The Way You See Me

Chapter Fifteen

I had ended up falling asleep on the couch, with Max at my feet. He was so loyal.

I wish people were as loyal as dogs.

I stretch as I open my eyes, rubbing my arm. It was sore- I must've slept wrong.

Today I had planned on going to get my phone fixed, and/or get a new one.

Hopefully, the friend I have at the phone store can hook me up with something decently priced.

I get off the couch and head into my bedroom. I wash my face, brush my teeth, put lotion on, change, etc.

I'm now wearing... something kind of new for me. It's a pink sundress, made of soft, smooth fabric, and it hugs my curves.

I usually don't wear dresses; I feel so exposed in them.

I check myself out in my mirror, running my hands over the dress to smooth it out.

I think about changing out of it when I decide that if I'm ever going to get over being so self-conscious, I had to start somewhere.

I leave my room and head to the living room. Max trots around happily. I smile and let him out back.

I tie half my hair up so that some of it is pulled into a messy bun, and some is down.

My hair is decently long, it goes about mid-back. I have natural highlights, and the more time I spend in the sun, the more defined they get.

I realize I'd have to either walk or take the bus again. My mind flicks to Dom, about how worried he was with me taking the bus. I think he'd be more worried if he found out I was walking places. At least when I went to Kayla's I had Max.

I walk to the kitchen window and lean forward as I look outside. My car. My sweet car. If only I have the keys. 

I really hate Nick sometimes. Like, my keys. Really? 

I sigh and walk back to the sliding door, letting Max back inside. He hops on the couch and lies down. 

Walking back over to the kitchen window, I debate what I should do. 

My options consist of the following: Wait for either Nick or Dom to show back up, possibly get a ride/my keys back so I can go get a new phone. Or, I leave now, walk to the store, get my phone, then call Dom to take me home. Or, I take the bus to the store and still have Dom take me home. 

Since technically Dom didn't say I shouldn't walk places alone, I decide on that option. Of course, I knew he'd worry if he found out, but oh well. He's the one that left last night because I didn't automatically agree to what he was asking of me.

I slip on my worn-out converse over my black socks. Not ideal for walking, but then again, neither is a dress. Oh well. 

I open the front door. "Bye Max!" I call to him, then walk outside, shutting the door behind me. Thanks to Nick, I don't have a house key, either. 

I keep wondering where he is. Why he hasn't stopped by or contacted me at all since he broke my phone and told me not to leave. That was... two days ago? I couldn't keep track these days.

I start my long walk. It was probably going to take me 45 minutes to get to the plaza that the store was in. I didn't mind too much. I get exercise and get out of the house.

It's cloudy today, but nice out. Probably near 70 degrees. Looking up at the clouds, I hope it doesn't rain. That'd be just my luck.

I'm already bored and I'm not even halfway yet. 

There's a runner coming towards me. He reminds me how much I hate seeing people I don't know in public. Like what will I do when he passes? What if he says something? What if he waves and I don't wave back because I'm so socially awkward? 

One time, like three years ago, I was at Walmart getting groceries with my dad, and a lady said she loved my shirt, and I wasn't thinking, so I quickly said, "Um, yeah, Merry Christmas,"

It was August.

Anyways, this guy is getting closer now. Oh lord. He doesn't slow his pace. I must look stupid, walking down the sidewalk in a sundress and converse. I mean, it isn't even sunny. Ugh, my life decisions suck.

The runner continues and nods slightly as he passes me. I smile in return, then glance away. Whew.

I hear his feet hitting the cement of the pavement going quieter in the distance. I'm alone again. 

About three-quarters of the way there, there's a girl walking towards me with her dog, and I smile. I love dogs. Always have. They're the best things on this Earth. 

The girl seems older, I guess I should be calling her a lady rather than a girl. I watch as she and the dog walk beside one another.

Once they're close enough to see well, I can't help but grin. It was the lady from the bus stop. I couldn't believe I was running into her again. And she has a dog- this lady is my spirit animal.

I can now see her long, white stick. Or cane, I'm not sure what it's called. She slides it in front of her; it skids across the sidewalk. Her pup stays by her side. It looks to be a golden retriever- and it's very well behaved. My guess is her service dog. Kind of common sense.

Now that we're closer, I stand in the grass and watch them approach. "Hey!" I say, hopefully, loud enough that she can hear me. Her dog has seen me for a while now, of course, but it hasn't strayed from the lady's side.

The lady smiles, and nods. Maybe she doesn't recognize my voice. "How you doing, baby?" She replies. I can't help but smile. I don't know why I doubted her. She stops a few feet away from me, her head turned to the general area of where I was standing. 

"I'm alright, how are you? Where are you going today?" I ask her, still smiling. To my surprise, she takes a seat. Right there, in the middle of the sidewalk. She didn't seem to have any trouble with the task, and she sets her cane beside her. The dog lies against her hip, while she pets it. I laugh a little and sit in front of her.

She sighs before she replies. "Well! Betty here wanted a new toy. So we're on our way to the store to get her one," She replies. Her mocha-colored skin contrasts to the blue she was wearing in a beautiful way, with her silver eyes like crystals to her wrinkled face, due to years of smiling, I'm sure (and age, of course). "What are you doing walking all alone?" She asks. 

I smile slightly. I loved this woman. "I have to go get a new phone, my old one... broke," I reply, and watch as her face shows an emotion I can't quite read. "Plus, it's nice out, I figured a walk would be good," I add.

"Yes, until it rains! We only have about twenty minutes left before that happens," She tells me. I internally groan. There's no way I could get everything done and get back home before then, even if I left now, and ran the whole way home. Crap. "Why don't you come to my house for a bit, until the rain stops? Then you can go on your merry way." She says, and I grin.

"I don't want to be a bother," I say. She immediately waves my words away. 

"Nonsense. Let's go. You can help me make lunch," She says, and stands up slowly, with me helping a bit. 

I laugh. "Sure. What's for lunch?" I ask her, and she shrugs. We begin walking, back the way I came. Soon though, we turn into a neighborhood, which I assume is hers. It takes me a moment before I realize the dog is what leads her places. 

"We'll have to see what I have!" She says. 

The irony. I wonder if she did that on purpose. 

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