Free Stephan by Hazel Gower

friends for the rest of
the way. How long we’d known them and trouble we’d gotten into.
    By the time we reached the city I was
enjoying myself. I ached to ask him to take me to my old
neighborhood, but it was another twenty minutes away, and he was
already parking at the shopping center.
    Stephan came around and opened my door,
helping me down. He reached for my hand and I shook him off, but he
didn’t let it go. We walked to the entrance and went up the
escalators to the shops.
    “Let’s go get some food first, I’m
starving.”
    My tummy growled, but I didn’t have any money
with me. I didn’t want to say anything so I just followed him.
    *****
    Stephan
     
    Jade wasn’t going to make this easy. She
argued when I’d bought her food, but caved eventually and ate what
I bought her while telling me she was going to pay me back. Ha. She
had another thing coming if she thought I’d take a cent of her
money. I intended to slip a fifty into her bag later when she
wasn’t looking. I wanted to give her more, but I hoped she wouldn’t
notice it with it being such a small amount.
    Now we were arguing within the phone shop,
or more accurately she was attempting to argue with me. The shop
assistant wasn’t listening to her, for which I was grateful, but
Jade still didn’t stop.
    “I mean it, Stephan. You can’t buy me a phone
worth that much. And under no circumstance will I have a plan where
you pay for it.” She crossed her arms and tried to stare me down. I
shook my head, Jade should know by now she’d never win this game. I
stared back and raised my eyebrow. She broke away first and glanced
around.
    “Look, what about this one?” Jade pointed to
a cheap hundred dollar phone.
    It had a camera but it was only four
megabytes. I wasn’t getting her that one. She was getting the one
with satellite connection so she could call from anywhere. It also
had top of the line of everything. I’d be able to find her anywhere
if she had the phone on her.
    Gathering her to me, I hugged her. I knew
she’d come willingly because people were watching. “It’s done,
little bit. The sales assistant has gone to get the contract and
phone. I’ve already given him my bank details.”
    Gazing at me, she whispered so only I would
hear. “I really hate you right now.”
    Leaning down I kissed her. I knew I was
pushing my luck but I couldn’t help myself, she looked so cute
glowering at me. I chuckled when she broke the kiss.
    “No you don’t.” She pushed at my chest but I
didn’t let her go.
    The sales assistant came out with everything
and guided us to a seat. I let her sit on the chair next to me and
not my lap but I held her hand as the sales assistant explained the
terms of the contract and what the phone could do. I bit my cheek a
couple of times to stop laughing every time Jade would squeeze my
hand extra tight or dig her nails into me because of something the
guy would say about the phone or contract.
    The sales assistant handed me the documents
to verify, but she snatched them.
    “Stephan, please. This is ridiculous. It’s
not too late to stop this silliness. I don’t need this. What if I
take it and decide to ring China and England on it? It’ll cost you
a fortune for Christ’s sake, you bought the phone outright. Surely
I could just buy credit. I don’t need you connecting to a network
and paying for my calls.”
    I waited for her tirade to finish. “Do you
intend to call China and England?”
    “Er, no. But that’s not the point.”
    “It isn’t?”
    “Argh, no it’s not. The point is I could be
spending loads of money and taking you for granted. I can’t afford
the phone so you shouldn’t buy it.”
    “I can afford it and I trust you.” I yanked
the sheets out of her grip and signed on the dotted line before she
could get them.
    “You shouldn’t,” I barely heard her since she
whispered, as I checked my address and handed the papers to the
sales assistant who was doing his best to avoid