Chapter 6:

What the hell am I gonna audition with? Before I went to bed, I researched for standalone scenes, something short. Preferably one page. One minute. Most of them were too long. Five to seven minutes. I looked up YouTube videos for one act scenes. Even trying out something comedic. Shit. This sucks.  Before I left, the house was quiet. Craig was on his phone with the tv paused. Looked like mom was up in her room, dad was in the dining room in front of his computer. He asked if I needed a ride, and I explained Quinn was coming.

Quinn picked me up around noon. More like Tyler picked me up with Quinn in the passenger seat. Sitting in the back, I lay my head against the seats as Tyler's playlist bumps through his speakers. "What's the ice cream place called again?" I ask.

"The Creamery Factory," Quinn answers as she looks back.

"They said the ice cream is amazing. We get to choose the first two toppings of our favorite for free," Tyler chimes in.

Minutes later, we arrive at the mall. Today's gonna be good. This will be a distraction from all the drama. However, I have to prepare for my audition. Just don't know what play we're picking. Why did I have to open my big mouth? As Tyler parks near Macy's, we all enter the mall. I twist my handbag strap around. I should have stayed home, watching reruns of ANTM. We pass the Footlocker, almost to H&M. "I actually need a new pair of shoes," Quinn tells Tyler, pulling his elbow.

"Do we really have to shop?" Tyler asks in a begrudged tone; I nod my head in agreement but then I pass a cute white and black top with ruffles on a mannequin. Will that come in my size?

"Please?" Quinn pouts.

"Fine. For you." She kisses him on the cheek, telling him he's the best.

"Coming, Maya?"

"No, I'll see you there."

"All right, uh check if they have waffle bowls."

"Ok."

Passing it by, Tyler opens the door for her. I stroll inside. The first thing I smell are the cones. I love the smell. A few more people in the parlor at the counter enjoying their own treats. The light is bright. I see lots of toppings and ice cream behind the class cases. Ooo waffle cones. I spot Nathan at the table with two other boys and two girls. I call out his name, he waves when I walk over to them. All had their sundaes in front of them. A girl with curly black hair in a headband wave to me.

The other girl had straight brown hair. The two boys were sitting next to the girls. One of them looks familiar from the back when I approach them. "You're so funny, Sam," the brown-haired girl pushes his shoulder gently. Why is he here? I found a spare chair in front of the group. The next one filled with another person. The only one left is next to Sam.

"Great that you made it, Maya," Nathan says with a smile, sitting up.

"Yeah, me too," I smile back with a clenched jaw. I pull out the chair, sitting next to him. I scooch it a little. The chair makes a squeaking sound on the glossy floor.

"Maya," Sam says in a bored tone.

"Sam," I reply in the same tone. "Hi, I'm Maya." I introduce myself to the unfamiliar faces.

"Hi, I'm Brenda," the curly haired girl waves. I smile.

"Eric," the boy with low cut hair says. He has beautiful hazel eyes.

"Hi." I smile.

"I'm Jesse," the boy with wavy hair says. He pulls his coat his closer to his body

"Hi Jesse."

"Jane. Hi." The girl with straight brown hair says.

"Hello." I sigh and shiver. I should have brought a warmer jacket.

"Where's Quinn?" Nathan asks.

"H&M," I answer. Nathan scoops some ice cream in his mouth. Sam doesn't have anything in front of him.

"Well, I'm gonna get a closer look at the menu." I stand up, walking to the bar. There's chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, graham crackers, caramel sauce, cherries, strawberries, bananas. My eyes go to the ice cream: mint chocolate chip, rocky road, vanilla swirl, chocolate, cookie dough, and smores. Someone comes from behind me. Smores sound good for my choice.

"Welcome to The Creamery Factory. What can I get you two?" The cashier asks in a jovial tone. You two? I frown. She adjusts her black apron and hat that covered her brown braids. I look back to see Sam behind me. He tucks his hands in his pockets looking at the signs.

"Hi, Toni," I squint, reading her name tag. "Can I get the s'mores ice cream, with whipped cream, cherries and chocolate sauce in a waffle cone bowl?"

"Yes, ma'am. That'll be 10.50," she answers with a smile.

"Awesome." I hand her a 20. She opens the register for my change.

"Got ya. And for you, sir?" She asks Sam. I drop a dollar in the tip jar.

"Hi, what do you recommend?" He leans his elbow on the counter, giving her a flirty look. Oh my God, I shake my head at his blatant flirtation.

"Well, the caramel cone is amazing. And the Walnut crunch. Also, the brownie fudge," she answers, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and licking her lips.

"Well, I'm allergic to Walnuts but brownie fudge happens to be my favorite," he smiles. She giggles.

I clear my throat. "How long will this take?" I ask.

"Patience, Hall. Toni is providing great customer service." She giggles, adjusting her hat again.

