Chapter 7
Jacob's funny!
"I want you two to stay here, okay? I'm going to get a few things that we'll need and I'll be right back. I shouldn't take more than an hour."
"Is," Jacob whined. "We can all go together."
"It'll be safer and easier this way. I can go, get what we need, and head back. If someone attacks, it'll just be me. You two will be safe here. I doubt that'll happen though," I emphasized the ending for Kaila, who looked as though her eyes were going to pop out.
I walked to the door and smiled, "I'll be fine. I promise. I can handle myself. See you in an hour." Before they could protest I left the room key on the table and shut the door on my way out. I trusted Jacob. He would take care of Kaila perfectly well.
I glanced at the list I made while the two had been studying the room. In scribbled letters it read:
1. Clothes
2. Food; sandwiches, fruits, drinks
3. Money
There were only 3 important things on the list. I would get the money from the bank. I had my bankcard in my hand. The clothes were easy, Jacob and I didn't need anything new, we could make it back just fine dressed the way we were if we washed our clothes tonight. Kaila was the only one who needed new clothes. Her old clothes- even washed- would still be to torn and would attract a lot of attention. And there was no way she would wear my clothes, the set she was currently wearing. It was over sized and hung off of her. That too would attract attention. So she would get new clothes, from whatever store I could find. The food, of course, was important. I would buy enough for us to eat tonight, and some to pack for the walk back tomorrow. It would be long and it would be better if we could eat whenever without the worry of buying food.
I stopped walking and stood- about seven or eight blocks from the hotel- in front of a large mall. It was seemingly one of those higher-end malls where everything would be overpriced. Knowing this, I could only sigh. There was nothing I could do that would change that fact and I would have to buy what I had to buy.
The first place I went to was the bank and withdrew a hundred dollars. "That should be enough," I murmured to myself as I took my card and left.
After leaving the bank, I walked to the first store I saw that sold backpacks. I looked for the cheapest and the simplest bag that I could find. It was a plain white backpack. Purchasing the backpack for twenty dollars and sticking my money and list in the front pocket, I left the store to find a clothes store.
It was a while before I could actually find a practical clothing store that sold children's clothes. And when I had actually found one, I was practically screaming in my head trying to find her size. I had forgotten to ask or check her other clothes in my haste to leave the hotel. AHH!
"Excuse me, miss. Do you need assistance?" One of the store clerks asked as she eyed me suspiciously- like she had been since I entered the store. She suspected, I believe, that I couldn't afford this stuff and that I would steal it.
"Yes, I need to find clothes for a child, but I don't recall her size. She's about eight, very tiny frame and very skinny. And I'm looking for the most casual thing you sell."
"Ah yes," she mumbled slowly. "Follow me."
She led me over to the right section of the store. The racks were lined with shorts and shirts, not the simplest of designs, but the simplest styles. "Here you are, these should fit her size."
I thanked the lady and watched as she walked away, only to stop not too far off and watch me.
I shrugged it off. She was not going to slow me down. I had already been gone for half an hour, and knowing Jacob, he would freak out if I wasn't back in exactly and hour. Okay, I thought. A white shirt with a cute dinosaur in the middle caught my attention. It was adorable. I grabbed one in the size the lady recommended and one size bigger, just to be sure. To match with the clothes, but to stay comfortable I grabbed a pair of jean shorts- the size she recommended, but this time, a size smaller and bigger as well.
"That's good," I muttered and headed toward the counter.
"Are you done, miss?"
"Yes, I am." I laid the clothes on the counter. From behind the counter, a simple looking teddy bear tilted its head and beamed with a radiant smile. "How much is that doll?" I asked.
The lady turned her head, a sneer appearing on her face from the lack of politeness. "It's ten dollars with a purchase of more than 30 dollars."
"Oh, what is my total?" I smiled.
"Let's see, the two shirts are twelve dollars and forty- three cents," she mumbled putting the numbers into computer. "The three shorts are… eighteen dollars. Your total is thirty dollars and forty-three cents. Would you like to buy the doll?"
I nodded my head. After handing the lady the money, I was left with a total of forty-nine dollars and fifty-seven cents. Enough to buy food and to have some extra cash.
With the last of my- I checked the clock in the store- twenty minutes, I headed back in the direction of the hotel. About 5 blocks from the mall, there was a small grocery store. Quickly I ran in, knowing that I was running out of time and that the two would be worrying by this time.
I grabbed the necessities first; some sandwiches, a few of those lunchables things for Kaila, some apples, for fruits. "Okay, what else… Ah!" I grabbed six cans of juice. "There- I've got sandwiches for tonight, some lunchables, in case Kaila wants that, some apples for me and any one who wants, and juice." I had covered the necessities and I could relax and see what else was there.
Knowing Kaila hadn't eaten much in the past few days, I knew she would be overjoyed with some candies. But I didn't know what she would like, so I covered my bases. I grabbed those bags of candies; one of the snickers, the three musketeers, and some M&M's. She had to like one of those.
When I was done I went to the cashier and paid for everything. To my surprise, it rang up to twenty something dollars.
"Thank you," I smiled and grabbed the back of goodies. There was no room in my bag anymore so I would need to carry it the 3 blocks back. Before I left the store I checked the clock. I had… 10 minutes left! I began to run the rest of the way back. In all honesty, it really wouldn't have mattered if I walked and got there late. Jacob would probably be waiting there for me with Kaila with a very scary look on his face, filled with worry. But he wouldn't leave. He wouldn't leave with Kaila and he wouldn't leave her there alone. It was best not to make him worry though, because it would only end up worrying Kaila more, as well.
