Reaching Towards the Stars

The Mall

Here's the new chapter, and I hope you like it and the previous ones... -Jewelz2002

"Where has Liam gone off to?" I asked looking around, scanning the thick crowd for him.

Louis led me to the next store, saying, "I think he said he was going to use the loo."

"Oh."

I tried on some clothes, this time, mostly tee-shirts and jeans, and left the store, not buying anything, or so I thought, but I'll get to that later...

We went to millions of stores, for shoes and clothing both, and each time, a different guy disappeared, only to reappear at the next store. It was utterly confusing, but I had a good time.

For lunch, we stopped at a bakery, each getting hot buns to hold as we went into more shops. I was having so much fun, but hiding all my sneezes was difficult, especially when Liam was on the lookout. I was getting tired by 3 o'clock and was at the back of the group. 

Looking at a shop window that looked like a toy shop, I went over to the window and touched it lightly, looking at the toy doll that I had always wanted when I was a kid. It made me feel sad that my parents couldn't afford to get me any toys. The only toys I had were the broken rattles and stick dolls that I had made myself.

As I lingered, the boys kept walking, not noticing that I had stopped, and when I finally looked up, they were gone. 

Panicked, I searched the crowd for their faces, running to the middle of the busy square. I was getting jolted around, random people bumping into me, and I started hyperventilating, the memories that I kept tucked into my mind slipping lose, and one started playing in my mind like a movie.

I was walking with my dad to school one day, late for the bus, when all of a sudden, a man came up and pushed him, making me stumble.

"Where's my money? Huh? You promised to get it to me a week ago, and I call your apartment and they tell me you've moved! I need that money!"

"Look, Max, I know, I just-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses." The man looked at me, glaring, "You get that money by Friday or I'll take her."

"No-"

"Friday, Charlie. No excuses."

And with that, the man faded into the crowd, leaving me crying and my dad ripping his hair out in frustration.

"Kimmy!" an arm grabbed my shoulder and I jumped back, expecting much worse than the hug that lifted me off my feet. In fact, it was more than one person hugging me. 

I opened my eyes to Louis, Harry, Liam, Niall, and Zayn looking relieved. 

"Where did you go? We were so worried!" said Liam, clutching me to his chest, like a toy he had recovered.

"I was just looking at a window," I said, my voice muffled by his shirt, "And thinking about..." I didn't go on. I didn't want to relive the look that the man had given me.

"We'd thought you'd been taken!" he said, hugging me tighter, disabling my ability to breath.

"Liam!" I cried, "Liam, I'm fine!" he only hugged me tighter, and I gasped for breath. "Liam, stop!" He let me go and I gasped for air.

"I'm so sorry!" he said, sitting me down. 

The boys fussed over me, like a swarm of bees, and I began to feel smothered. I curled up and groaned, "Stop!"

Instantly, the smothering stopped and I began to breathe regularly. I peeked out of my arms to see the boys having a whispered conversation. I couldn't hear what they were saying, so I put my head down again and focused on my breathing.