▌│█║▌║▌║Chapter 2║▌║▌║█│▌

That statement seemed to throw people off. Everyone else wanted to be a doctor, architect, veterinarian, or engineer, but none of that ever interested me. I had good enough grades for it, but that stuff bored me to death. I always admired movies and being able to tell a story to take the audience out of reality. I want to tell stories like that. All I got from the group though was side glances, evil glares, and condescending replies of, “Oh, that’s cool.”

The school I went to had a lot of people come from richer, more well-off families, and those people made up the popular groups. I tended to stay away from them for the most part because I didn’t like their attitude, but I could talk to them. They most likely looked down at my major choice because it wasn’t something that would make big bucks right away and it wouldn’t be respectable to their parents.

I wanted to get out of this awkward conversation as soon as possible and quickly came up with the excuse that my mom is waiting for me, so I have to go. I told John goodbye, and I was quickly on my way out of the gymnasium hallway.

On my way to my car, I saw one of my previous crushes making out with her boyfriend. I tried to look away fast and pretend I didn’t see the scene for my own good but to no avail. The girl was my biggest crush I had for a while, maybe the person that I liked most ever. She was cute, kind, and funny. That was the last crush I ever had, and it still hurts to think about. I liked her so much that it physically hurt. I talked to her a lot everyday but I could never bring myself to tell her how I really feel, and before I knew it, she got a boyfriend. I would like to say I have moved on from that pain, but can anyone easily move on after that and rejection after rejection before that?

I finally got to my car, and made a quick stop by my house to change before I made my way to the food court in the mall. I texted my mom that I was at the food court, and she said, “We are in Helk right now, shopping for clothes. We are about to leave, but you can come in here to meet us. We are in the girl’s clothing section.”

I put my phone back in my pocket, and I worked my way through the crowds of people in the mall. I was being bounced around by the people in there like a pinball. I finally managed to squirt out of the mass of people in front of the Helk store.

I made it to the girl’s clothing section, and I saw them standing among aisles of clothes looking at them. I walked over to them and saw that mom already had a stack of clothes in her arms. She looked up, and she waved when she saw me. “What’s all that?” I asked.

“Daniel decided to get some clothes for his girlfriend, so we came in here while we waited for you.”

“Some?” I asked in amusement as I looked at the stack of clothes.

“Danny look at this one! It’s so cuutee!” Gia exclaimed to Danny.

It was Mom’s turn to let out a sigh now, and she looked at me and said, “We are going to go check out now. Romantica isn’t with us right now because she is in the restroom. Can you please wait for her while we check out? If we check out before you get back, we’ll just be back in the food court ok?”

I nodded and gave her an okay. After that, my mom took Danny and Gia to the cash register much to Gia’s dismay.

Just when they were out of sight, I started to look around the area they were in, and I realized I didn’t know where the restrooms were. Helk was one of the largest stores in the mall, so it’s not like it would be easy to find. There has to be signs somewhere showing where it’s at though, right?

After about ten minutes of searching I had given up trying to find it. This whole store was one big maze of clothes. Everything looked the same to me. Aside from the Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s clothing I would have no idea where I have been and where I haven’t. Before I knew it, I was right back where I started.

I let out an exasperated sigh as my head started to pound from all of the events of the day piling up on top of each other. I drearily looked around one more time for the bathroom, only to come up short like I usually do with everything. “I hope Romantica isn’t worried or scared no one is around…” I thought to myself.

I know what it’s like to be left alone in places thanks to my mom trusting I can find my way to her (She usually had to do something with Daniel to keep him occupied), and it isn’t a good feeling to have.

Just as I was about to give up and go to the front of the store, I saw dark black hair backing out of one of the clothing sections for girls. I walked forward to get an angle to see if it was her or not and thankfully, judging by her figure and mannerisms, it was. As I walked to her to greet I her noticed an old man talking to her. Did she know him?

Romantica was turned away from me, so she couldn’t see that I was behind her. The old guy seemed friendly enough, but she was steadily backing away little by little and the old guy continued to follow her down the maze of clothes. I pretended to not be watching all of it go down, so I could get a better look to grasp the situation better. I desperately didn’t want this to be a sexual predator case. I find people like that disgusting, and people who do it to little girls even worse. I think they are the very bottom of society. I finally. got a better look at Romantica’s face finally, and the worried look on her cute face dug into my soul. I know what’s happening now.

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