I pushed harder and soon I was close to running faster than any normal human could have. Forcing myself to slow down, I cursed. I usually didn't have to remind myself to be careful. I was slipping, letting it become more of a regular thing. I swear I don't have a clue how Bella got used to it. I laughed. I planned on seeing her when we got back to the reservation. I wanted to discuss something with her. I would leave the child on the reservation though, as much as I wanted her to meet Bella and the others, she would be too frightened.
--
I knocked on door 104. "Jake, Kaila, it's me."
The door swung open and instantly Kaila, who wrapped her arms around my waist, was throwing me off balance. Luckily I grabbed the edging of the door and kept myself straight up. "You're late," she pouted.
I smiled, laughing slightly. I was glad that she could be this happy, this carefree after what she went through. "Not by much…"
"By half an hour," Jacob chided in.
Oops. "Well I'm back, and I have some stuff for every one!"
Jacob shook his head and Kaila went over to sit next to him on the bed. I soon followed with my bag of goodies after shutting the door and locking it behind me. "Okay, so first off. I have food for us." I held up the bag of groceries. "There's some sandwiches for us, Jacob. And some lunchable things for you," I tickled Kaila in the stomach and she giggled. "And best of all," I emptied the bag out on the bed, "I bought candy." Kaila's eyes lit up the brightest I had seen them. I smiled.
I reached over to the backpack I bought and pulled out the clothes. "I also bought you some clothes, Kaila, but I didn't know what size you were, so I guessed." I pulled out the shirts and shorts and laid them out on the bed.
"Really?" she asked. "Is this for me?"
I nodded, glad that she was enjoying this. "You bet, kiddo."
"Thank you!" She engulfed me in another hug and I laughed.
"Okay, okay. Now why don't you go take these clothes and go take a shower? Tell me which one's don't fit and we'll toss them, okay?" She nodded her head. "Call for me if you need any help."
She grabbed the clothes and bounced off toward the bathroom. After she shut the door, Jacob turned to me. "What took you so long?"
"It was nothing, ended up taking longer than I expected to find her clothes. But I did get her this." I replied, pulling out the teddy bear. It was small and fluffy in my hands, and so soft.
He smiled and whispered something I didn't quite catch. I thought I heard, "You're going to make a good mother."
"Why don't we eat? Then one of us can take a shower when she's done."
We both began devouring our sandwiches.
--
Something was tugging my arm and I looked down to find Kaila. "What's up?"
"Am I really allowed to stay with you and Jacob?"
I frowned. "Of course, why wouldn't you?"
I sat down and placed her on my lap. I wrapped my arms around her waist and she stared up at me.
"The vampires… aren't they going to come after me? Won't you be in trouble? Jacob too?"
"Oh, Kaila. Don't you worry about that. We're going to take care of you. They won't hurt you. And you can live with us as long as you want."
She said nothing. Instead, she smiled and leaned her head against my chest. Oh. I reached into the backpack that sat by my side. I pulled out the bear. "I got you something special." I told her. When I showed her the doll, she screamed in joy.
"What's wrong?!" Jacob had come running out of the shower, wrapped up in a towel. Both Kaila and I laughed.
"Nothing Jake."
"She screamed," he accused.
"I gave her the doll," I laughed, but turned my head, slightly blushing. "Go back in the shower."
Jacob walked back into the bathroom, mumbling something about girls and screaming.
"Jacob's funny," Kaila announced. I nodded my head, laughing.
"He sure is."
--
When Jacob came out and I went in, he started putting Kaila to sleep. By the time that I finished she was long gone, curled up on the bed with her doll. I wrapped the towel around myself, wearing only my underwear. "Jake, give me your clothes."
"What?" he asked, stunned.
"Again, not what you think." I laughed. "I'm gonna wash your clothes and mine."
"Oh, okay," he came over and handed me his clothes, after taking them off. I swear I could see the slightest hint of pink rush to his cheeks. I giggled, earning a strange look from Jacob.
After putting the clothes in the wash, I headed out to where Jacob was and sat down next to him.
"Could you past me another sandwich?" I grabbed it from his hand and took a bite. It was pretty good, for something from a store, and I was hungry.
"So what are we going to do," he whispered.
I stared at him. "What do you mean?" I asked.
"About the child."
I thought for a moment, putting my sandwich down. I had thought about it before, but I hadn't said anything of what I thought to Jacob. "Well, I was thinking we really should take care of her and I really want to. She's… it's just that, I'm the reason she's orphaned, you know? If it weren't for me, the vampires wouldn't have killed her parents and almost her. And I know- I just know- that she'll be safe with us, Jake. She already trusts us. And I really do care for her. A lot."
Jacob reached over and grabbed my hand. "I help you take care of her."
I smiled. I liked this. I liked being with Jacob now that I had stopped trying to run. Now that I actually had time to realize that he was a really caring person. That he really cared for me. And that I really cared for him too. This really could work out in the end. I just knew it.
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Thank you again to everyone who reviewed so far:
Terra106: Yup, a child sure can! :D Thanks for reviewing, as always, my reliable reader!
Shooks: I'm really glad that you like my work! I'm going to try and make more Bella and Is communication within the next few chapters, when Is gets back on the reservation! But from what I'm planning, It should be soon. In one or two chapters. Not sure yet. But again, thank you!
And to anyone who is reading and not reviewing, thank you too! I still appreciate it A LOT!
