What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Trouble Into A Wreck

"Elli, I'm busy, baby. I'm sure the shop owners would be more than happy to help you." I'm on the phone with Ginni, trying my best to stay calm and connected while the giant mall is flooded with people. The other end is also loud and chatty.

Ginni is currently in a tight spot with her boss, who has flooded her usual work.

"It's so big, people are so tight around each other, and I don't know what my next stop is."

I already have gotten groceries; they're in the car, but because I happen to have royal customers with special orders, I'm trying to get a gift for them. There are so many names on the list, and a lot of them had specifically written what they wanted; I should not have said they could only be gifted from the largest mall.

"Go to a random shop and ask the employee if they have what you need."

People are pushing against me. I had a gut feeling to not come today, but there was another overwhelming gut feeling that I needed to come, and now I wish I had listened to my first.

"I don't want to repeat everything ten thousand times," I groaned at the thought of it, hissing when I was pushed against.

Ginni was silent; her keyboard smashes were louder. That fucking boss of hers. The plan was to come with her because she had her own shopping spree plan, but her boss called last minute and ruined our date.

"Just show them the lis—" My phone fell out of my hand from the impact of a kid bumping into me.

I'm not going to worry about some kids; my phone was almost stepped on! Through pain and trouble, I found and got a hold of my phone, my forearm screaming against the bag, its handles rubbing deep into it.

My ears are ringing from the loud thousand mini conversations echoing in the mall, and even louder when the kid, still behind me, cries his throat off.

"Ginni, I'll call you later!" I turned off the phone and turned around to a kid with light brown eyes, bangs in his sight as he stared at the floor with teary and red visions from rubbing at it.

I slip my phone into my jean pocket with a struggle before squatting to his level. Goodness! Whose genes had made him into such a cutie!

Jo, you are NOT going to kidnap a random kid just because.

My heart was beating at the same time as his cries echoed, ever so often, a few would stop to look at us—Bitch, no need to be loud with your insults, I can already hear what you're commenting. I can see them in your expressions.

"I'm sorry, kid! Hey, shhh! It's okay. You're not hurt, are you—" I grab a hold of his tiny hand, and my heart just leaped against my rib cage. Why is he so cute!?

"Where's your mom?" I asked in a soothing voice, and he cried harder, which just shocked me, and more people pointed out the crying child.

"I'm sorry!" Should I cry with him? I want to cry!!

"Dad? Where's your dad?" It must be loud for him; he's just crying harder and not even looking at me! I pat his back gently, but people are starting to flood and crowd, so, with permission and letting him know, I picked him up while still patting him.

"Stay with me, I'll take you to a quieter room." Scanning the area was hard itself, I couldn't see anything, and people kept walking.

I remember a room I passed by, so I tried my best to walk through the flood of people, through and against, to try and get to the bottom floor safely.

The moment we stepped foot on the escalator and got off, I put him down. Good thing it's not too crowded down here, despite the many people upstairs.

Finally, I set my shopping bags down as well. My arms have taken a light pink scar from the mark of the ropes from the bags.