CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. MALL ADVENTURES

☆ミ ☆彡

THE THREE GIRLS STEPPED OFF THE BUS AND STARED UP AT THE VAST STARCOURT MALL. Both Challan and Max were familiar with the mall, having gone there many times before. Eleven, however, had never been to the new mall. She had never really been anywhere.

"So, what do you think?" Max asked Eleven. The brunette looked unsure. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Too many people. Against the rules," Eleven answered.

"Seriously? You have superpowers. What's the worst that could happen?" Max said.

"Just because she has superpowers, doesn't mean she's invincible," Challan pointed out.

"Maybe not, be she can kick some serious butt," Max replied.

Eleven stared up at the mall a moment longer before nodding her head and smiling. Max took that as a sign to go and began walking to the mall's entrance. Eleven and Challan followed after her, and the three entered the mall. Once they were inside, Eleven began to take it all in. She looked around in amazement.

"So, what should we do first?" Max asked. Eleven looked around some more before looking at Max with that same unsure expression. Max laughed, "You've never been shopping before, have you?" Eleven shook her head 'no.' "Well, then I guess we're just gonna have to try everything." A smile made its way onto Eleven's face.

"Let's start with The Gap," Challan proposed.

"I like the way you think, tiny dancer," Max grinned before grabbing Eleven's arm. "Come on." The three girls ran in the direction of the clothing store. Eleven immediately began touching every piece of clothing she could, eyes wide in wonder at all of the possibilities.

Challan began skimming some different items but didn't intend to buy anything because she hadn't brought any money.

Eleven's eyes landed on a blue shirt with colorful stripes on it. "Do you like that?" Max asked her.

"How do I know... what I like?" Eleven asked back and Challan frowned at the question.

"You just try things on. Until you find something that feels like you," Max answered.

"Like me?"

"Yeah. Not Hopper. Not Mike. You," Max confirmed.

"Something that feels right," Challan added.

Eleven looked over at her, "Feels right." Challan nodded with a smile. The brunette looked back up at the shirt, a smile coming onto her face. She began going through the store, grabbing clothes off of the racks to try on, including the blue one. Max laughed as an eager Eleven made her way through the store, grabbing anything and everything off of the clothing racks.

The redhead spotted something out of the corner of her eye and headed toward it. Challan watched her with curious eyes before turning back to Eleven who was now holding a pile of clothes. Challan chuckled before walking over to help her. The two walked to the dressing rooms where Challan told Eleven she could try on the clothes.

Eleven went into one of them with the clothes and began picking out which ones she wanted to try on first. Max returned to Challan's side, discreetly hiding something behind her back. "Where did you go?" Challan asked her.

"Nowhere, was just browsing," Max answered, sending her a sweet smile. Challan squinted at her and was about to respond before Eleven came out with her first outfit. It was the blue shirt with yellow pants and suspenders.

"Come over here," Max beckoned and Eleven walked over. The three walked to a full-length mirror so that Eleven could see how the outfit looked on.

"It's cute," Challan complimented and Eleven smiled widely. Max picked up a yellow beret and handed it to Eleven who placed it on her head incorrectly and posed. Max shook her head, muttering a "no," before taking it off and putting it on properly. Challan nodded approvingly.

Eleven pulled on the red-striped suspenders and let them snap back against her body, letting out a few giggles. Challan smiled, liking the fact that the girl seemed to be enjoying herself.

"I think it's time for the next outfit," Challan said.

Eleven went back into the dressing room and the next time she came back out, she was wearing a white dress with colorful paint splashes on it. Max held up a red and yellow belt for Eleven to choose between. Eleven picked the yellow one and Challan helped her put it on. The brunette admired herself in the mirror and began twirling until she got dizzy, falling backward into Challan and Max who caught her.

As Eleven continued trying on clothes, Max was trying to decide which pair of sunglasses to purchase. She put on different ones, looking to Challan to get her opinion. The black-haired girl shook her head at the different sunglasses Max was trying on. The redhead put on a red pair, pulling them down to her nose and gazing at Challan. Her eyes danced with mischief, a smirk forming on her lips, and Challan rolled her eyes.

"Definitely not," Challan shook her head.

"No, this is the one," Max nodded defiantly.

"Absolutely not, I can already tell you're gonna be a menace in those," Challan said.

