Inferni

Chapter 12

"So how are you liking this so far?" Jill asked while we walked to a different clothing store with bags of clothes in our hands. "Do you feel special yet?"

I bit back a small grimace and shrugged because I had no idea if I felt special or powerful or whatever the hell I was supposed to feel. "I feel tired," I said honestly, earning a small chuckle and a nod from her. I cleared my throat and shifted some of the bags, biting back a small groan. "How much longer do we have doing this stuff before we are able to go back to the house or get something to eat?"

Jill didn't respond but merely shrugged. She walked toward where I would be able to get some clothes, and I bit back a small groan of annoyance while I followed her but stayed behind her with my shoulders slouched forward.

Oh, Gods, I thought while I pursed my lips in annoyance, biting back another small groan. Please let this end soon. I don't know how much longer I can take this.

Jill sighed and shook her head before she slowed down until she was beside me again. "Do you want to get yourself a new phone and food before we call it a day?" she asked and raised an eyebrow in question while I stared at her.

Oh thank the Gods...

I breathed a small sigh of relief and sunk down some more, earning a small chuckle from her.

"I take that as a "yes, please," huh?" she asked and raised an eyebrow in question, and amusement filled her eyes while she studied me.

My cheeks turned red, and I slowly nodded. "Please," I said, biting back a small sigh of relief, grateful that we were going to be leaving soon. "I would very much appreciate it, Jill."

Jill chuckled and slowly nodded. "Then let's go ahead and go get your phone," she said and turned back toward the way that we were coming from and started to walk that way, and I couldn't help but stop and turn around to face her, staring at her with wide eyes and an open mouth, shocked and amused.

Jill stopped as if she knew that I wasn't following her and turned to look at me as if she knew that I wasn't following her. "Yes?" she asked and raised an eyebrow in question while she bit back a small smile. "Is something wrong?"

"But what about this shop, Jill?" I asked. "Didn't you want to get me stuff from here?"

Jill shrugged and grimaced. "I did," she said, "but I can tell that you are not up for it, so I do not want to push you that hard just yet." She cleared her throat and cocked her head to the side while she raised her eyebrow higher, compassion and mirth appearing in her eyes. "Now, are you coming?"

I bit back a small smile before I slowly nodded and started to walk over to her. I didn't say a word while I walked over to her, and Jill chuckled while she tucked her head closer to her chest.

"Do you know what phone you would like to have?" she asked and glanced toward me before she started to walk toward the phone store. "Or do you want me to choose it for you?"

"Something that is not expensive," I said while I shook my head and grabbed the bag handles tighter in my hands. "I also do not want something that is super breakable."

She hummed and nodded. "Do you want a smartphone?" she asked and glanced at me from the corner of her eye.

I shrugged and grimaced. "I wouldn't mind if I don't get one like that," I said and shook my head.

"I don't mind at all," Jill said and shook her head, biting back a small chuckle. "I just want you to feel comfortable with it. If that means that you want a smartphone, then go ahead and get one," she said softly.

"Ok," I said while I nodded before I furrowed my brows and cocked my head. "How am I going to p-"

"Now, now," she said, interrupting me. "You are not going to be paying for that phone or for any of the stuff that goes with it, Dear," she said. "I don't know why you are thinking that you will have to pay for it."

I shrugged and pressed my lips into a thin line. "I don't know," I said before I cleared my throat and shifted some of my stuff from one hand to the other. "I just didn't know what I was going to have to do with the stuff when I turned eighteen and have to leave."

"Leave?" Jill asked and raised an eyebrow in question. Worry and pain flashed through her eyes while she studied me, pressing her lips into a thin line. "Why will you have to leave?"

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head while I stared at her, confused and nervous. "Because I will be eighteen," I said, "and eighteen is when people like me are kicked out of their foster families or those that are adopted."

Jill bit back a small laugh and shook her head. "Oh, no," she said. "We will not kick you out when you are eighteen," she said, "and I do not think that it would be in our best interest to do so."

"And why not?" I asked, confused. "I mean, why wouldn't it be in your best interest to kick me out when I am eighteen?"

"I mean, I did adopt you just yesterday, Blaire, and you have had a rough childhood and teen years, so why don't we make it so that your young adult years are better?" she raised an eyebrow in question. "Why not give you a stable place that you can call home because for some reason, I have this feeling that you are going to be important in the future."

I scoffed a laugh and rolled my eyes, not believing a word that she said. "And how am I going to be someone important?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question.

Jill shook her head and cleared her throat. "I don't know," she admitted and moved some of the bags from one hand to another. "I have this feeling that you are going to be important, and that is another reason why I had decided to adopt you even without Justin's consent."

I pressed my lips into a thin line but didn't say a word. I knew that Jill was telling the truth, I could feel it in my bones, but I couldn't help but understand why.

Could a part of the reason be because of the stuff I kept hidden...

An image of my two items, which was a dagger and then a box that I had never been able to open flashed through my mind, and I grabbed my bags tighter while my heart skipped a beat.

And even with that, it could be because of my eyes flashing a different color when I met someone that was "different" from me, but I had no idea how different they were from me.

Jill glanced at me from the corner of her eye and raised an eyebrow in question. "Are you ok?" she asked and cocked her head while she studied me. "You grew tense for some reason."

I bit back a small sigh while I slowly nodded. "I know," I said before I cleared my throat and subconsciously shifted away from her. "I don't know why my heart skipped a beat. It does that sometimes."

"Hmmmm." Jill slowly nodded and pressed her lips into a thin line. She didn't say a word while she looked at me and then looked away, and I couldn't help but have a feeling that she didnt' believe me.

Please, don't push, I silently prayed while I grabbed the bags tighter while I set my jaw. Please, I might trust you, but I do not trust you that much...

Jill looked at me and pressed her lips into a thinner line. Worry and sadness flashed through her eyes, and I couldn't help but feel that she was praying for my protection or something even though I had no idea why.

I cleared my throat and shifted my bags from one hand to another. "So, about the phones..." I said and trailed off, praying that she would get the hint and change the subject. "...what am I allowed to get?"

Jill smiled and shook her head. "Anything you want, Blaire," she said softly and nudged my shoulder. "Anything you want."