I extend my hand out awkwardly to shake Jason's. He's staring at me as if he's seen a ghost.

"Long time no see Jason" I say to him and he looks surprised, I'm guessing he wanted to keep it a secret, us already knowing each other.

"Wait, you two know each other?" Dani asks in surprise.

"Yeah, we went to high school together, same year" Jason answers.

Just high school? Ha!

"Yep, high school" I say with a fake smile.

"Aw that's great, you guys went to school together. Were you guys friends?" Dani asks me.

"No..not really, we had a few classes together but that was it. Just a familiar face, that's all" I said.

Oh god why am I such a crappy liar?

"Um if you'd excuse me, I have to get ready. I'm hitting the mall with a friend" I say, making my way to my closet.

"Well ok, I'll see ya later" Dani says giving me a hug.

"Okay, have fun you two" I called out as they left the room. Soon as the door shut I exhaled loudly.

I wasn't bloody expecting that. Jason of all people! Hope he doesn't complain about Dani's choice of music as well.

I take off my check shirt and throw it in the laundry basket. I grab a hoodie and put it on, still wearing my same jeans. This should do. It's just me and Todd anyway.

I leave the room and as I walk downstairs, I text Todd and tell him I'm already by my car. He asks me to pick him up from Block D, on the other side of school.

Soon as Todd got in the car, he quickly noticed that it was only me.

"Hey so where's your roommate? Is she invisible?" Todd asks, looking at the backseat.

"Well she couldn't make it, she's hanging out with an old friend right now".

"Oh that's too bad, guess I'll meet her tomorrow at the party" Todd says.

"Yep. If she decides to show" I replied.

***

I had never been to any of the shops here. The mall was bigger than the one in my town, lots more shops too-- which means more places to buy new clothes from.

We enter the first store nearest to the entry and start browsing. Todd is in the guys section checking out some shirts, I'm headed to the dresses- trying to find something nice but not too fancy. I think of Ally and how she would always pull my hand into the clothes store and pick random stuff for me, it would always fit and look good, guess Ally does have really good taste. I miss her so much.  I have to see her soon.
And Marissa, I haven't heard from her since I left. She hasn't texted me or called - I wonder how she's doing at Stafford, maybe I'll call her later.

Todd comes up to me with two shirts in his hands.

"Okay Kaia, if you had to choose one from these two, which would it be?" He asks me.

On the left he's holding up a navy blue shirt with white flower patterns. It looks really cool.

On the right he's holding a black shirt with green tropical prints on it. I like it a lot.

"Okay I'll go with the one on the right, it's a pretty pattern. I love it" I say to him.

"Oh my gosh I love that one too, I'm taking it" Todd says.

"Go for it Todd! It suits you"  I replied.

I continue to look for something to wear, scanning each section as I pass it. Just as I was about to turn my back and leave the store, I spot a pretty light pink velvet dress with a matching velvet choker. Oh my gosh it's so pretty. And the feel of it is just so soft. It's gorgeous.

"That is like the prettiest dress ever! Girl you have to get it" Todd says.

"Okay.. I will but I'll look for maybe one or two more just in case I change my mind" I say.

Todd and I cash out our stuff and head to the next shop. In the window display I see a cute white top and a matching red skirt. Oh my gosh that's cute!

I quickly walk inside and purchase the outfit in my size. I line up at the cashier and Todd waits patiently for me outside.

After that outfit I decided not to get anymore, instead I'll just choose from these two.

"Let's eat something I'm starved" Todd says.

"Should we eat here or go to my room?" I ask him.

"Let's eat in your room" Todd replies.

"Alright cool" I say as we make our way to the food court.

*****

We arrived back at my room and dropped our stuff on my bed. Todd got us burgers and drinks and I got some chinese. Weird combination, I know.

After eating we lay down on the floor, full to the brim- not able to eat anymore. There was just three fries left and I couldn't even eat it. 

"You have it" I say to Todd, rolling over on my side to face him.

"Nope" Todd says sitting up and drinking his diet coke.

We cleared all the takeout and put it in the bin, threw some big pillows on the floor and lay down reading magazines. Todd and I had the same taste in fashion apparently. I bet he'd get along with Ally so well. 

I told him all about Ash and how we sort of hang out now. He laughed when I told him the story of how we first met. Todd thinks we were meant for each other. I completely disagree.

"I'm just sort of taking it slow, you know" I say to Todd.

"That's good" He replied.

Todd tells me about his girlfriend Samantha and how they've been going out for a year now. She goes to Stafford though.

*

Time pasted by quickly as it was now past sunset. Dani came in and saw us lazing on the floor.
She had a big smile on her face when she saw us.

"Oh hey Dani, this is Todd- my classmate, I thought it would be cool if we all went together to the party tomorrow".

Dani walks over to us and takes a seat on the floor.

"Nice to meet you Todd, I'm Danielle but you can call me Dani" she says with with a smile.

"So nice to meet you too Dani, can't wait for the party, we're gonna have so much fun" Todd says.

"Have you found something to wear Kaia?" Dani asks me.

"Yep, we just got back from the mall and from overeating" I replied.

"Oh my gosh, I totally forgot I have heaps of laundry to do and Samantha is coming over on Sunday, my place has to be  spotless" Todd says as he stands up, ready to leave.

I get on my feet as well.
"Aw okay Todd, thanks so much for today, you're amazing" I say as I give him a hug.

"You're too much Kaia" Todd laughs.

"So are you" I answer back.

After Todd leaves I shut the door and turn to Dani who is still sitting on the floor.

"So, how was your hangout?" I asked.

"It was alright. Had lots of fun talking about our new lives. A lot of things has changed" Dani says.

"So did he head back home?"

"Oh no.  He's gonna be going here too girl. At WCU" Dani answered.

"Wow. That's great!" I said.

It's not. It's not fricking great.