Chapter - 5

Amelia Scott's p.o.v;

The weekend arrived earlier than intended. While I was waiting for Hannah, I went shopping at the mall. Hannah eventually shouted my name and waved her hands in the air to gain my attention.

"I apologise for being late."

"Let's go to the music store," I said, nodding.

"Wait, what exactly is this outfit?"

"What's wrong with my outfit?"

I took a glance at my clothes. I was dressed in baggy grey jeans and a black tee.

"Why do you constantly dress in monochrome? Can't you wear some bright colours at least once?"

"I don't want to be the centre of attention."

"I'm not asking you to dress up for other people. At the very least, dress for yourself. Put on your favourite colours. Such as Yellow."

"I'd look like a lemon if I did it."

"I wonder why you have a favourite colour even though you don't own any clothes in that colour," she sighed. "Let's go buy the violin together."

Is it necessary to own a fabric if I have a favourite colour?

We walked into the music store. When I walked in, there were numerous musical instruments of various sizes hanging on the wall, on the table, and within the cabinet.

Hannah was already looking over the violins she intended to purchase. While I was out and about, one of the female workers approached me and asked, "What instrument are you looking for, mam?"

"She's the one who came to buy," I said, pointing to Hannah. "I'm just tagging along with her, so don't mind me."

"Don't forget to buy an instrument when you've decided what you're going to learn," Hannah said. And returned to searching for the violin.

"Do you want me to show you around?" the worker inquired.

"To be honest, I don't know anything about instruments. I don't want to get into any problems."

"Don't be concerned. I'll show you around the place."

"Okay."

"On this side, you can see wind instruments like Flute, clarinet, harmonica, piccolo, saxophone, and bagpipes," she said as she led me to a section of the store. "Brass instruments such as the French horn, trombone, tuba, and conch are available on this side. Percussion instruments such as the xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, cymbals, rattle, and gong are examples."

We came to the location where Hannah was looking for a new violin.

"In this part, we have string instruments including guitar, violin, and viola," the worker stated.

"Violin and viola are distinct instruments?" I asked her before she finished.

"Yes, mam."

"How does it differ from? They both appear to be the same to me."

"Violin is played with treble clef, whereas viola is performed with alto clef," Hannah interrupted.

"I'm still not sure."

"We have a violin, viola, guitar, mandolin, harp, double bass, banjo, and cello," the worker continued.

"Cello?"

I moved closer to the cello and lightly touched it. When I brushed my hand across the cello's surface, it felt smooth and slippery.

"Do you like it, ma'am?"

"Yes, it's lovely, smooth, slim, warm, thick, sweet, delicate, energetic..."

Hannah jolted me and said, "What exactly are you saying? Will you purchase it?"

"Huh?"

"It's the cello! Will you purchase it?"

"No! No, no. I was simply gazing around." "Is that all?" I asked, turning to the worker.

"There are electronic instruments on that side."

"All right, let's go have a look."

I followed the worker to the section containing electronic devices. "We have electronic instruments such as a keyboard, synthesiser, rhythm machines, and octapads on this side. Ma'am, do you like any of the instruments I've shown you so far?"

"I'll think about it and then buy it."

"Yes, mam."

"Have you decided?" I asked Hannah when the worker had left.

"Yes! That one! How are things going?" She showed me a violin that resembled her old one.

I gave her a thumbs up and waited outside the store for her. I can see the cello inside the store from the outside. It appears to be lit under the lights.

Andrew was the first person who sprang to mind when I touched the cello. I had the mental image of him playing the cello in his room. Even when I'm not near him, things that remind me of him do. I grinned to myself and glanced at the cello, wondering, "Should I buy you?" And then I smiled to myself.

"What are you purchasing?" Hannah inquired, holding the violin packaging in her hands.

"Um… I was looking at the food store which noticed the banner advertising crispy fried chicken."

"Do you want to eat?"

I hurriedly nodded to her.

She said with a smile, "Let's go. I'm hungry as well."

We went to the food court and ate some delicious crispy fried chicken. Good god. Otherwise, I would have been caught because there was a food court nearby.

Why is having a secret crush so difficult? I'm not sure when I'll get caught.

I noticed Peter near the counter when we were eating in the food court. Does this imply... Is Andrew also here? I looked around the food court for him but couldn't find him. I believe Peter arrived by himself. I kept eating the chicken on my plate.

Someone entered via the door beside us. Andrew is here!!!

I wiped sauce over my lips with tissue paper and began eating like an elite.

"What happened?"

"Huh? What?"

"You have an unusual appearance. Is that chicken bad to eat?"

"No! No, no. It's fine. It's insanely delicious."

"Then why do you eat it as if you don't like it?"

"Do I?" I asked, nervously laughing. And kept eating the chicken.

I cast a sly glance towards Andrew. He was seated across from Peter and spoke with him. What happened to Harry? It's strange to look at those two because I've always seen those three together.

"Do you still want to eat?" Hannah inquired.

"Huh?"

"You were staring at the cash register. Do you want me to get you something else?"

She mistook me for gazing at the counter while I was actually looking at Andrew.

"Yeah, I'm a little hungry."

"All right, what do you want?"

"French fries," I remarked, looking at the menu.

"Got it."

I quickly finished my crispy fried chicken and walked up to Hannah to get a better look at Andrew.

"What brought you here?" Hannah asked.

"I... I forgot about the beverage." And gave a shaky chuckle.

"Okay. What do you want?"

"Chocolate smoothie," I responded, looking up from the menu on the counter.

"Ewww... for a brief while, I wondered perhaps you'd order differently this time, but you're the same, with the same strange eating behaviour. After eating chicken, who drinks a chocolate smoothie?"

I pursed my lips and fixed my gaze on the counter.

She went on, "Okay. Okay, we'll take care of that."

I flashed her a big smile and a thumbs up.

Hannah received a phone call and left to take it.

I turned to look at Andrew while I waited for my drink, but he wasn't at the table where he had been. What happened to him? I glanced throughout the food court for him, but I didn't find him.

"One Chocolate smoothie," I heard as I was wondering where he had gone.

It's Andrew's voice! Is he right there with me? Should I turn or should I remain standing? Will he greet me even if I turn and gaze at him? No! He won't? Why would he do such a thing? I'm so stupid. Stop making bad decisions.

The chocolate smoothie was left on the counter by the person behind the counter. When I reached for it, I accidently touched Andrew's hand. He was also clutching the cup. I instantly retreated and apologised to him "I'm very sorry. I didn't intend to t-touch your hand... I... I placed my order..."

Andrew was approached by the person behind the counter, who said, "Sir, it was for her. Your order is currently being processed."

He handed the cup to me and said, "I apologise. I had no idea."

"I-It's all right. I apologise for touching your hand as well. You may take the drink if you so desire. I can wait for that drink."

"I'm willing to wait."

"Okay. Thank you very much."

I grabbed the chocolate smoothie from the counter and dashed over to Hannah's table. I set the smoothie on the table and stared at my hand motionless.

"What's with staring at your hand as if you're going to make love with it?"

"Stop blathering gibberish!"

"Oops! Since I got the call, I neglected to get the French fries."

When she got up from the table, I took her hand in mine and murmured, "It's all right. I no longer require it."

"Okay, then. I need you to finish your smoothie quickly because I have somewhere to be."

"Where?"

"My side hustle. It's nearly time. I have to drop you off at your house and get to work, so finish it up."

"If you're in a rush, I can go alone."

"It's all right." And checked her phone.