I stand on the porch melting. Every day the sun keeps on getting stronger and stronger. I dab some more suntan lotion onto my bare arms. Now, that should work, hopefully.

Sierra pulls up in her Mini Cooper and even though she sees me standing here waiting for her, she honks the horn loudly.

I climb into the front seat and fasten my seatbelt. "Really?"

She smiles innocently. "What?"

My eyes roll at her. "Forget it."

She pulls away from the curb headed for Ellie's house a few blocks down. Ellie is not waiting for us, so now Sierra has an excuse to honk the horn more than 1 time. Honk- honk- honk.

"Hold your horses," Ellie calls to us as she peeks her head out of the white-chip-painted door. "I need another moment."

Sierra gives her the death glare. Ellie ignores her, retreating back into her house. I begin to tap on the dashboard before me. Tap- tap- tap.

Finally, Ellie arrives. I get out of the car and move my seat up so she can climb into the back.

"Why does Shelby get to ride shotgun?" she complains.

"Because you always ride shotgun, now it's my turn," I say, slightly frustrated. Why do I always have to be the 1 with the cramped legs?

"Ok, ok. But on the way back I get to ride shotgun."

"We'll see."

As we argue, Sierra goes and turns on the radio, the music drowning us out. Ellie is now smiling, singing along to the song with her angelic voice. 

At last, we pull into the mall's parking lot and park in the closest available spot near the mall's entrance. 

"Where are we off to first?" Ellie asks.

Sierra smiles, her dark eyes glowing. That girl sure loves to shop... "I heard that Nordstrom is having major sales now."

Ellie loops her left arm with mine and her right with Sierra's. "What are we waiting for then? Let the shopping spree for prom dresses  begin!"

I can't stop myself from groaning.

***

45 minutes later, I stand before the tall mirror of our dressing room modeling off yet another dress. 

"Wow, I really think this is the one," Sierra breathes. "Adrian won't know what hit him."

I smile, a bit shy. "You sure?" I now look back at the mirror, admiring the dress. I have to admit it is quite lovely, with a high-pinched waist, and sparkling rhinestones trailing along the low neckline, tule of white and sea-blue making up the full skirt. I look like a princess of the sky palace.

Ellie is nodding her head feverishly. "Yes, yes, this is definitely the one!"

I check the price tag, not too bad thank goodness. "Ok, I'll take it."

Sierra claps excitedly. "Yay! We all have our dresses. Now let's go pay for them and get some food." She walks out of the dressing room with her light-pink silk gown draped over her arm. Ellie follows close behind Sierra, holding up her teal green dress. And I take the rear, cradling my delicate dress/ gown; whatever you want to call it.

It takes a few minutes to find a register that is up and running, that by the time I place my dress before the cashier my poor arms are aching. 

"Two hundred fifty dollars and twenty-six cents," the lady states. 

I hand her Mom's credit card and let her do her thing, watching her charge the card and then pack my dress in a Nordstrom garment bag. She hands the credit card and garment bag to me. 

"Thank you." I smile.

"Have a good day and wear the dress in good health." She smiles back.

I thank her again and then go to join Ellie and Sierra, who are waiting patiently for me at the store's exit. 

"I'm famished," Sierra says.

My stomach grumbles on cue. "Yeah, pretty hungry myself."

"Let's go find someplace to eat." 

"Lead the way," I tell Ellie. Ellie loves food and knows all the top food stores in this mall.

With a huge grin on her pretty face, she guides us out of the store. We walk amongst the crowds headed for the food court. As we walk, I window shop, gaping at all the flashy clothes displayed in almost every store-front window. 

That's when Sierra squeals, causing me to jump. "Oh my God, just look at those heels. They match my dress perfectly. I must go try them on!"

"But what about us going to get some food?" Ellie questions, her lips turned upside down in a frown.

"That can wait." Sierra is already skipping toward the store with the shoes.

Ellie sighs. "I guess we're going shoe shopping first." She trails after Sierra and once again I take the rear.

When Ellie and I enter the store, Sierra is already speaking to the young man working behind the counter. "Do you have this heel in a six and a half?"

He smiles at her. "I believe so. Give me a moment." He goes through the door behind him, leaving us 3 girls alone.

Ellie is grinning at Sierra. "He's pretty cute."

"Nah, not my type." Sierra is busy admiring a pair of sunglasses. She tries them on. "How do they look?"

