Dark Days

Chapter 32

Aiden's POV:

"Hey Peanut? Whatcha smiling about?" After I scared her with my first question she just went into a daze like state, as if she was in deep thought then she started to smile it looked so genuine and happy. Seeing her come out of that state all flustered like, it made me chuckle just a bit she shook her head and looked out the window again. Being the nice guy I am I decide to not push it. With the music in the background and with our comfortable silence surprisingly it was very pleasing actually. Despite being who I am in school and the type of friends I have I don't really like loud places they annoy me and piss me off especially when people act like fucking idiots, it really grinds my gears but I do really like my friends, they're like family. So hanging out with jai I grew to appreciate her silence even though I'm dying to hear her voice.

As I'm driving for another while since it takes a while to get there I noticed from the corner of my eye, peanut's head started to droop while she was fighting to keep her eyes open. I didn't want to startle her like last time so I gently cleared my throat but loud enough so she could hear me. "Hey princess getting sleepy?" She made herself sit up straight rubbing her eyes in hope to rub away the drowsiness. She nodded softly and signed " Sorry I'm not used to being in the car for so long and the music is calming. " She giggled after her response making me to smile. "Well don't worry whenever we're in the car with me, you can take a nap okay? You're in a safe zone when your with me" I told her with a reassuring smile showing her I was being genuine.

Finally making it to the mall we found a parking spot all the way towards the back in like 10 mins since all the spots were pretty much taken. As I helped Jai out of the car, she just stared at the big building in front of us that made her mouth ajar big enough where I could see her two front teeth peep out. ' She looks adorable~' I said in my head smiling but it soon disappeared when I shook my head. 'Relax there bud you don't feel those emotions for no girl especially not your friends, not again.'

Jailyn's POV:

As I'm looking out the window I suddenly feel tired and sleepy but I didn't want to sleep ' What if he gets mad? Does he let people sleep in his car? Stay awake! ' then I hear a noise so I start sitting up a little "Hey princess getting sleepy?" I hated to admit it but I didn't want to seem like a liar so I told Aiden yes explaining why I felt sleepy vaguely of course. When he told me I was safe with him I didn't know what to think. No one has ever told me something like that before so it felt nice to hear him say such words but it made me go into a deep thought ' What will happen now? Why did he suddenly enter my life, I don't want him to find out about father... what do I do now that someone shows that they care about me?... Will he leave me like eomma had too?...'

After Aiden was able to find a parking spot we got out of the car and holy moly the mall is huge! I didn't think it was going to be this big! No wonder people always talked about going to the mall for their weekend plans. I was amazed by the amounts of cars in the parking lot but it did get me a little scared since I didn't want people to see me or stare at me. I knew that a mall was a place people bought stuff but I've never gone myself because... reasons... " Alright we're here princess, where would you like to go? We go to Forever21, Ross, American Eagl..." As Aiden was saying some interesting store names I blanked out ' How is there so many stores?! What do they sell? Where are all these stores? How big are the store-' "Princess? You okay? You look a little overwhelmed" he said interrupting my thought train " No! No I mean I'm okay it's just I've never heard of any of those places, I didn't mean to worry you."

" Well then I guess I'll have to show you around now won't I *chuckles*" I couldn't help but blush and get shy with his chuckle, again. They sound so genuine and soft it makes me feel okay, Why? I don't know but I just do. When I'm with him I forget about everything and get to think about what's happening in the moment not the "what if's" I'm constantly thinking about. I nodded showing Aiden I'm up for the journey which makes me happy he doesn't question me.

When we first entered the massive building the first thing I noticed was people, people everywhere, of all kinds teenagers, babies, the elderly, little families, big families. It seemed like everyone was here it made me feel uneasy yet lost as if this was a new planet and I was the outsider, like usual. It seemed like Aiden fit in just perfectly the clothes, the hair, the height, and overall personality. While I was nothing alike with them, eyes keep lurking my way as if I was carrying a small sign or bright flashing light like a warning sign making everyone around us to just stare at me more and more. Making me grow more anxious and self-conscious that I just wanted to run away and hide but I knew I couldn't.

" They're just jealous, that's why they stare peanut. Don't worry okay? I'm here and if you ever feel overwhelmed just notify me okay?" To say the least I was beyond surprised yet grateful to know he knew I wasn't okay at the moment. I smiled in relief and nodded and signed to him a thank you which gave me a "No problem squirt" and a gentle head pat, back. My first reaction was to freeze and to not move and to close my eyes shut. Then I realized it felt nice so I relaxed and leaned in ever so subtly.

" *chuckles* cute.. *clears throat* Alright let's go have some fun!~"