Ethan was still staring at me with an unreadable expression on his face, which was starting to make me feel uncomfortable.

"Well in my defense, I didn't know you were only going to stay inside for like 30 seconds," I said in exasperation, giving up all attempts at lying.

His face twisted into a smirk. "I forgot my phone in my car," he said with a shrug. "Also, if you're going to follow someone you should probably wait a few minutes before getting out your car," he snorted.

"How come you're not mad at me?" I said genuinely confused why he wasn't yelling at me for basically stalking him.

He shrugged. "I think I've expressed my anger enough for one day, and besides I find it hard to be mad at you," he said giving me a weak smile.

"So, what are you up to..." I said rocking back and forth on my heels.

We just stared awkwardly at each other for a while before he started chuckling to himself like a crazy person.

"You're not subtle chubs.... I know you're just trying to figure out why I was fighting Connor." He said in amusement.

"Maybe..." I drawled out slowly.

He let out a heavy sigh. "I'll tell you one day okay, just not today," he said softly.

I nodded my head in acceptance. "Can I at least know why you're here?" I asked weakly.

He paused for an uncomfortably long time and shifted nervously in his place. "I....er....I... have to go to counseling because of my anger." He swallowed. "You witnessed first-hand this morning what happens when I don't keep it in check," he said chuckling harshly.

"Oh," I said in surprise.

He groaned and ran a hand threw his hair. "You think I'm a nut-case don't you" he mumbled weakly, as he avidly avoided eye contact with me.

My eyes softened as I looked at him. "No of course not. I don't think there's anything remotely nutty about trying to improve yourself. What kind of friend would I be if I judged you for not being perfect, huh?" I smiled warmly.

The corners of his mouth lifted into a shy smile. "Thanks, Chubs, that means a lot," he said softly.

"No problem," I whispered. We both just stood there staring at each other for a couple of seconds with stupid grins on our faces, before Ethan coughed awkwardly and interrupted out little moment.

"I guess I'll see you around stalker," he said with a teasing smirk, before walking off in the direction of his car to retrieve his forgotten phone.

I watched him leave with a smile on my face, before slowly turning around and starting to make my way back to Chloe's car.

Wait a second did he just call me a stalker!

----------------------------------------

"Just pick one for God's sake, Chloe, they literally all look the same," I snapped angrily, causing a few customers to turn our way.

We were at the mall and Chloe was taking years to choose between a pair of shoes, and I was getting testy because I hadn't eaten in over 2 hours.

"She has a point, Chloe, I honestly can't see a difference," May said nodding her head in agreement.

"You guys just have no eye for detail," Chloe said rolling her eyes at us.

My stomach then decided to make a loud growling sound and I grew ten times more irritated. "Look Chloe if we don't get some lunch in a couple of minutes, don't act surprised when I attempt to kill you." I threatened coldly, glaring at her with a murderous expression on my face.

Chloe gulped as she took in my expression. "I guess these are cute." Chloe squeaked out nervously as she randomly picked up a pair of shoes and practically ran to the counter to pay for them.

After Chloe had bought her shoes, we finally started to make our way to the food court. We all spread out to get our favorite food from the various stalls and agreed to meet back together in the seating area.

I immediately made a beeline for McDonald's, as I was in the mood to gorge myself with the most greasy fried food, I could get my hands on.

Hey, I might as well take advantage of my fast metabolism while I have it. Honestly, with all the shit I've been eating and the frequency of my snacks, it's honestly beyond me why I'm not the size of a whale.

Once I had collected my order, I made my way to the seating area and tried to locate where my friends had ended up. I furrowed my eyebrows when I spotted them because they weren't sitting alone. For some reason, Ethan and Lucas were also sat amongst them.

What the hell were those losers doing here?

I slowly made my way over to their table and they must have seen my figure approaching because they all broke conversation and looked up at me.

Ethan's eyes lit up upon meeting mine and his usual self-righteous smirk spread itself out on his face.

