August 16th 2020
- Taylor -
"Alright, what do we still need?" I look over to Lilah as I sit in the drivers seat. The kids start school tomorrow and Li and I did a bunch of back to school shopping online, but she and Ro still need things so I couldn't avoid the mall trip any longer. "I made a list," the teen shows me her phone and I nod, scanning it quickly before looking over to the spot beside us where security is parked. I don't usually take them, but I also usually don't go to malls - especially since the kids, I just try to avoid scenarios where I could need security.
"I could just go alone, you know, you could stay here with Auggie," I frown as Lilah makes the suggestion, "that's not gonna happen, sweetheart. You're my kid and this is my responsibility. Are you sure you're okay with security?" She came to us because we were a home without any adult males, but all of my security are men and I introduced them to her before but she hasn't had to be around them really. "I'm fine, Taylor, why don't we just get this over with?" I nod in agreement, "let's do it."
I'm hoping that I can just keep my head down and focus on lilah and Auggie and get through this without anyone noticing me. I love meeting fans, I always have, but my top priority these days has to be my children.
Lilah waits at the front of the car with security as I get Auggie out of the backseat - luckily he's sleeping so I pull the car seat cover over and hide him from the world before taking him out and flipping his seat into a stroller.
Lilah loops her arm through mine as we walk through the car park, security behind and in front of us, trying to look as casual as possible so they don't draw any attention to us.
"Karlie's face is everywhere," the teen laughs as we pass another poster of Karlie, "she's hot, everyone wants her as their cover girl," I wink and Lilah rolls her eyes laughing at me. Karlie is incredibly beautiful, she could sell me dirt and I'd be happy about it.
We go into Forever 21 first since Lilah still doesn't have many outfits or anything, and she usually doesn't like the idea of shopping, but since she's going to need clothes for school this is the perfect opportunity to get her what she needs. However, this is prime teen girl territory, so if I'm going to be spotted anywhere it's probably going to be in here.
"That's cute," lilah seems so out of her depth amongst all of the racks of clothing, so it mainly goes by with me picking things out - mostly basics that can work in most situations - and Lilah telling me if she'd wear it or not. "Maybe we should've brought Karlie after all," I'm good at shopping for myself and the little ones, but when it comes to what teenage girls are wearing there days I'm nearly clueless - Karlie, however, she's amazing at this kind of thing.
We find a few things - jeans, leggings, hoodies, etc. - cause the one thing she said was she wants to be comfortable. "We got shoes and everything already, right?" Lilah nods at me as we walk through the store - she's been very apprehensive about Karlie and I buying her clothes and things, but we simply told her that she's our kid and it's our responsibility to provide everything she needs.
Lilah picks out some new pyjamas and some more socks and things, then we go to the checkout. The cashier is a girl probably a few years older than Lilah and I can feel the silent question each time she looks at me, but I really don't wanna draw any attention to myself so I play dumb and smile sweetly at her, making small talk as she checks us out.
"Thank you so much, have a nice day," I pay and Li grabs the bags before we make a quick exit from the store. "She totally recognised you," I sigh as I look over to Lilah, "I know, I'm sorry." The teen frowns as I apologise, "why are you sorry? It's not like anything happened?" I shake my head, this isn't a conversation for this moment. "We'll talk when we get home, love," she nods in agreement before looping her arm through mine again.
