I had to think hard to remember the last time I went to a mall. Being an introvert, I regularly online shop for something I wanted but today was different. Elle had requested for me to pick up a dress that she would be wearing to her birthday party because apparently, she claimed she was too engaged in planning for the event.

Although I disliked being in a crowded place, the guilt in me had made me agree to her wish. I knew it was not going to make up for all the lying and sneaking around with her boyfriend. Still, it was the least I could do for her.

Lucky I got Ethan with me and I meant to take advantage of his presence. He could act as my human shield in social situations as he always did. It was one thing to convince him to leave his group of friends at Steve's. It was quite another thing to convince him and Steve, though I would be totally down for a hang-out next time.

*

"Where do you two think you're going?" Steve asked in a stern voice when Ethan and I got up from the couch. "I already ordered us some more pizza."

Steve had an impatient look on his face while he waited for which one of us would speak first. I offered him a big toothy smile then glanced over at Ethan signaling for help only for him to smirk and look away.

Kaden and Kaleb, who were previously watching the football highlights playing on the tv screen, had their heads turned in our direction. I could feel the heat of their stare from where I was standing. They always did that whenever I intended to leave their meeting place with Ethan.

"We're going to the mall," I announced to which Kaden perked up.

A wide grin found its way upon his face as he gazed around. "Man, I haven't been inside a mall since forever."

"It's just going to be me and Ethan," I said and his smile turned upside down.

"Is my house that boring?" Steve asked again.

I snorted at his quick assumption. "Steve, of course, not. We have to... actually I have to fetch something for Elle."

Steve pressed his lips together at my answer and didn't say anything. Still, there was a look of letdown in his eyes. I felt guilty for taking Ethan away from all of them.

And then I heard Kaleb from across the couch go, "Basically becoming her bitch."

My hands reflectively moved to grab Ethan's arm just as he was about to charge against his friend and it literally took every ounce of my strength to hold him back.

"Ethan, chill!" I yelped.

"Yo Kaleb, you gotta be fucking careful with what you say next," Ethan spoke to him through gritted teeth.

Kaleb got up and walked over to Ethan until he stood at eye level with him, staring up with an amused, yet challenging look on his features. Meanwhile, Ethan squared his jaw and puffed his chest out.

He refused to show any hesitation. All he did was match Kaleb's behavior. Kaleb flicked a glance at me, then, scowling, looked back at Ethan, who never turned to look at me.

"That's very shitty of me to say. Sorry, man," Kaleb said then, his lips forming a slight evil smirk.

His forced apology earned him no response from Ethan and for that reason he turned to Steve. "Well, I guess I gotta go too. I'm meeting a friend."

"Cool." Steve didn't sound pleased at all.

"Emilio?" Kaden chime in out of curiosity. He sounded genuinely excited. "Can I come?"

Despite not getting the answer to his questions, he took his silence as approval. Kaleb started towards the door with Kaden following closely behind him. Ethan and I shared a glance after both of us realized we had spoiled the evening for our dear friend. Steve let out a sigh of his own before he went to perch on the couch by himself.

*

That was how we ended up inside a boutique an hour later. The store was nowhere near packed and more pleasant compared to walking down in the main aisle. While we waited for the boutique worker to prepare our order, we took the time to rummage through the shelves and racks. I did find some cool band shirts and shoes which looked great in my eyes however I would rather buy them some other time.

"I feel bad for Steve," I voiced out my concern, also angry at myself for ruining everyone's hang-out time. "When will his parents be back?"

"In a few days," Ethan replied as he was flipping through the rack of jackets.

He was concentrating too hard to notice a grown woman in the boutique kept checking him out and the fun part was I kept catching her in the act. The panic in her eyes every time we made eye contact gave me the best kind of satisfaction.

"I should've brought him along," Ethan added. "Did you see his face when we left the house?"

"Why didn't you then?" I asked.

He glanced over with a mischievous grin. "I thought you wanted to be alone with me. That's why we're here, right?"

I playfully rolled my eyes and returned his smile. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just using you for the ride."

