Chapter 8

"Good morning" I say to Leela.

"Someone's obviously feeling better" she says just as bright as I was.

I was in a really good mood and I don't even know why and I'm not gonna let anyone ruin it.

I grab a slice of pie and sit down in my usual seat waiting for Leela to start.

"Why won't you tell me your name?" Ty appears from nowhere.

"Why you wanna know?"

"You want me to call you good day from now on?"

"If you want"

"I want to call you by your name"

"Oh" I shrug and walk away.

I could feel her eyes watching me as I walk away. I felt the same way during the whole entire meeting and the other day at the amusement park.

"Since you won't tell me your name, how about i give you a nickname?" She says catching up with me, holding the door for me.

"Whatever floats your boat"

"Cool" she agrees and walks to her car and i walk to my mom's.

"Who's that nana?"

"Just some girl"

"Didn't look like 'just some girl'"

"Didn't look like a girlfriend either did it?"

She game me that "don't be smart" face.

I threw my hands up in surrender.

"For real Autumn"

"Ma I promise it's nothing"

"Whatever. You ready to go shopping?"

I nodded my head and sat back.

"We gotta stop by the house real quick. You mind?"

"No. No problem. I kinda wanna change anyway"

"Don't be too long nana" ma screamed after me as I headed up the stairs.

I put my phone on the charger and found me an outfit.

Agreeing on some blue Nike shorts and a plain white tee, I laid in bed to check my phone but ended up falling sleepy.

Ma knocked on the door and came in calling me but I was too sleepy to move.

Hearing footsteps getting closer.

She took my phone out of my hand, pulled the cover over my body and kissed my forehead.

"You up sleeping beauty?"

"Thanks for letting me sleep. You could've woke me up you know"

"Yeah but I think you needed it"

I kissed my mom's forehead and sat on the counter.

"What you cooking?"

"What's in the oven"

"What is it?" I hopped down to open up the oven.

I smiled as my eyes bestowed upon my favorite meal. Love some lasagna.

"Eat with me?"

"You want me to make plates?"

She smiled but quickly said "no, you don't know how to cut right"

Playfully offended, I asked her to teach me.

I watched her slice through the layers of meat, cheeses, pasta sauce and pasta. She laid it perfectly on the two plates and covered it back up.

I took the plates and sat them on the table. Grabbing some cups, I poured us some grape juice, our personal favorites and sat those in the table too. Lastly, I grabbed some silverware and sat that on our plates and pushed my mom's seat in before sitting down myself.

After prayer, we ate and talked about my meeting and her day.

"But seriously Autumn"

Oh lord. What'd I do now?

"I'm seriously so proud of you. Like so seriously proud"

"Thank you"

She squeezed my hand and continued eating.

After we ate, I cleared the table and cleaned up and joined my mom in the couch.

"You still wanna go shopping?"

"No we can tomorrow. You look sleepy"

"I can still take you"

"No it's fine ma"

"Ok, take yourself" she says handing me her keys. My heart dropped. I've had a big fear of driving since that night. Milo said not to drive and I didn't listen and now he's dead.

"No ma, I don't wanna drive" I say getting up from the couch and going into my room.

"Nana I don't know what I said that upset you but I'm sorry. You're going shopping though, you earned it"

"Ma it's not that deep. You're sleepy. Look at yourself"

"Ok, I can drop you off"

"If it makes you happy that I go out, I'll Uber. You stay home and get rest"

She nodded.

"You go shower while I get ready and I'll tuck you in"

She got up and went to her room while I got myself ready.

Pulling my hair in a high bun and doing my edges. I'm going for a tomboy look today so my edges aren't too extra.

After that, put on some necklaces, my watch and some aquaphor before going to check on ma. I made sure to tuck her in her bed before going out.

Where to first? I say looking at the platinum card my mom gave me.

Seeing Aeropostale, I went in there. They have really cute jeans in men's sometimes. After picking out some jeans and two shirts, i leave out and head to zumiez. They didn't have this store where i came from so i had to check it out.

They had some nice graphic tees so i picked up a few and headed out of there into more stores.

After about five more stores, i went to the food court immediately deciding on Cinnabon because it was good.

"I have something you'll like better come on" Ty's familiar voice boomed over my AirPods.

"Are you following me? And we've got to work on your greeting skills"

"Maybe I could greet you if i knew your name. Come on, quit holding these people up" she said pulling my arm.

"You didn't answer my first question though"

"Yes I'm following you"

"Cool" i said getting irritated with her sarcasm.

She led me to a place further and away from the food court.

"Ty i want food and I tired"

She stopped us, grabbed the bags out of my hand and handed them to her bodyguard but I took them back.

"I can hold my own bags. It's not his problem to" I say to Ty grabbing my bags from the bodyguard and apologizing to him.

"Charlie doesn't mind"

"Charlie also has his own voice and life"

She shrugs and we keep walking.

"Well atleast let me hold them"

"I'm good, G"

She turned forward and we continued to walk.

"Aunt Annie's?"

"It's like a Cinnabon but way better"

I hummed and waited in line. She ordered once again for me and her but this time I paid. I literally had to force her to let me.

"The first place was better" I tell her with a mouth full of cinnamon bites.

"Your body language is saying something different. Just say I'm right"

I rolled my eyes and continued eating.

"Where to next?" Ty asked.

"Home. I'm tired"

"Let's hit one more store, yeah?"

"We can but we gotta make it quick. I'm gonna get my ride soon"

She nodded agreeing and lead me to a store.

She bought herself a Nike tech, some shorts and socks.

I bought some shirts and joggers. We love Nike discount store.

"Don't get a Uber. I can drop you off at home"

"No it's fine"

"I know. I'll take you"

"I'm a big girl"

"I'm sure. I also just want to make sure you get home safely"

"I will"

"How will I know? You won't give me your number, your social media or your name"

I stayed quiet cause she ate that.

"Come on" she led me outside to this big body black truck. She opened the trunk and I placed all of my bags in the back.

Once she shut the trunk, she went to the second row of seats and I wondered where Charlie was.

Charlie was driving and ty and myself got in the backseat with plenty of space.

"How come we've hang out so many times and you still won't give me your name?"

"We've hang out?"

"We doing it now"

"That's cause you follow me"

"That's cause I want to see you"

"You're making this weird"

"Why? I mean it"

"How many girls have you done this to?"

"What do you take me for?"

"Someone manipulative, unable to love, and uses people"

"Why you think that?"

"Because"

"Because?"

"I just do"

"No you have a real reason"

I shrug and look out the window.

"Where you live?"

"Off south end. You not gonna stalk me are you?"

"Not if you let me get to know you"

I smile and look back out the window.

"Stop staring"

"I just love that smile. How long you gonna act like this"

"Like what?"

"Like you not falling for me"

"When I stop" I admit and turn to the window again.

"Thanks for the ride"

"Let me take you out tonight"

"You asking me on a date?"

"You'll know when I'm asking you on a date. Trust"

"I don't know"

"Come on, itll be fun" she pleaded.

"Maybe tomorrow"

"Tomorrow. I'll be here at 6:30" she sighed agreeing.

"I didn't say yes"

"Didn't say no either" she drops the bags on the floor and walk out the house. I wait on her to get in the car to shut the door.