"Why are we at the mall dad? It's a bit out of the blue" Aslan asked Genma as they walked around the mall. "Is it? Let's think. What changed?" Genma replied, slowing his pace to where he could look his son in the eyes. "The only thing is that I moved- OH. It's for me" Aslan replied and Genma thought it was precious that Aslan's cheeks were a little flushed and that he sped up his pace causing him to chuckle at the teen.
"It is. I thought it might be a chance for us to get to know each other better" Genma explained, easily keeping up with Aslan's pace. Aslan nodded in response as he processed it. He thought it was nice of his dad to do this but also he wondered if there was a reason behind it other than that. "I can hear your brain thinking Aslan. I don't have any other motive. I just want to make sure you're comfortable and are able to express yourself" Genma replied and Aslan was stunned. Genma watched as Aslan processed what he said and he was a little concerned when he saw tears from the teen's eyes.
"Aslan?" Genma said not touching the boy as he didn't want to touch him without consent because Genma knew what that was like to have unwanted touches. "I'm okay. It's just I've never had people who's ever cared about what I want. It's a bit surprising and was a little overwhelming for me" Aslan replied, looking at Genma who gave a gentle smile.
Aslan POV:
"Thank you Aslan" my dad said and I was confused. What was he thanking me for? "Thank you for allowing me to be one of the people in your life to care about you" he explained and I chanted to myself to not cry for who knows how many times I have cried today.
"You're welcome. Can we go look in there?" I replied quickly changing the subject as I pointed to the Hot Topic that was a few feet away. "Yeah we can. Haven't been in one of those since I was 16? Kinda miss it" my dad answered amused at my antics. I shook my head hearing him chuckle as we walked into the store.
The worker who was upfront checking someone out at the register welcomed us into the store as I walked over to look around. I browsed through some clothes and then went over to the posters so I could see what ideas I would get to decorate my room. I looked around briefly and found my dad looking at some earrings. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing he hadn't disappeared and turned to look back at the posters when I bumped into someone who was holding a stack of T-shirts. "Oh fuck! Shit I'm so sorry" I said as I got on my knees to help pick up the scattered shirts. "It's fine. Annoying but it was an accident. Helps my shift go by a little faster" the person replied kneeling down and that's when I realized it was the worker who was upfront when me and dad first walked in.
I looked up at him as he looked up and we locked eyes. He was a little taller than me. He had brown eyes and black hair. I knew his hair had to be at least shoulder length or a little longer by the way his hair was put up. He had piercings in both ears, wearing a black shirt under a green mesh top with black jeans and had a tattoo on the inside of his wrist though I couldn't make it out.
"Yo. Can I get the shirts you have in your hand?" He asked and I snapped out the trance I was in noticing his hand that was out waiting for the shirts in mine. "Oh! Yes, sorry" I replied, feeling my cheeks burn. "You're fine," the guy replied as he stood up with such grace. "Here" he said, looking at me as I was still on my knees, holding a hand out to help me up. "Thanks" I replied, taking his hand as he pulled me up, knowing my dad was killing himself laughing if he was watching all this go down.
"No problem. I noticed you were looking at posters. Were you looking for anything specific?" He asked and I shrugged to keep myself from staring at the attractive guy. "I'm just trying to figure out how to decorate my room. I just moved here" I replied, twisting the hair that was in my face from my messy ponytail.
"Hmm, Interesting. Well what are some things that catch your eye or that you like?" The guy said, placing his free hand on his hip as his other had the shirts tucked under his arm. "I love astrology. Particularly I like to learn about constellations" I replied as that was the first thing to come to mind.
"Constellations and astrology? We have some things here but I know of a place that isn't too far from here if you would like me to point you in the right direction" the guy replied, moving his free hand to scratch the back of his head. "Sure. That would be awesome!" I replied smiling.
I listened carefully as the guy explained how to get the store he mentioned and told me what the name of the store was. "Aslan?" I heard and turned to see my dad with a few bags of stuff and I was looking at his bags trying to figure out where he went while I was here.
"I went to pick up some other stuff for you while you were still browsing around and I came back to see if you were still here and I can see that you are" he explained looking over to the guy next to me and then at me.
I was looking at him begging him not to say anything else. He didn't and I was glad. "Yep. I have one more stop and then we can go get food?" I suggested as I walked over to him to grab a few of the bags in his hands. "Sounds good to me" dad replied walking off towards the entrance.
"Thanks again for the help" I said as I turned around but frowned as I didn't see the guy. I wondered where he went but shrugged and followed my dad.
'I didn't even get his name' I thought as I explained the directions the guy gave me to my dad so we could make our last stop before going to get something to eat.