Amanda Kelly and Priscilla strutted down the crowded mall halls with

confidence, their oversized purses already bulging with stolen goods.

They'd started small: scarves, a few t-shirts, maybe a pair of earrings

here and there. But by the fourth store, the thrill of outsmarting the

security systems—and the system itself—had taken over. Each snip of a

security tag felt like a tiny victory.

"Next stop: Galleria Boutique?" Priscilla asked, flicking her scissors in

and out of her purse with a grin.

Amanda smirked. "Why not? They're practically begging us to take their

overpriced trash."

They slipped into the store like seasoned pros, splitting up and casually

browsing the racks. Their eyes locked from across the store, signaling it

was time. With practiced hands, Amanda slipped a pair of designer jeans

into her purse, while Priscilla worked on a faux-leather jacket.

Everything was going smooth—until they bumped into Keith Lloyd and his

pal Charlie Douglas at the entrance.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Backwoods High's finest bad girls," Keith

sneered, eyeing Amanda's oversized purse. Charlie, his wannabe-gangsta

sidekick, smirked beside him.

"Look who's talking, Lloyd," Amanda snapped back. "What are you doing

here, anyway? Slumming it with the mall rats?"

Keith chuckled, flashing a pair of stolen sunglasses still sporting the

price tag. "Same as you, obviously."

It didn't take long for both groups to realize they were after the same

thing. Keith, ever the instigator, raised an eyebrow. "How about a little

game? Let's see who can score the most in the next hour. Winner gets

bragging rights."

Priscilla glanced at Amanda, a wicked smile spreading across her face.

"You're on."

The race was on. For the next sixty minutes, Amanda and Priscilla darted

from store to store, their adrenaline spiking as they swept clothes,

accessories, and even shoes into their bags. Keith and Charlie were doing

the same, playing it cool as they slipped jewelry into their pockets and

jackets under their arms. It was chaotic, reckless, and exhilarating.

After the hour was up, they regrouped near the food court, breathless but

grinning from ear to ear. "I think we cleaned out half the mall,"

Priscilla laughed.

"Not bad for amateurs," Charlie bragged, puffing out his chest.

As they started counting their loot, Amanda's eyes caught something—or

rather, someone—down the hall. A figure standing perfectly still.

"Uh, guys?" Amanda said, her voice suddenly dropping.

Keith looked up and frowned. "What now?"

It was David Lewis. His camera was pointed directly at them, capturing

every single item they'd just stuffed into their bags.

"David, you little creep," Victor snarled, stepping forward.

David grinned and raised his camera higher. "I've got enough footage here

to send you all to juvie."

Amanda's stomach flipped. She knew David's reputation—he loved making

fools out of people on camera. "You wouldn't," she hissed, taking a step

forward.

"Oh, I totally would." David's voice dripped with smug satisfaction.

"Cops love a good shoplifting story, don't they?"

Without another word, the group sprinted after him, charging down the

hall as Daniel weaved between mallgoers, laughing like a maniac. "Catch

me if you can!" he called over his shoulder, his camera swinging wildly

as he dodged through a crowd.

Keith was the first to shout, "You better hope we don't catch you,

Lewis!"

But David just kept laughing, zigzagging through the stores and ducking

behind kiosks. He wasn't going to stop anytime soon. And truthfully? He

didn't want to call the cops. He just loved watching people panic when he

had a camera in hand.