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CHAPTER THREE —

"Seriously, Micheal? Stop lying to the girl!"

"I am not!"

Max, El, and Wren arrived at the bustling Starcourt Mall, descending from the bus and taking in the sight of the vibrant shopping center. Wren, feeling a bit anxious, scanned the area. He had been banned from entering any mall and didn't want to risk being sent back to juvie. El, stepping off the bus behind him, also looked uneasy. Max noticed their apprehension and nudged them both.

"What's wrong?" Max asked, her eyebrows knitting together in concern.

El glanced at Max. "Too many people. Against the rules," she explained, her voice tinged with unease.

Wren sighed deeply. "For me, I don't want to be recognized by any of the mall wannabe cops. I'm not allowed to step foot in any malls until my probation is over, and that's not for another six months," he said, his voice heavy with worry.

Max's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously? You both have superpowers! What's the worst that could happen?" she exclaimed, a confident smile playing on her lips.

El smiled to herself and stared at the mall, her curiosity piqued despite her apprehension. Wren bit his cheek, feeling the weight of his predicament. "I barely even know how to use this power. I just randomly got it six months ago," he protested, his frustration evident.

Max punched his shoulder playfully. "Stop worrying, Wren. You can just teleport yourself out of here in a nick of time if you think they're onto you," she reassured him, her optimism infectious.

Wren exhaled in defeat. "Okay, fine, but I need a disguise. Maybe some glasses or something," he suggested.

Max grinned, and El took Wren's hand, leading him inside the mall with Max following closely behind. As they stepped inside, El looked around in amazement, her eyes wide with wonder. The vibrant lights, the multitude of stores, and the throngs of people were a sight to behold. Wren couldn't help but steal glances at El, wondering why his cousin would lie to someone so genuine.

"So, what should we do first?" Max asked with a giant grin.

El looked at Max and Wren with a blank stare. Max laughed. "You've never been shopping before, have you?" she asked, her tone a mix of disbelief and excitement.

El shook her head, and Wren raised an eyebrow. "That's crazy! We're gonna have to try everything then," Wren exclaimed, taking El's hand and leading her towards The Gap. Max followed them, her excitement bubbling over.

Inside The Gap, the trio wandered through the aisles, exploring the various clothing racks. Max picked out a pair of sunglasses for Wren, who put them on and looked at himself in a nearby mirror. "How do I look?" he asked, striking a playful pose.

Max laughed. "Perfect. No one will recognize you now."

El, meanwhile, was drawn to a display of colorful shirts. The vibrant patterns and bold hues seemed to call out to her, contrasting starkly with the simple, utilitarian clothes she usually wore. She reached out hesitantly, running her fingers over the soft fabric, and felt a spark of excitement.

"Do you like that?" Max asked, noticing El's interest and stepping closer. Her tone was encouraging, as if she already knew the answer.

Wren, who had been browsing nearby, walked over and joined them. He saw El's uncertainty and the way she glanced at the shirt, then back at him, as if seeking his approval. "How do I know . . . what I like?" she asked, her voice tinged with genuine confusion and vulnerability.

Wren realized that El was accustomed to looking to others—Mike, Hopper, even him—for guidance. He gently put a hand on her shoulder, meeting her eyes with a reassuring smile. "El, don't ask me. This is all on you and it's just what you feel. If you like it, you'll know in your heart," he advised, surprising himself with the wisdom of his words.

Max nodded in agreement, adding her own support. "He's right. You just try things on until you find something that feels like you."

"Like me?" El repeated, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and hope. It was as if she had never considered the possibility that her likes and dislikes were important, that her sense of self was something worth exploring.

Wren and Max both nodded, their expressions earnest. "Yeah. Not Hopper. Not Mike. You," Max said firmly but gently.

El's eyes widened further as the idea sank in. She looked back at the shirt on display, its vibrant colors reflecting the burgeoning sense of self within her. She smiled to herself, feeling a flicker of confidence and excitement.

El jumped out from the dressing rooms and struck a pose in front of the mirror. Max was nearby, holding a yellow beret, while Wren was walking back from paying for his sunglasses. He was still wary, wanting to ensure he didn't appear like he was going to shoplift. Despite his past, he wanted to be good and avoid getting his new friends into trouble.

El was wearing a blue patterned shirt paired with yellow pants held up by suspenders. Wren couldn't help but grimace; the outfit didn't seem to fit El's personality. Max placed the beret on El's head and adjusted it correctly. El playfully pulled on the suspenders, making a snapping noise that sent her into fits of laughter. Wren joined in, appreciating El's infectious joy.

El walked back into the dressing room, and a few minutes later, she jumped out wearing a white outfit splattered with colorful paint. Wren found himself liking this one. Max held up a yellow belt, while Wren offered a red one. El considered her options and chose the yellow belt, and Wren helped her put it on. She spun around in front of the mirror, giggling as she fell into Max's arms.

El went back into the dressing room to try on another outfit. Meanwhile, Wren spotted a cool pair of red sunglasses that he thought Max would like. He tapped her on the shoulder and handed them to her. Max tried them on and Wren nodded approvingly, a grin spreading across his face.

When El emerged again, she was wearing an abstract, colorful outfit that made Wren's eyes widen. She looked stunning. El walked up to the mirror, flipping her hair to the side, and Wren couldn't take his eyes off her. Max nudged him in the side. "You're drooling," she whispered, snapping him back to reality. Wren blinked and blushed, looking away to hide his embarrassment.

El, brimming with excitement, took Wren and Max's hands and dragged them to the register. They paid for the clothes and Max's sunglasses before leaving the store. Max and El locked arms, laughing and chatting, while Wren walked beside them with his hands shoved into his pant pockets, glancing around to ensure no mall cops were near.

