YOU HERE?

Marie and Rebecca along with their mom headed straight to the market. For every little thing, Marie pointed it out as if it was something big enough to deserve attention. She was doing that on purpose in order to make the whole process of shopping slow as a snail. She was also pointing out even the things which did not interest her at all.

Before they could reach the main market, but soon after they crossed just a few shops at the beginning, Marie had to rub her eyes in order to believe what she just saw. Jean was wearing a black shirt and blue denim Bermuda shorts and was walking in all her glory with an ice cream cone in her hand and relishing it.

They had not exchanged any messages and neither had they spoken to each other on call in a while. So, they were not aware of the other person’s plan of action for the day. In fact, Marie had not even told her about the sleepover planned at Jean’s house which her dad allowed her for, and that was all the more reason for her to be excited about.

Marie was surprised to see Jean at a distance of about ten feet from her. She wanted to run to her to meet her. And because they had started hugging each other, that possibility was making her excited. Besides, it was high time that both of them deserved to have a second hug with each other.

On the other hand, she wasn't sure if she should walk up to her friend because she was with her family for a reason, and she could not abandon them even temporarily because the reason involved her dad's wish, and it was also his command. Adding on to that, Marie was raised in such a way that both those things were more important than her personal desires. So, she tried her best to ignore Jean being around her and continued to walk with her step-mom and Rebecca.

Little did she know that there was an equal possibility of Jean spotting her and running to her, which was actually something which Marie wanted from within. Only because she could not go to Jean did not mean that her friend could not come to her. She very much wanted to meet Jean, and that was the only way for which she was hoping to happen.

Without even looking at her friend, she continued doing what she was doing with Rebecca, and as she took a couple of steps, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She stopped walking at that moment and stood still to turn around immediately. She had too many things going on in her mind that it became difficult for her to guess who this person must be. All the more for the reason that she was with her step-mother who did nothing else but complain about her to Mr. Jones. Along with her, Rebecca also turned her head a little to understand what was happening.

Elated would be an underrated word to describe the feeling inside of Marie on seeing the person who tapped her shoulder was none other than her friend, Jean. It was not difficult for her to spot her friend at least, especially in the less crowded market because not many people can usually be found before noon. In fact, evenings are the busy times for shopping everywhere, and that is how even their place seemed to be.

Not able to come up with any words to greet her best friend, Marie stood there with the expression of being shocked and yet controlling her smile. Delilah took a step back as she was walking in front of her two girls as she was leading them both. Whereas, Rebecca was walking with Marie, and they were looking around the market trying to window-shop in order to decide what all they wished to buy, but they couldn’t as they had specifically come to the market to buy Rebecca’s video game CD first and then head to the particular shop having 70% off.

In the meantime, Jean said, “Marie, you here?!”

That is when Marie at least nodded her head, and then Jean threw away a hug to her. Marie hugged her back as well.

“What are you doing here?” Jean asked.

“Just a little bit of shopping,” Marie replied.

“Wow! That’s awesome!”

Delilah definitely had to have issues with it because it made Marie happy, and that was something which she could not bear. So, she questioned, “Marie, who is she?”

“Mom, she is my best friend from school, Jean. We are sharing the room this year, and we are also planning to choose the same stream,” Marie answered, and then she stated, “She is my best friend forever – BFF”

Marie looked back at Jean, then to her step-sister, and she said, “Jean, she is my sister, Rebecca.”

“Hello, ma’am! Hello, Rebecca!” Jean greeted them both after which she turned her eyes to Marie and asked, “Can I join you for shopping?”

Unable to understand how she must answer this question because she was sure that her step-mother would have some or the other problem if her friend joined them for shopping. Even if Marie's step-mother and step-sister were not to be disturbed by Jean and she quietly walked with Marie, they would still complain. And knowing Jean, it was certain that neither she would demand to buy a single thing nor would she cause some kind of hindrance in their shopping.

So, Marie looked at her step-mother, and the expression on Delilah's face was such as if some dude had asked her step-daughter out. It could be because of the way Jean carried herself that Delilah was confused, but at least Jean's voice should have clarified her doubt. Besides, Marie studied in a girls' school until this new session. Not only was it highly impossible for her to have a male friend approaching her, but it was also beyond her reach since she spoke to no one other than her friend from the complex, Adrian, whom she knew since the very start when she moved here with her family.

“Of course, you can,” Rebecca answered to disrupt the awkward silence. More for the reason that she was unable to settle Jean was a girl, and she wanted to be seen in the market roaming with someone who looked like a guy, and others would believe that because of Jean’s dressing sense and look. It did not matter to her whether it was for real or not, but since some of the people in the complex that they lived in were found most of the time in the market, Rebecca also wanted her friends to see that she was the ‘cool’ kind.

All the three girls looked at Delilah for her final approval once Rebecca said that. And since Delilah’s real daughter said it, she could not deny it. So, she gave a fake smile and turned around in order to lead all of them again. She already began walking because she was impatient to return home and meet the ‘special lady’ who was supposed to be coming home today. She was entirely focused only on that.

Now that Jean was going to be with Marie while his family were shopping, her presumptuous step-mother would definitely come up with some conclusions come what may, but the interesting thing was to see if these two girls would make their liking very obvious towards each other.