𝑳𝑨 𝑭𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑬 𝑨𝑼𝑿 𝑭𝑳𝑬𝑼𝑹𝑺

୭̥⋆*｡✽ 𝐥𝐱𝐢.

september 11th, 2018
LITA

I WENT TO PICK UP ROSE FROM YOUR MOTHER. I WON'T BE LONG.
— LITA

I place the note on Scarlett's night stand, hoping that she'll notice it when she wakes up. I woke up to her phone ringing non-stop, but Scarlett was out cold. I wasn't surprised with the night she had... It was her mom, asking if she could drop off Rose because she had an appointment she couldn't miss. I told her I'd pick her up because I wanted to go get something for breakfast anyway.

I leave the room quietly, slip on my shoes and leave. I check the address Melina sent me, it's not too far. I guess that with Rose, the walk home will be longer, but I'm sure she'll be fine. Before I know it, I'm outside the building, waiting for the girls to come down. When they do, Melanie is almost dragging little Rose out. I can see a grumpy look on her face and something tells me she didn't like to be rushed out the door this morning.

"Hey Rose, good morning Miss Sloan." I go over and greet them. I watch the scene in front of me unfold as Rose wrestles to sit down on the wet pavement while Melanie struggles to keep her standing up.

"Call me Melanie, please... Uh, thank you so much for coming. Rosie, Lita is going to take you home okay? Grandma has to go. Be good. I love you, and I'll see you soon." She kisses Rose's forehead and walks away.

We watch Melanie leave and the minute her grandma turns at the corner of the street, Rose throws herself at me. She holds her arms up and, still not being able to say no to her, I pick her up immediately. She snuggles in my embrace and rests her head on my shoulder. I readjust my hold until we're both comfortable, and I set off to the nearest bakery I can find.

"So, here's what we're going to do. Your mom... She's hurt–" I start speaking, and at the mention of her mother being unwell, Rose immediately straightens up in my arms. Worry takes over her face, and I can see the fear in her eyes. I should've taken a different approach...

"She hurt her ankle last night, but she's okay, don't worry!" She immediately relaxes and lays her head back down on my shoulder. "So, we're going to buy her some things to make her feel better, and then we'll buy breakfast for all of us. How does that sound?"

"Good."

"How was school yesterday sweet girl?" And it's like a switch flips in her brain. She begins to tell me about everything from her mom dropping her off even though she didn't want to go to school, to drawings, to playing red light green light with her friends. She sings me the song that she learnt, however she already forgot half the words so I have to fill in from time to time.

"Do you think I can show mama my drawings later? They're all in my backpack!" She asks with the biggest smile on her face.

"Of course you can sweetheart."

When we arrive at the store, I decide it would be best to put her down. However, when I try to do so, she holds onto me tightly. Her arms go around my neck while her legs tighten around my torso. It takes a bit of efforts, and in the end I manage to get her off of me. She looks at me with the cutest out on her face and her arms crossed in front of her. She's trying to act mad, but she looks absolutely adorable.

Don't tell her that though.

"Hey, hey, hey... It won't last long, but I can't keep you in my arms while we're in the store. We can hold hands if you want." I offer her and hold my hand out. She takes it and drags me inside. For someone who didn't want to be put down, she sure is excited to go in now.

She looks around the aisle curiously. She doesn't say anything as I drag her around in hopes to find What I'm looking for. "What are we getting?" She questions.