The Threat Of Fear

chapter 6

        This house is of nice. It's kind of like a two-story farmhouse. It has more than just four rooms (there's six, three on the first floor and three on the top floor) and there's a lot of land empty surrounding the house too. There's also a forest with a bike trail in the backyard.

I wonder what the other's think of it.

"I'm sorry if this sounds rude, ma'am, but I just have to know," the real estate agent said, breaking my train of thought. "Why is it that a beautiful girl like yourself is moving in into a house with three men."

A beautiful girl? Girl? I'm nineteen, I'm an adult in the eyes of the law.

"It's fine." I sighed. "Those three have been there for me for as long as I can remember. The twins and I used to be pen pals for our elementary schools, then I actually moved right next door to them before we went into middle school. Then we met the other one in high school. They're my family and I trust all three of them with my life."

"You must know about the rumors that must be spreading around you." she murmured. "It's very unusual for a woman to move in with three men if one of them isn't her husband. It's very frowned upon to do this."

What gives her the right to judge who I decide I want to live with?

"Does it look like I care?" I responded dryly. "We figured that it would be easier to do this because for Shade's job he will be traveling a lot and I will be out a lot for my job. We thought that it would be a good idea."

"I'm just saying," she whispered. "People will talk."

"And I'm just saying that I don't care," I huffed. "Why should I care what others think of me? I'm a strong, rookie cop who will be living with a rookie FBI agent and two gay men. So what?"

        "So, what all do you think we'll need?" I asked, putting my snow boots on.

"Probably just the usual. Stuff for meals, and maybe some snacks." Shade answered. "We should probably make warm meals seeing as we're on a mountain where it's very cold outside which we're likely to spend a lot of time in."

"So, like stew's and stuff like that for meals?" I hummed. "And we could make a breakfast casserole which should last us for a week or two."

"Yeah." he nodded.

"Oh!" I gasped in excitement, spinning around to face him. "We could udon!"

"Yeah, we could." Shade chuckled. "Let's go get the ingredients for those now. Do you still remember the ingredients for them?"

"Of course." I scoffed. "I do have a photographic memory after all. I'll send you the ingredients that we'll need on the way there."

"Good." he smiled, holding his hand out for me. "Let's go."

"Lets." I nodded, taking his hand with mine.

"Are you two leaving to go grocery shopping already?" Alec asked.

Shade and I nodded.

"Alright." he shrugged. "I'll go get the keys for you two."

        "Should we get some fruit?" I asked, looking at the assorted variety of fruits.

"Yeah." Shade agreed. "They would be good for a snack."

"How about you pick the fruits and some vegetables while I go get the stuff for the breakfast casserole," I suggested.

"Deal." Shade nodded.

"Do you want to meet up in the meats section after we get what we're getting?" I wondered.

"Yeah," he said. "That sounds good."

"Okay." I hummed. "I'll see you soon, then."

I turned around and started walking away.

I need to find the aisle with all the noodles. I can get the eggs afterward.

I can also get the broth for the stew while I'm getting the broth for the udon.

It's a good thing that we decided to have separate baskets because although udon is simple to make, I don't think I'd be able to carry everything by myself without dropping any of it.

Ah! The noodle aisle!

It's just a few more steps away.

"Excuse me, miss?" an older man asked as I was putting the noodles in my basket.

He has a heavy accent, but I'm unable to place where the accent is from.

"Yes, sir?" I hummed, looking at him.

I hope he doesn't notice the fact that he made me tense up.

"Could you possibly help me find where the alcohol is kept?" he wondered.

He has light brown hair and beard with some grey hair speckled throughout it. He stands at about 5'11, I can tell because he's about an inch shorter than me.

"I'm sorry, sir," I replied. "I've never been to this store before and I don't normally drink. I'm sorry I can't help you."

"What do you mean you don't drink?" he gasped.

"Well, not that it's any of your business, but my job requires me to be completely sober and I like to remember the important things. Alcohol would inhibit me from doing so." I sighed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go meet up with the guy I came here with."

I walked away from him and started on my search for the rest of my items.

        "Hey." shade greeted me wrapping his free arm around me in a hug. "You find everything ok?"

"Yeah," I breathed out leaning into his side. "Nothing bad happened.

"That's good." he smiled. "Are we ready to go to the checkout? I already grabbed the meats that we'll need."

"If you already have the meats than yeah." I nodded. "Let's go."

Shade nodded as we started to walk to the front of the store where the checkout stations are being held.

I wonder how this trip will be. I hope nothing bad happens while we're here.

"Rachel." Shade said, catching my attention.

I hummed in response.

"The basket," he stated, pointing at the basket in my hand.

"Oh." I chuckled nervously, emptying the contents out onto the conveyor belt. "Right."

"Are you okay, Rach?" Shade asked, looking at me worriedly.

"Yeah." I nodded. "I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" he pushed.

"Totaly," I answered.