Stephan(21)

His lips thinned and he nodded.

He looked aggravated and even his cheeks were tinged pink. I wondered what I’d said wrong now.

“Er…okay next question. What’s your dream car?”

“I don’t have my license or the money for lessons, but if I suddenly did, I’d buy a red Volkswagen Beetle.”

We talked about our friends for the rest of the way. How long we’d known them and trouble we’d gotten into.

By the time we reached the city I was enjoying myself. I ached to ask him to take me to my old neighborhood, but it was another twenty minutes away, and he was already parking at the shopping center.

Stephan came around and opened my door, helping me down. He reached for my hand and I shook him off, but he didn’t let it go. We walked to the entrance and went up the escalators to the shops.

“Let’s go get some food first, I’m starving.”

My tummy growled, but I didn’t have any money with me. I didn’t want to say anything so I just followed him.

*****

Stephan





Jade wasn’t going to make this easy. She argued when I’d bought her food, but caved eventually and ate what I bought her while telling me she was going to pay me back. Ha. She had another thing coming if she thought I’d take a cent of her money. I intended to slip a fifty into her bag later when she wasn’t looking. I wanted to give her more, but I hoped she wouldn’t notice it with it being such a small amount.

Now we were arguing within the phone shop, or more accurately she was attempting to argue with me. The shop assistant wasn’t listening to her, for which I was grateful, but Jade still didn’t stop.

“I mean it, Stephan. You can’t buy me a phone worth that much. And under no circumstance will I have a plan where you pay for it.” She crossed her arms and tried to stare me down. I shook my head, Jade should know by now she’d never win this game. I stared back and raised my eyebrow. She broke away first and glanced around.

“Look, what about this one?” Jade pointed to a cheap hundred dollar phone.

It had a camera but it was only four megabytes. I wasn’t getting her that one. She was getting the one with satellite connection so she could call from anywhere. It also had top of the line of everything. I’d be able to find her anywhere if she had the phone on her.

Gathering her to me, I hugged her. I knew she’d come willingly because people were watching. “It’s done, little bit. The sales assistant has gone to get the contract and phone. I’ve already given him my bank details.”

Gazing at me, she whispered so only I would hear. “I really hate you right now.”

Leaning down I kissed her. I knew I was pushing my luck but I couldn’t help myself, she looked so cute glowering at me. I chuckled when she broke the kiss.

“No you don’t.” She pushed at my chest but I didn’t let her go.

The sales assistant came out with everything and guided us to a seat. I let her sit on the chair next to me and not my lap but I held her hand as the sales assistant explained the terms of the contract and what the phone could do. I bit my cheek a couple of times to stop laughing every time Jade would squeeze my hand extra tight or dig her nails into me because of something the guy would say about the phone or contract.

The sales assistant handed me the documents to verify, but she snatched them.

“Stephan, please. This is ridiculous. It’s not too late to stop this silliness. I don’t need this. What if I take it and decide to ring China and England on it? It’ll cost you a fortune for Christ’s sake, you bought the phone outright. Surely I could just buy credit. I don’t need you connecting to a network and paying for my calls.”

I waited for her tirade to finish. “Do you intend to call China and England?”

“Er, no. But that’s not the point.”

“It isn’t?”

“Argh, no it’s not. The point is I could be spending loads of money and taking you for granted. I can’t afford the phone so you shouldn’t buy it.”

“I can afford it and I trust you.” I yanked the sheets out of her grip and signed on the dotted line before she could get them.

“You shouldn’t,” I barely heard her since she whispered, as I checked my address and handed the papers to the sales assistant who was doing his best to avoid looking at us. He handed me the bag with the new phone and accessories, and then thanked us. I stood and held my hand out for Jade but she ignored it and marched out of the store. I grinned and followed her.

She’d been quick and disappeared before I got out of the shop. Looking around, I couldn’t find her. My heart raced and I jogged from one side of the mall to the other. Shit! Where the hell was she? I looked around the busy shops. She didn’t have any identification or even money. She’d left her school bag with all of it in my car, not that she had any money in there. Fuck, I shouldn’t have pushed her. I ran to the car hoping she’d gone there, but she was nowhere to be seen, pulling my phone out, I dialed my dad.