"But I'll be your menace," Max smirked, earning a playful eye roll.

Eleven came back out wearing something new. Challan and Max eyed the outfit disapprovingly, looked at each other, and then back at the outfit.

"No."

Eleven went to try something else on.

Challan began looking through some of the jewelry in her vicinity. Max came up behind her, resting her chin on Challan's shoulder. "You see anything you like?" The redhead questioned.

"Not particularly," Challan replied, hand falling away from the necklace she was looking at.

"Are you not gonna buy anything?" Max questioned next, lifting her chin from Challan's shoulder as the shorter girl turned to face her.

"Didn't bring any money. If I knew we were going to the mall then I would have," she responded, a playful tinge in her tone.

"It was a last-minute decision," Max replied before pouting playfully, "Sorry. Forgive me." She got down on her knees and pressed her hands together.

"Get off the floor, it's filthy!" Challan pulled her up as Max laughed loudly.

Eleven came out wearing a black dress with colorful symbols. By the smile on her face, Challan could tell that she really liked it.

After trying on a few more clothes, Eleven decided on the ones she wanted and they went to pay for it. Max pulled out a wad of cash and paid for everything that Eleven wanted and a few other things that Max herself wanted to buy, including the red sunglasses.

"Where did you get that money?" Challan whispered, eyeing the cash suspiciously.

"Stole it from Billy," Max smiled innocently.

"Max, he'll kill you," Challan muttered anxiously.

"Only if he finds out it was me, which he won't. Don't worry," Max replied, sending her a reassuring smile.

Once everything was paid for, the three girls made their way out of The Gap, Max and Eleven carrying shopping bags. Max put on her new red sunglasses as the three made their way through the mall. They went to other stores, the two girls getting more things and Challan refusing to let Max buy her anything.

As they were walking past a store, Max grabbed both of their arms and stopped them. She then pointed up at the store and Challan immediately shook her head. It was Claire's where they did piercings. Max had wanted to come here and get her ears pierced with Challan every time they came to the mall. Challan always refused, saying her mom would kill her, which she would. The woman wanted her to wait until she was 16.

"Absolutely not," Challan crossed her arms. Max merely grinned and began walking into the store. Eleven eagerly followed her in.

"Max, you know I can't," Challan called after her.

"Why not? She doesn't have to know," Max called back. Challan looked around the mall before begrudgingly walked into the piercing shop. Max and Eleven were already looking at the earrings they might want. Challan stood back, not planning on getting her ears pierced. She didn't want to face the wrath of her mother.

Unfortunately, someway, somehow, Eleven had managed to convince her to do it with them. "I won't do it if you don't do it," she had said and Challan didn't want to be the reason the brunette didn't experience the things she had never gotten the chance to experience. So, Challan began looking through the different earrings, opting for the smallest studs she could find that she hoped wouldn't be noticeable.

And so, the three friends got their ears pierced. Max and Eleven admired themselves in one of the shop's mirrors whilst Challan was already regretting her decision. "I'm so dead."

"Chal, show me," Max said, turning to look at her. The curly haired girl kept her hair down and covering her ears.

"I don't think so," Challan shook her head.

Max stuck out her bottom lip and put on puppy dog eyes, "Please."

Challan rolled her eyes but obliged, tossing her hair behind her shoulders in two swipes.

"Smile," Max requested, smiling largely herself.

Challan lifted her lips in a smile and Max's smile widened a fraction. "Well aren't you beautiful," the redhead complimented. Challan looked away bashfully.

"Shut up," she muttered.

"Never," Max denied.

The next place they went was a photography studio. The three put on different outfits and posed for pictures, the photographer cheering them on the whole time. After taking a few pictures with the two, Eleven excused herself from the photos so that Challan and Max could take a few alone. Once they were done, Max bought some of the pictures, handing some to Eleven and Challan to keep and keeping some for herself and they were off to the next store.

They found themselves in a shoe store, with Eleven trying on multiple heels that she could not walk in. Challan and Max tried helping her walk but Eleven still managed to fall. The brunette let out a contagious laugh, the other two girls joining her. They were given looks by four girls that went to their school. The four rolled their eyes at them. Once they turned away, Eleven began laughing again with Max and Challan joining in. Not too long after, the three found those same girls again and Eleven and Max devised a plan to pull a prank on them. Challan wasn't 100% on board at first but those girls contributed to Challan's bullying at school so she wasn't going to object.

