Chapter 29

Olivia

Nathan's car came to a halt in front of the new shopping center. I peered out the window, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. The shopping center had sprung up after I had left, and its modern facade stuck out like a sore thumb against the small town backdrop.

"Olivia, welcome to the new shopping center. It wasn't here when you left, but I think you’ll like it," he said, smiling a bit as he glanced at me.

I could tell that he was trying to ignore the fact that he had just cupped my breast in the car by accident, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to pretend that it didn’t happen, too.

“Come on,” he said, opening his car door. “Let’s go.”

I climbed out sheepishly after him.

Curiosity tingled within me as Nathan guided me out of the car, leading the way into the vibrant complex. The new mall had high glass ceilings, a modern design, and fountains that echoed throughout the halls.

“Wow,” I said, looking around at all of the shops that we passed. “I thought you said that money was tight around here.”

“It is.” Nathan nodded. “But malls like this have been popping up and pushing out small businesses. It’s a fun place, but it doesn’t beat the old mom-and-pop shops that we used to go to.”

Nathan was right; there used to be an entire strip of little shops in our town. I noticed already that they were gone, and now I realized that it was because of places like this.

“I feel a little guilty now,” I said. “Like we shouldn’t be supporting this place.”

Nathan simply shrugged. “There is no ethical consumption under capitalism,” he replied blandly. “Besides, at least people can find jobs at places like this. So I guess that’s one good thing.”

I didn’t know what to say. I guessed that he was right, but it still felt a bit strange.

Suddenly, he steered me into a store adorned with elegant dresses. The sight of the stylish garments made my heart flutter, and yet, a nervous apprehension settled in my stomach. Nathan sensed my hesitation and shot me an encouraging smile.

"Come on, Olivia, give it a try," he urged.

I bit my lip, glancing at the array of dresses. "I don't know, Nathan. I'm not sure if I can pull off these fancy outfits."

Nathan paused. It was subtle, but I could tell that he looked me up and down for the briefest moment. When his eyes returned to mine, I noticed that his face was a little red.

“I think you’ll pull them off better than you realize,” he muttered.

A little while later, I was headed toward the fitting room, clutching a few dresses in my trembling hands. As I tried on each outfit, my reflection in the mirror felt foreign and vulnerable.

“Well?” Nathan called. “Aren’t you gonna show me any?”

“I… Um…” I stammered, feeling shy. I was wearing a particularly pretty dress; it was dark purple and made of velvet, with a flattering silhouette. It went down to my ankles, and I imagined that it would look pretty with high heels. But it was so different from the way that I normally dressed.

“C’mon, Liv,” Nathan called again with a chuckle. “Don’t make me come in there.”

I felt my face turn red. Tentatively, I stepped out of the dressing room, feeling exposed.

Nathan's eyes widened as he caught sight of me. His cheeks instantly blushed, and he quickly averted his gaze and scratched his head.

“That…” He cleared his throat. “It looks nice on you, Olivia.”

A blush crept up my cheeks. "You really think so?"

He nodded fervently, still staring at the ground. Then, suddenly, he turned toward the employee and pointed at me. “She’ll take that dress,” he said.

I was taken aback. Before I could even fully process it, the dress was being rung up at the counter. Nathan was already swiping his card by the time I walked over to the counter, dressed in my usual clothes again.

“Here,” he said, shoving the bag into my hands and still avoiding my eyes. “I hope you like it.”

“I… Thank you, Nathan,” I muttered, feeling my face turn red.

Gratitude surged within me, mingling with a sense of vulnerability that Nathan's gesture evoked. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but curse him a little in my mind. My feelings for him were already confused, and now he was complimenting me and buying me things?

It all felt like something that a couple would do together, not people who were just supposed to be friends.

Afterward, we strolled through the bustling shopping center, taking in the vibrant atmosphere. Amidst the sea of stores, we stumbled upon an arcade. Its neon lights beckoned to us and made a smile come across my face.

A wave of excitement washed over me as I remembered the tiny arcade that used to be in our hometown before it closed.

"Nathan, do you remember how we used to spend hours playing games at the arcade back home?" I reminisced. “I always beat you at air hockey, and you were such a sore loser. Remember?”

A playful glint danced in my childhood friend’s eyes. “Do you think you could still beat me?” he asked.

I shrugged and smirked. “I don’t know. Let’s find out.”

Without a moment's hesitation, we ventured inside, ready to indulge ourselves in a world of brightly colored games like we did when we were just kids. The sounds of electronic beeps and laughter filled the air as we immersed ourselves in the games.

Our competitive spirits ignited, and friendly banter quickly escalated into spirited bickering.

“I’m gonna crush you as revenge for all of the times you humiliated me as kids,” Nathan joked, nudging me with his elbow.

"No way, Nathan! I am the undisputed air hockey champion!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with mock confidence as we gathered at the air hockey table.

He smirked and leaned closer, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Olivia, you're about to witness the master in action. I’ve been training for ten years, just for this day."

The competition intensified with each passing game, our laughter mixing with the clatter of the little pucks and mallets that we used to play the game. We cheered, yelled, and playfully taunted each other. Onlookers were staring at us as we caused a commotion, but we didn’t care.

It was just like old times, although I couldn’t help but think to myself that we were missing the final piece to our trio: Alvin.

Our eyes stayed fixed on the air hockey table, determination etched on our faces, until I finally got the upper hand in our intense battle.

With one last flick of my wrist, I shot the miniature puck into the slot on Nathan’s side of the table. The little scoreboard beeped and lit up, signifying my victory.

"Ha! I knew I still had it!" I exclaimed, pumping my fists in the air.

Nathan laughed heartily, nearly doubling over as he did. "Alright, you got me this time. But the battle isn't over yet!"

As our gaming session drew to a close, we left the arcade with our faces sore from smiling and laughing.

It was a day that reminded me of the joy and closeness we had always found in each other's company. For that afternoon, everything else fell away. Suddenly, all of our arguments and bitterness seemed to dissipate, and we could just be friends again.

During the drive back home, the silence between us grew once more. But it wasn’t as awkward as the original silence, although as we passed the spot where we saw the doe, I felt my face go a little red.

I looked at Nathan, grateful for the fun afternoon we spent together while I also felt a whole host of other emotions… Regret for fighting with him before, nostalgia, and although I would never admit it, I felt an indescribable attraction to my childhood friend.

"Thank you, Nathan," I whispered, my voice quivering a little as we drove along the familiar roads.

He glanced at me, his eyes almost sparkling. "You don’t need to thank me, Olivia. It's what friends are for. I’m just glad you’re home.”