"Is Jessica here? Your girlfriend? What does she like, by the way?" I wonder.

He turns to me with a blank expression and says "no."

"Convenient." I stare right in his eyes and shake my head. Typical boy trying to get what he wants.

"Here you go, one s'mores in a waffle cone bowl." She hands me my treat.

"Thank you. You are great." I smile back, heading to the table. Quinn and Tyler just arrived; she swung her H&M bag when she sat down.

"Our class is having a barbecue before the semester ends," Jesse informs, chewing on his vanilla cone.

"We are?" I wasn't informed.

"That's what I heard," Brenda answers.

"Oh," I nod, licking the side of my mouth from the sticky chocolate sauce. Sam comes and sits next to me. The strength of his cologne tickled my nose again, I wiggle it. I scoop a spoonful of my ice cream in my mouth. So smooth. So soft. So good. "How do you all know Nathan?" I've seen them around school but barely knew them.

"We live in the same neighborhood," Eric explains.

"Cool." I spot Quinn and Tyler at the counter for their ice cream order. Brenda wraps her arm around Jesse. I smile at them, "how long have you lovebirds been together?"

"A few months," Jesse answers with a glint in his eyes. She clasps her hand with his.

"So sweet." I scoop another spoonful of ice cream. Oh my gosh. Brain freeze. I internally suffer, closing my eyes, pushing my tongue against the roof of my mouth.

"How long have you and Sam been together?" Jesse points between us.

"Huh?" I question with a frown after my pain.

"You and Sam. How long have you been dating?"

"I thought you were single," Jane speaks up.

I snort, then my snort turns to a snicker. Puttering my lips, it turns into a boisterous laugh, I hit my knee. "Sorry. Sorry. That's hilarious. I'm not dating Sam." I motion my hand in a cutting gesture.

"No way," Sam agrees, shaking his head.

"Exactly." I putter my lips again. "He has a girlfriend."

"But he told me he's not seeing anyone."

That makes my head snap up. Sam looks around everywhere else.

"What?" Me and Quinn ask at the same time. All he does is nod.

"Me and Jessica broke up," he says simply.

"You two had a fight again?" Quinn asks.

"Not this time," Sam says.

"Wow." Wow. I guess from what I saw last night it was serious. They're over.

"And here I thought you two were dating. Sorry." Jesse says with an apologetic look.

"She'd be so lucky," Sam mutters with a chuckle.

"Excuse me?" I face him. "I'd be so lucky?"

"Well, yeah," he scoffs and laughs.

"And why would I be?" I ask, glaring at him.

"Any girl would be. Come on, you really think of me, and you would be together?"

"Then why did you ask me out in the first place?" I remind.

"Because it was a group date. It doesn't hurt that you're cute."

"Ok, I'm cute. And?" I ball up my fist, squinting at him.

"It was fun, it's over. Move on." He scoops the spoon in his mouth.

"I did-" I could feel my head heat up. My ears burn. My jaw clenched. Is he fucking serious?!

We all were silent, he was the only one laughing. I breathe in and out hard. It's taking everything in my strength not to yank his hair back and watch him fall backwards. I let out an emotionless laugh. I could literally get violent but I won't.

"What's so funny?" Sam wonders.

Picking my treat with my spoon, "nothing." I scoff, "I've moved on." I stand from my chair, grabbing my things to leave. I'm done. I take the rest of my ice cream and pour it all over his head. It drips off his hair and on his face. I even crush the bowl like sprinkles all over his hair. Let him try getting that out. Now I'm done.

"Oooh!" The group gasps.

"Nice meeting you all. Bye." I head out the exit, pushing the door open. Asshole!

"Maya!" Quinn yells out my name. I continue to walk away. "Maya!"

"What?" I yell back, turning around.

"That was funny," she snickers. I scoff, letting out a small laugh. "But-"

"Don't defend him."

"I'm not, he kind of deserved that."

"But?"

"But making a scene really doesn't help." I roll my eyes. It helped me.

"He gets on my nerves so much. Just looking at his fucking face. Ugh!" I run my hands over my face and groan.

"I know." She pats my arm to calm me down. "Are you going home?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna call my dad. He's home." I pull out my phone.

"Tyler can take you." She points out.

"No, it's ok, I don't want to pull you or him away."

"I'll take her," Nathan says, coming up to us.

"It's ok, Nathan, I'm fine. I don't want you to leave your friends," I assure him. I'm sure I made a lasting impression on them.

"My dad let me borrow his car." He takes the keys out of his pocket, jingling it in front of his face.

"Ok. Thanks." I spot Sam coming out of the shop, cleaning himself up with a napkin. Toni follows, assisting him with napkins in her hand. She wipes the ice cream that drips on his face.

"Let's go." I pull Nathan along with me; we exit the mall.