*(Is this all we see?)*

~*Chapter 12*~

It wasn't long until Midnight and Dawn arrived to the mall that was a few miles from their house. It was a half an hour drive, which wasn't too far. They got there in what had seemed like a few minutes by talking and making it feel like seconds.Midnight relaxed seeing the tall cream building with flashing lights and huge signs from outside the car window when they arrived. 

"I still think you're going to get in trouble for this." Midnight grumbled exiting the car while Dawn locked it, hastily walking behind his sister to the double doorway. She kept walking, but snorted moments after his worrisome statement. "I told you already not to worry about Leah. She's all bark no bite thing. She yells at you for like three minutes then is nice the next time you enter the room." 

"Sure about that?" He countered. "Leah is our mother's best friend, she actually beat up Lilly once for being 'rude' to mom. I wouldn't say Bark no Bite about her." 

Dawn shrugged, shoving her hands into her pockets. "Eh..we're kids. She can't hurt us. That'd be child abuse." 

"We're sixteen.." 

"Still qualifies to me." 

Both twin siblings walked across the damp tar parking lot, reaching the sidewalk to the doors. Dawn opened the door and let Midnight walk inside. "Here you go baby bro." She flashed a cocky smile towards him, Midnight looked at his sister with an annoyed gaze. "We're the same age." He stated, walking in through the second doorway to wait for his sister. She closed the door and followed him. "So how was normal school?" 

"Shit." He muttered. "Lots of work and too much pressure." Midnight shoved his hands deep into his pockets, shaking off his sisters hand when it landed on his shoulder. "You know," Dawn walked next to him. "You could always transfer to guardian school with me. It's fun! Practices and training are great as well as manageable. You would fit in perfectly." 

Midnight shook his head and sighed. "No.."  His head hung low while they walked through the mall walkways. "I'm a half-blood."

Dawn tilted her head. "That doesn't change anything." She continued walking. Stores along the sides, some ahead. Dawn's eyes lit up. "Which one do you want to go to first?" 

"I dunno. A clothing store perhaps? They can be interesting sometimes." 

"Sure. I brought you here." 

Midnight followed Dawn down the walkway until reaching the corner, curving around it and hitting the first store. Dawn walked with confidence through the  middle of the isles. Midnight felt out of place in this kind of place. 'I'm sulking like an idiot. And I have bruises all over my face--what did I get myself into?'

Dawn ran her fingers across the fabrics in the separate isles. Velvet, Satin, Silk. She grabbed some of the tags and checked prices, her eyes widened at most. "Jesus . Most expensive store." She muttered annoyingly. "Why did we choose this one first?" 

"Because it was in our--walking space?" 

Midnight shuddered seeing Dawn look at more prices. Between hundreds of dollars to maybe fifty. He felt bad if he were to get any of these things. "Hey. Let's get something." 

"Like?" Midnight asked. 

"You like flannels." Dawn picked the first one from the rack next to her as she stopped. She checked the size, then pushed it into her twins arms'. "Get this." Midnight shook his head while checking the price and handed it back to her. "I would feel bad." 

"Mid.." She sighed annoyingly. "You feel bad for everything. Come on, lets browse to see what you want to get that is in your 'price range'." She grabbed Midnight's arm, pulling him along the aisles. He glanced at everything while being pulled. 'How am I supposed to get anything when everything is so expensive?' 

~~

"See? You had fun!" Dawn nudged Midnight's arm, almost knocking the few bags he had out of his hand. "You always do when we go here. You just seem to complain about prices too much. Or maybe it's just this time." 

Midnight shook his head. "I just feel bad about stuff like that. I don't want to take people's money." They both ended up going to most of the stores around the entire unit, Dawn almost begging Midnight to get something in every store. He did, not expensive things like Dawn seemed to hope he would. 

"Spending money?" Dawn asked wide eyed. "Leah gave me some, I got the rest from working with the guardians." She shrugged and kept walking with her brother. It was quiet for the moments they walked, but when Midnight tried to walk farther ahead, he was abruptly stopped by a tall, dark body. He heard Dawn stop behind him as well, she stayed quiet. 

"At the mall eh little boy?" A familiar voice spoke above his head. He tried to walk beside the person, but was stopped by another to his side. 
"Speak!" He barked. With a shove Midnight fell and snapped his head up to look. 'Him.'  His eyes seemed to darken seeing the tall boy looking down at him. 'Is Dawn okay?'  All he cared about was his sister, the only thing that remained in his thoughts. Never mind getting hurt himself, that happened enough already. He cared for his sister. 

"The hell is he doing here?" Another one of the guys scowled. "With a girl. How cute." The one that had just spoke knocked him to the ground, tripping Midnight by his feet. His eyes fell on Dawn. She had an angry look in her eyes, it was as if her bright green eyes were burning the guys. "She's my sister," Midnight hissed. "Leave her alone. It's me you want isn't it?" 

"Sister?" The tallest ones' eyes widened. "You need sissy to save you?" His face pushed into Midnight's, laughing. 

Midnight wasn't going to let them get to him. 'They're just taunting you' He thought. 'Just taunting..they will go soon.' 

"Leave my brother alone." Dawn finally spoke up. Her head was held high, she was gritting her teeth and clenching her fists. 'She's angry..she's trying not to use her magic.'  Dawn rolled her eyes. "you guys are just a bunch of squabbling idiots looking for attention. Back off already."

The leader looked back to Dawn, Midnight could hear him chuckle with a pathetic undertone. "And you're going to stop us?" 

"Guys," A small, brown haired one spoke up. His voice was quiet, and his hazel eyes were pleading. "Let's just go. There is no use to taunt them. It won't change anything." 

"I'm trying to show this pipsqueak where our  territory is and where his is not." The leader growled. He stood, facing his friend. His friend stood straight with a blank expression. "I get that man," The small one stated calm. "But he's never been on our territory. I have never seen him." 

The leader grunted, shaking his head annoyed. "Fine Noah." The small one, Noah, slapped his hand on his leader's back as he turned. "Lets go guys." 

When they started walking away, Dawn ran to Midnight, holding a hand out. He grabbed it. "Idiots. How can you deal with human teenagers all the time?" 

"I manage." Midnight shrugged, brushing the dirt from the floor off of himself. He shook his head, bringing a hand to his lip, which printed blood when he pulled it away. "Ugh, you're bleeding." Dawn stared. "You okay?" 

Midnight inhaled slowly. "Fine." He muttered while picking up his bags. "I'm going to be fine." 

_________

Yeah. Basically they are greAt. The next chapter will have them in it ;;)). 

Thanks for reading!

~Liz <3