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towards the house. We had no clue why I had the seizures and Darren refused to take me to the doctors. I threw clothes, contacts and my toothbrush in my backpack and ran back out of the house. Bret was following me and I stopped running to wait for him. He caught up to me

frowning. “Where are you going?”

I snarled. “Away from my father.”

“Are you coming to my house?” He asked smiling.

“I hadn’t really thought about it actually,” I said quietly.

He smiled wider. “You know you are always welcome to stay with me.”

I stared at his smiling face and felt sadness overwhelm me knowing that in a week I

would no longer have him. I would be alone, just like the first week of kindergarten. I started to tell him I couldn’t when Billy drove down the street. I waved at him and he stopped the truck, waving back at me. I smiled at Bret. “I think I’ll go hang out with Billy for a while.”

Bret’s smile fell and a quick anger replaced his happiness. “Fine. Do whatever you

want.” His anger faded and he rubbed the back of his neck in his nervous gesture. “If you want to stay the night at my house I’ll leave the door open for you. I think I’ll go hang out with the guys for a while if you won’t be with me.”

I could see the hope in his eyes that I would go with him and smiled reassuringly. “I’ll

meet you at your house for dinner, ‘kay?”

He nodded his head and attempted a smile. “Alright. I’ll see you at six.”

I stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Bye Bret.”

He smiled at me with a little gleam of hope in his eyes. “Bye Artemis.”

I ran to Billy’s truck and hopped up into the open door. I threw my bag in the back before turning to him. “Hey Billy. You know you have perfect timing?”

He laughed. “Well that’s a first.” He looked at my bag. “You going somewhere?”

“Just running away from home for a little while. Not like my dad won’t know where to

find me, but I need some space.” Billy’s face fell as he realized I meant Bret’s house. “So Billy, you want to go somewhere? Bret’s hanging out with the guys for a while and I’m not supposed to be back at his place for dinner ’til six.”

Billy smiled. “We could go to the mall.”

I nodded my head. “Great! I need to do some shopping.”

Billy nodded his head clearly overjoyed. “Cool.” He started the truck back up and drove

away down the road towards the highway. I buckled my seatbelt and sat back against the seat.

Billy talked about his after high school plans and I tried to pay attention, but all I could think about was the wolves. I had never seen wolves come so close to humans before, especially twice in one day. Billy must have noticed my wandering mind because he turned on the radio and

didn’t talk the rest of the way to the mall. We parked on the top level of the parking garage and walked towards the mall.

I smiled reassuringly at Billy and asked, “Do they have cell phones in here?”

Billy shrugged. “I don’t remember. I have one you could borrow, though.”

“Thanks. I just need to make a call tomorrow.”

“No problem.” He opened the door for me and I walked in and inhaled the smell of

cinnamon. Billy laughed. “It’s the cinnamon bun place. It’s like two feet from the department store. If you want we can get something there?”

I licked my lips realizing that I hadn’t eaten after my shower. “Actually I think I need to get food, like more than a cinnamon bun.”

Billy rubbed his stomach and said, “I’m always hungry.”

“What is it with boys and always being hungry?” I asked.

He shrugged and then flexed his arms, showing off his muscular biceps. “It’s from all of

the working out and growing big.”

I nodded my head. “That must be it. Working out your big egos.”

He rolled his eyes. “Come on, there is this great Chinese food place in here I love.”

I shook my head. “No way. I need meat!”

He laughed and put his hand on the center of his chest. “A woman after my own heart!”

We walked through the department store to the exit, which led to the rest of the mall. I dodged around people as I hurried to the food court, which was about fifty feet away. I turned and looked at all of the places surrounding me, trying to figure out where to go. Billy started pointing out places. “There’s the fast food burger place or the burrito place that makes giant burritos that are like
ten
pounds! You can get an all meat burrito I bet.”

I licked my lips at the thought of spicy shredded beef in a burrito. “Burrito place it is.” He led the way to the burrito place which thankfully had no line in it. I ordered the largest burrito of spicy shredded beef, rice, sour cream, refried beans and cheese they could make. Billy ordered his burrito then got us chips and salsa with our drinks as well. We sat down at an empty table and started in on our chips and salsa. I moaned happily. “I forgot how much I love chips and salsa!”

