You are your own worst critic.

I wasn't horrible. My blonde hair could use some definition and I was by no means beautiful, but I was certainly okay. Nick stood next to me, watching me through the mirror. The end of his toothbrush stuck out of his mouth while he fumbled with pulling his shirt over his head.

I flicked my gaze to him, " What are you looking at?"

" you." He said, pulling his toothbrush from his mouth and spitting out the extra paste. While he washed his mouth, I went back to staring at myself. Nick was the one running behind, insisting that he only needed five minutes to get ready. That was twelve minutes ago.

After his second spit, he said, " What are you looking at?"

" Me." I replied, frowning. My eyebrows were pulled together and my eyes were narrowed slightly.

" why?" He said, genuinely confused.

I sighed, " It's a girl thing."

" I'm waiting."

Another sigh, " Okay fine. I'm evaluating myself. Girls are very self aware."

" That doesn't make sense to me. What's the competition over? You're yourself and that probably won't change." He replied, washing his hands.

This time, I groaned, " That doesn't matter Arson, we still look at other each other and wish to be the prettiest one." Suddenly, an idea hit me. Leaning my hip against the makeshift counter, I explained, " It's like how guys compete for the biggest crotch."

" no, I don't understand that either." He said, completely serious.

" excuse me?"

" I mean, I can understand the struggle of being to small. But being too large? Where the hell would you put it? and it wouldn't be comfortable for the girl. As Far as im cocerned, im the perfect size." He flashed a cocky grin, and raised a suggestive eyebrow.

I laughed, " You are definitely a baby dick. But I'm glad you're concerned about your lady friends back home."

He rolled his eyes, chuckling softly, " You don't know unless you see it."

" In your dreams." I scoffed.

He slid closer to me, bumping my arm with his, " Don't deny it; You're curious."

" Ew." I said, making a sour face and pushing him away.

He laughed and put away his toothbrush in toothpaste, " But in all seriousness, Angel, I don't know why you're stressed about yourself."

" You still don't get i-"

He cut me off, " You're beautiful."

I shook my head, swallowing hard, " I wouldn't push it. I'm gonna go make some breakfast."

He reached forward and grabbed my hand, pulling me to face him. He wrapped his arms around me and said, " I mean it."

Gently, I looped my arms around his waist and rested my forhead agaisnt his shoulder, " I know."

Nick took my shoulders and turned me around, " As much as I love hugging you, I really want food."

He smiled and I laughed and we went to the kitchen together. Nick started digging around to make cinnamon rolls and I found some milk in the fridge. I poured two glasses while the smell of sugar-filled frosting wafted through the air. While he cooked, or baked, or whatever you do to cinnamon rolls, he said, " Lady friends?"

I nodded, " yeah. Don't you have a roster?"

He laughed, " are you kidding me?"

" is that a yes or a no, because it really could go both ways?" Confusion owned my expression.

Nick finished the rolls and handed me one, before hopping onto the counter and stabbing at his own, " I don't have a roster."

" alright, why?" I said, shoving a bite into my mouth.

He sighed, " It's..... disrespectful?"

" I'm not buying it."

Rolling his eyes, he shook his head. He also didn't explain his logic to me. I reached my foot out and nudged his knee with my sock, " Hey, why don't you have a roster?"

He looked down, a shy smile touching his lips. I couldn't surpress my snicker, " are you nervous?"

Nick shook his head, " it's stupid."

" You're acting like a girl. tell me." Another bite went in my mouth.

He arched a brow, his smokey grey eyes meeting mine, " I've liked you since I moved in, so I never really dated a lot of girls."

" seriously?"

" don't get me wrong, I dated some, but, I just.... wasn't happy with them." He replied, shyly, with a small shrug.

Nicholas Arson was nervous, sitting right in front of me on a counter top in a van. A very very pleased, and actually flattered smile, touched my lips, " You like me that much?"

He flicked a smudge of frosting at me, " that's what the government wants you to think."

Bursting out into laughter, I attempted to catch the frosting with my mouth but it ended up on my cheek. I slicked a chunk on my fork and flicked it at him, watching as it landed effectively on the side of his nose. He laughed and that was the beginning of our frosting war.

