falling in love with a gang leader

chapter 8

we walked into the mall and waited at the front for the others to come in. i couldn't stop thinking about what happened with colby this morning. when our hands brushed each other's, i felt something. i've never felt it before, but it was there. i felt my skin tingle and burn when it happened. but damn, was he hot. his smile was so bright and his dimples... oh my god, his dimples. i wanted to poke them into his face, but i didn't. my anxiety isn't stable enough for that.
kevin: "where are they?" he looked around, interrupting my thoughts.
emma: "not sure." i shrugged.
after a couple more minutes pass, the others walked through the entrance and colby's eyes immediately found mine, as mine found his, giving me a soft smile. i smiled back and turned away to katrina.
elton: "hey, guys." he said cheerfully. we all spoke a chorus of hellos.
kevin: "where were you guys?"
sam: "colby got mad because we bullied him and he drove slow to piss us off." i couldn't help but laugh a little, along with the others.
kat: "well, let's start shopping. where to first?" she said excitedly as she grabbed hold of sam's hand.
kevin: "let's just walk around and see where we end up."
all of us agreed and we started walking around the mall. we went into a few random stores, but found nothing interesting enough to buy.
emma: "i need to go in here. kat, are you coming?" i pointed to victoria's secret.
kat: "nah, i don't have to go." she shook her head.
emma: "okay. where do you want me to meet you guys?"
elton: "meet us in champs." he pointed to the shoe store a couple stores away from the one we were all standing at.
i nodded and i turned around to start walking, but kevin stopped me.
kevin: "wait, emma. it's smart to use the buddy system." he smirked playfully.
elton gave an evil, playful grin.
emma: "what?" i asked confused.
what are they trying to do?
elton: "because it's a big mall and you can't trust anyone nowadays."
emma: "tell me about it." i mumbled quietly.
kevin: "what was that?"
emma: "mind your damn business." i snapped, irritated at elton. why is he like this?
kevin: "jelly bean still hasn't lost her flavor."
i couldn't help but smile and let out a soft laugh.
kat: "anyways, we'll see you in champs."
i nodded and walked away into victoria's secret. as i reached the panty section in the front of the store, someone had bumped into me— forcefully.
emma: "oof." i huffed put a breath at the force.
i stumbled a little bit, then felt arms on my waist, i'm assuming to steady me. i turned around and colby was standing right behind me, catching his balance, as his grip on my waist tightened slightly. okay, what the fuck was happening right now? my heart started to beat faster and faster and my face flushed. he let go of me as he caught my eye. blushing before his face returned to normal color. my face was flaming with heat.
colby: "sorry about that. elton pushed me." he said sheepishly.
i peeked over his shoulder and saw elton and kevin laughing hysterically. i flipped them off and they walked away laughing their asses off. fuck-heads.
emma: "it's fine. but why are you in... here?" i waved my hands around the store at all the lingerie.
colby: "because kevin says he refuses to let you be by yourself, but somehow i doubt that that's the reason why he pushed me." he shook his head, glancing at kevin and elton before they were completely out of sight.
i shrugged, seeming unbothered even though i was very bothered, and walked around shopping. i felt colby's eyes on me when i would reach the lingerie: panties, bras, and very explicit clothing. we had a really nice conversation while i shopped around, him following me around like a lost puppy. he's actually a really nice person. i still don't understand why he's such an ass, but it doesn't matter. i'm also confused because it sounds like he's flirting with me, but i can't be sure. after another twenty minutes of walking around, the conversation between colby and i had died down, just sporadic comments or questions here and there, even though i wanted to have another conversation with him. i would, but i'm too awkward to start conversations. i always end up embarrassing myself somehow.
colby: "are you almost done? i'm bored." he groaned, jokingly, i think.
emma: "it's your fault for staying in here with me." i chuckled.
i glanced at him and saw his bright, beautiful smile. the light reflecting off of his ocean blue eyes was enough in itself. those damn eyes...
i grabbed a pair of velvet red shorts and started to make my way to the register, until he spoke.
colby: "you're buying... those?" he said, his cheeks tinting red. huh?
emma: "um... yes?" i said confused, "why? something wrong with them?" his face flaming up even more.
colby: "no, no. the shorts... they're just... really sexy," he said with slightly wide eyes, "especially on you." he mumbled ever so quietly, him not realizing i heard him. my face flamed up the color of an apple.
emma: "you're very bold for making that comment, colby." i mused.
colby: "well, my boldness seemed to have an affect on you, so i did my part." he smirked, his cheeks returning to normal color. damn it, he was right. i rolled my eyes and smiled at him as i turned on my heel to go to the register to pay for my things.
colby: "where did they say to meet them?"
emma: "champs." i pointed a couple stores down.
he nodded and we made our way to the others in an awkward silence.
colby : "hey guys." we approached the group.
they all looked over at colby and i and smiled with smiles that reached their eyes. the fuck was that about?
kevin: "see, the buddy system does work, emma. you didn't get kidnapped."
i rolled my eyes, "would you stop." i laughed. they laughed and elton bought the shoes he picked out. we all walked out of the store and as we were walking, i saw a familiar face approach me. shit.
kat: "emma..." her eyes wide and wary.
she saw him too. why was he by himself?
emma: "i see him. step back by sam, please." i took in a shaky breath. stephan made eye contact with me and smirked. no, no, no, no.
sam: "what happened?" he was confused.
emma: "you guys wait here. don't move."
they looked confused, but they listened. i walked up to stephan, my abusive ex, and he evilly grinned down at me.
stephan: "hey, princess." he put his hand on my cheek. i heard a sharp breath being taken in behind me. who was that?
emma: "stephan." i said blankly. i was too scared to correct him that my name wasn't "princess", and i was too scared to move his hand away from my face.
stephan: "look, i just wanted to say i'm sorry. i miss you so much." he's lying...
emma: "we broke up a year ago. why are you telling me this now?" horror seemed to leave my voice, shockingly. shit, i need to go.
stephan: "because i wanted to get your attention."
emma: "attention for what?" my eyes wide and wary.
stephan: "to do this." he grinned.
he grabbed my waist tightly and uncomfortably, his fingertips biting into my skin.
emma: "get off... of me." i struggled to get out of his grip. i slapped him across the face and he looked at me with an evil glare, angry evident on his face. that was the wrong thing to do. fuck. fuck. fuck. fuck.
emma: "stephan... please don't..." i pleaded nervously, the horror back and evident in my voice.
he chuckled and slapped me, hard, across my face. tears came to my eyes as i struggled to keep them in. the memories of how he treated me had come unbidden into my mind. my face was stinging and burning.
stephan: "that's what you get for leaving me when i told you not to." he said angrily.
i wasn't exactly sure what had happened in the few seconds my eyes were closed, but all i could see when i opened them back up was colby punch stephan right in the face, causing stephan to drop right to the floor. i ran to katrina and she hugged me tight.
colby: "don't ever touch her again." he spoke angrily through a clenched jaw.
elton, kevin, and sam were in shock. they didn't have a clue of what to do. well, if i were them, i wouldn't know what to do either.
colby: "are you okay?" he asked me worriedly as he walked up to me, my face buried in katrina's shoulder. i pulled away from katrina and looked at him as i wiped my tears with the back of my hand. his eyes went wide. is my face already bruising or is he just in shock?
emma: "i'm calling an uber back to my place." i cried. colby's mouth dropped and i could tell he didn't know what to do. i looked back over and saw stephan scurrying away. fuck, my face hurts. my tears were falling faster and faster...