As they walked through the bustling mall, El's newfound confidence radiated. They passed by various stores, and El occasionally stopped to admire window displays or try on more accessories. Each stop seemed to boost her spirits even more. Max and Wren supported her, offering opinions and encouragement.

Max and El stopped at a photography booth, excited to capture some memories of their day. Wren, feeling uneasy about getting his picture taken and potentially being recognized by a mall employee, opted out. "I'll meet you guys in forty minutes at the food court," he told the girls, who nodded in understanding.

Wren wandered into a baseball store, feeling nostalgic as he browsed through the jerseys and signed baseballs. Baseball had been a big part of his life before juvie, and he planned on getting back into it next school year. As he was examining the baseball cards, an employee cleared their throat behind him. Startled, Wren turned around to see a glaring employee.

"Yes?" he stuttered, and the employee rolled their eyes. "You're in my way," she said, pointing at an employees-only door behind him. Wren sighed in relief, realizing she wasn't suspicious of him, and moved aside.

Wren's eyes returned to the baseball cards, his fingers itching to steal one of the signed cards. He glanced around the store, noticing the lack of cameras and employees. His heart pounded in his chest as he reached for the card, snatching it and shoving it into his pocket. He walked out of the store discreetly, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Checking the time, he realized it had been over forty minutes. He hurried towards the food court, but Max and El were nowhere to be found. Panic began to set in.

Wren bit his lip as he walked outside, his heart pounding as he searched for Max and El. Finally, he spotted them talking to Mike and his friends. He approached with furrowed brows and sighed in relief. "There you guys are. I couldn't find you," Wren said, tension evident in his voice.

El smiled at him apologetically. "Sorry, had to run. We got payback and wanted ice cream," she explained, her voice soft.

Wren nodded, still glancing around nervously. Mike glared at Wren, shoving him back aggressively. "What is wrong with you! Stay away from my girlfriend," Mike yelled, his voice dripping with anger.

Wren looked at him in disbelief, trying to stay calm. "What is she, your little pet? Give her space to breathe, man!" he shouted back, frustration boiling over.

El nodded in agreement, her eyes narrowing. "Yeah. Am I your pet?" she asked Mike, her voice sharp and challenging.

Mike, caught off guard, stammered, "What? No!"

"Then why do you treat me like garbage?" El asked, her eyes blazing with hurt and anger.

Mike furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What?" he said, taken aback.

"You said Nana was sick, and she's not. Wren told me the truth," El retorted, her voice firm and unwavering.

Panic flashed in Mike's eyes. "She is! We're just keeping Wren out of the loop because he is Nana's favorite grandchild, which I'll never understand," he stammered, trying to cover his tracks.

Wren stared at him, disbelief etched on his face. "Seriously, Michael? Stop lying to her!" he shouted, his voice rising with anger.

"I am not!" Mike argued, his voice rising in desperation. "Plus, we're here shopping! Not for us, but for her, for Nana!" he continued, grasping at straws.

Max glared at Lucas, her boyfriend, who reluctantly went along with the lie. "For Nana," Lucas repeated, unconvincingly.

Wren shook his head in disbelief, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Oh my God, Mike, give it up!" he yelled, exasperation clear in his tone.

Ignoring his cousin, Mike tried to salvage the situation. "Plus, we're here for a gift for you. Just, we couldn't find anything that suited you and I only have, like, $3.50, so it's hard," he rambled, his voice wavering.

Lucas nodded in agreement, looking uncomfortable. "Super hard. It's—It's expensive," he added, glancing nervously at El.

El clenched onto her ice cream, her face reflecting her hurt and betrayal. "You lie. Why do you lie?" she asked, her voice tinged with sadness.

Wren frowned, feeling the weight of the situation. As the bus approached, El glared at Mike with a mix of anger and determination. "I dump your idiotic ass!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing with finality.

Mike's jaw dropped, mirroring Wren's shock. El turned around, taking Wren and Max's hands and pushing them toward the bus. As Max and El boarded, Wren heard a yell behind him.

"Hey, you!" A cop shouted, and Wren gasped, quickly jumping onto the bus. "Go, now!" he yelled at the bus driver, his heart racing.

He found Max and El laughing, oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Wren sat between them, glancing nervously out the window as the cop ran after the bus, eventually tripping and falling. He giggled at the sight but his smile quickly faded as he looked at his new friends. "You guys are gonna have to hide me," he said, his voice serious and tinged with fear.

"Why?" El asked, concern crossing her face.

Max's eyes widened as she realized what Wren had done. "Wren, you didn't!" she exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and frustration in her tone.

Wren pulled out the signed baseball card from his pocket. "I stole this. And when the cops find me, my ass will be sent back to juvie for probably four months, maybe more because I ran," he explained, his voice heavy with regret.

Max sighed in disbelief, flicking him on the head. "Knucklehead!" she scolded, her frustration evident.

El bit her lip, thinking. "I hide you. Was hidden before. So I help," she said, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

Wren looked at her, gratitude and worry mixing in his expression. "Thanks, El. I appreciate it," he said softly, knowing he was lucky to have friends like them in his corner.

As the bus moved away from the mall, Wren leaned back in his seat, trying to calm his racing heart. He couldn't believe he had been so reckless, and now he was relying on Max and El to help him stay out of trouble. They spent the rest of the bus ride discussing their plan. Max suggested they take Wren to El's place, thinking maybe Hopper could be lenient and let him off the hook and if that doesn't work they'll find some other way, and El agreed.

By the time they reached their stop, they had a solid plan in place. Wren felt a little more at ease, knowing his friends had his back. They got off the bus, sticking close together as they walked towards El's cabin, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

ASH SPEAKS!

I'M SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN AWHILE!! i've been busy and i started talking to this guy and i was on vacation etc but i'm back but updates will be slow!