“So what store do you guys want to go into first?” I asked as we walked inside the mall.

“It doesn’t matter to me Mace. Whichever you guys want,” said Steph as she took off her sunglasses and tucked them into her blue and white striped shirt.

“Liz and I need to grab a few things, so you two hit up some clothing stores and we will meet ya over there later.” With that I took the lead, grabbing Liz’s hand and dragging her with me towards the closest sports shop. This was the perfect opportunity to buy her some actual soccer equipment. She would need it in a few weeks anyways. I couldn’t wait until we were on the field playing, and if I’m lucky we could even make it all the way back to national this year too. I mean, I would honestly rather have Liz in the net for the team over our current goalie. She was just a tad too mean, and she didn’t have the reaction time Liz does.

“After we’re done here I think I am going to go get my haircut and maybe even dye it,” Liz said as she finally caught up to my pace. I stopped though.

“You want to dye your hair?” I asked confused. She looked so amazing now.

“I am kinda getting tired of the green, I feel like having brown hair for a while.” She wants to go back to her natural hair color. I remembered the pictures of her scattered around our house. We walked into the sports shop, and we strolled towards the soccer cleats section.

“What made you want to dye it in the first place?” I asked as we started to browse around for a pair that she liked.

“I was a dumb sophomore at the time, and I wanted to stand be more ‘unique’.” I looked up at her over the display. Her shoulders were tense and her brows were furrowed. She was spacing out on me, and moving around the display I tried to regain her attention. My fingers laced into hers breaking the staring competition she was having with a light blue shoe.

“You ok?” She shrugged and her saddened face shifted into a thin smile as I wrapped my arms around her. “Sorry that I brought up a touchy topic,” I said pulling away.

“It’s cool, I want the purple ones by the way.” Her mood changed back to normal as she started testing out some of the shoes. Once those were picked out we got her a nice set of purple socks to match as well as some shin guards. Liz seem genuinely excited about playing with me as well. We chatted about how fast the summer camp was approaching and how we would need to work extra hard for the next few weeks. Once dad was back he could help us too. I loved it as a kid when we would go outside together and teach me different tricks with the ball. Hell he was half the reason I wanted to try out for the traveling teams. When him and June get back I need to ask if he could teach liz some of the old tricks he would show me. I would love for the two of them to get along. With our bags in hand we started walking down the rows of stores. When we went to pass one of the more expensive shops I could see Steph and Jenny trying to pick out shirts. It honestly reminded me of Liz and I’s first encounter. I still can’t believe how forward I was with her then.

I shook away the thoughts as we approached the only hair salon in the entire mall. Liz was so excited she was the one dragging me this time. I kept up better than she did with me though. Once we were in front of the hair place Liz started to get frazzled. She was self doubting herself, as well as frantically googling new hairstyles for her to try. I laughed at the ten minute process of her deciding what type of hair she wanted. “Okay I have it, I want brown hair, and curls,” Liz said as she pushed her phone into her pocket and marched confidently into the hair salon.

She went up to the counter, and rang the bell for someone to come help us. I lightly leaned against the wall that was closest to the desk. It’s probably going to an hour or so for them to finish up. I left my spot at the wall and walked over to the waiting area. The only other person sitting there was a middle aged man who looked like he was bored out of his mind. “How long have you been here?” I asked as the man adjusted his spot in the seat. His eyes started to gleam over his sunglasses as if I was his savior from the monotony of waiting for whoever he was with.

“Bout thirty minutes, my girl decided to go all out on her hair today. It’s not like in barber shops, there isn’t a TV playing a show for everyone who waits. All they have here is magazines,” He said picking one up and then dropping it back down onto the table as if to prove his point. I chuckled at his attitude.

“Ya’know I feel that. My girlfriend is dying her hair too, and if I didn’t have my phone I would probably want to die twenty minutes in.” We both started laughing, but my laugh broke into a cough. “Damn, is there a vending machine around here anywhere; I could really use a drink?”

“Yeah just around the corner.”

“Awesome,” I said as I stood up. I walked over to where Liz was with her hairdresser. “Hey babe I am going to grab a drink. So if you need me for anything just text me, but it shouldn’t take me too long.”

