When I woke up, I wasn’t screaming or crying or having a complete melt down. I had a small smile on my face as my eyes fluttered open. I sat up and realized that I was cradled in Dyson’s arms, laying on the tile floor and leaning against the back of the Subway counter.
I quickly stood to my feet before Dyson could wake up and use this against me and looked around. Nobody was around. Not one person.
“Hello?” I croaked, hoping that a security guard would hear me. I could see clearly now, but no lights were on. The storm must have killed the lights. Luckily, this mall has a bunch of sky lights and large windows. They’re strong because storms like this happen all of the time and they don’t break, so I wasn’t worried about them.
I ran my hands over my face, making sure I didn’t look too crappy, even though I’m sure I looked like hell no matter what.
I looked down at Dyson who was still sleeping on the floor with his head rested against the counter.
I roughly kicked his ribs. “Dyson, get up.” I growled.
His eyes fluttered open and his eyes rested on me then glared.
Before he could say a word, I crouched down beside him so that our faces were about a foot away from each other. I looked him dead in the eye. “Last night never happened.” I said sternly.
“But-“ He tried to protest but I slapped my hand over his mouth.
“Never. Happened.” I growled, standing to my feet and stepping away from him so that he could stand to his feet. “We need to find a way out.” I stated.
He scoffed. “A way out? Look at the doors!” He waved his hand in the direction of the glass doors that led outside. But now, they were covered in a curtain of steel that close when there’s a storm. “There is no way out.”
“There has to be.” I whined.
“Look, the power’s obviously out. I know that they have a generator for the food court, just to keep the fridges and kitchen stuff running. So that’s all the power we have. Even if we got out, where would you go? Into the feet of snow and bazillion miles an hour wind? All roads are blocked and your car is probably buried.”
I let out an aggravated huff of air, realizing that he’s right. I remained silent, not willing to admit that he was right. “Well, we might as well walk around and look for a security guard or something.” I muttered.
“Do you really think the security stuck around if there was a huge storm?” He asked incredulously.
“I don’t know, Dyson!” I screeched in aggravation. “But we can’t just be stuck here!”
“Well we are until this storm gets better. And by the looks of it, we have a few days.”
I growled. “Fine. Then stay far away from me.” I said, walking away from him and towards the stores in the mall.
“Where are you going?” He asked, his voiced tinted with amusement.
“Getting away from you!” I growled, not turning back around to face him.
“So who’s Mason?” He called.
I stopped dead in my tracks and spun on my heels to glare at Dyson. “Who?”
“Mason? You were screaming his name in your sleep last night. Is he your ex or something? You would be the girl to have the psychotic ex-boyfriends.”
“What part of ‘never happened’ don’t you understand?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Dyson smirked. “The ‘never’ part.”
“Just drop it.” I said coldly, turning back around and continuing down the hall.
“I don’t want to.” He challenged.
I ignored him and kept walking. I passed the first few stores and realized that they were all locked closed with metal gates.
I groaned, realizing that the keys were probably still on the counter of the Subway. I turned around and saw Dyson still watching me, waiting for me to realize that I needed the keys to go into any of the stores.
I awkwardly made my way back to the Subway counter but before I could get the keys, Dyson grabbed them and smirked. “Where’d you have in mind?” He asked.
I rolled my eyes. “I need to go get something. Just let me have the keys.” I ordered.
“Sorry. No can do.” He said smugly. “But I’d be more than happy to assist you to where you are going.”
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” I whined.
“Do you really want to wander around this huge mall alone?” He asked innocently.
“If we can’t get out, nobody can get in.” I said in a bored tone. “So stop trying to scare me. I don’t even scare easily.”
“Okay. But I’m still not giving you the keys.”
“Fine. Then come with me.” I said, already hating this whole situation. There just has to be a way out… right?
I turned back around and this time, he followed me. “So where are we going?”
“The pharmacy.” I said shortly.
“Why the pharmacy?” He asked.
I gave him a sideways glance. “Sleeping pills.” I said quietly. “If we’re going to be stuck here, I need sleeping pills.”
“I always thought that you were a drug addict.” He chirped as we turned the corner and down another row of locked up stores.
“I’m not a drug addict. You’re just a moron.” I argued.
He chuckled. “Ouch.” There was a moment of silence before he grabbed my wrist, making me stop. “Hey, let’s go in here.” He said.
I looked up at the sign. “The sports store? Why?” I asked.
