyebrows knitting together. "You haven't told him?"
She couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. The breakup had been mutual—or so she had thought—but standing here now, seeing Steve's slightly disheveled appearance and the lingering sadness in his eyes, made her wonder if he had felt the same way. Dove shook her head, letting out a small sigh. "I didn't want to ruin camp for him. I mean, he loves you, Steve, and I just.. I didn't want him to come back to bad news."
Steve rubbed the back of his neck, clearly taken aback by the revelation. "So, what do we do now?"
Dove glanced over at Dustin, who was chatting with Robin at the counter, his carefree laugh filling the air. The sight tugged at her heart, making the moment even harder. She looked back at Steve and swallowed, pushing down her emotions for the sake of her brother.
"I think we should tell him together," she said, her voice steady despite the tension she felt. "Maybe after you get off work. Just.. sit him down and explain. He deserves to hear it from both of us."
Steve sighed, his eyes dropping to the floor for a second before meeting hers again. "Yeah, okay, we can do that."
Dove felt a pang of guilt twist in her chest, knowing that this was going to hurt Dustin. But it had to be done.
Dove gave him a grateful smile, the tension between them loosening just a little. "Thanks, Steve. I just.. I don't want him to think anything bad happened between us."
Steve's expression softened, and he stepped a little closer, his voice low and sincere. "Nothing bad did happen, Dove. Sometimes things just.. don't work out the way we want them to."
Dove nodded, her chest tightening again. "Yeah.. I know."
As they stood there, the noise of the mall began to filter back in, and the moment felt like a fragile truce—an acknowledgment of their past, but also an acceptance that things were different now.
Steve took a deep breath and nodded. "I should get back."
Dove watched for a moment as Steve went back into Scoops Ahoy before walking to where Max and El were waiting, her mind still lingering on the conversation with Steve. Before she could dwell on it any further, Max grabbed her arm and grinned.
"Finally! Come on, we're heading to the GAP," Max said, dragging Dove along as El followed, wide-eyed and curious.
As they arrived at the GAP, Max turned to El with an excited grin. "All right, El, pick out something that feels like you."
El looked around at the racks of clothes, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Like me?" she repeated, tilting her head.
Max nodded, guiding her toward the colorful racks. "Yep. Not what anyone else wants you to wear, but what you want. This is your chance to figure out what you like. Try something different."
Dove smiled, stepping up beside them. "Max is right. Don't think about what Mike would like or what Hopper expects. Pick something that makesyoufeel good."
El hesitated, glancing nervously at the array of clothes, but after a moment, she seemed to gather her courage. Slowly, she began browsing the racks, her fingers brushing over the fabrics.
Max and Dove hung back, watching as El stopped at a section filled with bold prints and bright colors. After a minute of browsing, she pulled out a teal-colored, button-down shirt with paint-splattered lines. She held it up to herself, looking between Dove and Max for approval.
Max gave her a thumbs-up. Encouraged, El continued, picking out a pair of maroon suspenders with stripes and a mustard-colored beret. She tossed the items over her arm, gaining more confidence with each new piece she selected. Next, she picked up a white shirt and skirt combo covered in long paint-like lines, pairing it with a chunky yellow belt. Finally, she held up a black romper with fun, colorful neon geometric shapes, her eyes lighting up as she examined it.
El disappeared into the dressing room, and Dove leaned against the wall, folding her arms.
Max turned to Dove with a knowing look. "So.. Mike lied to her. Typical, right?"
Dove raised an eyebrow. "Lied about what?"
"Something about his grandma dying," Max said dismissively. "But that's not the point. The point is, he lied. And now, El's upset about it." Max grinned wickedly. "Which is why I told her to ignore him. If he's gonna act like that, he needs to know she's not just gonna sit there and take it."
Dove couldn't help but laugh, though a part of her agreed more than she'd like to admit. "You really think that's the best way to handle it?"
Max gave her a look, grabbing a shirt from the rack. "Worked on Lucas, didn't it?"
"Fair," Dove said with a smirk. "But.. it's not always that simple. I mean, sometimes people mess up, but they don't mean to. What matters is whether or not he tries to fix it."
Max smiled at Dove. "Sure. Treat him like trash and see if he shapes up. If not, dump his ass." Max grinned triumphantly.
Just then, El emerged from the dressing room, wearing a teal-colored, button-down shirt with paint-splattered lines on it, maroon suspenders with stripes, and a mustard-colored beret. She looked nervous, adjusting the beret as she glanced at herself in the mirror.
