Got to go for red

After rubbing your chin for a second you tell Trish, "Hair colors are easy - even most guys know the basics: Blonde for when you want to be sexy, laugh and party, brunette for when you want to get taken seriously and so people think you're the good girl, black hair if you want to be deep and spiritual, redhead for when you're feisty and adventurous."

You rub her leg with your foot and add, "You know redheads have all the fun."

Trish laughs and says, "Wow - I've never tried red. Blonde, black, blue, green, purple, sure. Once I even did pure white hair with some black contacts to make my Mom's jaw drop, but I think a blonde with strong orange streaks is the closest I've ever been to red." She checks herself out in some of the diner's shiny metal and you can tell Trish is keen to see the results.

Once it's clear you're done with your meal Trish flags down your waitress, pays the bill and hustles you up to the second story of the mall. Thanks to some odd geography there's a street that passes by the mall one story up on one side. The second story bus stop just outside the mall is the fastest connection both to St. Catherine's and to a nearby public high school - Broderick high.

Thanks to St. Catherine's early class schedule on any day of the week during the school year you'd be likely to see a few of the catholic girls turn up any time now. You aren't sure why Trish thinks they'll be here during summer vacation, but perhaps they're used to the mall. Maybe the most entitled of them see it as their own personal stomping ground.

You and Trish only spend about ten minutes browsing through a shoe store before you hear the characteristic squeak and hiss of a bus break system. Four girls push through the doors to the mall, sweeping into the main corridor like they're here on an official visit. Of the bunch three are blondes, though you'd bet two are dye jobs. The fourth is a brunette and about half a head taller than any of the others. All are drop dead gorgeous.

"Bingo," whispers Trish. "Now you go and chat with them while I get my hair done. Hopefully it won't take long."

Suddenly a little worried at being out here on your own you squeeze Trish's hand and ask, "How will you find me - us?"

"I'll check all the usual places, but don't worry - I know these bitches and they have a routine. They always wander over to the food court so they can be seen." You can tell she loved how worried you got about her leaving. She gives you a wolfish smile that promises rewards and then sneaks out the other side of the store before the girls spot her.

All of a sudden you're left alone in a big mall - alone except for your crazed hormones of course. The longer you hide in the shoe store the harder it gets. Part of you wants to bolt and find Trish, another part wants to stick with the plan and talk to these girls. A third part, a dangerous part, has started to cast glances left and right, trying to find suitably hunky men for you to meet. You have no difficulty figuring out which of these ideas your male self feels is best.