Chapter 7

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Chapter 7 – Mall Time... and Trouble

"Chase, I'm going to the mall with Lilly, and you're driving!" Sarah called as she grabbed her purse, ready for a day of shopping.

Chase walked outside to see Jackson already waiting in the Impala, adjusting the seat so Sarah could sit in the back.

"Where does Lilly live?" Chase asked, starting the engine.

"We're meeting her at the mall. She lives up in Upper Wisconsin," Sarah replied, buckling up as they pulled out onto the street.

The drive to Green Bay Mall was short, and they parked the car near the JC Penney entrance. The moment they entered, Sarah spotted Lilly and shrieked, running over to hug her. The two friends were laughing and jumping around, clearly excited. Chase noted that Lilly had changed since he'd last seen her; she was now about a foot taller than Sarah, with dark brown hair and expressive brown eyes.

"Lilly, remember Chase? And this is his friend, Jackson," Sarah said, gesturing to the two angels.

"Hey, Chase! Wow, you look... different!" Lilly said with a playful grin, then turned to Jackson. "Hello, Jackson." For a split second, her eyes held a spark of interest that Chase couldn't miss.

Jackson raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He could already sense Lilly's mind racing, imagining things she probably wouldn't say out loud.

"Alright, let's go! Shoe store first, then clothes, and maybe something else," Lilly announced, leading the way.

"Come on, boys!" Sarah said with a smirk.

Chase glanced at Jackson, already resigned to the long day ahead. Being an angel didn't make them immune to shopping exhaustion, and judging by the excitement on the girls' faces, they were in for hours of it.

As they trailed from one store to the next, Jackson nudged Chase and grinned. "Listen to some of the other guys' thoughts," he said.

Chase closed his eyes for a second, tuning in to the minds of the other men waiting for their girlfriends. Their inner monologues were a mix of irritation and despair.

"I'd rather be watching the game..." one guy thought.

"Why can't she bring her mom or friends next time?" another grumbled.

Chase chuckled under his breath as one of the men walked by, clearly fed up.

"Hey, Chase, can you carry this?" Sarah asked, handing him a bag stuffed with clothes. Lilly followed suit, piling her bags onto Jackson.

"Sure, no problem," Chase said with a grin.

They walked to another store, where Sarah and Lilly tried on high-heeled shoes, leaving the two angels to wait outside. Jackson shook his head, giving Chase a sideways glance. "So, this is what happens when you protect a human?"

Chase laughed. "Pretty much. Maybe next time we should flash back up to Heaven."

"Not a bad idea," Jackson said as he continued to scan the thoughts of the men around him, amused by the chorus of boredom and silent complaints.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Lilly moved ahead, whispering to each other as they peeked over their shoulders at the angels.

"Hey, Sarah," Lilly whispered, trying to hide her smile. "I think... I think I'm in love with Jackson."

Sarah's face lit up as she leaned in closer to her friend. "Funny you say that... because I love Chase," she whispered back, a hint of sadness in her voice. She knew the rule about angels and humans. Love with an angel was forbidden.

Lilly's smile brightened. "That's amazing! I thought I was the only one!"

They wandered into a purse store, where Sarah picked out a black-and-pink bag, while Lilly decided to pass on buying anything else.

After hours of shopping, they finally piled back into the Impala. Lilly took her own car home, leaving Chase, Sarah, and Jackson to return to the Anderson house. Jackson held out a hand to help Sarah out of the car, and Chase handed her the pile of shopping bags she'd accumulated.

Inside, they found John in the living room, his hair still damp from a shower.

"So, how was it?" he asked with a knowing smirk.

"It was fun to see Lilly again," Sarah replied as she gathered her bags and disappeared into her room.

John grinned at the two angels, who looked mildly exasperated. "And how did you two like it?"

Chase just sighed, grabbing two beers from the kitchen. He handed one to Jackson as they both collapsed onto the couch, clearly exhausted. The unspoken message between them was obvious: Worst. Day. Ever.

John laughed, catching the beer Jackson tossed his way. "Thanks," he said, taking a sip as they settled in to watch the game.

Eventually, Sarah rejoined them, curling up on the couch. The hours drifted by until finally, it was time for bed. She yawned, stretching as she hugged her dad goodnight.

"Goodnight, Dad," she said with a sleepy smile.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," John replied, giving her a quick hug before heading to his room.

Sarah turned to the two angels with a warm smile. "Goodnight, angels."

"Goodnight, Sarah," Chase said, watching as she headed into her room. Jackson positioned himself by her door, waiting until he heard her breathing slow as she drifted off to sleep.

After a quiet moment, Chase glanced over at Jackson, a smirk forming on his face. "So, I think Lilly likes you."

Jackson shot him a look, chuckling. "Oh, I know. But you remember the rule: if we ever fall in love with a human, we're cast down to Earth as humans ourselves. No powers, no way back. Just a regular life."

Chase nodded. "Yeah. And if we're lucky, we'd just wait around until death came again. That's the risk."

Jackson leaned against the wall, his gaze thoughtful. "Just something to keep in mind... for you and Sarah's sake."

Chase returned the look, raising an eyebrow. "Well, you should hear what Lilly thinks of you when she's daydreaming."

Jackson rolled his eyes. "And Sarah thinks the same about you."

Chase's smile faded slightly. "Yeah, but... she'll find someone else, someone better. She has her whole life ahead of her."

Jackson watched him in silence, sensing the conflict behind his words. "Maybe so. But in the meantime, keep an eye on her."

"I will," Chase replied, glancing over at Sarah's closed door.

Jackson nodded. "I'll be right back. Watch over her for a bit."

As Jackson disappeared, Chase stayed by the window, his gaze softening as he watched over Sarah, guarding her dreams from any darkness that might come her way.

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