Just then, the guy returns with a polka-dotted shoebox in hand. "They look great on you." He can't seem to keep his eyes off of my friend. 

She looks at him. "How much are they?"

"They're forty-five, but I'll give them to you for thirty in exchange for your phone number," he says while placing the shoe box before her. 

I'm surprised that Sierra accepts so easily. "Deal." 

"I guess he is her type, that liar," Ellie mumbles beside me.

"Mhm." I go to the shelves of shoes to see if there are any pairs that tickle my fancy.

In the background, I hear Sierra busy exchanging her number with the guy, who goes by the name of Dylan--- as she tries on the heels and models them off. Of course, he compliments how beautiful they look on her feet as if they were made for her. I try very hard not to gag.

"I'll take them," she announces.

"Great, I'll go ring them up with the sunglasses."

She beams at him. "Thanks."

Yeah, definitely not her type. I snort and Ellie shares a look with me. She makes gagging faces with her finger pointing down her throat and I wiggle my eyebrows at her. We both laugh. 

Finally, Sierra walks over to us, shopping bag swinging in 1 hand and garment bag tossed over her shoulder. "Ready to go get some food?"

"Heck yeah." Ellie is already off and Sierra and I quickly run to catch up to her.

***

I dig into my taco, sauce dripping down my chin. 

"Napkin?" Ellie hands me 1 and I smile at her gratefully. 

"Thanks."

"No problem. These tacos can be messy, but they're so worth it."

"Tell me about it," Sierra says, dabbing at her lips with her own napkin.

Ellie smiles at her, mischievously. "So are you going to give this Dylan a call?"

Sierra takes a sip from her Coke. "I always let the guy reach out first."

"You think he will?" I find myself asking.

"Of course, he couldn't keep his eyes off of our beautiful Sierra," Ellie smirks.

Sierra blushes. "Oh shut up."

And that's when I see him walk into Carlos's Taco Shop, Katie Jones clutching onto his arm possessively. I almost choke on my food.

"What's wrong?" Ellie questions, following my gaze. "Oh! I heard that Katie claimed the new guy as her boy toy, I guess now I see in person that it is true."

Levi's eyes settle on me like a steel gun holding me in place. Ready to shoot. He always seems to find me, doesn't he? 

"They're dating?" Sierra is asking Ellie.

"I don't know. I just know that Katie is fighting for his attention and is following him everywhere."

I look away from Levi, but I can still feel his eyes searing into me. Does he think by intimidating me he'll get me to forgive him? Well, let him keep on trying. It will all just go for naught.

"Earth to Shelby?" Ellie is waving her white-polished manicured hand before my eyes.

"Hmmm..."

"You're dripping sauce all over your shirt." She hands me a bunch of napkins.

Oh damn. "Thanks." My face is as red as the sauce all over my white tank top. I wipe at the blotch, and wipe some more, and even some more. If anything I spread it all over. Double damn. "I'm gonna go to the restrooms and see if I can get it off there."

"Sounds like a good idea," Sierra says.

1 issue is that Levi and Katie settled themselves at a table near the restrooms, so I'll be passing them. Trying not to look their way, I head for the ladies' room. 

"Shelby, is that you?" 

Triple damn. I look at Katie and smile sweetly. "Oh hey there."

"Wow, what happened to your shirt?" Her blue eyes are wide.

My hands clench, unclench, clench, unclench... "Got some sauce on it. I was about to go wash it off." 

"Well then, good luck." She then goes back to giving her full attention to Levi, cooing at him as if he was her baby. His eyes, I feel on my back.

 I finally reach the restrooms and enter, turning on the sink right away. Feverishly, I wash away the red blotch, leaving behind a small pink stain. That would have to do for now. 

Exiting the restroom, I almost bump right into Levi. His large hands hold me up. I push him off of me and saying nothing--- start to walk off. 

"Shelby, hold on!"

I pivot on my heels and give him my death glare. "I thought I told you to leave me alone, that includes talking to me."

"Please, just hear me out." His eyes plead. And all I can think of are beautiful evergreen eyes pleading to me. Thank goodness I've forgiven Adrian and we are as tight as ever. But that won't ever happen between me and Levi. It's better off that I don't fall for those sad eyes. 

"No. Now goodbye." Turning my back on him, I walk off, chin raised high.

Levi Cruze is officially out of my life for now. 

For good, I hope.