Max and Dove immediately turned their attention to her. "El, you look amazing!" Max said, her voice full of enthusiasm.
Dove nodded in agreement, giving El a supportive smile. "Seriously, El. You're killing it. That beret? Perfect."
El smiled, her face lighting up. "You really think so?"
"Absolutely," Max said.
El disappeared back into the dressing room, and as soon as she was gone, Max turned back to Dove. "I'm serious, though. If Mike doesn't shape up, I'll help her dump him. She deserves better."
Dove let out a soft laugh but felt that familiar twinge of something darker underneath. She couldn't help but reflect on her own relationships, with both Steve and Billy, and how complicated things had gotten.
"Yeah, you're right," Dove said, her voice quieter. "You two have your whole life to deal with boys. You shouldn't settle on the first one that looks your direction, no matter how charming he may be."
Max gave her a curious look but didn't press further. Just then, El emerged again, this time in the white shirt and skirt combo, paired with the bright yellow belt. Both girls gasped.
"El, you look like you walked straight out of a magazine," Max said, beaming with approval.
Dove smiled, clapping her hands together. "Agreed. You're definitely turning heads."
El blushed slightly but seemed to gain more confidence. She twirled in front of the mirror, watching the skirt swish around.
The final outfit El tried on was a black romper covered in colorful neon geometric shapes.
"Now this is the one," Max declared, standing up and clapping her hands. "El, you look like a rockstar."
Dove nodded. "You look incredible."
El smiled at them, her confidence shining through as she twirled in front of the mirror one last time. It was clear that this shopping trip wasn't just about clothes—it was about finding herself, and Max and Dove couldn't have been prouder to be part of that moment.
Next, the trio made their way into Flash Studio, trying on a variety of ridiculous outfits for their impromptu photo shoot. Feather boas, oversized sunglasses, cowboy hats, and even a few tiaras—the girls were unstoppable, laughing uncontrollably with each new pose.
From Flash Studio, they strolled into JC Penny, where Max convinced El to try on a pair of high heels. El teetered on the shoes, her arms flailing for balance as she stumbled around the shoe section. She let out a squeal of laughter before inevitably falling into Max's arms, sending them both into a fit of giggles.
As they steadied themselves, Dove noticed a group of girls nearby giving them the side-eye, their expressions clearly annoyed. One of the girls whispered something to the others, but Dove, Max, and El just exchanged glances, rolling their eyes before laughing it off.
"They wish they were having as much fun as we are," Max quipped, earning another round of giggles from the group.
After recovering from their laughing fit, they headed toward another store, when Dove suddenly spotted a familiar trio on the other side of the mall. Mike, Lucas, and Will. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized that Max and El might spot them too. Without thinking, she grabbed both girls by the arms, pulling them toward the nearest store entrance.
"Hey, what's—" Max started, but Dove cut her off as they ducked inside the shop. It wasn't until they were inside that Dove realized where they were.
Scoops Ahoy.
"Oh, no," Dove whispered under her breath, realizing the situation she'd just walked herself into.
Steve stood behind the counter, his ridiculous sailor outfit on full display, while Robin's head poked out of the window to the back room. She was clearly deep in conversation with Steve until her eyes landed on Dove. A mischievous grin spread across Robin's face as she raised her eyebrows suggestively, glancing between Dove and Steve with a knowing look. Robin pulled herself back and closed the window.
Max walked up to the counter. "I'll take a strawberry cake cone," she said, with the casual confidence of someone who knew exactly what she wanted.
El followed suit. "Vanilla waffle cone.. with rainbow sprinkles and extra whipped cream." She beamed.
Steve, focused on preparing the girls' orders, glanced at Dove and asked with a hint of a smile, "Cookies and cream on a waffle cone, right?"
Dove gave him a small nod, trying to act nonchalant, but there was a brief flicker of tension between them as she accepted her ice cream. As Steve handed her the cone, he looked down at El, raising an eyebrow. "Wait a second. Are you even allowed to be here?"
Max, El, and Dove exchanged glances before bursting into giggles, taking their ice creams and darting out of the shop, leaving Steve bewildered but amused as they disappeared back into the mall.
Back in the food court, the trio spotted the group of girls from JC Penny standing outside Orange Julius. The girls were holding drinks, one of them laughing and flirting with a guy.
"Watch this," El whispered, pulling them behind a nearby pillar. Max and Dove peeked around, eyes wide with curiosity.
El concentrated on the girl's drink and a moment later, the cup suddenly exploded in her hand, sending soda flying all over her outfit and drenching her in sticky liquid. The girl shrieked in shock and horror, while her friends stood frozen, unsure of what had just happened.