"Hey Chubs, healthy choice I see." Ethan retorted sarcastically as he gestured to my tray full of McDonald's fries and nuggets.

I shot him a nasty glare before slamming my tray down on the tray with a loud clatter. "Go fuck yourself, Ethan," I grumbled bitterly.

The little bastard was so judgmental! We couldn't all be bothered to eat salads at every meal and spend 9 hours slaving away at the gym. Well, I assume that's what he must be doing to get a body like his.

I was just about to go pull out a seat so I could start pigging away at my food when I paused. There were no other seats left at the table. I looked around to see if there were any free seats at other tables, but the whole place was packed with people so there wasn't a single spare chair in sight.

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

"Gee thanks guys, I appreciate all of you saving me a seat." I snapped sarcastically, as I shot a spiteful look at my so-called friends.

"Relax Chubs, just sit on my lap," Ethan said with a hearty chuckle as he leaned back on his chair and patted his lap.

I looked him up and down before letting out a loud snort. "Yeah.... I think I'm going to have to pass on that one." I snickered.

He might be my friend now but we ain't that close.

"May you've got a small butt. Budge up so I can share your seat!" I snapped bossily, as I nudged her slightly in the hopes that she'd move over.

May didn't budge an inch and raised a single eyebrow. "Firstly, if you want someone to do something nice for you, don't say they have a small butt. My butt is very large and shapely thank you very much." May said sassily as she flickered her red hair over her shoulder.

I heard a faint snicker fall from Lucas' mouth, but he pressed his lips together immediately when he was met with a threatening look from May.

Once she was done glaring at Lucas, she looked back up at me. "And secondly, I don't see why I have to share my seat when Ethan has already made such a kind offer," May taunted with an evil smirk.

We both knew exactly what she was doing.

"Just move over for goodness sake!" I yelled as I stomped my foot down in frustration.

"No." she snorted.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan roll his eyes before leaning forward in his chair. He startled me half to death as I felt his hands snake his hands around my waist. I let out a piglet like squeal of surprise as he pulled me on to his lap. As soon as I was seated, he let out a content and happy sigh.

"What the fuck Ethan!" I exclaimed in shock, as I desperately tried to scramble off his lap as my cheeks burn hot with embarrassment.

He just chuckled and tightened his arms around my waist and pulled me even deeper into his lap.

"Is this how you get your kicks or something? By tormenting me!" I yelled in accusation as I slumped back against his chest in defeat.

Ethan laughed. "How on earth am I tormenting you? I've been kind enough to share my seat with you, haven't I?" he said with amusement lacing his tone.

"That's the problem! I don't want to share your seat; I want the whole seat!" I complained.

A second after the words left my mouth, I felt his fingertips lightly brush up against the skin at the back of my neck, causing an electrifying feeling to shoot through every cell of my body. Soon, I felt him gently collect all of the voluminous dark curls of my hair before softly draping them over one shoulder.

The chill on my exposed next only lasted for a second before it was replaced by warm skin as he moved his head to rest in the crook of my neck. I have no idea how he managed to make such a small action so overpoweringly stimulating but god did it feel amazing.

The only brain cell that seemed to still be alive was screaming at me to say something, anything. But the English language had left me completely and I couldn't think of a single word to say.

"Don't pretend you don't love this," he whispered softly against my ear. I swallowed as I felt goosebumps erupt on my skin from where his breath brushed against my skin.

"Come on admit it, Mia, you love the feel of my hands around your waist, the warmth of my chest on your back, and the vibration of my voice against your skin. You want me," he whispered seductively against my ear so only I could hear.

If his arms weren't still around my waist, I probably would have melted into a puddle. It was pathetic really, a couple of sentences from him shouldn't affect me in such a way.

But it did.

Come on Mia, focus! He's just trying to make fun of you. Say something mean, something sarcastic, or just laugh at him. Just do something!

I desperately wanted to tell him he was wrong and to shut up and a lot of other things, but I couldn't. I was so incredibly flustered by his words and his touch, that I could barely string together a sentence.

