5

          I think I had fallen asleep because now Cas is tapping my shoulder. I wake up and the others are already out of the car. The mall? This place is huge! The parking lot was as big as my whole town, full of all kinds of different  vehicles. To me this is something you would read about in a story about some rich city person. I can’t help but to be amazed with what I’m seeing.          

   “Thanks for bringing me along with you guys,” I look over to the others.

 They nod and flash me a smile. 

   “No need. You don’t have to thank us. You're one of us now anyway,” Jax says happily with a grin. 

   I smile. It feels good to have friends. We then start walking towards the mall. I'm excited to see what the inside will be like. The mall is surrounded by little restaurants with their small parking lots and drive-thru.  The mall is light gray with lots and lots of windows. It also has huge automatic doors. 

     We walk through the doors as they swing open. Wow!  The floors were as shiny as the ceiling. Cas looks at me gazing around and grins. 

 “You look like a kid in a candy shop,”he laughed. 

 I probably do look like a kid in a candy shop. However, I do not care. I read about malls before, however I have never even seen a picture. Only read about how people like to go shopping in them , eat, and all other kinds of things. So, I probably look amazed because that is what I am feeling.  Amazed by the window in the middle called the plaza and all the stores, restaurants, and items that you pass as you walk. 

   Layla looks like she’s having a blast as she walks past the shops full of all types of girly things. She seems to like to wear fancy clothes but also casual. She wears a pair of jeans, with a white shirt and black cardigan with brown knee-high boots.She’s lightly tanned with emerald green eyes that seem to sparkle when the light hits them. All in all her personality seems sweet, generous, and shy. She is also my first ,and I think my only, crush. 

   Jax seems like the type of person that has a nice personality and can be caring. Although, if you stab him in the back, I don’t think that he will let it just slide. I also think that he seems like he has an interest in guns , dog tags , military things , etc. Manly stuff I guess. Seems to be casual with what he wears. A dog-tag, black cut-off, and jeans, with a pair of black work boots. He’s probably the type to work out and to always be ready for a fight. 

     Cas seems chill. He seems the type that would wear a suit for no reason then the next day wear something the complete opposite. He seems interested in horror movies , and fashion. So, he’s dark but with a sense of fashion. He wears a long tan jacket with a white dress shirt and black dress pants, a tie, and black dress shoes. 

   Well, I wear a black zip-up hoodie with a rock band shirt underneath. I then wear light blue relaxed-fit jeans, black shoes with white on the bottom. I’m unsure how someone would describe my personality. I think that I probably don’t start conversations often, I like to read, I try to be nice, I do want to fit in, and I hope that maybe one day I’ll be someone to look up to. Other than that my music taste would really just be that I prefer rock music or heavy metal. 

  We were walking around in this one store now that Caspian went in. It was filled with clothes, and other fancy, stylish things. We all followed close behind. He walked through the halls with its shiny white floors , and bland roof, and what seems to be all expensive items that people like me could only dream to afford. It’s so clean, you can see your reflection as you walk. 

    It smells like bleach. Which reminds me of when I was younger. When I was younger Kev had what seemed like a strange gallon with stuff that had a strong scent. When I tried to drink it, he stopped me. I'm glad he did because after he stopped me he told me that it was poisonous and I didn't want that. 

    I wonder what Layla’s hobbies are? She’s…..cute. She doesn’t have to prove to me that she's kind. She already proved that to me already. I read about romance before , but I never imagined that I would feel this towards someone. I mean, I did love Kev, but as a father. This girl…I think I love her in a different way. Would she like me back? 

    We walk out and down the halls. 

 “So, do you have any hobbies, Layla?” I ask. 

  She smiles,” I like to listen to music, read, sing, watch movies, and draw. Do you have any, Ash?” 

  “Yeah. They are actually the same ones as you just named. So, what type of music do you like?” 

   “I listen to anything really but I think rock is cool.” 

