Good Intentions

30: Beach Day

"I've never heard anyone sing so badly in my existence." Damon teased me as we climbed out of the car. "Say's you Mr I only sing in one tone." He wrapped arms over my shoulders trapping me. "Hey, get off." I shoved him off playfully and open Hope's car door. I help her zip her coat up before she climbs out, the wind was blowing but not too much.  

"What do you want to do first? Beach? Beignets? Shopping?" I asked as we walked, she held my hand it was nice to be connected to her again, having her close to me. Deep inside I started to feel connected to my magic again too, it was a weak connection and it would take a lot of focus and hard work to be able to use it as and when I wanted but it was there and it made me feel more sure in myself. I didn't feel as hollow, I was starting to fill up again and it was nice. 

"Shopping then beach then beignets, then beignets on the beach." "Okay well I have to feed you actual dinner at some point today, before beignets we'll stop for dinner at the Mill, it's a cute restaurant." "You've been here before?" She asked. I nodded. "Mum and Dad used to bring me here before things got all weird with them." "Do you ever wonder what changed with them?" "Witchs go crazy when they're given too much power," Damon says causing me to nudge him with my elbow. "Don't be mean, she could zap you." "You wouldn't let her Zap- Ow." He said when Hope touched him we giggled as we walked ahead. "Meanie's." He called after us. 

When he caught up to us I laced our fingers together. "I'm glad you're not all shy today... though it was pretty cute." He whispers to me in my ear so Hope didn't hear. "This store has the cutest dresses." I pointed before we took a sharp turn inside. It was a small business the lady's hand makes all the dresses in here, if you staying for the week you can even special order them. I had sp many when I was growing up. 

"Azalea is that you?" The old frail lady asked shocked. "Mrs Warrington." I smiled. "Lovely to see you again. Look how grown-up you are." She gushed. "This is my little sister Hope." I introduced her. "She looks just like you. Freckles and all." Hope smiled. "It's lovely to meet you," Hope said politely. "I didn't know your mother had another one of you?" "Oh, I was adopted, Hope is my sister from my Biological parents... We all leave together now." I show her a photo of Hayley, Nik, Hope and me, we took it at my fake prom. "Beautiful family you have. I'm happy you found them." "Thank you." I smiled. "And this handsome young man is?" "I'm her boy... friend..."I chuckled at his cautiousness. "He's my boyfriend... it's kind of new." "You didn't tell me!" Hope said shocked. "The hand-holding didn't give it away?" I asked her holding our hands up. "I didn't notice." I giggled with her. 

"Well, what can I do for you today?" She asked. "Well I'm treating Hope for the day, so whatever she wants she gets." I put both my hands on Hope's shoulders. "And no doubt you'll be getting something too," Damon said when Mrs Warrington and Hope went to look at the dresses. "Yes, of course, these dresses are stunning," I say taking one off the rail and holding it up against me. "Is it weird coming here without your parents?" "A little... I miss them you know... I know it's weird or whatever because they were bad to me in the end but my childhood was good. I was happy. Supported, loved." "They raised you it's not weird." He pecked my cheek. "And I think the blue one is more your colour." He pulled out a dress. "You don't like this one?" "No." I laughed at his brutally honest opinion and put the dress back picking up the blue one to inspect. 

Hope wasn't a child to take advantage but she sure was making the most of me making things up to her. She picked out five new dresses in the shop. I picked out two and I also asked if she could make one of her dresses that weren't in my size for me, she was going to ship it over to the compound when it was done being made. 

The next store we went in she picked out a new pair of shoes. Then Damon dragged us into a liquor store and he got a bottle or 5 bottles of bourbon which didn't surprise me in the slightest. We went to a few other boutiques and picked out some things for our family. They were a witchcraft store Hope and I picked out new grimoires, they were matching. Damon was banished from the shop in his first five seconds of being in here for pocking fun at the voodoo dolls. I apologised to the owner to assure that he didn't have a voodoo spell put on him. Witch do be crazy sometimes. We got Aunt Freya a few things from here too. And Davina. I got Bex and Hayley new necklaces. We found a cool blade set for Dad, it was an accident artefact or something. I'm sure he'd find a use for them. Hope found Elijah these cool cufflinks that had 'E's' on them, they were gold. I think he would like them.