“My mom always keeps chips and salsa around at the house. We could watch a movie

afterwards and chow down on some more chips and salsa there if you want?” Billy said with a nervous smile.

I shrugged then talked around a chip in my mouth. “Maybe, it depends on how I feel after

shopping. I generally get tired from dealing with the Barbie girls here.”

Billy frowned. “What Barbie girls?”

I looked around us and saw at least ten blonde haired, big-chested, slutty dressed girls

and laughed loudly. “Look around us Billy. It’s like an ‘I wanna be Barbie’ convention.”

He looked around us and smiled. “I guess I see what you mean.”

I scoffed. “As if their looks weren’t bad enough, these girls all act dumb and talk in high pitched voices.” I changed my voice to as high pitched as I could get. “Like
ohmyGod
Billy! Did you see her hair? It is like
totally
last summer.”

He laughed loudly at my mocking and shook his head. “So, why is it that you have been

the outcast in our group when you are so much fun to hang out with?”

I shrugged and tried to hide the pain from my face. “I think because Bret forced me on

everyone so they didn’t get a chance to decide if they liked me or not. Then you have Skankzilla who wants Bret so bad that she will do anything she can to try to get rid of me.”

Billy looked nervous as he dipped a chip in the salsa. “Yeah, she definitely hates that Bret is with you.”

I felt my face wrinkle in disgust. “I told you that I’m not
with
Bret! We are just friends. I told you that at the lake.”

He shrugged. “You don’t have to lie to me Artemis. I see the way you are together.”

I shook my head. “You obviously don’t. Bret is my friend and that’s all. Ugh. I hate it

when people assume we are together.”

He smiled and asked, “So you guys aren’t a couple?”

I shook my head. “NO! He is just so damn protective of me that he makes everyone think

that.”

Billy smiled wider. “Oh. Well I’m glad I know now.” I finished eating my burrito and

finally felt full. Billy finished his burrito with a sigh. “Man that was good.”

I nodded my head. “Yep. Definitely hit the spot. So are you ready to shop?”

He smiled. “Always!”

“Are you one of those guys who is a secret shopaholic?” I asked after laughing at his

enthusiasm.

He put his head down in a bashful manner. “Maybe.”

I laughed. “Great. I think I’m coming here for a relaxing time and you’re going to be

going to all of the sales.”

His eyes got big and he looked around the mall. “There’s a sale?! Where?”

I rolled my eyes. “Come on tough football player. Let’s shop!” I stood up and he

followed me throwing away our tray of food on the way.

I started to walk past the teen clothing store with a giant SALE sign and Billy cleared his throat. “Ugh, I wasn’t kidding about being a shopaholic.” I laughed and followed him into the store. He rushed right to the discounted racks and started pulling out t-shirts with the clothing store’s logo on them. I had to admit that Billy did have decent taste in clothes. He cleared his throat and I looked up from the floor that I had at some point started looking at. He smiled.

“What size are you?”

I frowned. “Why?”

He sighed. “Just play along.”

I sighed back at him. “Medium.”

He nodded his head then turned back to the discounted racks. I walked over to one of the

display stands and sat down on it. It was definitely going to be a long day of shopping. Billy walked across the store with a pile of clothes over his shoulder to another rack which had sunglasses. He put on a pair of the old style aviators and I couldn’t help, but laugh. He turned to me and frowned. “You don’t like them?”

I shook my head. “No!” I walked over to the sunglass rack and found a nice pair of

sunglasses and put them on him. He looked in the mirror and smiled. I nodded my head. “I like those.”

He reached over to the girls’ side and handed me a pair with diamonds on the side. “Put

them on.” I frowned and put the sunglasses on. I had never really been a big fan of sunglasses so I didn’t own any. I tilted my head to the side as if I was modeling them and he nodded his head.

“I like those. They look good on you.”