By the end, little frosting dots covered my face. I licked one away from the corner of my mouth while Nick wiped his face. wetting a paper towel and sitting next to me, he said, " here." and gently cleaned the frosting from my face.

Taking a smudge off from under my eye, our gazes met, and my stomach twisted. I didn't like it; the feeling was something akin to a fist taking the organ and squeezing it as hard as it could.

I looke down, face and some strands of hair now clean, " thanks."

" yeah." He stood, and threw away the paper towel. Then he looked at his phone, " holy shit it's almost twelve."

" dammit son get behind the wheel!" I jumped up and lunged for the passenger side, shoving Nick towards the driver's seat as I did so.

He chuckled and climbed into it, starting the engine. As soon as it rolled, a satisfying purr made me hum, " that sound is stroke-inducing."

Nick looked at me, " Why do you associate things you enjoy with pain?"

" Because all good things have a price." I replied, patting the dash, " now drive."

He shook his head, laughing under his breath. The van slowly rolled forward, picking up speed as it went. Nick was generous with the gas pedal, enjoying the feel of the vehicle we hadn't seen for what felt like years. The batman symbol on his beanie caught the sun and I asked, " why batman?"

" Good question." He replied, flicking on the turn signal, " All the other superheros have superpowers or whatever. I think it's cool that batman is self created; no powers, just him. It's kind of inspiring, I guess."

" That's deep." I replied.

He briefly raised his brows, " Generally."

Already I missed the feel of the ocean breeze on my face; the salt on my skin. I wanted nothing more than to lay next to Nick on the beach with one of his headphones while he napped the day away.

He was interesting, certainly not everything I pinned him for. While he did severely consist of his boots, his batman beanie, and his old rock beanie -oh and let's not forget his cocky comments-, He was also really smart, creative, musically talented, and understanding. He knew when to joke and when to be serious. He loved to sleep even though he was a morning person. He was extremely contradicting and a hypocrite.

It was nice, knowing that he was more than what first appeared to be.

" what are you thinking about?" He asked, eyebrows creasing.

I blinked, and looked over at him, " what?"

" you okay?"

A nod, " yeah, fine. why?"

" Lost you there for a second." He replied, his fingers drumming the wheel.

" oh." I looked back out the window, leaning my forehead against the glass to resume my thoughts, " sorry, just thinking."

" about?"

I guess I wasn't resuming my thoughts. Shrugging a shoulder, I said, " Nothing imparticular. You, the ocean, etc etc."

" Are you calling me fat?" Nick said, shooting me a horrified look.

" what no! You aren't fat at all! what?"

He shook his head, " I can't believe you compare me to the ocean."

" no no no I didn't mean it like that you just asked-"

He laughed, " I know Angel, I'm teasing you. Why were you thinking about the ocean and I?"

the boy cared. Even while he was teasing me, he still wanted to know the reason behind my thoughts. It was sweet, really. I hinted at a smile, " Well, I was thinking about how I missed the ocean. and I was thinking about how you aren't who I thought you were. Well, you are, but there's more than just that."

" what am I?"

" you're.... smart. and creative. and you're really good at music, um... You're really good with words and you've experienced life in a way some people haven't. I don't know Arson, I didn't think I'd have to tell you..." I faded out at the end, embarassed.

He didn't reply, but instead smiled. It was as though he were rolling over my words for awhile, trying them out in his mind and decided just how muched he liked them, " you're right." He finally said, " Those are other things about me. But it's still not everything."

" I know. You can't just describe a person out of the blue. Plus, you're too complex to be described."

" and yet there is one thing that beats everything." He said.

" yeah, what's that."

He smiled, an award winning grin, " I am a bitchin' chef."

I tossed my head back in laughter, having to wipe my eyes while saying, " That you are."

Chuckling to himself, He adjusted his beanie with one hand and steered with the other. That batman symbol had to be dead center. As we drifted towards the margin of the road, I reached over and gently pushed the wheel back towards the center of the road. It completely took me off gaurd when Nick let go of the wheel.

