My Favorite Beast

Xi (Introduction)

The ride to the mall was awkward. Everyone seemed to be lost in their thoughts about one thing or another. I noticed that the energy between Cole and Karman felt off when we came down the stairs. Whatever had happened between them had my girl worried. Her leg bounced the entire ride, and she looked as though she'd bolt out of the truck as soon as it stopped. I wanted to reach over and ask her about it, but I would rather not draw attention to the tension that simmered in the vehicle.

As we pulled into the parking lot, I caught a glimpse of Cole's expression in the rearview mirror—his jaw clenched and eyes distant—making it clear that he was just as affected by whatever had transpired.

As the truck came to a stop at the entrance of the mall, I surveyed my surroundings. The mall was bustling with activity, much larger than I had expected for a small town like this. Colorful banners hung from the ceiling, and the sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere that sharply contrasted with the tension in the vehicle. I took a deep breath, hoping the lively environment would help lighten the mood as we stepped out and made our way toward the entrance.

We all hopped out and headed towards the entrance, waiting on Xion, who was talking to the valet guy. I locked arms with Karman and whispered in her ear.

"Are you okay? And don't lie to me. I could have cut the tension in that car with a knife."

Karman glanced at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of anxiety and determination. "I’m okay. When we get back, I'll fill you in on everything. I'm your best friend now, so you're responsible for helping me with my boy issues," she added with a faint smile, trying to lighten the mood. I squeezed her arm reassuringly, knowing that whatever was weighing on her would soon be shared, and I was ready to support her through it all.

I smiled at her and nodded. "I promise we'll tackle it together," I said, feeling a surge of loyalty toward her.

As we settled into our conversation about my room design and outfits we wanted to get for school, I could see the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. She began to share her ideas, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she described the colors and styles she envisioned. I could tell that focusing on something fun and creative was helping her push aside the worries that had been weighing her down.

"You lovely ladies ready?" Xion asked while standing closely behind me. I turned to face him, a smile breaking across my face.

Hours later…

We'd been in the mall for hours going from store to store. splitting our attention between bedroom shopping and school shopping. The guys had to make several trips back to the car due to all the shopping we were doing. Xion refused to let me spend any of my money, so I decided to break his pockets, but I was slowly realizing that the task was nearly impossible. No matter how much stuff I picked up, he never told me no. It was as if he enjoyed watching me indulge in my shopping spree, and each time I added another item to our growing pile, I felt a mix of excitement and guilt. I couldn’t help but wonder how long he would be able to keep up with my insatiable desire for new clothes and bedroom decor.

We now find ourselves at the food court, surrounded by the enticing aromas of various cuisines. As I scanned the options, my stomach growled in response, reminding me that while I could indulge in shopping, I still needed to satisfy my hunger. I glanced at the colorful food stalls, each one beckoning with the promise of delicious meals.

I felt him before he even started to speak.

"What do you want to eat, beautiful?" Once more, he pressed his front against my back, and this time he bent down to whisper in my ear. He allowed his cool, minty breath to fan across my neck as he did so. I couldn't help but feel that he enjoyed being this close to me and causing my defenses to malfunction at his proximity.

I shivered slightly at his touch, a mix of surprise and anticipation coursing through me. "I’m not sure," I replied, trying to focus on the vibrant array of food rather than the warmth radiating from him, "but those tacos look amazing."

"I think we should get that then," he said, his voice low and teasing as he leaned in a bit closer. The way he spoke sent another shiver down my spine, making it even harder to concentrate on the food.

I turned to face him. I was at eye level with his sculpted chest. I took a minute to admire his chest before stepping back to look into his eyes. His deep gray eyes sparkled with mischief, and I couldn't help but smile back, feeling a rush of warmth. "Alright, tacos it is," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant as my heart raced with the thrill of his proximity.

I had to know why I felt so comfortable around him. Why I wanted to melt into his embrace. Staring into his eyes, I looked for all the answers. I'd never experienced anything like this before. Despite barely knowing him, every moment felt electric, as if two magnets were drawn together. It was a sensation I couldn’t ignore, and I wondered if he could feel it too. I took a hesitant step closer, the air thick with unspoken words and shared glances. His gaze intensified, and for a brief moment, the world around us faded away, leaving just the two of us suspended in possibility.

Suddenly, a squeaky voice called his name, interrupting our moment. "Xion!"

"Xion!" The sound jolted him back to reality, and the magnetic pull between us began to weaken. He reluctantly stepped back from me, the connection between us slipping through my fingers like sand.

"Xion, baby!" that annoying voice called again, now much closer. He glanced over his shoulder, frustration etching his features. I noticed the spark in his eyes beginning to fade. Suddenly, a girl with a stiff weave stepped in front of me, effectively blocking his view of me.

The girl tossed her hair over her shoulder, a smug smile on her lips as she leaned in closer to Xion. I could see him tense up, his jaw tightening as he forced a polite smile. It was clear he was trying to keep his composure, but the annoyance radiating off him was palpable as he shifted his gaze back to the girl, desperately wishing for an escape.

"Baby, why didn't you tell me you were coming to the mall today?" I could've met you here."

It was as if someone had been rubbing a pebble against a cheese grater to produce her voice. The volume of her voice made it nearly impossible for me to understand a word she said. That, along with her extremely rude ass stepping in front of me, enraged me like no other. And is she calling him baby? I couldn't believe it. The way she said it, with that condescending tone, made my blood boil. Who did she think she was, calling him "baby" in front of me, as if I didn't exist?

Before I could halt or fully understand what I was doing, I stepped around her and skillfully drew Xion to me, redirecting his attention back to me.

With my voice tight with anger, I spoke through clenched teeth, "I don’t know who she is or what’s going on, but that was her last time playing with me. Just give me the card and wrap the dish up so we can eat." Xion looked between us, confusion and shock crossing his face before he quickly recovered and flashed me his sexy smirk.

"Alright, I'll clear this up and meet you at the table," he said, reaching for the card while I shot the other girl a warning glare, making it clear I wasn't in the mood for games. As she narrowed her eyes at me, I could feel the tension in the air. I turned back to Xion, who was watching me with an inquisitive expression.

Without offering any explanation to him, I snatched the card and walked away, hoping to make sense of the chaos that had just unfolded.