I waited at the garage in complete silence. I swear Calem said 11:30. I sat on the steps and waited for a moment.

"Sorry I'm late" I heard Calem and looked up. He sat beside me, panting "Where is everyone?"

"I could ask you the same question. It's too quiet for my liking" I looked around, nervously. I knew what Calems old friends were like, so I wanted to be cautious.

"I think we should just go-" We heard footsteps as a group of people made their way around the corner.

"Calem, buddy. What's going on?" Someone said with a half smile. I felt like he was faking it.

"Nothing much, Uh" Calem seemed a little nervous.

"Brought your little friend here for what? Protection? You aint got my money?" I scanned the other guy who was shouting and realized he must be atleast 20. This guy was nuts. I looked behind him to the group, counting 5 other people.

"No, he isn't here to protect me. Look I have some money, but it isn't enough" Calem took out forty dollars and put his hand out. The guy snatched it and looked angry.

"I have given you a month and you only got forty?" He looked like he was going to punch him, so I stood in the middle of them.

"I'll give you the rest of the money. So back off" I looked over my shoulder at Calem and turned back to the angry guy.

"Excuse me?" He said, folding his arms.

I took out sixty dollars and pushed it into his chest "BACK off" I turned and gestured to Calem "Lets go-"

Suddenly, someone had there arms round my throat and I found it hard to breath.

"No one tells me to back off!" He said angrily.

"ASH!" I suddenly heard a voice I recognized too well. Serena began rushing over and the gang ran off "Are you ok?"

"Yeah I am fine, what are you-?" Before I could ask, Serena had slapped Calem so hard, he stumbled back.

"You think you can use Ash do solve your problems? He almost got hurt!" She sounded angry and upset.

"Why should you care, you don't even like Ash!" Calem shouted back.

"Calem, leave it" I said calmly "Look, you didn't have to come here Serena. I knew what I was getting into. His old friends always cause trouble. Lets just go to the mall now" I began walking off before anyone could say anything.

We arrived at the mcdonalds and sat down with the others. My thoughts went back to earlier. Why did Serena get involved? How did she know?

"Cilan, you told Serena didn't you?" I assumed. It must've been him.

"She still cares about you, you know" Cilan said calmly.

"I already knew that. I am sure she knows I am the same" I got up to order some food, starting a line from me to the end, where May stood.

We all ordered in turn and sat down to eat.

"Anyway" I continued "lets focus on today" I wanted to forget about the mornings event so I needed to focus on the rest of the day.

"Yeah, who cares about girls. I am all for the single life" Drew took a huge slurp of his drink as Gary stared at him in horror.

"Dude you got to sort out your priorities" He too began slurping his drink.

Calem laughed "Girls or no girls, we stick together" I nodded with a mouthful of burger.

"Right" Cilan said in an unconvincing way. I was sure he wanted to bring up this morning again.

We finished our lunch and headed outside.

"So, are we splitting up?" Dawn asked, looking in turn at everyone.

"I assume so" Kenny replied first "I doubt you girls want to look at video games and sports all day"

"And I doubt you want to look at clothes most of the day" Serena butted in.

"Well, looks like we will meet here at 5ish?" Everyone nodded and we walked in different directions.

We spent the rest of the day roaming around, looking at games and playing demos, buying clothes and sports items.

At one point Gary thought it would be a good idea to mess around. Calem and him got a trolley and Gary sat in it.

"You guys are missing out" He said as we stepped out of the shop.

"As far as I am concerned, I don't know them two" Cilan folded his arms and leaned against the wall outside of the shop.

"You can say that again" Drew replied.

It wasn't long before a security guard escorted Gary and Calem out.

"Have fun?" I asked as we walked on. It was getting quite late so we headed to mcdonalds again to meet the others.

"That was amazing" Gary looked so pumped up.

"Easy for you to say, I didn't even get a go" Calem folded his arms like a little kid.

I let out a little laugh "Well you're both idiots in my eyes"

The others laughed in agreement. Their stupidity could have caused an accident and got them kicked out. My thoughts went back to Serena or rather how happy she was with Kevin.

"Maybe it's time for me to get over Serena. Start dating different people" I scratched my chin in thought.

Gary looked like he saw an angel. He patted me on the back with force "That's the spirit Ash. I'll help you if you want. Be your wingman" I gave Gary a 'are you serious' look and shook my head.

"I will be ok, thanks Gary" This prompted everyone else to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Gary looked dumbfounded.

"Nothing pea brain" Drew said over the laughter. Gary looked confused as we walked on.

"Just because you know I can get more girls than you" Gary said with confidence.

"Sure pal" Kenny replied as everyone began to calm down.

We waited for the girls and it gave me time to think. I guess it wouldn't hurt to start over and maybe date someone different. I still wasn't set on the idea but it stayed in my mind for the rest of the day. If the opportunity presents itself, I will consider it.

I thought and wondered how Serena would react. Something else bugged me at the back of my mind. Something about Serena. I looked at the date on my watch and realized. It was a week until halloween.a

And what would be our third year anniversary.