Our Perfection

2.

The door opened and I looked down to see a six year old Molly Walters.

"Hi Molly. Where's your dad?" Molly is Mr. Walters' adorable seven year old daughter. He also has a ten year old son named Shawn.

"He's in his room. I'll tell him you're here." I stepped through the doorway into the large living room. Pictures of Mr. Walters and his kids were on the coffee table and walls, but something was missing from the 'picture perfect' family. About two years ago, Mrs. Walters died.

No one really knows how she died. All we knew was that she went to visit her sister in North Carolina and never came back.

Mr. Walters walked in the room and said to me, "Thank you for watching the kids while I'm at work. There's twenty dollars on the fridge if you guys need anything. I am off to work."

I turned towards Molly and Shawn.

"Okay. So what do you guys want to do?" I asked them.

"Could we go to could we go to miss Angela's Candy Shop? Please?" Molly begged me.

I guess that wouldn't be so bad. It was a little cold out side so I had the children get their coats and we set off to the corner mart.

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A bell chimed as I opened the door. Miss Angela was stocking a shelf when we walked in.

"Miss Angela, that box looks heavy. Let me help you with that." I told her.

She smiled at me gratefully. "Thank you, Kalani. I didn't have to do that. C'mon kids, tell miss Angela what kind of candies you want."

I continued doing miss Angela's job of putting candy on the shelf when the bell above the door chimed again. A guy walked in wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses. He looked like trouble. With a suspicious eye, I finished stocking and went over to the counter where Molly and Shawn stood with their bags of candy.

"How much for the candy, miss Angela?" I asked her.

"On the house. And don't try to argue. You did me a favor, so I'll do you one." She responded.

"Thank you. Alright kids, why don't we go to the pond and look at the ducks."

Trouble looked at us over his shoulder. I walked the kids towards the door and out onto the sidewalk. I thought nothing else of the boy with the leather jacket. Molly and Shawn were talking and laughing while I felt a little on edge. I discretely looked over my shoulder and saw Trouble, literally.

I ushered the kids to walk a little faster as we turned the corner and the duck pond was in view. Out in the open with people milling around, I felt the slightest bit safer, until I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye. A guy wearing the usual bad boy get up, pointing a cocked and ready gun at what seemed to be me. And then there was the bang that started it off.

All around me, guns were guns off. People were dropping like flies and blood was spilt everywhere you looked. Molly and Shawn stood off to the side, looking shocked and frightened. I take them by their wrists and drag them behind the cover of a large oak tree. This isn't what I had planned for the day. Civilians take cover and run into shops and I would do the same thing, except I couldn't risk Molly or Shawn getting injured.

I hear sirens off in the distance and sigh in relief. But done too soon. There's a man dressed in a semi-formal suit, aiming a loaded handheld, with no mistake this time at me.

This could possibly be my end. Why am I not terrified? I close my eyes and wait for my demise. I hear it. The horrible sound soon to be followed by the bullet that could take my life.

The pain never comes. Or maybe I never felt it. Either way, I open my eyes to see, not even an inch from my face a smoking gun having just shot a bullet. I looked up at the person who had just saved my life. He held an aura of power, commanding and strong. The sun, blazing bright as his background, only allowed me a silhouette of his face. But I would be a fool to not know who he is. The sirens sounds closer. I feel him tugging on my elbow, trying to get me to move.

"You need to get yourself and these kids out of here. I can give you guys a lift if you need it." I make sure that I have strong holds on Molly and Shawn's hands. He quickly walked us over to his blue convertible. "Is everyone okay?" Its a general question directed at everyone and answered by no one. Riding along the streets, you would think a war had just taken place. In a matter of minutes, we are pulling up into the Walters drive way. The kids jump out of the car and run into the house. I hope they aren't scarred too badly. I continue to sit there, not really feeling anything. Maybe I'm just in shock? Yeah, maybe.

"You never answered my question." I turned to him, startled. Was I so lost in my thoughts that forgot he was here.

"Um, yeah I'm okay. Thanks for help." I opened the door before he stopped me. "You know, I never got your name." "Luci, my name is Luci." I told him. "My name is Zayn. Zayn Malik."

"I know who you are. Everyone knows who you are." He doesn't look at me but he smiles. "Everyone thinks they know me. But do they really? I'll be seeing you soon, Luci."

I walked up the steps on the front porch. What does he mean he'll be seeing me soon? It's too late to ask. I hear the television in the sitting room, so I assume the kids are watching something. I sit at the kitchen table and I think back to that man who was seconds away from killing me. I just sat there. I didn't try to run away, I didn't scream, I just closed my eyes and awaited the dark.

Soon, Mr.Walters comes home. He offered me a ride home, but I kindly rejected. He has never done anything to me, but I just don't feel comfortable around that man. As I'm walking, I remember to pick up a few things for the house. I walked into the gas station ans was greeted by Marge.

" Hello Luci, how's your mother doing?"she asked me. "Better."

Lie.

" That's good. What do you need?"

"I'm just grabbing some things for the house." I walked up and down the aisles. I grabbed some bread, milk, and eggs. Typical, I know. I brought the items up to the check out lane when I hear someone behind me.

"Nice to see you again, Luci." Of course I happen to come across him here.