The three peered at the four from behind a pole. They were all holding smoothies from Orange Julius and talking to a guy who worked there. Eleven's eyes narrowed and one of the girls' drink exploded all over the four. The three friends gasped before immediately beginning to laugh.

"Come on!" Max laughed, the three beginning to run away from the scene. Max took off her sunglasses and looked at Eleven as they continued running. "See? What'd I tell you? There's more to life than stupid boys."

The three ran for a bit before stopping at the food court to catch their breaths. Eleven let out a content sigh before looking up. "I'm going to go to the bathroom," she announced, her eyes looking at the bathroom a few feet in front of them.

"Okay, and after you come out we can get ice cream," Challan said.

Eleven's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically, "Okay!" She hurried over to the bathroom.

Max draped her arm on Challan's shoulders and leaned into her. "And who is going to pay for said ice cream?" She wondered.

Challan sent her a sheepish smile, "My beautiful, amazing girlfriend who loves seeing me happy."

Max playfully rolled her eyes and laughed. "Alright fine." She pulled away from Challan and reached down to her shopping bags. "I got you something. Well, two somethings."

"Max, I told you I didn't want you to buy me anything," Challan scolded.

"Yeah, except for ice cream," Max pointed out.

"Ice cream is cheap. Other stuff here? Not so much," Challan defended.

"Too late, I already bought them and I'm not returning them so you have to keep them," Max said, grabbing the correct bags and pulling them onto her lap.

"Max..."

"They weren't expensive. I promise," Max smiled before pulling out an item from the first bag. "First we have this," she held out a red scrunchie to Challan. "To replace the unlucky scrunchie the Demo-dog destroyed." Challan chuckled, reaching out to take the scrunchie. Max pulled it back quickly. "Wait!" The redhead placed a quick kiss on the scrunchie. "There, now you have all the luck you need."

Challan grinned, "One kiss from Max Mayfield and the scrunchie is automatically lucky?"

"Yup, I'm the luck magnet, I don't make the rules," Max shrugged, a smile adorning her lips.

"Well, thank you. Luck magnet," Challan laughed, taking the scrunchie from Max's hand and using it to tie her hair back into a ponytail. "How do I look?" Challan jokingly posed.

"Perfect," Max complimented before digging into the next bag. She pulled out two braided bracelets, one red and one yellow. "Now these bracelets are very special. Only girlfriends can wear these bracelets."

"And why is that?" Challan asked, feigning intrigue as she rested her chin in her palm.

"Because we're special and deserve special things," Max said, taking Challan's hand a carefully putting the red bracelet on Challan's wrist. "Red for you so that you'll think of me." Max put the yellow bracelet on her own wrist, "Yellow for me so that I think of you."

"Why yellow?" Challan curiously asked.

Max blushed lightly, "Because yellow is a happy color and you make me happy."

Challan grew thoughtful as she let Max's words resonate with her. "I thought you were gonna say something cheesy like, 'because you're my sunshine," she laughed.

Max's face grew serious and she deadpanned, "But you are my sunshine." A smile threatened to form on the redhead's face and Challan shoved her shoulder.

"Shut up!" She groaned and Max allowed the laughter to bubble out of her mouth.

"Okay, well if I'm your sunshine, then you're my shooting star. I wished for something good and got you," Challan grinned, adding on to the joke. Max bit her lip, a smile peeking through.

"What you said was cheesier than what I said," the redhead teased.

"It's not a competition, Maxine," Challan huffed, earning a laugh.

"If it were a competition, you would win for being so cheesy," Max said, earning another playful shove from her girlfriend.

Eleven walked out of the bathroom, stopping as she saw the two girls having a conversation. She watched them laugh for a moment, standing away so as to not interrupt whatever moment they may have been having.

"Well, now I wanna get you gifts," Challan said softly, already beginning to think of what she could get Max the next time she came to the mall.

"You don't have to," Max shook her head.

"I want to," Challan affirmed

"What if I told you that you were the best gift of all?" Max smirked and Challan shook her head.

"Then I'd tell you to stop being so cheesy," she answered.

"I only do it because I know you love it," Max shot back.

"I do not!" Challan denied.

"Yeah, you do. You're a secret hopeless romantic, Chal. There's no shame in that. Just own it," Max's smirk widened.

