Troveto mentioned he wanted to go to the mall, so I waited near the bus stop for a bus to take them, then went and waited for one for me. Unfortunately, it took fifteen minutes to show up. Then the driver drove slowly and carefully through the crowded streets, making me wait longer than I should have.

After getting off the bus, I ran to the mall and rushed inside. I immediately went up to the upper floors and started looking for them everywhere, like a maniac. I went through almost the entire building, getting more nervous with every minute. I was about to give up, when suddenly Erica's voice came to me.

—Why here?— she asked.

I immediately turned around. Behind me were Erica and Troveto, coming out of an electronics store. I hid behind a seat, they couldn't see me.

—It's a little more expensive, but the batteries are better than the ones they sell on the streets.

They walked down the aisle, avoiding the crowds of people. It was harder to walk in a group this way, but it was better for me, because I could hide without getting too far away. They walked a long way to the exit, where they left.

—Why are they leaving?— I wondered

I prepared to follow them, but another familiar voice surprised me.

—What are you doing, Ocko?— asked Raquel.

I jumped with fright, but I pulled myself together and turned to her.

—Raquel, what are you doing here?!

—I asked first— she claimed— I'm shopping.

She was carrying a small bag in one hand.

—Oh, right.

—What are you doing?

I looked away and ran a hand over my head, trying to calm down.

—Nothing, nothing.

—It looked like you were spying on Troveto and Erica— she said.

I looked at her in fright.

—I'll call a guard to send you away— she warned me, so calm and expressionless that she didn't seem to care. I was so nervous that it took me several seconds to realize that she was joking.

—Look, I know it looks weird, but let me just... I have to make sure they don't do anything weird. I'll see you at school.

I hurried towards the exit where they had gotten lost and started to look for them with my eyes, but then Raquel came up to me again.

—What are you doing?— I pleaded— You're not going to tell them I'm here, are you?

—No, I just thought you might want some company— she said.

Obviously she was joking, she was just curious to know what I was doing or something, but I didn't have time to get her off my back. I kept looking for them, but they were nowhere to be seen.

—They went that way— Raquel indicated, showing me the direction with one finger.

—Thank you.

We went there. Behind the corner I found them walking quietly towards an open space, next to the entrance. They stopped next to a ramp for the handicapped, some stairs and a few large flowerpots, with well-kept bushes. They were more or less far away, so we approached with Raquel. Using the people passing by to hide us, we got close to the bushes and peered through them. That way we could keep an eye on them without being noticed.

I admit I was puzzled. I wondered what Troveto was planning to do in a place like that.

Until he pulled out his skateboard and a camera. Then it hit me, I felt like a fool. He handed the camera to Erica.

—Record me— he asked.

—Huh?

—Don't let me out of your sight.

—Oh, sure.

Then Troveto went up the stairs, got his skateboard ready and started walking. He jumped over the railing that led down the ramp, but he didn't reach the height and fell. Erica approached him.

—Are you all right?

Troveto jumped to his feet.

—Yes, don't worry— he shook himself— I'm used to it.

Troveto tried five or six more times, all of them falling. Erica followed him with the camera completely focused, like a pro.

—Mmm, I thought they were going to kiss— Raquel confessed.

I looked at her, a little irritated because she was making fun of me. But I remembered that Raka is not the type to make jokes like that. She was simply stating the obvious.

—Yeah, me too— I admitted.

I suppose I should have been a better friend and trusted Troveto, but I'm not into those sappy lessons in children's movies. No! Of course I shouldn't have trusted Troveto! I knew he was up to something!

And almost as if he had read my mind, an electronic melody sounded from my pocket. Everyone around me turned their attention to me. I tried my best to turn my phone off as quickly as possible, but by the time I managed to do so, it was too late.

—Hello— said Raquel.

I looked at her, quizzical. She was looking up. I followed the line of her eyes, found Troveto and Erica looking at me from either side of the bush. Then I looked at my cell phone. It said "Troveto." I looked at him again, in his hand he was holding his cell phone. I wondered how it had not broken from falling so much.

—Ocko?! Raquel?!— exclaimed Erica, surprised.

Troveto was just smiling mockingly. I cursed in my mind. So that had been his plan all along.

—Why are you hiding here?— he asked, victorious.

—I'm going to kill you— I wanted to tell him. I was furious with him, but obviously I wasn't going to say something like that.

Raquel stood up.

—We were spying on you two— she admitted, looking as if she didn't care. Knowing her, she really didn't care— we thought Troveto was going to go try something with Erica.

Erica turned red, Troveto was a little surprised. I guess he's not so used to Raquel's relentless sincerity.

—Were you spying on us?!— exclaimed Erica.

Troveto laughed. I stood up, thinking quickly of something to say to Erica so she wouldn't get mad.

—Wait, wait, I can explain. It just...—I looked at Troveto angrily, it was his fault I was in that situation— I was worried and... and....

I looked at Erica. To my surprise, she wasn't angry. Not even a little bit, she was just smiling.

—Wait, you're not upset?— I asked her.

