"See you later, Ari," Edward called to Ari as she left Mad Ink. She turned and smiled at the punk, who was currently inking a tattoo on a buff, bald-headed man.

"Bye, Edward."

Ari exited the shop and decided now was a good time to stop by the mall and see if she could find some new cleats, since her old ones were barely holding together. Although Ari loathed shopping, she forced herself into the crowded mall. She glanced inside some stores as she walked, searching for a MC Sports or a SCHEELS.

As she was absorbed in searching, Ari neglected to watch the path in front of her and walked right into another body. Ari and the unknown person landed in a heap of flailing limbs and shopping bags.

Ari groaned and rolled off the person. She looked over and saw a very familiar face.
"Oh my gosh, Nessa! Are you okay?" Ari asked as she scrambled up and helped her friend off the ground.

She heard laughter on her left, so she looked over to see Kat doubled over laughing at the collision. Ari glared and rolled her eyes at her, though she didn't see it, before refocusing her attention on helping Nessa collect her clothing off the ground.

"I'm so sorry. Guess I should pay more attention to where I'm going," Ari said sheepishly.
"You know for a soccer player, you lack both grace and balance," Kat said, wiping her eyes as she recovered from her laughing fit.

Ari rolled her eyes and flicked her off.

"Why are you here, Ari? I thought you hated the mall."

Ari looked at Nessa and shrugged. "I do hate the mall, but I need new cleats and it's right next to Mad Ink."

Ari looked at the two bags in Kat's hands and the three in Nessa's.

"Doing some light shopping?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nessa's favorite vintage store had a sale. We were about to go to the food court. Want to join?"

"Sure, just let me find some cleats, and I'll join you two in a few," Ari told them. The other girls nodded before they parted ways, and Ari resumed her trek to find cleats albeit more carefully.

***

With her food in her hands, Ari joined her friends in the food court at the table they chose. She sat down and was immediately questioned by Kat.

"We should have a sleepover!" Kat exclaimed.

Ari rolled her eyes at her friend's enthusiasm; she finds herself doing that a lot around Kat. She probably should stop that before her eyes got stuck.

"That sounds like fun," Nessa agreed. Ari sighed before agreeing with them.

"I guess I can be social for the night, even though I really wanted to catch up on my shows."
"You sound like an old lady talking about soap operas."

Ari glared at Kat.

"Thank you so much for your lovely observation, Kat. If only I wanted your opinion," Ari said sarcastically.

Believe it or not Ari and Kat really were close friends they just acted like they hated each other sometimes.

"Now about this whole sleepover thing, who's place?" Ari asked.

"Oooh, we should have it at Nessa's place. I want to see Olly!" Kat said.

Ari shook her head; it would be Kat to offer up someone else's home for her idea.
"I'm fine with that," Nessa responded.

Kat then starting spouting all her ideas for the sleepover while Ari tuned her out to get mentally and emotionally ready for this "girl time".

She caught Kat mentioning having a girl's day out as well, and internally groaned. This is going to be a long weekend.

Notes