It's a Mall World After All (16 page)

I wandered around the mall for a while, then thought about getting him some more of the cologne he wore.

You know, just to ensure he never ran out.

I walked over to Nordstrom men's cologne section and sniffed every bottle until I found it. Then I held the bottle pressed against my face for several moments, until the saleslady came over and asked if I needed help. I assume she meant help in purchasing the cologne. I gave it to her to ring up.

As I walked out into the mall I ran into Candy and one of her friends.

"Char." Candy's brow knit together in worry when she saw me. "How are you holding up these days?"

"Fine," I said, "How about you?"

She whispered something to her friend, then took hold of my arm and pulled me a few steps away. "There's no need to pretend with me. I already know how you got kicked out of school for arson." Her lips pinched together, and then she let out a sigh. "I blame myself, really. You were fragile when Greg broke up with you. All this has just been a cry for help, hasn't it?"

"No, the fire was an accident, and I'm only suspended. Besides, I'm going out with Colton now, so you don't need to feel guilty. Really."

Her eyes narrowed as though she didn't believe me. "Colton? Colton Taft?"

"Yes." I looked behind her and saw him walking toward us. "There he is now."

She turned, gave him the once over, then stepped even closer to me. "What happened to his cheek?"

"Oh that. He was dressed up as Santa Claus for an NHS project, and well, he sort of got in a fight, and Bryant punched him."

I didn't have time to explain anything else before Colton reached us. He switched his shopping bag from one arm to the other so he could take hold of my hand. "Hey, Candice, out doing some shopping?"

She smiled but shook her head sadly. "Colton, you should have gone to Leland Prep with the rest of us. You know, wrestling simply isn't worth it." Then she called to her friend, and the two of them walked past us into Nordstrom.

Colton watched them go. "What was that all about?"

"Apparently I'm a bad influence on you."

"Yeah, probably."

I elbowed him but kept hold of his hand.

As we walked away from Nordstrom I told him the whole conversation, then added, "I'm never going to be able to face any of those people from Leland Prep again. Now they all think I'm some sort of fragile person who sets things on fire when she's upset."

He shrugged. "Look on the bright side. At least they've forgotten about you eating that centerpiece."He shrugged. "Look on the bright side. At least they've forgotten about you eating that centerpiece."

"Oh, right. I feel much better."

"Come on, you don't really care what the people at Leland Prep think about you, do you?"

"No, actually I'm still too worried about what the people at my own high school think about me." He squeezed my hand. "Some of us think you're pretty great."

And then I smiled, because I did feel better.

I guess some of the stuff you learn at the mall isn't

so bad after all.