Star Light, Star Bright

Although Jack doesn’t really want to, he grabs Alex’s hand after they exit. he knows that he’s going to have to get used to being around so many people whenever they come back here, but he just can’t feel comfortable. There are more people in this building than he thinks was in the town that he lived in. He’s not sure since he can’t really remember anything about it, but he thinks that it must be true. If he lived with a lot of people, he probably wouldn’t be freaking out whenever they go into a crowd.
The seventeen-year-old is pretty cure that he’s going to have a heart attack, but luckily, they reach Vans before his thoughts could be confirmed or denied. Again, Jack drops Alex’s hand as soon they enter the store, and the lanky teen almost swears that he saw the elders face drop. He raises his eyebrow, but Alex doesn’t say anything to him. He smiles and goes over to the guy in front of the cash register. Jack figures that this must be Zack and follows right behind Alex.
Zack is shorter than the two of them, but he’s not as short as Rian. The one thing that makes Zack look a lot different than the three of them is that he’s actually fit. His hair is brown, and his eyes are green. His attire consists of a pair of skinny jeans and a blue shirt that has a band name that Jack doesn’t recognize.
“Hey, Zack,” Alex smiles as he goes over to his friend. “I see that this place is busy.”
The youngest of the three looks around. They are the only three there. How could it be busy? He’s about to ask, but then Zack starts talking. Since Jack doesn’t know what he’s talking about, he feels really left out. With Rian, at least they didn’t stay long on the subject and Alex explained it to him. Right now, Zack and Alex are just talking away. The lanky teen can’t help but feel left out and even a little bit jealous. Ok, he’s really jealous. He’s not really sure why he’s so jealous, but it may be because Jack really only knows Alex right now and it feels like Alex is just friends with everyone.
Since the two obviously aren’t paying any attention to him, he starts to look at all the shoes. He’s not really sure what kind he’d want to wear or even his size, but he is sure that he wants a black pair. Jack isn’t exactly a fashion guru, but black does seem to go with everything, so it would look nice with all of the clothes that Alex just bought him that Alex is also carrying. jack continues looking and finds a pair that seem a little high, but he likes it like that. He picks up the shoe on display and looks at it more closely.
“Can I help you?” he hears Zack ask him from behind.
Jack turns around to find Zack looking his way although he’s still behind the register. Alex turns his head and spots Jack. “Jack needs a new pair of shoes,” the elder answers for him. “I’m buying him a pair.”
“Oh really?” Zack smirks.
“Why does everyone think that?!”
Zack chuckles. “Well, it’s not like you have friends that we don’t know about. Of course we’re going to think something like that when you bring a new guy into the store ready to buy him something.”
“I guess. You’re right. Jack, did you find a pair that you like?” Jack nods, so Alex goes over to him. “Those are pretty nice... and they have your size too. He grabs the box and walks the lanky seventeen-year-old over to the bench to have him try them on. “See if they fit.” Jack takes them out of the box and puts the right one on. “How do they feel?”
“They feel fine.” He gets up and walks a couple of steps. “They fit.”
“Do you want this pair?” Jack nods. “We’re getting this pair, Zack.”
Jack takes the shoe off and puts it back in the box and follows Alex up to the register after he puts the borrowed shoe back on. He watches as Alex puts the shoe onto the counter, Zack scans it, and Alex pays for it. The fit one puts the box in a bag and hands it to Jack. He gets confused when Zack winks at him, but he just shrugs it off. It probably had to do with whatever Alex and him were talking about. They duo exit the store together with Jack holding Alex’s hand. He’s holding it loosely now since he’s starting to feel a little more comfortable, but he still needs reassurance. Alex takes them to their last stop, Burger King. The seventeen and nineteen-year-olds get in the line, and wait their turn as they wait, Alex turns to Jack.
“Do you know what you’re getting?”
Jack shakes his head. “I don’t know what they have.”
“Oh right. Well, I would suggest that you just get a Whopper meal. The Whopper is their trademark, and it’s a burger. Now, a burger is a meat patty on buns with different stuff on top. Then it comes with a drink that you get to choose at that machine over there, and it also comes with french fries which are cut up fried potatoes.”
“Ok, I guess I’ll get that.”
“Why don’t you go find us a seat, and I’ll get the food.”
“Um, ok.”
Jack walks slowly away from the elder and finds the closest two person table. He doesn’t want to be away from Alex for even a minute. Luckily, the seat that he chose was in sight. He watches as the shorter teen orders the food and fill the cups with pop. The younger doesn’t know how long the food will take, and when it does come, he is surprised. He had no idea that it would be so fast. Alex walks over to Jack and sits down across from him. He hands Jack one of the drinks that he put on the tray along with a box of fries and a Whopper.
“I figured that a root beer would be fine for the drink.”
“Ok, thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The two start to dig in. “Wow.”
“It’s good, right?”
“Very. It’s all really good. I mean, it’s not as good as that stuff this morning, but this is right up there.”
“I’m glad you like it. So, can you remember anything else?”
“No, I can’t.” He sighs. “I really wish I could, but I just can’t.”
“That’s ok. It’ll come to you in time. Speaking of time, did you know that my birthday is coming up? Every year, my parents make me go out with them, but this year, I’m going to spend my birthday with you. I can show you everything fun around here, and you can pick where we go.”
“Why aren’t you spending it with your parents? It sounds like a tradition.”
“It kind of is, but I’m kind of tired of it. Besides, they come to visit for Christmas too.”
“Is it almost Christmas?”
“It’s next month. Today is November 30th. My birthday is the 14th. Does Christmas make you remember anything?”
“No, well, not right now. I might on the actually day. I have this feeling that Christmas was always one of my favorite holidays.”
“Well, that’s good. Oh, and you don’t have to worry about getting me a birthday or Christmas present. I understand.”
“Well, could I do something for you or make you something?”
“No, you just hanging out with me for my birthday is enough. That, and having you around for Christmas will be great too. Lately, my parents have been annoying me by telling me that I need to get a girlfriend. They think that they know what I’m looking for.”
“They’re just trying to help.”
“Yeah, I know, but sometimes, it really is too much. I love how supportive they are of me, but I don’t like them trying to get into my love life. Anyway, enough about me and my parents. Let’s finish eating, so I can teach you how to use Netflix.”
“Ok, and Alex?”
“Yes?”
“What exactly is Netflix?”

Notes

Sorry this took so long. The play wore me out because everyone was stressing, and I got lazy with the internet all up until today since I got a new laptop for Christmas. Anyway, this is the last part of the mall, and I'll start updating on time again. I'm going to try to work on my other stories, but I kind of got a cello for Christmas so I need to learn how to play it now. (I already play bass, so I wanted to widen my horizons.)
Hope you guys like how this story is going! Love ya!