“I have an idea.” He said with a smile as he unlocked the gate and gently slid it up so that we could get inside.
“Don’t you think we’ll get in trouble for taking things?” I asked as we walked into the store full of hiking gear and hunting equipment. It also had a few skateboards hanging on the wall next to a rack of roller blades, pads, and helmets.
“The security cameras won’t be working if the power’s out.” He said, looking through the electronics isle of the small store.
“But-“
“Tyler, stop being so uptight.”
“I am not uptight!” I argued.
“Please. You’re the most uptight person that I know.”
“Well then you don’t get out much.” I mumbled, even though we both knew that he was more popular than me. I mean, I wasn’t a loser. I had my group of friends. But Dyson was the super popular, football playing girl magnet.
He chuckled. “Yeah, sure thing, babe. Here.” He said, handing me a walky talkie.
“What’s this for?” I asked as he fumbled with the channels.
“So if we do split up and something happens, we’ll know.”
“What makes you think something will happen?” I asked.
He smirked. “Because not only are you the most uptight person I know, you are also the clumsiest.”
I rolled my eyes and my face turned bright red. I had to admit it, I was pretty clumsy at times but I wouldn’t let him know that I knew that he was right. “I am not clumsy.” I argued.
He just gave me a look that told me he didn’t believe me.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” I asked.
“I don’t know. But I don’t really want to find out.” He muttered, stuffing his walky talkie into his pocket. I examined mine instead of putting it away. It was black and fit into the palm of my hand. It was pretty simple with a speaker and just the necessary buttons. I quickly slipped it into my jeans pocket as we walked out of the sports store and continued down the hall towards the small pharmacy.
“Well I can handle myself.” I mumbled, wiping a piece of my hair out of my face.
Dyson stopped walking and put his hands on my shoulders, making me look at him. “Tyler, shut up.” He snapped. “No matter how much neither one of us wants to face it, we’re stuck here. For at least a few days. And no matter how tragic it sounds, we are all each other have for the next few days, at least. So stop being so god damn annoying.” And with that, he kept walking down the hallway.
“I am not annoying.” I argued, catching up to him and walking side by side with him.
He gave me a side glance with a small smile. “Sure you’re not.”
“I’m not. You’re just so damn immature.” I snapped. “And bossy.”
“You make it so fun to get you angry.” He chuckled. “It’s too easy.”
“It is not.” I huffed.
“I just did, babe.” He said with a smirk. “I got you mad with just a few words.”
“You’re just…. Just… stupid.” I murmured.
Dyson gasped. “Did you… did you just use the S word?!”
I stifled a growl as we turned the last corner to get to the pharmacy. “Shut up.” Was my great come back.
“Yeah.” He muttered, rolling his eyes. “I figure we can sleep in the Macy’s because they have beds there.”
“Yeah, okay.” I agreed, even though it made me sick to think that I would have to sleep here tonight. “What do we do with the rest of our time though? This is going to be so boring.” I groaned.
We got to the pharmacy but Dyson stopped us before we could make it in with a side smile on his face. “Tyler, you are in a mall. With no security cameras. We can do whatever we want.”
I chuckled but didn’t respond.
Dyson put his hands on my waist then slid them around to the small of my back and pulled me close to him. I felt him nuzzle his lips into my neck.
I rolled my eyes. Another sad attempt to seduce me.
“Anything.” He whispered.
“Anything?” I purred, playing along. Two can play at this stupid little seduction game that he keeps playing.
He gently peppered my neck with delicate kisses and I have to admit, it felt really good. But I knew better. “So murder is in consideration?” I growled, stomping on his toe before backing away from him and waiting for him to recover so he could unlock the pharmacy door.
He nodded at me. “I’m impressed.” He said as he bent down and slid the metal gate away from the entrance.
“Gee, thanks.” I chirped, walking into the store and finding the sleeping pill isle while Dyson grabbed a few boxes of Advil. God knows how much of that we’ll go through.
I looked through all of the sleeping pills and grabbed a few boxes of the strongest ones I could find.
“So your mom is probably freaking out right now, huh?” He asked.
I snorted. “She’s probably survived twenty heart attacks by now.”
He was silent.
“What about your parents? Won’t they be worried?”
“They won’t even notice.” He mumbled.
“Oh.” Was my brilliant response.
“So let’s go drop this crap off at the beds and then we can go to Victoria Secret and you can model for me.” He said with a smirk as we left the small pharmacy.
