505, sapnap!

FIFTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
in real life

BREE ALWAYS LIKED going shopping. No matter the place, if it was her mom's closet, the local plaza, or even a garage sale, she loved to go. This was why when the simple proposition of going to the downtown mall for a quick thing was mumbled, it made stars burst in her eyes. She had immediately agreed to go with Clay and Nick, even though she knew it would turn into an all-day affair.

As they walked into the bustling mall, Bree felt a sense of excitement course through her veins. The fluorescent lights above them shone like stars in the sky, and the sound of chatter and laughter filled the air like music. She could feel the cool air conditioning on her skin, like a refreshing dip in a pool on a hot summer day.

Clay and Nick were already off, heading towards the electronics store, but Bree couldn't resist the call of the fashion boutiques. As she made her way down the colorful halls, she felt a rush of energy coursing through her body, like a racehorse ready to take off.

But then, something caught her eye, and she was immediately distracted. A bright neon sign reading "Bob's Board Games" flickered in the distance, calling out to her like a siren's song. She had to go in. She had to see what kind of games they had.

Bree's mind was racing as she stepped into the store. She felt like a kid in a candy store, her eyes darting from game to game, each one more exciting than the last. She picked up a board game and started to read the instructions, her mind whirling with the possibilities of the game.

Suddenly, Clay appeared next to her, his eyes alight with excitement. "Bree, I found the coolest drone ever!" he exclaimed.

Bree looked up from the board game, her mind still racing with the rules and objectives of the game. "That's awesome, Clay!" she said, smiling at him.

Clay's eyes flickered over to the board game in her hand. "What's that?"

Bree launched into an explanation of the game, her words tumbling out of her mouth like a waterfall. She was so caught up in her excitement that she didn't even notice the other customers in the store giving her strange looks.

It wasn't until Nick appeared, looking slightly disheveled and out of breath, that Bree realized how long she had been in the store. "Hey guys, you wouldn't believe the line at the electronics store," he panted.

Bree looked at him, feeling a little guilty for getting so caught up in the game. But then she saw the sparkle in his eyes, and she knew that he was just as excited as she was. With a grin, she handed him the board game.

As they walked out of the board game store, Bree couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness bubbling up inside of her. She loved spending time with Nick and Clay, even if Clay did complain about being a third wheel every now and then.

"Man, can we please go somewhere other that's not an electronic or board games store now?" Clay whined, looking at Nick and Bree.

Nick chuckled. "Don't worry, Clay, we'll find something fun for you to do too."

Bree grinned at the two of them, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her chest. She couldn't believe it had only been two months since she had met them, yet it felt like they had been friends forever.

As they walked through the mall, Bree couldn't help but notice the way Nick kept stealing glances at her. She tried to ignore it, but her heart rate increased every time she caught his eye. 

She glanced over at Nick, who was now pretending to be interested in a pair of sunglasses in a store window. She couldn't help but notice the way his eyes lit up when he talked about something he was passionate about, or the way his hair fell just so over his forehead.

Bree quickly looked away, feeling a blush spread across her cheeks. She didn't want to make things awkward between them, but she couldn't help the way she felt.

Suddenly, Nick spoke up. "Hey, Bree, I think I found something you might like."

Bree turned to him, her heart racing. "What is it?"

Nick led her over to a store that sold graphic tees and pointed to a shirt with a cute cartoon character on it. "I saw it and immediately thought of you," he said, grinning.

Bree felt her heart swell with affection for him. "Thank you, Nick," she said, smiling up at him.

Clay rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, you two are so in love it's disgusting."

Bree quickly brushed off Clay's comment, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. She didn't want to believe that her feelings for Nick were so transparent.

As they continued to walk around the mall, Bree found herself lost in thought. She wondered if Nick felt the same way she did or if she was just reading too much into things. She didn't want to ruin their friendship by confessing her feelings and making things awkward between them.

Suddenly, Nick's voice brought her back to reality. "Hey, Bree, you wanna go check out that store over there?" he asked, pointing to a boutique across the hall.

Bree smiled and nodded, grateful for the distraction. As they walked towards the store, Bree noticed a group of teenagers walking in the opposite direction. One of them accidentally bumped into her, causing her to lose her balance.

Without thinking, Nick quickly reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her. Bree felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her at his touch. She looked up at him and their eyes met, causing her heart to skip a beat.

Nick gave her a concerned look. "You okay, Bree?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Bree nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, Nick," she said, smiling gratefully at him.

As they entered the boutique, Bree couldn't help but feel grateful for Nick's presence. He always seemed to know exactly what she needed, even when she didn't know it herself.

Meanwhile, Clay grumbled to himself, feeling like a third wheel yet again. He couldn't help but notice the way Nick and Bree seemed to have a special connection, even if they both denied it. He wondered if he would ever find that kind of connection with someone.

Bree picked out a few items in the boutique, including a cute dress and some earrings. Nick stood patiently by her side, giving his opinion on each item she tried on. Bree couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her as she looked at him, grateful for his unwavering support.

As they left the boutique, Bree felt a sense of sadness wash over her. She didn't want the day to end, but she knew they had to head back to the Dream Team house soon. She wondered if she would ever have the courage to tell Nick how she really felt, or if she would forever be stuck in the friend zone.