“Okay,” Liz said smiling up at me from the chair. Tucking my hands into my pockets I went off to find either the nearest food stall or the vending machine the man had mentioned. I usually prefer to go to a stall since you get more for your money, but I knew most of the restaurants would be on the other side of the mall in the food court. Tch, I guess I will settle for the overpriced vending machine. I went to the right and was met with a line of vending machines. Luckily they had one with pink lemonade. I always hate how I can barely find lemonade in vending machines. School doesn’t even have a machine that carries some. My quarters clinked down the coin slot and in exchange I got the drink. I walked back towards the salon while unscrewing the lid.

“I would’ve pegged you as a water person.”

“Yeah well I guess I have a preference towards sour drinks.” The man and I continue talking for a while. He was actually a really nice guy. He was apparently a high school teacher. We basically spent the entire time talking about how school sucked, and we wished we never had to go back. Our chat was cut short by his girlfriend, I didn’t know what her hair looked like before, but right now it was really pretty.

“It was fun talking to ya kid,” The man said as the two of them walked out of the salon. I leaned back into my chair and pulled out my phone. I had a few texts from Jenny and Steph. From the pictures they sent I could tell we were going to have a car load of shopping bags. It was also making me giddy. I love buying stuff even if it means donating what I already have. I like having things light in case I ever have to move. I sent them a boring picture of me in a chair. I looked across the store at Liz. She was finally getting the dye washed out. It made me really excited to see what she would look like with brown hair and curls. I already know she will be freaking beautiful, I am just not sure how beautiful. They started to blow dry her hair, and it looked so freaking cute.

To start killing the rest of the time I began playing a game on my phone. I really sucked at it, but it was fun. “S-so what do you think Mace?” My eyes shifted up from my phone and was met with my stunning girlfriend. She looked so gorgeous. I stood up and embraced her. “Don’t mess up the hair babe, geesh.”

“Sorry, you’re just so breathtaking,” I said into her shoulder. I pulled away and was met with a flushed Liz. I pulled out my phone and snapped like a hundred photos. Liz’s blush just kept getting darker with each picture I took.

“Ehm, well we should be getting back with Steph and Jenny,” Liz said as she grabbed my hand, and started walking in front of me. I let out a light laugh at how cute she was being.

“Here, I will text them and see what store they went into.” I quickly pulled up the group chat and asked where they were. As I was texting I couldn’t help but be distracted by Liz, her new hair color reminded me of a golden brown cookie. It made me want to eat her up. Steph quickly responded and I told Liz where to go. She slowed down a bit as we entered the hat store. Her face still had hints of red tracing her cheeks.

Steph and Jenny squealed as we came up to them. “Oh my goodness Liz. Your hair looks so amazing,” Steph said as she looked up from a baseball cap she was holding.

“Damn, you look even hotter now Liz,” Jenny said giving her a thumbs up. My body fidgeted and so did Stephs. Shifting on my heel, I broke the awkwardness by picking of a bowler cap. Whenever I put it on Liz chuckled, and I could understand why. It definitely did not suit me. I was more of a flat cap type of gal. I walked over to it’s section in the store, and started sorting through the different patterns they had to offer. Liz was over at the fedora section. I watched as Liz tentatively stretched her arm out to pick one up. It was odd for me, I had gotten so used to the old hairstyle that she almost looked like a completely different person. Scanning the section in front of me I could feel my foot start tapping. They really didn’t have that I hadn’t seen before. A presence brushed past me, and turning on my heels I seen it was a saleswoman for the store.

“Excuse me, do you have anymore of these?” The woman turned at my calling, and gazed past me.

“I don’t think so miss. Is there anything else I can help you with today?” She asked pasting the same type of smile every other store clerk always gave to people like me. I shook my head no and she turned, continuing towards the back. I let in a breath and held it, why couldn’t they have something cool. My sigh escaped as I made my way over to Liz.

“You planning on buying one?” I asked interrupting her staring contest with a light gray fedora.

“Mhm, I think it would be cool to wear sometime,” Liz said as if coming to a decision about what she wanted to do with it. She sped towards the clerk while I slowly approached her.

“What store do you guys want to go to next?” Jenny asked excitedly.

“Liz and I haven’t been in any clothes shops so-.”

“Sound good lets go!” Jen ordered as she led us to our next shop.