I blushed. “You think so? You don’t think they make me look…”

He moved closer to me and whispered, “Hot? Yes definitely.” I turned to face him and he

kissed me on the lips, sending an unpleasant shock down my spine. He pulled away from me

smiling and took the glasses off my face. “I’m buying you these.”

“I have my own money Billy.”

He shook his head. “Nope, I picked the store so I’m buying.”

He walked over to another rack and started looking at belts. I sighed. “I’m going next

door to get my shopping out of the way while you are finishing up.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you in there. I think I’m almost done.”

I laughed at him as he scowled at a pair of jeans trying to decide if they were worth it

with the ten percent off or not. I hurried to the store right next door and walked in. It was my favorite place, a jewelry store. I didn’t wear jewelry, but I loved looking at everything. I walked down to the men’s jewelry spot and looked at the necklaces. They were all chains and reminded me of rappers you see on TV. I rolled my eyes and then found the necklace I had been looking at since I found out Bret was leaving. I smiled at the clerk who stood silently waiting for me to ask for help and pointed at the necklace. “I’d like that one please.”

She smiled. “That’s a nice one.” She took it out and put it in a box. I watched the silver chain with the football on it sparkle and hoped Bret liked it. It would be my last present to him before he left. I paid for it and walked outside and almost ran into Billy.

He smiled and looked down at the bag. “Gift for Bret?”

I sighed. “My going away present for him. Something so he’ll remember me.”

Billy rolled his eyes. “Like anyone could forget you.”

I smiled at him and started walking towards the exit. He walked quietly beside me and

opened the door for me. I looked down at his hands and gasped. “How much did you spend?”

He shrugged. “A couple hundred dollars. Not much.”

I gaped at the ten bags he was holding. “Oh my God. I don’t think I’ve spent that much in five years of clothes shopping.”

He rolled his eyes. “Are you sure you’re a girl?”

“Are you sure you’re not gay?” I asked.

He frowned. “Would I have kissed you if I was gay?”

I fought the frown that wanted to form and forced a playful look. “You did just question

if I was a girl.”

He rolled his eyes at me then started walking to his truck. I walked beside him and smiled at how easy it was to be around him. I felt for once, normal. We were almost to his truck when we heard screeching tires. I turned my head and saw Skankzilla driving J.D.’s truck and

swerving out of control. Billy jumped in front of me to protect me from the careening truck. I tensed waiting for impact, but nothing happened. I opened my eyes slowly and saw the truck had stopped just inches from Billy. He exhaled and turned around to face the truck. “You almost killed us!”

Skankzilla shrugged. “I wasn’t aiming for
you Billy
.”

Bret was frowning angrily from the passenger seat and shook his head. “I can’t believe

you just said that. Are you alright Artemis?”

I patted my arms and legs and nodded. “Yeah. Billy saved me by blocking Skankzilla’s

path to me.”

Bret’s forehead creased further in anger. Billy stepped in my view of him and looked me

over. “You sure you’re alright?”

I laughed. “Billy I’m fine. If anyone would have been hurt it would have been you for

jumping in the way. You could have died.”

He smiled. “Well I couldn’t just let you get hurt. I had to protect you.” He kissed my

cheek and I felt the blush spread across them. He turned around and yelled, “Don’t ever let her drive again!”

Bret glared at Billy as he walked to the truck. Bret hopped down and walked towards me.

“You having fun with Billy?”

I shrugged. “Actually yes. We ate then we shopped…” Billy whistled and I turned just as

he tossed the sunglasses he bought me towards me. I caught them easily and put them on smiling at Bret. “You like them?”

He nodded his head. “Yes. They look good on you.”

Billy called, “That’s because I picked them out.”

Bret snarled. “So you and Billy dating now?”

I frowned and pushed the sunglasses on top of my head. “Bret, I have to make friends,

right? You’ll be gone in a week. And we just talked about this.”

He scoffed and then glared at me. “Friends?
Right,
more like bed buddies.”

I shoved Bret in the chest as hard as I could, making him stumble a few steps backwards.

“Don’t ever say something like that about me again! You know I’m not like that! I can’t believe you said that. Here! Take this.” I tossed the bag with his necklace in it at him and walked away.