Max and Dove clamped their hands over their mouths to muffle their laughter, but when El turned back to them with a proud grin, they couldn't hold it in any longer. The three of them burst into hysterical laughter, stumbling away from the scene as they tried to contain their giggles.
"See, what did I tell you?" Max said between breaths, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "There's more to life than stupid boys."
El smiled, looking more at ease than she had all day.
As they walked off, still laughing, Dove couldn't help but feel like this day had been exactly what she needed.
The girls stepped outside, their ice creams still in hand, as the warm summer air wrapped around them. Dove licked her cone absentmindedly, smiling at Max and El.
Just as they were about to part ways, Max's face suddenly shifted, her expression turning from carefree to frustrated. "Oh, you've got to be shitting me," she mumbled under her breath, her tone laced with irritation.
Dove and El both turned, following Max's gaze. A few yards away, Mike, Lucas, and Will were at the bike rack, pulling their bikes free. The boys were completely unaware of the approaching storm.
Max let out an exasperated sigh before taking one last bite of her ice cream. With a look of determination, she handed the empty cone to Dove and started sauntering toward the boys. Max closed the distance quickly, her confident stride catching the attention of the boys. Mike, completely oblivious, was still messing with the lock on his bike when Max stopped in front of him, crossing her arms.
Max crossed her arms, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Isn't this a nice surprise."
Mike, caught off guard, dropped his bike and looked up, startled. Panic flashed across his face as he tried to figure out how to respond. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice sharper than intended.
"Shopping," El replied simply, standing tall, her tone confident.
"This is her new style," Max added, nodding towards El with a smirk. "What do you think?"
Dove leaned against a nearby pillar, watching with quiet amusement. Max was a force of nature, and Mike looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He might have been bracing for an argument, but Max? Max was ready for war. Dove couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of her lips as she watched it unfold.
Mike glanced nervously between Max and El, his expression a mix of frustration and fear. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, his gaze flicking over to Dove as if she might somehow defuse the situation. "You know she's not allowed to be here."
"What is she, your little pet?" Max shot back, her voice sharp.
"Yeah," El added, her ice cream now forgotten in her hand. "Am I your pet?"
Mike's eyes widened in horror. "What? No!" he exclaimed, clearly caught off guard.
"Then why do you treat me like garbage?" El asked, her voice low but firm.
"What?" Mike blinked, completely at a loss.
"You said Nana was sick," El continued, her expression unwavering.
"She is. She is sick," Mike insisted, desperation creeping into his voice. He turned to Lucas, silently begging for backup.
Lucas, equally flustered, nodded quickly. "Yeah, sick. She's super sick. That's why we're here, actually."
"Yeah," Mike added hastily, "we're shopping. Not for us, but for her. For Nana."
Dove raised an eyebrow, quietly enjoying the pathetic spectacle in front of her. She licked her ice cream casually, her gaze flicking between the boys. "He's lying," she said, the words slipping out with ease.
Mike shot her a look of frustration, as if she had just made things worse — which, of course, she had.
Mike tried to recover. "Also, we're here to get a gift for you. Just, we couldn't find anything that suited you and I only have, like, $3.50, so it's hard."
"Super hard," Lucas added, nodding enthusiastically. "It's expensive."
"You lie," El said flatly, her dark eyes locking onto Mike's. "Why do you lie?"
Before Mike could stammer out another excuse, the screech of bus brakes pulled everyone's attention. The bus had arrived, but El wasn't ready to walk away just yet. She stepped closer to Mike, her voice clear and cold. "I dump your ass."
Dove's jaw dropped, her ice cream momentarily forgotten in her hand. Max's eyes widened in shock, but a flicker of pride crossed her face as El turned and stormed away toward the bus. Max shot Dove a quick glance, a shared moment of surprise and approval between them, before she hurried after El, following her onto the bus.
As the bus doors squeaked shut and the vehicle pulled away from the curb, Dove watched the boys—Mike in particular—standing there, dumbfounded. The satisfaction Dove felt was immediate, but there was something else, too—a small, nagging part of her that sympathized with Mike. The look on his face was painfully familiar, mirroring the same confusion and hurt Steve had worn the night they broke up. They had both agreed it was time, but seeing Mike now made her second-guess herself.
With a final glance at the retreating bus, Dove shook her head and turned to Mike. "Maybe next time, just try telling the truth," she said, her voice clear and steady, before walking away, leaving the boys standing in their mess.