I gasped and leaned over, putting both hands on it. I had half a mind thinking that this was some way to get me leaning over his lap the way I was; the other half of my mind was saying he was seriously trusting my ability to drive from the passenger's seat.

After corrected his beanie, he took the wheel and smiled sweetly, " thank you."

" Oh my god, you so did that on purpose." I said, jaw dropping.

His eyebrows drew together innocently, " Excuse me?"

" I was practically...." I stopped, realizing he had actually been trusting my passenger seat driving talent, " Um... nevermind."

He arched a brow, curiously, but didn't push the subject further. My cheeks flushed, true embarassment written on my skin. I decided it was better if I kept my mouth shut and my eyes focused on the scenery outside the window.

I hadn't fully gotten over myself before Nick said, " You know, I really hate concession food and we're running really low on cookable food, how about we stop at the grocery store?"

" Sure, why not?" I replied.

He took the next exit, entering a low grade city with about three walmarts and one Super Target. We went to Super Target.

Parking the van and walking towards the automatic doors, Nick smiled. He held out his hands, and focused intensely on the door, standing in a sort of forward lunge. I looked at him like he was an idiot, then turned to the lady walking beside us and said, " I don't know him."

She tsked, and made a face at Nick, " Too bad, looks like he could use a babysitter."

but when she went walking through the doors, Nick said, " open sesame!" and the doors opened.

She turned and looked at him like he was some sort of wizard. She was very big, and very intimidating, " Son, are you mocking me? Do I need to be teachin' you a lesson?" She started to rumbled towards him, swaying on her bulky legs.

He stood up straight and went wide eyes, his hands flying to his beanie by nature, " um, no ma'am. I'm just... relieving my childhood."

" did get enough of that when you were a kid?" She said, still advancing.

All of the sudden, Nick looked like a kicked puppy, " Um, no ma'am... no really." He took a step back,cowering away from her demenor.

Her dark eyebrows came together, her face scrunching up like a pug's, " what you mean, bo?"

" I-I.... I'm sorry."

Snapping to my senses, I took a protective step in front of him, " ma'am, if I could talk to you for a second where he can't hear." I took her arm and led her off to the side, " you see, Thomas here wasn't properly treated as a child. He was abused and neglected and it's my family's job to help him develop who he is while trying to help him get over the tramatic events of his childhood. You're stirring up old memories."

" Bitch, you said you weren't with him."

I patted her arm softly, " that was for his protection, and mine."

She pulled her arm away, " don't bullshit me. I outta whip you one, you teens thinking you can act all rebellious. Not in my town!"

Nick took one of my hands in his, " actually, ma'am" He started, with an oscar winning smile, " I'm a legal adult." Then, he spun me around, under his arm, and waved at her, " now we must be going but it was a pleasure meeting you and I fancy seeing you in the future."

Next thing I knew, we were running inside and away from a shouting woman with a big girth. exceptionally wide.

Once inside, Nick flashed me a cheesy grin, " sorry, my child side comes out in grocery stores."

" Arson, you are a child. Don't deny it." I sighed, and shook my head, " that being said, I think it's only acceptable if we move wet floor signs to carpetted areas." I held a hand over my heart, acting pained by the idea of having to do something so juvenile.

He sighed, spidering his fingers through his hair, " you're right. It's really the only thing we can do now."

" Hey, don't worry." I put my hand on his shoulder, " we can make it through this. We've done stupid stuff before."

Nodding like I was Jesus, Nick said, " Alright, I trust you." Then we embarked on a hunt for every wet floor sign in the store.

Finding three, we placed them in various places around the store. This was especially fun because we saw a small child fall on the slippery tile. I didn't even feel bad for laughing when her mom fell too.

That started it, really.

Nick smiled, " we have to do more."

" what?"

He shot me a knowing look, " Angel, you can't go to a grocery store without doing a little damage... a lot of damage."

" oh jesus, why not?" What did I have to lose?

We proceeded to hide in clothing racks, and when people would look through our stationed racks, we'd whisper, in high pitched voices, " pick me, pick me!"

