Altered - A Marvel AU

Chapter 10 - Mr. Grant's Your Lover

Edited ✅😃

I crossed my legs and uncrossed them several times, blowing out small puffs of air in frustration as I waited for Ava to get ready. Of course, it took her like 3 years just to blow dry her hair. "You're such a girl." I grumbled. She raised an eyebrow at me, "Last time I checked, that was my gender, yes." I rolled my eyes at her insufferable behavior. Sometimes I wondered why I didn't just stuff her pockets with corn and throw her into the pig ranch just south of our dainty little town.

"Cuz you love me." "Was I thinking out loud again?" She nodded her head as she meticulously applied a thin line of eyeliner. "B.T. Dubs, your driving babes." I rolled my eyes, "Course I am." She shrugged, grinning at me. At least the car ride was fun, with Hannah and Diane blaring out pop songs in the back seat to me and Ava bickering up front, it was pretty natural.

As soon as the mall came in view, we all edged to the absolute front of our seats, staining our necks to get a better view. Our mouths agape and eyes widened to saucers we stared at the beautiful visage of perfection in front of us. The white columns stood in an orderly fashion, the mall itself, adorned with silver and gold bricks with the white ones. A banner stood proudly, waving in the wind and ushering people to this mall.

A fountain releasing hundreds of chromatic colors stood proudly in the center. We all walked out of the car, still staring at the entrance with open mouths. "EEEE. LOOK AT THIS MALL." I looked to the side to see Kylie skipping towards us with the biggest grin on her face. I nodded, behind the girls, Abdul, Aaron, and Derek trailed along staring at the store as if it was something evil. Abdul looked towards Hannah and blushed slightly as her face lit up with excitement. Meanwhile Aaron snaked his arm around Diane's and kissed her cheek. Derek just stared at Simi with a light blush tinting his cheeks. Arnie came from behind Derek and swung his arm protectively around Ava's shoulder.

I felt so pathetically alone, and I wished that Steve was here. Kylie took hold of my hand and squealing, led me into the mall along with the rest of us. There were so many stores and a rollercoaster zooming in between the beautiful decorations that I lost track of where we were and I only took a few steps into the store. The girls all walked on ahead, squealing and excitedly skipping, I stayed behind with the boys who admittedly looked as confused as I felt.

I took this opportunity to do a little match making in between my friends. "Aaron, Arnie, when are you going to ask your girlfriends, aka my best friends to prom?" They both scratched the back of their necks simultaneously as if practiced, "Um well you see there's a lot of pressure on promposals so I just don't want to disappoint." I rolled my eyes at Arnie's excuse, but it was legitimate, promposals in our school were a big thing, but I thought they were shit. I mean why would you propose to someone for prom, like a proposal is supposed to be something from the heart, an act of passion between two intimate individuals, prom is a dance between highschool kids.

"I don't think the girls care that much, but the longer you put off asking them, the more you're hurting them. And you don't want to hurt my girls, I think you heard what happened to Ryan." They both gulped hard and nodded, "I just... I want everything to be perfect, I wanna show Ava how much she means to me." Aaron nodded, as if he was thinking the same thing. "Humph." I frowned, I hoped that these idiots wouldn't mess things up with the girls.

I saw a directory screen to one side of the huge entryway and I strolled towards it, my friends following me. I saw a man in a plain white t-shirt and blue, fitting jeans standing there. His back was facing towards me but I could still tell he was muscular and probably very, very hot. His brown hair came down in a cropped look, and he was probably way older than me. Have I mentioned, I have a thing for older people?

I was about to excuse myself when he turned around and my words died in my throat. "Mr. Grant!" Ava squealed, "What are you doing here?" Steve shot me a wink, "Well I was missing someone and I decided to distract myself by doing some shopping." He paused, furrowing his eyebrows, "Er... for fishing gear, not for clothes." I rolled my eyes at him, furious at him being here but also kind of relieved as I was missing him too. Diane twirled a piece of hair around her finger, cliche style, "Well you can hang out with us, now that you're here."