Ethan looked surprised before he went to place a hand over his chest, faking a wince as to seem hurt. "Ouch, that hurt me so bad I'm oh so wounded. Please help me I'm hurt."

Chuckling, I shook my head at his dramatic display and walked closer to stand next to him. Ethan couldn't contain the thrill that began taking over his features. He caught my hand in his after having made sure no one we recognize was watching. The act, although it might seem small, made me immediately aware of how much I missed Ethan's warmth.

"I've been wanting to do this," he said after a beat of nothing but a longing stare between us.

"Holding my hand?" I asked happily. Forget butterflies, my stomach was doing full-on summersaults.

"Spending my time with you," Ethan responded. "Just you."

"Me too," I let out.

Ethan turned to face me and leaned closer into my personal bubble space, so close in the fact that we were nearly chest to chest. Or it would have been chest to chest, if not for the fact that he was taller. It was more like chest to face, at my height.

Even though I should be used to it by now, it was hard for me to play it cool every time he pulled this act. He just had that effect on me that I actually wanted to run away and hide somewhere in the corner.

"Don't forget we're here to get your girlfriend's dress," I reminded him before pulling my hand away.

His face pinched in confusion at my abrupt reaction. "Soon-to-be ex," he instantly assured me.

"When are you going to tell her?" I asked though he had made a promise. I only wanted to know if his answer has changed.

"Right after the party," Ethan settled.

I nodded, relieved.

Elle's birthday was in two days and me knowing her she would throw a huge party for it. Everyone from school would be attending for the fancy food, open bar, and expensive door gifts; even some of them would be there only to gawk at the number of her outfit changes. Elle always has more than five outfits prepared and keep in mind that we were currently fetching the third one only.

"Would you be there when I tell her?" Ethan asked me minutes later.

"Maybe it's better if it's just the two of you," I suggested. A million things could be said between them without me interfering.

"You're right," he nodded with a sigh, concurring.

Ethan became quiet after that, green eyes cast down towards the floor as if he was pondering over something. Sometimes I really wish I knew what he was thinking about.

"Hey, you okay?"

Ethan blinked at my question, his eyes quickly flickering back up to my face. "Just thinking of what we could do together after all of this is over."

Hearing his thought, I cracked a smile of my own although I didn't quite get what he meant by that. As buddies, we already had done much.

"Here!" Ethan said to me while pulling out a denim jacket from the rack. "Try this on."

Looking at the jacket that he was holding up, I tilted my head and analyzed it for a second. "Not sure if that's really my style."

"It will look good on you," he convinced me.

"It will look better on you than me," I replied, drawing a frustrated groan from him.

"Shut your mouth, Andrew."

Noticing the change of his tone, I uttered absolutely nothing anymore. Like a paralyzed person, I simply watched him as he lifted one of my slender arms and began to put the jacket on me himself.

"How the fuck is that even possible?" Ethan murmured with a small smile then stepped back to appreciate his work.

"Why? What's wrong?" I began to wonder if he had made a fool of me.

Ethan chuckled at my concern. "I can't believe you can become much hotter than you already are."

My cheeks heated up into a crimson blush at the unexpected compliment. He knew just what to say and do to make my heart turn to jelly. It was only at the snap of his finger.

"I think I saw your nose grow a little bit," I retorted to annoy him.

"Nah, the only thing growing now is my dick," he paused, checking me from head to toe before muttering under his breath. "Damn, I really hit the jackpot."

I nearly tripped when he said that. "Jesus, Ethan, calm down with that belligerent teenage hormone you got there."

"I'm buying you this," he stated and went to check on the price tag hanging behind my neck. "How much does it cost?"

Ethan might be going insane. It was going to cost him a fortune to pay for the jacket and no matter how serious he was I wouldn't let him spend that ridiculous amount of money on stuff that I didn't even need. Even if he wanted to, he should be getting something for Elle instead.

It was cute how surprised he seemed looking down at the tag, mouth hung open and all he could say was, "Might sell a kidney to buy you this."

That caused me to burst out in a fit of laughter just before one of the boutique's workers approached and gestured us to the register to pick Elle's dress up.