Once, Nick was hiding in a rack of men's long sleeved shirts. He picked the most inconvienant of the shirts -while it looked nice it was overpriced and poorly made- and worked on getting a man to pick that one. He'd say things like, " Don't pick that one; it'll make you pits sweat." And " oh not that one you baffoon it will kill your mother!" along with, " That one's made out of baby skin. Haven't you wondered why it's so soft?"

When the man he was talking to finally landed on the shirt Nick wanted, he said, " ah, that's right. That one will get you women for days." and the shirt was bought.

Meanwhile, I successfully sold three ungly sweaters and one pair of hot pink jeggings that no one could rock. It was too much fun, really, and my cheeks started to hurt from smiling so much.

After our experience with the clothes, Nick said, " Now, we get a shopping cart."

Filling it with the heaviest items we could find, we ran down the aisles and screamed, " wheeeeeee!" As we whipped around the corners. Nick nearly crashed once, and another time he landed himself into a makeup stand. I was amazed we weren't kicked out.

Walking into the deodorant aisle, Nick asked a clerk if he could, " test the deodorants before buying." Then he proceeded to say, " I have very sensitive skin, and I want to make sure the product doesn't leave any rash or iritation."

I was at the end of the aisle, leaning against the wall with my arms wrapped around my stomach I was laughing so hard.

He smiled, " your turn."

So, finding an innocent clerk, I grabbed a flea collar and asked, " how do I get the flea to sit still while I put this on him?"

the clerk proceeded to explain, " oh, no you don't put it on the flea, you put it on your dog to prevent fleas."

Reaching forward, I snapped it around his neck, " like this?"

He smiled, awkwardly, and nodded. Then, I dropped my jaw and backed up, " what the hell man I don't want fleas get away from me!"

Looking at me strangely, he said, " um, ma'am we just had a conversation about how to put it on...."

" Oh, sorry, that must have been Betty. She takes control sometimes and is craaaaaaazy." Then I cut myself off, " Oh don't you be talkin' about me that way!"

The clerk backed away slowly, taking off the flea colar and setting it back on the shelf, " um, good luck finding everything you need."

Nick, in laughter, said, " that was beautiful. I'd like to meet Betty though. what's she like?"

" me, except on cocaine." I said, with a nod.

We gathered everything we wanted for the van; fruits, veggies, some bread, and whatever else Nick saw fit. I grabbed myself a packet of circus peanuts while Nick said, " You know, we should play the check out game."

" what's that?" I asked.

" It's where you look for the three weirdest Items you can get and check them out."

" alright i'll play on one condition."

" shoot."

" We check out all of our grocery items first, then come back to play."

" why?"

" It wouldn't be three items with all of this stuff."

He snapped, " ah, I see. Very well, let's go."

while standing in line, Nick turned to look at a very cute old lady; then he covered his eyes, and said, " where's the old lady?" Opened his palms, he exclaimed, " there she is!" and proceeded to do that three more times before the lady giggled.

It was our turn to check out and Nick gave the man some money. After paying, we carried everything out to the van and walked back into the store.

I wasn't sure what three items I was going for. Walking around, I never saw anything imparticular. I did, however, pull Nick into the cooking aisles and proceed to make a meal with him using the pots and pans on display. I even whisped some eggs.

As we were walking, I saw the most glorious thing; A ball pit.

It was one of those ball holders with the large white metal fence around it to keep them all in. During my whole life, I had always wanted to jump into one. Now was my chance. I shoved Nick, who stumbled slightly before seeing it too. He explained, " that is the ultimum. If you can jump into that and get out without being caught, you are a legend."

" challenge accepted."

Stepping forward, I looked around for any workers, before starting up the side. Nick wrapped an arm around his ribcage, setting his elbows on it and pressing his lips to his hand. A concerned expression was etched into his features, mixed with awe.

At the top, I looked down at the balls, then back out for any workers. I was in the clear.

Leaning forward, I fell into the ball pit. Instantly, I was consumed by rubber spheres. I wasn't sure how I was going to get out. Nick threw his fists in the air, " yes!"

During his moment of triumph, I was trying to find a way out of the pit. It took me awhile to climb back up the side and back down, but when I did, Nick and I embarked in a sort of victory dance that I didn't know was possible with two participants. It wasn't even awkward.