"Is it my fault she's built like a guy? And she's short—like Napoleon short. Like Munchkin short, like Oompa Loompa...."
"We get it!" Colby said, smacking Stan in the head. "I'm going after her," he told Gavin. "I can't go in, but at least I can tap on the door."
Gavin nodded. "Your funeral."
Colby squared his shoulders, his T-shirt and hoodie binding slightly across his back. Shifting uncomfortably, he walked after Avery. As he approached the door, he could hear hollow sobs echoing in the tiled room. He tapped on the door. The sobbing stopped. The door opened and Avery's pale face peered up at him.
"Stan's an ass," Colby said calmly. "And every man on the face of the Earth is a slave to his testicles. I'm sorry."
Avery tried to smile. "Yeah, well.... You guys never seem to have that problem around me. I'm one of the gang." Her lips trembled as she cast her eyes downward.
Colby wanted to hold her, but wasn't sure she'd let him touch her. Avery was very standoffish—given her family situation, which wasn't great, he could understand her attitude. She was afraid to let anyone close for fear they'd leave her like her father had—like her mother.
"You're the smartest, prettiest member of the gang," he murmured.
"You're saying that to make me feel better." Avery sniffed, wiping her red nose with a paper towel.
"Could be. Or it could be that it's true."
Avery punched him, grinning a little. "Thanks. I notice you're the only one who came after me."
"Stan can't be trusted on his own, with that kind of stimulus around. He'd explode from testosterone overload and take half the mall with him."
She giggled, nodding. "It would get ugly."
"Very. Total chaos, end of the world part one. The usual weekend at the mall."
Slipping out the door, she leaned into him. Colby took that as a sign he could put his arms around her. He hugged her shoulders. Her arms went around his waist, her head on his chest. One, small, firm breast pressed casually against his ribs. Colby gasped, feeling a little flutter that he'd never felt in Avery's presence. She hugged him closer and he could smell the scent of her hair—fresh like kiwi and watermelon. His arms tightened around her as she snuggled against him, and he had the strong urge to kiss her.
Two girls walked up, stopping in front of them, smiling. "Y'all need a moment?" the blonde asked with a grin.
"Sorry." Colby loosened his arms, moving away from Avery slowly.
She let go reluctantly, stepping away to allow the girls access to the bathroom.
Giggling, the girls went inside. Colby snickered, his eyes lingering on them as the door closed.
"We'll be the topic of conversation."
"No doubt. Girls like that have nothing else to talk about."
"It's cool," Colby replied. "Shall we?" He held out his arm in a gallant gesture.
"Thank you, Kind Sir," she replied with a little bob of a curtsy. "It never happened," she whispered as they approached their friends.
Colby stopped her, his hand on her arm. "Why?"
"Do you want them to know?"
"I don't care if they know I hugged you, Ave. Friends do things like that from time to time."
"I meant the tears," she grumbled. "But the hug too, now you mention it."
She moved away from him, hands deep in her jacket pockets. Colby stopped her again, turning her to face him.
"You put this big wall around yourself, Avery. If you ever let someone in...."
"No more the touchy feelies," she snapped, pulling away. "I get enough of the psycho-babble from my therapist."
Avery stormed off, heading toward the outer door to the mall. Colby was torn. He didn't know if he should follow her or go back to their friends. The unhappy young woman won out. He raced after her, nearly colliding with a woman with a stroller and an old lady doing a power walk around the mall's interior.
"Avery! Avery!"
She heard him, but didn't stop. Instead, she sped up, hitting the door to the outside at a run. Hopping around obstacles, Colby tried to follow her, but he ran into a fat man with a covered cup of Coke and some nachos. Food and liquid flew in a perfect arc around them. The fat man sputtered and yammered loudly, gesticulating wildly as Colby tried to apologize. One huge fist snagged his shirt front, dragging him to the counter.
"You're gonna buy me some more," the fat man bellowed. "You ruined my lunch!"
Colby slapped a ten dollar bill to the man's chest and wriggled out of the threatening grasp. Doing his best to lose himself in the mall traffic, he worked his way to another door. He knew Avery was gone. Reaching into his pocket, he realized he didn't have his phone.
Great! Fucking great! Angry and disgusted, he headed back to his friends.
©2021 Dellani Oakes
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