Her Bodyguard

Helmet

I have a shower and do my hair and makeup in record time. I put on black ripped skinny jeans with a white tank top and I put a red flannel shirt around my waist. I put another red flannel cap on backwards and the pendant I never take off hangs proudly. I put on my new perfume and let Beth use some. I check with Dan and we can go out in about ten minutes when his TV is connected to the security feed. I knock on Adams door as he showered in there to save time but it's open so I walk in.

I hear water running so I sit on his bed. I see a bottle of cologne on his dresser and I see his hoodie. I squirt a bit on the hoodie and I smell it. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and I bury my nose in the soft dark fabric.

"Can I help you?" Adam asks.

"Crap." I say as I jump. I drop the hoodie and I step forwards. "No, I was just wondering how long you were going to be, but I see you're doing fine. I'm going to check on Daniel." I say and I walk to the door.

"Amy." Adam calls me. I turn around and he gives me a small smile. "Keep it." he says and throws me the hoodie. I say nothing, my mouth opens a bit but I just smile and walk back out and put the hoodie under my blanket.

I check on Daniel and he is ready to go. Adam walks out of his room and we make a little awkward eye contact. Dan and Beth come out of their rooms so I get my bag and we go out.

Dan drives and I ask Beth about her style.

"Whatever fits in the sale rack really." She says.

"Well, that will change, I'm getting you a new wardrobe." I say and I make a list on my phone.

"Amy, you really don't have to, you've done enough." She says but I take no notice. Dan parks and we start shopping. Adam spends most of the time with Daniel, I did this for them to be together anyway. Dan stays with me and Beth.

It turns out Beth and I are the same size for everything but she is just a touch shorter than me. We start with the basics while Adam and Daniel look at toys and some clothes, it looked like Daniel always had to look smart at home so I'm happy to buy real clothes for a nine year old.

We go to the till and I pay. Dan offers to carry the bags so we accept. Beth and I next buy underwear and swimming stuff while Adam goes to a jokes shop. We stop at one more shop to buy the really nice stuff so we both have things for all occasions in our bags.

We meet back up with Adam and Daniel at a beach shop. Daniel seems entranced by the skateboards.

"Do you want one?" I ask.

"My dad would never let me." He says.

"I'll make you a deal, if I kit you out with all the safety things and you promise to always wear them when you want to ride ill buy you a skateboard." I say

"I promise Amy I promise!" he says and he picks out a green hulk board. One of the dancers in my last tour had a skateboard so I buy a black one as well. I help Daniel pick out safety gear and Adam taps me on the shoulder.

"What about you?" he asks.

"What about me?" I ask.

"You need a helmet and stuff too." He says.

"But I can ride a skateboard." I say.

"I need to keep you safe, plus you could set an example for Daniel." He says.

"Fine but I'm not wearing a butt pad thing." I say and he laughs.

"Ok." He says and I get all the safety things I need.

"Are you sure you don't want anything?" I ask Beth.

"I'm fine, I was in an accident last time I was on one of those things, and I prefer watching anyways." she says. I shrug and pay. Down the road is a skate park thing but it's very open. It's basically plonked in the middle of a street but it's fairly empty.

I instantly get on my skateboard and go down the slope. When I rise on the other side I lift my knees to my chest and go back down. I stop and skate to Daniel who is struggling with just staying on the board. I jump off my board and stop his wheels moving.

"Hold onto my hands." I say and he holds them. "Good, now find your balance. You control the board not the other way around." I say and I feel his confidence rise. "Good, I'm going to move my feet but don't worry, I've got you." I say.

I move my feet. He wobbles a little but soon steadies and gets more confident.

"Ok, now slowly let go of my hands." I say and I feel the grip loosen until he lets go. "Now push." I say and he does it.

"See, you're a natural." I say and I walk to Adam.

"I think your brother is better than you." I say.

"No, he has just got a good teacher, plus anyone could do that." He says. I give him my helmet,

"Go on then." I say.

"It's been years since I've skateboarded." He says.

"So?" I ask. He gives me a playfully annoyed smile and puts on the helmet.

He gets on my board and does well just getting from point A to point B. but I can tell he is getting over confident.

"Be careful." I say and he goes down the slope. He leans too far back skids backwards. Dan and I laugh and I go into the pipe.

"You ok?" I ask.

"Yeah, it looks like I need the butt pad not Daniel." He says and touches his butt. I laugh and we climb out.

"Amy?" Daniel asks as he breaks and stands in-front of us.

"I'm kind of hungry." He says. I nod.

"Anyone else?" I ask and everyone raises their hand.

"Ok, restaurant or order in?" I ask.

"Order in sounds good." Daniel says and everyone agrees. We head back and eat pizza in my room. Even Abby comes out of her cocoon to feast.

"So what do you want to do tomorrow?" I ask.

"Sightseeing." Beth says.

"Beach." Daniel says.

"Ok, let's go sightseeing tomorrow morning and we end at Venice beach. And stay there." I say. Everyone agrees and they slowly disperse. After Beth and I separate our clothes its dark. I get changed into night clothes and I stand on my small balcony.

Then I hear a knock at my door.