Molly's POV
I was really anxious about this. As we walked into the mall, my Dad kept ranting about how my electronics were a distraction to schoolwork (what else?), and how he was seriously considering selling them. I thought he was being a bit judgmental, since he's the director of I.T. where he works. He basically uses electronics all day. I get it, he's working on them.
But at home, when we have to call for him several times before he pulls his gaze away from his phone, he doesn't really have an excuse.
He kept talking about it until we started shopping. Good. That took his focus off of my faults, and onto the store's. I felt almost bad for the customers who had to hear it, and I was embarrassed beyond belief. I couldn't correct him, however, because then he'd turn on me again. I twisted with the money in my hand. After we finished shopping, he said I could go to the food court while he browsed a sports store. I walked up to the employee at the food court, and asked for a large chocolate milkshake, and fries.
"You're already fat enough" I could hear my father sneer in my mind. "Shut up!" I hissed, therefore getting a weird look from the employee. He had curly black hair, and was wearing a purple t-shirt and jeans. Seriously sharp cheekbones. Kinda cute. I immediately looked down at the sweatpants I was wearing, and blushed.
The employee didn't seem to notice, however. He had started talking to someone in the back. "Um, hello? I'm still here," I squeaked. "Oh, right," he said. Deep bass voice. "What did you want to order?" I squirmed on the spot. His blue eyes looked like they were staring into my soul. "A large chocolate milkshake." I said, deciding against the fries. "Alright. That will be $2.76." I handed him my $5, and hoped it wasn't too sweaty from me messing with it in my pocket. "Shy. Abusive father, who brought you here. You're nervous about him taking your phone away, because it's the only way for you to stay in touch with your long distance friend." I gaped at him. "How did you–" He rolled his eyes, cutting me off, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Well, for the shy thing, you wouldn't look me in the eye for longer than two seconds. When you handed me the money, your sleeve went up, and I saw a bruise. It could've been you're clumsy, but it's too perfectly formed to be a random bruise. Therefore, your father hits you." I challenged him, "It could've been my mother." He shakes his head. "No, your mother is gone. Moved out, most likely, with the way your father treats women, or dead. You wouldn't have that posture if you had a mother, and your hair and nail bed is atrocious. No mother would let their daughter out like that." I muttered softly, "Mine does", but he apparently didn't hear me, and went on with his speech.
"You're nervous, because this bill is sweaty–" crap "–and it's been twisted around. Therefore, you were nervous about something, and taking it out on this bill." He smirked, showing that he was done talking.
He handed me my milkshake. "There you go." But I didn't let him go that easily. "What about the phone part? And the long distance friend?" He rolled his eyes again. "Gosh, must I explain everything to you? The phone part is simple, your father over there is looking at his, and a phone with a pink case is sticking out. As I said, your mother is gone, therefore it's your phone. Besides, what kind of man would take his wife's phone while he left her at home? He'd have to be an idiot! You're wearing a friendship bracelet, well worn, indicating it's old. Maybe seven years? You've recently moved here, that's shown by the smell of newness coming from you, therefore you left your friend to move here. Case closed."
His eyes immediately grew wide at that last part, and I teased, "I'm a case now?" "No. Goodbye now, there's quite a line behind you." I grabbed the milkshake and started to walk away, when he grabbed my arm and said, "My name is Sherlock Holmes, what's yours?" I replied curtly, "Molly Hooper." And ran towards my Dad, who's clearly been drinking.