Chapter 6: Malls are still a thing?

It had been years since I’d been inside the local mall, and from the looks of it almost nobody else had either. One out of every three units was shuttered and abandoned including the large department store which had dominated the east side.

My sister, however, used to love this place and since she was in town, I had been volun-told to go with her. Nobody gave a damn I’d worked a 10-hour shift at the pizza shop the day before and my legs were killing me. Since I was saving for something special and not intent on buying anything, I was designated as bag-watcher which at least allowed me to find an empty bench to get off my feet. It wasn’t the slightest bit comfortable but at least I wasn’t standing.

I was bored and my phone was borderline dead, so I’d been reduced to people watching. I completely lost track of time and was about to get up to stretch a bit when I saw her. Lauren and…. The girl my age whose hand she was holding. I could have sworn I recognized her too. Then it hit me. Her name was Mia; I knew her from school but not that well. I’d never heard of Lauren seeing girls outside the clubroom…. or the back of her van I guess. I admit there was a pang of jealousy seeing her like that. Obviously I’d seen her with the other members before she gave us all individual attention but…. Not like this.

I hopped up ignoring my aching damn feet as they wandered into one of the open clothing stores and tried to make it not look like I was some creepo stalker. I was just curious ya’know? …Shut up.

Mia had long brown hair very similar in color to Laurens and was nearly the same height. The two of them could have been mistaken for sisters if Lauren was a few years younger or Mia was a few years older. I tried to ignore the tightness forming in the pit of my stomach.

I saw the two of them flipping through various articles. I admit I wasn’t really paying attention to what. Thing is they looked really happy and… I didn’t know how to feel about that. The two parted and I decided… Maybe she was just recruiting for the club and it would be rude not to at least say hi. I took a deep breath and wandered over to where Mia was browsing and managed to catch her eyes.

“Hey, Mia right? It’s been a while. It’s Nichole.” I said trying to be as approachable as I could.

I saw her eyes flash with acknowledgement “Oh yeah it has. How are you?”

“I can’t complain. I was just surprised to see you with uhh Lauren.” I said gesturing in the general direction I’d seen her walk off. “Did she ask you to join this year’s homework club?”

“Homework club?” Mia looked confused. “Actually, She’s my mom.”

Mia laughed. “Don’t worry about it.”

It was about then I spotted Lauren white as a sheet staring right at me. Mia had gone back to browsing and pulled up a blouse I think. She excused herself to go to the changing rooms signaling her mom on the way.

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Lauren loomed over me. She’d always made the boundaries of the homework club very clear and I’d just unknowingly put my stupid foot right through the biggest one.

“What are you doing here Nichole?” She sounded a bit agitated.

“I was here with my sister and I just thought I’d say hi. I thought she was a member, I-I really didn’t know.”

Lauren took a deep breath. “Okay…Okay what did you tell her?”

“Not a damn thing, I just… asked her if she was in the homework club. I didn’t go into detail.”

Lauren closed her eyes and let the breath out. “Okay. We can play this off. Just follow my lead and don’t volunteer information.”

“Yes ma’am.” I uttered reflexively trying to sew my damn mouth shut with my mind the moment it came out. Lauren glared daggers at me but loosened up as Mia wandered back.

“Hey what’s up?” Mia asked, trying to pick up her browsing where she left off.

“Just chatting about Nichole’s part time job.” Lauren said.

“Oh yeah I’ve been working the register over at Pi-.” I stopped when I noticed Lauren make a slashing motion across her throat. “At Burger Shack down on Berbishire.”

“Oh. I don’t think we’ve been.” Mia looked to Lauren who shook her head in the negative.

“You should check it out, the owner is a jerk but the rest of the staff is really nice.” Lauren made another slashing motion but I waved her off. “Yesterday was my last day though, needed a break before school starts up again ya know?”

“NICHOLE!” My banshee-of-a-sister screeched, as found the bags I wasn’t watching and finally tracked me down. “What the FUCK are you doing??”

I just sighed. Nothing I could say would stop her from screaming at me. She got her attitude from our wonderful mother and wouldn’t get in trouble for anything she did to me. She punched me in the mouth during my 11th birthday party because I caught her stealing my gifts and somehow my mother decided I was the one who should apologize. I stopped having birthday parties after that.

I do not care to recount all the nasty things my sister screamed at me while I resisted the urge to slap the shit out of her but it was loud enough to get a call placed to mall security. Naturally she was gone before they arrived.

I found my way to the now empty bench and took a seat. I barely noticed Lauren put her arm around me. It helped. I was able to pull myself together after a minute, I was used to my sister’s verbal abuse.

“I’m really sorry about that.” I managed to say trying to get my thoughts in order. “Thanks for staying. I’ll be alright.”

“Are you sure? I can give you a ride.” The two of them looked back at me sympathetically. “Nah I can just give my aunt…” I touched the screen on my phone. Nothing. Tapped it a bit…. And remembered the battery.

“Could I borrow your phone?” I asked Lauren sheepishly.

“Certainly.” Lauren handed it to me and unlocked it.

I stared at the number pad for a minute before I realized. “I don’t actually know her number. It's saved on my phone.”

Lauren pulled me into a hug. “We’ll take you back to our place. I've got a charger.”

“Actually-” Mia interrupted. “-Why don’t you stay for dinner over at our place? I’m making it.”

I looked at Lauren who gave me an approving gesture. “I’d love to, thank you both.”