Jett slouched deeper in the driver's seat, one arm hanging lazily out the window as Layla took her sweet time responding to his text.
It had been fifteen minutes now. Fifteen goddamn minutes. For someone who claimed she hated waiting, she sure loved making other people do it.
The parking lot buzzed with late afternoon noise, cars pulling in and out, the occasional shriek from a group of high schoolers, the hum of distant pop music coming from the mall speakers. Jett tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, jaw tightening.
He was seconds away from calling Layla again when her text buzzed through his phone
"On my wayyy. Don't look so grumpy 😘"
He rolled his eyes. Too late for that.
By the time Layla came bouncing out of the school gates, Jett had already decided this day was going to be a disaster.
She hopped into the passenger seat, smelling like vanilla and overpriced perfume.
"Sorry, my teacher kept me-"
"Yeah, yeah." he cut in, starting the engine.
Layla grinned, kicking her legs. "You love me too much to say no."
His lips twitched. "Keep telling yourself that."
✧
The mall was loud, too many people, too many colors, too much chatter, too much everything.
Jett hated it already.
Layla, on the other hand, was practically skipping beside him, pointing out window displays like she'd just entered heaven. He followed at a grudging pace, carrying her shopping bags like some glorified bodyguard.
"Could you at least pretend to have fun?" Layla teased.
"I am having fun," he deadpanned. 'This is my fun face."
"If that was everyone's fun face, the world would be black and white."
She rolled her eyes and turned into another boutique, dragging him behind her. Jett leaned against the wall, eyes flicking over the crowd.
He'd rather be in the ring right now, sweat, blood, adrenaline, not surrounded by designer handbags and teenagers taking selfies.
He watched as his sister picked, returned, picked again, then returned back to the shelf, again . He wondered how long this was going to take.
"Are you still coming home for dinner this weekend?." Layla asked out of the blue.
"Yeah." He replied.
"Good. Daddy missed you, you know?."
Jett scoffed. "I doubt that."
"Just make sure you don't miss it this time."
"Yeah whatever." He replied nonchalantly. Kayla resumed searching. He couldn't wait to get back home. He was mid-yawn when he heard a familiar voice.
"Oh, come on, seriously?"
Jett froze.
He turned slowly, like a man realizing he'd stepped on a landmine.
Jamie stood near the cosmetics counter, a shopping basket dangling from one wrist. The guy was a walking pastel advertisement, Christ. If this guy stood too close to the sun, he'd probably shine bright enough to blind everyone that set their eyes on him.
His hair looked like it had caught the light and decided to show off. He was arguing with the sales attendant over some lotion brand, hands gesturing wildly.
"I said the rose one, not lavender! They're different, clearly!'
The poor woman looked one complaint away from quitting.
Jett groaned inwardly. Of all the malls, all the stores, all the goddamn times...
Layla came out holding a new purse, eyes lighting up. "See what I got." she squealed. But seeing as her brother's attention was somewhere else, she turned to look at what he was looking at.
"Who's that?." She asked.
"Act like you don't see him." Jett muttered.
But of course, fate had a sense of humor. Because the second Jamie turned around, his gaze landed right on Jett, and his entire face dropped.
"You've gotta be kidding me." Jamie said flatly.
"Trust me, the feeling's mutual." Jett shot back.
They stared at each other for a solid beat, silent challenge crackling between them.
Layla blinked. "Wait, you know each other?"
"Sadly." Jett replied.
Jamie narrowed his eyes. "Do you ever stop being an ass?"
"Do you ever stop wearing children's colors?"
Layla gasped. "Jett!"
"What? I'm just saying-"
Jamie stepped closer, chin lifted. "You're a fucking idiot if you think there are some colors meant for kids, and some meant for adults."
"Well fun fact I don't even know if you're a kid or an adult, looks can be very deceiving." Jett muttered, glancing over Jamie. "And for someone who looks like a cupcake, you sure swear a lot."
"You-' Jamie sputtered, eyes flashing. "I'm warning you-"
"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do?." Jett taunted, looking down at Jamie with a teasing smirk
Layla quickly slid between them. "Okay! Wow, this is fun. Tension. Drama. Love it. Let's not get banned from the mall, please?"
Jett tore his gaze away with a scoff, running a hand through his hair. "Whatever. I'm leaving."
"Oh, please do." Jamie muttered.
Jett ignored him, turning toward Layla. "You done here?"
Layla frowned. "We've barely started."
"We're done. Now."
Jamie folded his arms. "Wow. Real mature."
Jett turned back with that slow, sharp smirk. "You want mature? How 'bout you start being mature first?."
Jamie blinked, momentarily thrown. "That doesn't even make sense!"
Layla stifled a laugh behind her hand. "Oh my God, you two sound like toddlers."
Jamie sighed, brushing past them, clearly done.
"Finally." Jett muttered under his breath.
Jamie shot him one last glare before disappearing down another aisle. His sweet scent lingered faintly in his wake, irritatingly soft.
Layla looked up at her brother, hands on her hips. "You so like him."
Jett turned on her. "The hell I do."
"Oh, come on. You only get that mad only when it's someone you actually care about."
He scowled.
Layla just grinned knowingly.
They finished the rest of their shopping in silence, but Jett couldn't stop replaying the encounter. The way Jamie's face flushed when he was angry, the way his voice cracked between irritation and pride.
It was stupid.
Infuriating.