"I'm sorry hon. But my flight got cancelled due to the heavy snow fall here... and I won't be able to make it home in time for Christmas," my mom says sadly. I hear her sniffle and try to calm her before it turns into a full-blown sob.

"It's alright, mom. I'll figure something out," I say in my best cheerful voice. But I fail miserably and try again, this time adding a perky tone. "Don't worry about me! I forgot to clean the house anyways, and it'll save me the Christmas shopping. Besides, I'll probably have to work anyways, and leave you at home alone. And I can't do that to you."

I lie through my teeth. My job is off for the entire Christmas week and a little while after that. But she doesn't know that. She doesn't know a lot of things that I don't tell her.

I didn't tell her that Josh left me last month for Tina Walters, a girl from my old school, Gallagher Academy.
I didn't tell her that I found out about the affair when I got home from work early one day to find them on the bed... doing an activity that I won't mention here.
I didn't tell her that my boss might fire me soon and leave me without a job.
I didn't tell her that if he fires me I won't be able to pay the rent on my apartment and I'll have to find somewhere else to live.
I didn't tell her that I don't anyone to trust with my secrets anymore.

I'm alone, but I don't tell her that. She'll just worry about me more. Neither of us can do anything to change the situation we're in.

I sigh and sink down to sit on the bench in the food court. I'm at the Roseville mall. It's really tiny with only a few shops, but with all the Christmas trees and lights, it's comforting.

"It's okay, mom. Honestly, I'll be fine."

"If you say so, sweetie. Listen, I got to go. I'll call you later! Have a merry Christmas!"

Then we both hang up, and I'm truly alone. Tears threaten to fall, but I try my best to hold them back. I can't cry here, not on Christmas Eve.

I've spent a lot of my free time here. Sitting in the holiday cheer, it makes me feel like someone is looking out for me, and that I'm not alone.

The small space is packed with bustling people doing last-minute gift purchases. A little girl, no more than three, tugs on the ends of her mother's sweater and drags her towards the toy store; pointing to a stuffed animal she wants. A boy around my age is leaning over a jewelry store display case, examining diamond necklaces for his girlfriend or mom. A middle-aged woman is handing out flyers about charitable foundations near a box placed strategically in the middle of the walkway. The bells from the Salvation Army buckets echo through the dome in the food court and pierce the bustle and noise.

All of the sounds are starting to hurt my ears and giving me a splitting headache. I attempt to push through the jumble of people to get the glass doors leading out into the snow and cold. The cramped space is warm from all the rushing bodies and I need some fresh air. I shove past people till I get to the tiny space between the holiday shoppers and the shops' display windows. I continue making my way towards the doors at a fast jog, almost running.

But in my rush towards the doors, I don't notice the other person coming out of the store closest to me. I don't notice him until its too late.

I smack full force into him, scattering the gifts that laden his muscular arms. He bends down quickly to pick them up before they are scattered in the crowd. I mutter a quiet apology, crouch down and help gather them up. I'm blushing furiously, embarrassed that I had been so absorbed in my own world. I stand again and try to form an apology, but my mouth doesn't seem to know how to work.

"Hey, it's okay." The guy smiles a brilliant white smile at me. His eyes are an amazing, hypnotic green and I lose myself in them.

I flush a deep red when I realize I'm supposed to say something back.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you..."

"No problem." He flashes that smile again and I melt.

"Ok. Look, I feel really bad. Can I buy you a coffee or something? Maybe hot chocolate?"

He gives me a contemplating look. "I'll take you up on that offer. It sounds pretty good after a couple of hours Christmas shopping."

I smile shyly and stick out my hand. "I'm Cameron by the way. But I prefer Cammie."

"Cammie," he flashes a shy smile and looks at me from under his eyelashes. I blush under his gaze; it's like he sees me, really sees me. Most people pass me by without noticing me. I'm a chameleon; I blend. And yet, this stranger sees me, and still wants to go get coffee with me.

"I'm Zach," he adds like an afterthought. "But I prefer to be called Zach."

I grin, even though we just started talking, I can tell Zach is the type of guy that's really easy to talk to.

"Well, Zach, let's go get some coffee."