"Er....Not to interrupt whatever the hell is going on over there but....we are still all here." We heard Lucas' voice interrupt awkwardly.

His words immediately broke me out of whatever hypnotization trance Ethan had me under. My cheeks burned hotly, realizing Ethan whispering in my ear while I sat all still in his lap, looked incredibly suspicious.

I looked over at my friends in embarrassment and instantly regretted it. Chloe was winking over excessively at me and May was wagging her eyebrows like an idiot.

And that was the precise moment I wanted to die.

I immediately reached for my abandoned McDonald's tray and started frantically stress eating the chips to try and dissipate the awkward energy that was building up. I tried my best not to let my mind wander and think about what Ethan had said, which proved incredibly hard when I could still feel the heat of his body underneath me. Thankfully, May finally broke the silence.

"Do you have to chew so loudly," May snapped at Lucas who was gnawing rather loudly on his burger.

Lucas just thew back his head with a laugh and then started to chew even louder, so loud that I was concerned he might dislocate his jaw.

May just watched him with narrowed eyes, with her hands clenched up in an angry fist. Once he was finished, he let out a loud obnoxious burp and then blew it in her direction.

Uh oh.

"That's it your dead," May screamed as she leaped to her feet and launched across the table like some kind of jaguar with her arms stretched out for Lucas' neck.

I wasn't even remotely surprised and just let out a heavy sigh and quickly picked up my tray before she could trample on it. May could get a tad violent sometimes when someone rubbed her up the wrong way.

I watched in amusement as Lucas let out a girly scream as May started to whack the shit out of him from her position kneeling on the table. I looked around nervously, checking no security guards were watching, as I didn't want to get banned from the Mall just because May was bat-shit crazy.

Once she was satisfied, she had inflicted enough damage, she climbed off the table and returned to her seat calmly as though nothing had happened.

"You're fucking crazy, you are!" Lucas screamed hysterically, as he visible shook from fear. He was watching her with cautious and widened eyes as though she was some kind of rabid animal. Likely worried she might get up and attack him again at any moment.

"This could have all been prevented if you didn't burp in my fucking face, just remember that," May yelled as she pointing her fork at him threateningly.

He just gulped and nodded his head.

"Can I have one?" I heard Ethan's voice ask from behind me.

I slowly lowered the chip I was about to eat in annoyance and adjusted myself so I was sat sideways on his lap so I could see him.

"Haha no." I snapped rudely. "Maybe if you hadn't mentioned them being so unhealthy earlier, I might be willing to share." I taunted with a smug grin.

Then wanting to be even more of a bitch, I came up with a brilliant idea. I started to tease him by eating every chip slowly and tantalizingly in his face.

"Mmmm these are so good. Oh my god." I moaned over dramatically, as I was midway through eating a chip.

He just rolled his eyes, but I could tell it was affecting him, as he stilled slightly after hearing some of my exaggerated moans and kept adjusting himself a little bit too much in his seat.

I kind of felt a little bad for him, he must really want the fries.

Suddenly his eyes alit with troublesome spark and before I could fathom a guess about what he was going to do, he snatched the end of the chip hanging out of my mouth from my lips, before shoving it into his mouth. I just stared at him in shock, surprised that he would be so desperate to have a chip that he would remove it from the vicinity of my fucking mouth.

"What the hell Ethan? That was in my mouth!" I yelled in astonishment.

He just shrugged indifferently. "It's no more disgusting than kissing someone," he said casually, his eyes momentarily darting to look at my lips as he said that.

"Well kissing is disgusting, especially the idea of kissing you. No offense or anything." I chuckled as I patted him on the shoulder sympathetically.

He arched an eyebrow at me as I said that and leaned in closer, so we were only a hair length apart. His arms were still wrapped tightly around my waist, pressing me firmly against his chest. The smell of his cologne fanned around me.

"You sure?" he whispered huskily into my ear.

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