I rolled my eyes. “In your dreams.”
“Every night, baby.”
I faked gagged. “Gross.”
“Don’t act like you don’t like it.”
“It’s not an act, I promise you that.” I muttered as we rounded a corner, getting closer to the huge Macy’s.
“Sure it’s not, babe.” He said with a wink. “Keep telling yourself that.”
“And I’m the annoying one?” I muttered.
He laughed as we came up to the Macy’s and he smoothly unlocked the gate. As he pushed up the gate, I couldn’t help but stare as his muscles flexed with every movement.
No! Shake out of it, Tyler. He’s a jerk. He is hot, I must admit. But that doesn’t mean that he’s a good person. And it absolutely does not mean that I like him.
We silently walked into the Macy’s and passed the lacy, dressy dresses that were surrounding the entrance. After we got through all of the utterly expensive clothes, we had to go through the underwear section. I held my breath and hurried through, hoping that Dyson wouldn’t say anything or joke or do something.
“You should get these.” Dyson said with a smirk as he held up a piece of string that some girls call a thong.
I rolled my eyes, leave it to Dyson to joke around when we are almost certainly stuck here together for a few days. “No thanks, I’m good.” I said, dryly.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a prude.” He chuckled as we kept walking.
“I’m not prude.” I said stubbornly.
“You’re not?” He said with raised eyebrows.
I sighed as we made our way through the kitchen supplies. “Okay so I’m probably just a little prude. But it’s only because you’re such a pervert.”
“You wouldn’t think I’m a pervert if you weren’t such a prude.” He pointed out.
I let out an annoyed huff of air. “We’re just going in circles here.”
“No we’re not. The beds are right there.” He said, nudging a head of us.
“I mean with the conversation, smart a**.” I growled.
“No need to be snappy.” He mumbled as we got to the beds. “Which one do you want?”
I looked around. There were five beds spread out on the open space. I immediately fell in love with one that was covered in a purple comforter and purple pillows. I quickly pointed to it. “That one.” I rested the boxes of sleeping pills on the center of it and sat gently on the edge. The pillows were aligned neatly and the comforter was folded over, making me not want to mess it up.
“I was going to choose that one.” Dyson complained. “Oh, well. Guess we’ll have to share it.” He feigned disappointment.
“Shut up.” I muttered, slipping my sweater off of my body, revealing my light green tank top. When I turned back around, Dyson was staring at me with his eyes glazed in lust. “W-why are you looking at me like that?” I stammered, my face turning a deep shade of red.
He chuckled deeply. “You’re hot.”
“Don’t say that.” I snapped, standing to my feet, I put my hair up in a messy bun.
“No, it’s true.” He said with a smirk, laying the Advil and keys on the bed beside mine that was dressed in a light brown comforter. “Your boobs are a lot bigger than you let on.”
I instantly grabbed one of the purple pillows and flung it at his face across my bed. He chuckled and caught it.
“Can’t take a compliment?” He asked calmly, stepping closer to me even though the bed was still separating us.
“It’s not a compliment if it’s coming from you. ‘You have big boobs’ isn’t a compliment it’s a pathetic attempt to get into my pants so just save it because it’s not going to work on me like it works with all of your other girls.” I snapped.
He smirked his stupid smirk. That smirk that I just wanted to rip right off of his stupid face. “Did I sense a little bit of jealousy there?”
I rolled my eyes. “With your ego? It wouldn’t surprise me.” I muttered.
He chuckled and walked passed me towards the exit. “Come on, let’s go eat.”
It was only then when I realized I was starving. I haven’t eaten since last night and according to the walky talkie, it was noon already.
I quickly followed him out of the store and down the escalator that was right outside the doors of Macy’s. Of course, they were just stairs now since the electricity was out.
“Where are we going to eat?” I asked, catching up with him.
He gave me a small grin. “We can eat anything we want, who’s going to stop us?”
“Uh, the police when they arrest us?”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so pessimistic. We have to survive somehow don’t we? Or do you just want to die here?”
I stifled a huff, realizing that he was right. We had to steal the food or we would die here. “Fine.” I growled.
He grinned a full grin. “Hate admitting I’m right?”
“No.” I snapped.
“Bitter, bitter.” He tsked.
I remained silent until we got to the food court. “I’m having Italian.” Dyson announced.
“Do you know how to make it?” I raised my eyebrows at him.
