My first everything at 16

...

As I walked into Ay's room I said "I don't care how old i am but I will always and forever be afraid of your mom." Mrs Jones was lenient but scary. She basically wore the pants in the marriage. Ay cracked up laughing.

"She really likes you though." Her mood shifted when she said "I have a confession to make. I was invited by my other friends to go to the mall. I told them that I was already going with you. Then they said we'd just meet at the mall then. Please don't be mad." The last words rushed past her lips.

"Wait. Why would I be mad?" I asked.

"Because there won't only be girls there. There'll be boys there too."

"It's okay. I'm not stressing or freaking out." This was a lie

"Okay good. Just don't freak out if one of the guys call you to talk alone. Just make friends with them."

"You do know I know how to interact with other people. Right?"

"Yeah but this is a little different. Just don't freak out okay." 

"Yeah sure."

"Okay now that that's out of the way what do you think I should wear?"

"What! You aren't dressed yet?" I groaned. "You look just fine to me." She really did. My friend really knew how to dress.

"Really?" She said looking in the mirror. "I wasn't sure."

"You look great. Now let's go." I said.

"I forgot how impatient you are. But fine let's go."

                                                                                             ♧

"I just realised that I've never been to the mall."

"Yeah. It's a surprise your parents even let you go to the mall with me. It's like the only three places you are allowed to go to are church, my house and the grocery store." She said counting the places on her fingers. 

"Yeah but I guess now we can add the mall as the fourth place right?." She laughed at that.

"Always looking on the bright side." she said smiling at me.

"So did the people we were supposed to meet cancel or something?"

"Probably not. Let me call Mike." She pulled out her phone and called this 'Mike' person. The phone rang for a few seconds before he picked up. 

"Hey. Where are you guys?"

"We are by the food court. Where are you?"

"Oh. We're by the frozen yogurt place."

"Why that's like...you know what it's cool I'll just come and fetch you. So did you bring your friend?

"Yeah she did." I said taking the phone from Ay.

"Oh hi. I'm Mike." He said

"So I've heard. I'm Brenda Bree for short."

"Oh. 'Brenda Bree for short' is a long name to remember but I'll try." I laughed at that.

"Okay so you're Mr funny guy then?" 

He chuckled at that then said "I guess I am. I'm coming to you guys so don't drop the call."

"Why can't I drop the call?"

"So that I can see where you are and make sure that I'm walking in the right direction." he said. Okay now that's like the stupidest excuse I've ever heard. And stupidest isn't even a real word. 

"But Ay already told you where we are and its just going to waste her airtime if we keep the call on."

"Dont worry about the airtime. I will pay it back if I need to."

"Okay but then what if I need the toilet. Should I still be on the call then?" I challenged. 

He chuckled then said "Okay fine but only if you need the toilet." After that there was a silence but I didn't really mind because I didn't have anything more to say and talking in person was easier. While waiting I tried to put a face to the voice I had been talking to. I kept wondering if he was tall or short. What colour was his eyes or what was the colour of his hair. My thoughts were interrupted and soon to be answered when he spoke. "Is that you?"

"Um I don't know. Tell me what I'm wearing."

"Okay so are you wearing a denim jacket and jeans with a black sneaker?"

"Ding ding ding correct. Where are you though? I can't even see where you are."

"I'm the i***t waving at you." I saw him waving. And I had to admit that he was one fine i***t. I walked to meet him halfway. When we were close enough to hear each other he spoke. " Hi."

"Hi again?" I questioned 

"Yeah but for real this time." When he spoke it sounded like he had honey in his throat. The words practically glided off his tongue. "So why are you standing alone? Where's Ay?" She isn't with me? I looked around to see her sitting at a table with her boyfriend Aiden. Wait. Was this a set up. Had she planned for this to happen. I wouldn't put it past her though. She is the type to do this. When I looked at her she mouthed the words 'have fun'. I could even imagine her saying that in a sing song voice.

"Well I'm not going there now. I don't like being a candle holder." He laughed for the first time today.

"Yeah me neither." He said calming down. He started walking so I followed. "So you're Bree."

"Yup. That's me."

"Ay always talks about you."

"Really." I asked. Remember how I said we were default besties. Well sometimes I feel like she keeps me a secret or something. Like she's embarrassed of me. I don't know why I feel that way but I do.

"Yeah a lot. So what school do you go to?"

"I don't." He look at me like I was lying before I added, "I'm home schooled."

"Oh that's probably the reason why we've never met."

"That and strict parents. I've been forced into being anti-social." He was talking but I wasn't listening because my eyes landed on a candy shop.

"Oh my gosh!" I squealed "When was the last time I had cotton candy"

"You wanna go in?" He asked. I nodded my head. Then he steered me into the candy shop with his hands on my shoulders.

"Wow." I was awed by the different varieties of sweets. I felt like a child but I didn't care. My parents were strict on what I ate. The closest thing I've had to sweets was a caramel coated apple. But I did have dessert once in a while though. But sweets was a thing of the past.

"What? Have you never been in a candy store before?"

"No I have. Just not since I was young. I have caramel coated apples nowadays."

"Damn and I thought my childhood was rough."

"Why? What happened in your childhood?" I questioned. 

"That" he said "is a story for another day. So what did you say you wanted again?" He asked changing the subject. That was so unnecessary. I'm not the type to push people to talk about something they don't want to. I didn't tell him that though.

"Cotton Candy." We're the words that left my mouth.