DUSK TILL DAWN , MILEVEN AU

16.

that morning, mike and el had breakfast by the dining table together.

he had cooked her a nice meal, preparing her for their first day out in public.

he helped her pick out some comfortable clothes and some shoes before they got into the car and drove to the mall where they would find most of their stuff.

"are you okay?" he asked, parking his car as she turned from the window to face him. "i'm nervous and i don't know why,"

he reached out to grab her hand to assure her. "it's okay to be nervous. just know i'll be by your side the whole time and if you want to leave, we will leave,"

she nodded. "okay,"

he smiled, getting out of the car first before opening the door for her and taking her hand. "where do you want to head to first?"

"i don't mind,"

"paints? phone?" he asked and she began to think with a little pout that she didn't even know she was doing.

mike smiled at the sight, it was something he had noticed since high school and thought was adorable.

"we should get a phone first because paints are heavier," she said and he agreed and held the mall door open for her.

her eyes roamed around her surroundings, seeing certain people stare at her and she looked down to her feet as an instinct.

"you okay?" mike whispered into her ear before holding her hand tightly.

she breathed in a sharp breath and nodded. "yes." she raised her chin and put on a smile as they walked. "has this mall always been here?"

he nodded. "yeah."

"do i come here often?"

"well, i'm not so sure but i've never heard you mention it," he said, "you normally pick up your sister after school though.. i assume not unless you do on the weekends,"

she nodded at the information as they walked to an electronics store.

"woah," she looked around and wandered off as he chuckled and went to find a worker. "i want one of your newest model of phone with the biggest storage," he said and the worked smiled politely.

"of course. what colour would you like?"

"colour?" he asked before his eyes darted to the table that displayed the colours and his eyes then caught el by the table next to it, a model before.

and he could tell she was very in love with the green one.

"give me a second," he told the worker and walked over to el.

"el," he called out to her and she hummed and turned. "yeah?"

"do you like this green more or the other green over there," he pointed to the other table which was a darker green instead.

"this one," she looked down to her hands. "but i really don't mind.. i'll be fine with anything." she quickly added.

he smiled at her and looked over at the worker before pointing at the green iphone 12.

originally he was going to get her the 13 but it seemed she liked this colour more.

the worker nodded and mike stayed with el as she browsed through the phone and played the games on there with a smile.

"mine will have games, right?" she asked him and he nodded. "yeah, i'll get you games." he said as the worker came back with the box.

"does it come with headphones?" mike asked and the worker shook his head. "only a charger." he had said and mike grumbled something. "i'll get some airpods as well then,"