He shrugged. “If that hot girl that works here can do it, so can we.”
“We? And her name is Nicole.” I said, referring to the girl that he always tries to hit on that works at the Italian place that is a few stores away from the Subway. She’s the second girl that’s ever rejected him. The first being me. We’re good friends, we keep each other company during shifts.
“Yes we. We both need to eat, don’t we?” He raised his brow at me as we walked behind the counter of the Italian place.
Half an hour later, we both had successfully made pepperoni Strombolis and were sitting at one of the tables eating.
“See? I told you we could do it.” He said with a proud smile.
I rolled my eyes and laughed at his flour- covered face. “You look like a ghost.” I said, still laughing.
“Shut up, you look just as bad.” He defended.
I chuckled but when I was about to answer him with a comeback, I was silenced when we both heard a phone start ringing.
“Do you hear that?” I whispered.
He nodded and we both stood from our feet, remaining silent as we ran through the food court to where the ringing was coming from. We landed on the information desk that was right outside of the food court, between it and the stores.
I saw an old, black phone with a cord and everything on the counter, surrounded by papers and files.
“Answer it!” Dyson hissed.
“Why don’t you answer it?” I snorted.
He sighed and picked up the phone, cutting it off mid- ring. But instead of putting it to his ear, he shoved it up to mine. With a scowl on my face, I timidly answered. “H- hello?”
“Who is this?” A voice demanded.
“It’s, uh, Tyler Morris.” I squeaked. “Um, and Dyson Becker.”
In the back ground, I heard the man’s voice yell to other people. “It’s them!” And then his voice was in my ear again. “This is officer Hollows, is anybody hurt?”
“N-no, we’re fine.”
“Where are you?”
“We’re inside of the North Winchester Mall. At the information desk.” I said quickly. Maybe we can be saved, I won’t have to be stuck here with Dyson after all!
“Do you have a set of keys?”
“Y- yeah.” I stammered. “Is somebody coming for us?”
I could see the hope in Dyson’s eyes as well as I waited for a reply. “Tyler, the storm is way too dangerous to send anybody out. However, I can assure you that you are safe where you are.”
I deflated and shook my head at Dyson who also arched his back in disappointment. “Right, yeah. I understand. Do you know how long we’ll be here?”
“The storm is only supposed to last a few days.” Officer Hollows replied.
“What time is it?” I asked him.
“It’s 12:56.” He said. So our walky talkies were right. “Okay, listen carefully.”
“Y-yes, sir.” I replied quickly.
“All electricity is out. That includes lights, escalators, security cameras, everything. However, the generator is working in the food court only. Don’t turn on the lights though, save the energy for the food. Use this phone to call home and if there’s an emergency, use this phone. Do you understand?” He asked firmly.
I nodded, that was basically what Dyson already inferred. “Y-yes sir.”
“You may hang up now.”
“W-wait.” I said quickly. “You promise that we’re safe?”
“Tyler, you’re probably safer there than you are at home.”
“Thank you, sir. Goodbye.” And I quickly hung up the phone. I was too stunned to stand anymore. There really was no hope of us getting out of here. I sat down on the floor and let my back lean against the marble counter.
“Well, what’d they say?” Dyson asked, crouching down beside me.
I shrugged. “We’re stuck here.” I said quietly.
“Well, yeah. We already knew that.” He said, confused.
“But now we know that there is no chance in getting out of here. None at all, we’re really stuck here.”
He grinned. “We’re going to be famous when we get out. I can see it now. Two innocent teenagers- Stuck in North Winchester Mall. I’m going to get so many chicks.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m glad you are happy about this.”
He shrugged. “We’re stuck with each other no matter what. So you might as well find the good things in it.
I sighed. “Like killing you in your sleep?”
“Now that’s the spirit.” He grinned as we walked back over to the table where our half eaten Strombolis were.
I sat down again and we silently finished our Strombolis without speaking to each other. When we both finished, I looked up and met his deep ocean blue eyes. “Hey, Dyson?” I asked.
“What?” He asked nonchalantly.
“You’ve seen the security with those Segways, haven’t you?” I asked innocently.
He chuckled with a smirk. “Yeah, what about them?”
I matched his smirk and stood to my feet. “Where do you suppose they keep those?”
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So I changed from uploads to every Sunday to uploads every Sunday and Wenesday. That might change again later, though. I'm not sure.
Vote, comment, fan <3
Thanks for reading!