    “Me too,” I laugh. 

  We both look at each other for a moment and smile at the same time. There was a moment when it was like we were being drawn together. I could feel us getting closer. What is happening? I feel weird. But in a good way. 

  “Ahem!” 

 Caspian interrupted our moment. I looked at him and Jax. They were grinning well, shaking their heads. 

  “You know, we never told each other our ages,”Layla pointed out with a smile,”I’m turning 18 next week.” 

   “18,” Jax sighed.

   “I’ll turn 18 next month,” Cas looked up at me,”How about you,Ash?” 

   “I’ll be in nine days.” 

  Layla smiled and grabbed my hand and started walking. 

    “Where are you taking me?” I sighed. 

    “The movie theater. What’s your favorite genre?” 

    “ Like, my favorite type of movie?” 

    “Yeah, like for example mine are horror movies.” 

    “Well, I’ve never seen a movie before.” 

     They all shouted, “What?!” 

       I sighed and they just looked at me confused. 

     “How have you never seen a movie?” Layla asked, confused. 

     “I don’t know,” I sighed. 

       They all looked at each other. Layla grabbed my hand and started to drag me. 

    “Well, there’s a first time for everything,” she sighed.  

    “What kind of movie should we watch?” Cas asked. 

     “Horror?” Layla suggested. 

     “Sure,”Jax agreed, “Is that ok with everyone else?”

           Caspian and I nodded.  

            We walked into this big room with tons of chairs  facing this huge screen. This is a movie theater? I’ve never seen or been in one before. As we sit down I start to feel nervous. Layla looks at me with a smile, and grabs my hand. With her hand in mine and that smile of hers, brightens my day. She has this amazing smile, with such a sweet smell. Just her being around me, makes me feel like I’m on cloud nine. Do I love her? She is so affectionate, sweet, and just amazing. It’s like she’s become my whole world. 

           My thoughts were interrupted when the screen lit up the room. We sat in the back row because Cas said that it would be good since it's my first time, and besides that he said that this is one of the best places to sit. As the movie starts to play, it starts to make me feel something. Like I’m feeling whatever it wants me to feel. I think I like it. Layla lays her head on my shoulder. I can feel my face get warm. I look over at her and she looks back at me the same time I did.  We look back at the movie screen. Jax and Cas seem into the movie too. Cas has his head on Jax’s shoulder as well. He seems worried or something. 

         When I look  back at the scene, suspenseful music starts playing and it makes me feel worried too. It’s like you know something’s coming. I like this feeling, the suspense is fun to me. The next thing I know whenever the main character seems to least expect something the killer comes up from behind them. As the killer’s knife sinks into the character’s back, I start to feel dizzy. My left eye starts to burn. I start to get a new feeling that I never felt before. Blood forms on the screen. I have this need to see more. I want more of that. Real. I want to see real blood. I want to create it. Feel it. Smell it. More. More. More… My left eye..it’s burning. The pain is too extreme. I hear myself wince as my hand reaches to take off my eyepatch. No! I can’t take it off. I have to leave. This urge. This need. It’s too severe. 

      “Hey, are you okay Asheem?”Layla seemed worried. 

        I stood up,”I’ll be outside,” I sigh, as I walk away. 

        “Wait-”
        She reached for my hand again but it was too late. My urge is getting stronger. The pain is getting too intense. 

        “What’s wrong Ash? You don’t look so good.” 

        “I feel dizzy.” 

        I hurry out of there and go to a nearby empty hall. I lean against the wall and take a deep breath. I still feel weird. I turn facing the wall.  The advertisement for the movie we were watching. It has blood on it. My eye starts hurting again. My mouth feels dry.  My dizziness increased, and I started to feel myself fall. I feel weird, lightheaded. I hear Layla running towards me, shouting my name. I feel the pain get worse, and I lose my balance. My mind goes blank. Everything goes bright red to pure darkness.