The Mall

Let me take you back three months before prom.

It was a typical Saturday morning. Stacy was already heading towards Alexa's home at exactly seven o'clock. They were going to spend the whole day together, just like how they always did on Saturdays since 8th grade. They were both on senior year now.

Stacy just walked for about five minutes before reaching her destination. Alexa's house was probably twice as big as her's. Looking up to the highness of the place, Stacy sent her index finger straight to the doorbell.

A housemaid opened the gate for her andK let her inside. It has been years of regular visit but Stacy just couldn't get used to how huge their yard was, surrounding the house, placing it perfectly in the center of a huge square. They were far from their neighbors, in a sense.

Stacy greeted every maid she came across with. All of them already knew her, and also treat her as one of their obligations whenever she comes to visit. She was indeed very welcome to Alexa's home.

"Did Alex eat breakfast yet?", Stacy asked a maid by the name of Beth.

"I prepared this for her because she still hasn't come down from her room", replied the middle aged woman as she carries a wooden tray of pancakes, bacon and egg, and a glass of milk for delivery to Alexa's room.

Stacy watches her carefully balancing her weight and of the tray she's holding while going up the stairs. Another housemaid stood beside Stacy in the kitchen, it was Len.

"This has been the third time we had to prepare breakfast in bed for ma'am Beatrice this week", Len announced.

"Really? What's going on?", asks clueless Stacy.

"I think it's about her mom pushing her to do photoshoots at work with her", Len replied and then walked out to the backyard.

Stacy knew that Alexa hated it every time Mrs. Monteverde tries to let that 'inner supermodel' out of her daughter's shy personality. Alexa always declined her offers and would always tell her mother that it was never going to happen. But Mrs. Monteverde still pushes through with this, making Alexandria upset every once in a while.

Staring up the stairs, Stacy sees Beth with the tray she was carrying earlier. It was still full of food, looks like Alexa did not have an appetite. Beth just nodded in response to Stacy's questioning stare. Letting out a sigh, Stacy climbs up the stairs and proceeded to Alexa's room.

She knocked three times, and when Alexa said she could enter, Stacy slowly twisted the doorknob. She found Alexa slouching on her bed, looking tired as ever. Stacy sat beside her, bouncing.

"What's up?", Stacy asks as if she didn't know what happened.

Alexandria turned to look at her with hurt eyes. Stacy sensed the water works coming so she wrapped Alexa up in a big and warm hug. She knew how much it hurt for her best friend to think that her own mother doesn't accept her for who she was.

"I don't know why she keeps on pushing me to be like her. Doesn't she understand? I am not like her", Alexa sobs in Stacy's shoulders.

"You know what? You shouldn't be crying over it. Let's just go out and have fun to distract you from all this. Is that okay?", Stacy suggested.

"Where are we going?", Alexa asked, letting go and wiping her tears.

"Just get dressed, I'll tell you on the way", Stacy replied and Alexa did as she was told.

After several minutes, Alexa got in her light blue blouse and a pair of trousers. She wore her sneakers and was ready to go. Stacy looked at her best friend from head to foot. She was silent and Alexa didn't understand what was happening.

"Do you, uh, want me to change?", Alexa hesitated.

"No, of course not", Stacy was quick to reply.

They went downstairs and told Beth that they were going to hang out. The park wasn't that far from Alexa's house, so she got confused when Stacy called for a cab. As they got in, Stacy told the driver to go to the mall.

"Are we gonna go shopping?", Alexa asked.

"We could. But if you don't feel like it, then we could just go to the movies", Stacy replied.

After that they both kept silent throughout the trip. Arriving at the mall, Stacy remembered that she needed a pair of stilettos for prom. Alexa was confused because prom was three months from today, but she didn't say anything. All she knew was they were there to have fun.

"Do you think these look good on me?", Stacy asked, posing in front of Alexa, wearing pink five inch heels.

"You know I don't know anything about this kind of stuff, Stace. But, I do know that it would depend on what you're gonna wear. Like, what color your dress would be, I guess?", Alexa responded.

"Come on, Alex. I'm just asking if it looks good on my feet. If you continue to be such a kill joy, we will be stuck here for the next few hours", Stacy warned.

Alexandria was sensing something odd with her best friend but she couldn't point out what it was. She just went with whatever she wanted to do until Stacy ended up buying the very first pair she tried on about two hours ago.

Exhausted, they went out of the shop. Alexa thought they were finally going to watch some movies. But to her surprise, Stacy went inside Forever 21. She didn't follow her inside because she knew that it would yet be another long and exhausting wait.

As she was waiting for Stacy outside the store, a guy who was passing by dropped his wallet. Alexa was quick to call for the man's attention and returned his belonging. He looked straight into her eyes and smiled.

"Thank you. I'm Kyle, and you are?", he asked.

"Alex", she replied.

"Thank you, Alex", he said and bid goodbye.

Stacy rushed outside looking shocked at what she just saw. She faced Alexa with disbelief in her eyes which made Alexa confused and uncomfortable.

"Do you know who that was?!", Stacy asked in a high pitched voice.

Alexandria just shrugged and continued to walk, disregarding Stacy's blabbering from behind. The truth was, Alexa knew exactly who he was.