Together, we walk towards the little café. Inside, it's quieter and I relax. The smell of coffee beans and pastry items is heavy in the air. Very few of the tables are filled; most of the people don't want to stop shopping long enough to grab something to eat. Grabbing us two cups of hot chocolate-requested by Zach-I make my way to the table he's sitting at.

He grabbed a booth while I was ordering and I slide into the empty seat across from him, sliding the steaming mug across the table.

I take a sip and the chocolate calms me. Closing my eyes, I sink back into the cushion and enjoy it, relaxing in my very few fond memories. I almost forget Zach's there until he clears his throat.

My eyes flash open in less than a second, and meet Zach's. He's looking at me strangely with his head tilted to the side.

"So... Zach...What brings you to the mall?" I try lamely. I'm really bad with small talk and really shy. Inviting this stranger to have coffee with me is a rarity. I seldom talk to my family, let alone people I just met, or ran into in the mall.

I pull out my phone to check the time. My heart rate picks up. I only have a few hours left before I have to head home and get ready for the Christmas party. And I still have to buy a few more gifts.

I quickly glance to the left and right, scanning for a store that I could buy an appropriate gift for my cousin, when my eyes land on something I did not expect. A girl, around seventeen, my age, is sitting alone in the food court. She's talking on the phone, her posture rigid. Her back slouches sadly at something the person says and nods her head, her dirty blonde hair swinging.

My own heart aches to see someone alone like that, with no holiday cheer, during Christmas time. But I have my own problems at the moment, so I dart through the massive crowd. I go into a small store with candles and crap like that in it. Quickly paying for a gift, I head back out into the hustle and bustle.

But the girl isn't sitting on the food court bench anymore. No, she's about to barrel right into me. Her heads down and I swear I see wetness under her eyes. I try my best to avoid her, but the weight of the gifts in my arms makes me unbalanced. They tumble to the ground and I stoop to pick them up before they are trampled under snow-covered boots.

When I straighten, the girl already has a few of the boxes in her arms. An apologetic look is in her beautiful brown eyes and there is still sadness in them, but no tears. I instantly want to comfort her, but I don't think she wants a stranger hugging her.

"Hey, it's okay," I say, flashing a smile.

She's frozen and a deep blush works its way up her cheeks. Her lips move, but no sound comes out for a few seconds.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you..." she stammers out.

"No problem," I tell her with another quick smile. It's really not a big deal, none of my gifts got smashed.

"Ok. Look, I feel really bad. Can I buy you a coffee or something? Maybe hot chocolate?"

"I'll take you up on that offer. It sounds pretty good after a couple of hours Christmas shopping."

"I'm Cameron by the way. But I prefer Cammie."

"Cammie," say with a small smile. The perfect name for a perfect girl. I watch her and she blushes even redder, like she's not used to being looked at.

"I'm Zach," I say after staring at her for a little while. I had forgotten I was doing it. I had gotten so lost in her eyes that I had forgotten to give my name. "But I prefer to be called Zach," I joke.

She smiles a million watt grin at this and I almost hear the angels singing. She's beautiful, but I don't tell her that. I want to make her smile again so badly. I don't know why, but I want to keep talking to her and I want to hear her laugh. Even more, I want to be the one to make her laugh.

"Well, Zach. Let's go get some coffee."

Small delicacies sit in the display case of the café we entered and I my mouth waters at the thought of eating one. But I don't mention that to her, I'm not that rude. I'll have to remember to pay her back for the hot chocolate she ordered for me at my request. The smell of freshly ground coffee fills the small space, but I prefer the smell of strawberry shampoo that is coming off Cammie.

I randomly choose a booth and wait for Cammie to return with the mugs. When she arrives, she slides gracefully onto the cushion across from me and slides the warm liquid to me.

I watch her as she closes her eyes, relaxing, after she takes a sip. Tilting my head to the side, I watch her with fascination. The way her eyelashes flutter, the way her mouth curves elegantly in a small smile, the way her hair frames her delicate face.

I don't want to interrupt her from her moment, but I think she forgot I was there. I clear my throat softly.

Her eyes flash open instantly and I feel bad for ruining her peace.

She tries to come up with something to say before she asks, "So... Zach...What brings you to the mall?"