"Whatever, Max," Challan huffed, crossing her arms. Her eyes glided upwards and met Eleven's. She smiled and waved the girl over to them. Eleven walked to where the two were sitting.

"Hey! Ready for ice cream?" Max asked.

"Ready," Eleven confirmed. Max and Challan stood and Challan led the way to Scoops Ahoy.

Eleven's eyes looked around the ice cream shop as Max reached the counter first, ready to order them ice cream once they decided what they wanted. She knew what Challan would want but not Eleven. Eleven wore a giddy smile as she looked over all of the ice cream flavors.

"See anything you want?" Challan asked her.

Eleven shook her head, "There's so many."

"Don't worry, I can order for you," Max said and Eleven nodded. She ordered the three of them ice cream and watched Steve scoop it into their cones. After a minute, he was handing them their ice creams.

"Okay, here you go, you got a strawberry, chocolate with caramel, and then a vanilla with sprinkles, extra whipped cream," Steve spoke, handing them their respective ice creams.

"Thanks," the three girls said, beginning to lick their ice cream.

"Wait a second. Are you even allowed to be here?" Steve asked, suddenly realizing that Eleven was in front of him.

Eleven, Max, and Challan looked at one another, exchanging giddy looks. Eleven laughed lightly and the three ran out of the ice cream shop leaving a perplexed Steve. They walked through the mall to get back to the entrance so they could make the bus.

Max turned to Eleven and held out her ice cream cone. "You wanna trade?" She asked. Eleven smiled and the two swapped ice creams. Challan continued to happily eat her ice cream, knowing that Max didn't like chocolate ice cream alone so the redhead wouldn't want any of hers. Max stopped suddenly, making the other two stop as well. Challan followed her line of sight, surprised to see Lucas, Will, and Mike at the bike racks in front of the mall.

"Oh, you've gotta be shitting me," Max muttered before stalking over to the three. "Isn't this a nice surprise," she stated, drawing their attention to the three girls. Mike dramatically dropped his bike and pointed at Eleven.

"What are you doing here?" He asked her.

"Shopping," she deadpanned.

"This is her new style. What do you think?" Max continued.

"What's wrong with you two? You know she's not allowed to be here," Mike accused, looking between Challan and Max.

"She wouldn't be here if you hadn't done what you did," Challan countered.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"What is she, your little pet?" Max asked the boy.

"Yeah. Am I your pet?" Eleven asked her boyfriend.

"What? No!" Mike denied.

"Then why do you treat me like garbage?" Eleven asked him.

"What?" He questioned incredulously.

"You said Nana was sick," Eleven stated.

"She is. She is. She is sick," Mike replied, looking to Lucas for assistance.

"Yeah, sick— she's sick. She's sick. She's super sick. That's why we're here, actually," Lucas continued for his friend. Challan shook her head at the boy.

"Yeah, we're shopping. Not for us, but for her, for Nana," Mike went on.

"For Nana," Lucas confirmed and Max tilted her head to the side, unconvinced.

"Also, we're here to get a gift for you. Just, we couldn't find anything that suited you and I only have, like, $3.50, so it's hard," Mike said sincerely as he looked at Eleven.

"Super hard. It's— It's expensive," Lucas agreed.

Eleven didn't believe what Mike was telling her and neither did Challan or Max "You lie. Why do you lie?" The brunette asked her boyfriend. She sounded genuinely upset and hurt, not understanding why he was lying to her all of a sudden.

The bus pulled up behind them, the three girls turning their heads to look at it. Eleven turned back to Mike. She took a few steps forward until she was right in front of him. "I dump your ass."

Max's mouth fell open in shock and Challan's eyes widened as Eleven turned on her heel and walked to the bus. Challan took Max's hand with her free hand and pulled her after the brunette and to the bus, leaving a perplexed Mike.

Eleven and Max sat next to one another on the bus and Challan sat in the seat next to them. The redhead and brunette laughed, high-fiving each other. Challan took another lick of her ice cream, still not believing what she had just witnessed.

••••

I found out that in the mall montage, Max and Eleven were supposed to get their ears pierced in the show but they cut it out or something so I just had to add it in my book. Sorry it's been a while since I've updated, but as always, I've been busy. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Be sure to vote and comment (don't comment for me to update though).