—No— she admitted, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear— Should I be?

It took me a second to react.

—No! No, not really.

I put a hand to my head. I felt like a fool after I'd been caught. Troveto looked amused, damn Troveto. Raquel was bored, she didn't even care that we had been caught. At least Erica was staying positive.

—But what were you worried about?— she wanted to know.

Her question surprised me, though I should have seen it coming.

I paused, thinking fast. I needed an excuse not to say what everyone was already imagining at that moment

—It's just that this guy is a brute! He goes around all day with his skateboard! Stick with him too much and you'll get a skateboard to your face.

I immediately realized how ridiculous that sounded. Erica could get hit by a truck and get up just like that. An occasional hit with a silly skateboard would be nothing.

—Really?!— she exclaimed, happy.

I looked at her, she seemed flattered. I didn't understand her in the slightest. If I had been her at that moment, I would have been terribly offended that someone would care about something as simple as a skateboard bump. Erica didn't have a hint of sarcasm, she actually looked pleased.

Then Troveto cleared his throat.

—I remind you that you still owe me a prize— he pleaded— Erica, can you keep recording me? I have to get this trick, I know I'm close.

—Sure, but aren't you two going to get bored?

I shrugged my shoulders. Even if it had been Troveto's trick, he still deserved his prize. Then I remembered that Raquel doesn't really like to share with people. Surely she was going to get bored.

—I'll stay with them, but you can go, Raka— I said.

—No, I'd like to watch too— she admitted.

Sometimes it was hard even for me to know what Raquel was thinking, but it was better this way.

And we stayed to watch Troveto banging on the railing for almost half an hour, until he got the little trick. We chatted and joked in between, and had a good time. When he did it, Erica and I went over to pat him on the back.

—Good, you did it! Very good!— we shouted, like little kids.

Troveto gave us a forced smile, I could tell he disliked us talking to him like that, and that made me want to say it even more.

After we got tired of teasing him, Raquel clicked her tongue.

—Yes, yes, very nice. I'm hungry. Shall we get something to eat?

We all looked at her in silence.

—Yes, I'm hungry too— Erica confesed.

In no time we found ourselves in a table, with some fries to share and hamburgers.

We didn't talk about anything important, just school stuff, some music and movies.

Troveto devoured his whole meal in three bites, that guy could eat fast when he wanted to. I thought Erica would do the same, but she like a normal girl. Raquel, on the other hand, plucked small pieces from her sandwich and chewed them patiently, like a fairy tale princess would.

Despite what happened, we had fun. Then we watched on the camera Troveto's bumps. We had a good laugh about it.

Finally we left the mall. Raquel and Erica left on their own, while Troveto and I got on the same bus, which gave us a moment to talk.

—So— I asked him, as soon as we found a place on the bus— What did you want to achieve with all that, Troveto?

He smiled.

—Nothing. To annoy you, I guess— he admitted.

—Sure, sure.

—Seriously, man.

I crossed my arms.

—Yeah, you're not fooling anyone.

Troveto leaned against the wall of the bus.

—Well, maybe I just wanted to hang out with her. Yeah?— he pleaded— Erica's not as nice as some of the girls in our class, but she's comfortable. I can scribble in front of her, be messy, even gross, she just laughs and lets it go. She's... alright.

I tried to keep my frown on my face, to pretend to be angry, but I couldn't feel that way about Troveto.

—Yes, I guess I understand— I said at last.

—Huh? Really?— he wondered.

—Yes, you don't usually hang out with girls, it's normal to like someone as easy to approach as Erica.

—So you'll let me have her?— he wanted to know.

—What?! No! — I exclaimed — Fuck you! I saw her first!

Troveto sighed.

—Yeah, I thought you'd say something like that.

I sighed in relief. I could trust that Troveto wasn't as competitive as Pekos or Galica.

—Do you think anyone will notice me, someday?— he asked, all of a sudden.

I froze for a while, I didn't know what to answer. I wanted to say "of course". After all, he was a tall and handsome boy, but his tastes were so specific that he didn't socialize with many people. He used to skateboard with his friends, all men. Troveto hardly knew any girls, so he tended to fall in love with the girls at school.

—Let's go to a bar, one day— I offered— you and me, we'll look for girls all night.

—Huh?!— he jumped, surprised.

—Yes, let's do that. I'll help you pick out clothes, and I'll tell you what to do and what to talk about. It's easy.

Troveto looked at me dumbfounded.

—Would you do that for me?!

I smiled, by default, with my charming smile. I didn't usually wear it with men, but what the hell, he was my friend.

—Of course! I'll support you from start to finish, even if you manage to get some action. I'll be there, cheering you on.

Troveto turned red.

—No, not that, but the rest of it— he said, as he looked in all directions, worried that other people had heard me.

I was surprised and amused to see side of Troveto. He was usually relaxed and took his own pace, it was hard to get on his nerves. I guess you never really get to know a person.

Soon after we arrived at my stop. We shook hands like good friends and I got off. Troveto waved his hand, hopeful.

—I won't let you down— I promised him in my mind.