✅1️⃣ | Hypnosis Doesn't Work Like That!

43: I Don't Need to Think About Every Detail

The food court was bustling as Toni led Adi through, the noon crowds only just starting to dissipate. Adi was starting to get hungry, but she knew it would be easier to wait until there weren't so many families hogging the bigger tables, or little kids running around screaming. She just followed her friend up the escalator to the top floor, and off the main arcade to a narrow walkway lined with smaller shops. Then they were heading for... a discount pharmacy?

"Do we need to–" Adi started.

"You never did babysitting, did you?"

"I did occasionally. Easy money, just making sure little kids don't do anything crazy. Why?"

"Not actual babies, though. You never had to change a diaper before?"

"No, but–"

Toni reached the shelf she was aiming for, and handed Adi a large bottle of baby powder.

"I noticed you don't have one in your bag. There should be space. You want to avoid diaper rash, right?"

"Don't!" Adi squeaked, head turning in all directions to see if anyone she recognised might have overheard Toni's words. But rather that get angry, she forced herself to think before she said anything else. She was fine, she realised. A mention of diaper rash on its own didn't imply whose diapers. She could have been babysitting a newborn nephew for the first time, or making a little money by looking after a toddler. In fact, once she thought about it she realised that would be the obvious assumption to make for anyone who overheard her. "Thanks. I guess I never really thought about things like that."

She looked down the rest of the aisle. Practically a quarter of the shop was devoted to baby stuff, with so many different products that Adi didn't really know the purpose of. She found herself staring at a display of pacifiers as she thought, and quickly twitched her eyes away.

"Is there anything else I'll need?" she asked quietly, almost as embarrassed by needing to ask for her as she was about the plethora of baby-related things all around them. Her eyes darted along the shelves, wondering what baby oil was actually for, and how many of the products on display were necessary for a teen who just acted like a baby in one tiny way.

"No, I think you got everything. Want to pay for that, then we can grab lunch and we'll see about this makeover?"

"I told you..." Adi mumbled, but she knew from the wry grin that she didn't need to repeat herself. "Just some smart clothes for Monday, okay? If you think my current wardrobe doesn't make the best impression. And I'll see what I can afford."

"Don't worry about the money, babe. Call it an early birthday present. Trust me, I'll show you how to make such a good impression."

Adi felt nervous about buying a bottle of baby powder, though she was sure there could have been a hundred perfectly innocent reasons she might want it. And her nerves only carried on building as they walked back down to the food court. What was Toni planning to buy her? Was she really serious about this makeover thing? And if she was, how big a favour would she owe her friend afterwards?

She couldn't keep on worrying when they got their lunch. Toni paid, as she so often did, and Adi couldn't keep negative thoughts on her mind when she was busily stuffing her face with the best fried chicken in the county. Not to mention an extra large hot chocolate with whipped cream, sprinkles, multiple layers of different flavoured syrups, and every available extra. These had always been Adi's favourite treat when she was feeling down, and there was no way to describe her relief at being able to inhale a huge and complicated drink after such a long week.

It was something she'd always taken for granted. But now she could have a large drink again, without worrying when someone might accidentally say her name. And she was really relishing this little piece of freedom, a day when she didn't need to worry.