Chapter Eight-The Mall Scare

~Caleb Mason~

I thought this would have been a good idea, getting to spend time with her, getting to know her. I was doing good so far, in my opinion. Until Teresa went and pulled her away from me.

'You'll thank me later. Trust me.' Teresa mentally told me. How was she so sure? I sighed and followed. I would have a chance to talk with her later, after I dropped Teresa at home.

I fell back a bit, letting them talk and giggle about things I didn't even want to think about. Girl-talk was not something I really wanted to join in on. Especially no with my sister. They always brought up the weirdest topics.

I kept my distance for another reason. Even though I learned how to control my…talent over the years, it still had its weak points. I learned how to close my mind out. How to keep my mind from wondering into someone else's. But even then it was not really strong. In a crowded place, like the mall I now walked through, with so many minds so close together, it still gave me headache. I couldn't hear what other people were thinking but I could still feel some of their thoughts.

I leaned on the railing in the hall that overlooked the floor below as they both wondered into different stores. Every store they came out from, Teresa had at least three bags. By the time we reached the fifth store in the three hours we spent in the mall, Teresa had passed me her twenty-something bag. I lost count after the fifteenth. But Anya only carried three.

I smiled gently to Anya as Teresa handed me yet another bag. "Do you want me to take your bags for you? I really wouldn't mind."

She shook her head and just smiled at me, making my stomach flip. "I'm fine, thanks. I can carry them." She turned around and followed Teresa down the hall. I sighed and followed too. Something told me this was going to be a long day.

I just followed them, I really wasn't paying attention, as to where we were going. I didn't look up at them until I bumped into Anya. I looked up at her, "Sorry…" Then looked to where she gazed blindly. We now stood in front of Victoria's Secret.

"I am not going in there." Anya took a step back. "There is nothing in there I need."

"Oh come one. I bet we can find you something." Teresa grabbed Anya by the arm and gently led her towards the entrance.

"Really, I dint need anything from here."

"Tess, leave her. If she doesn't want to go in, don't force her to." Anya looked back at me with a smile as Tess let her go. She mouthed her thanks to me and I just smiled back.

"Stay out of this, Caleb."

I looked up Teresa surprised. And then my surprise turned to slight fear. She glared at me evilly, and hard. She was really pissed at me.

"Why?" I simply asked her. I opened my mind to her, trying to listen to her thoughts.

'I told you you would thank me later. I think her going in there will work out for both of you later.' She mentally told me.

I just shook my head. Was she crazy? Did she really think that I would see Anya in anything she could, or would buy from that store? Although, I wouldn't mind seeing some of that stuff on her.

'Just trust me.'

I sighed and stepped back, giving in. Anya looked at me worried as Teresa, with a smile of victory clear across her face, grabbed Anya's arm and begun to lead Anya into the store. It was as if Anya's eyes were begging me to get her away from Teresa. But I didn't. I couldn't. I walked over to the railing and leaning against it, putting the bags I carried on the floor by my feet. And I just waited there, looking down at the floor.

I was tempted to look into Teresa's mind, to try to see what she would be talking Anya into buy, but I didn't. Mainly because I knew that Teresa would be attempting to block me in case in did just that. But also because I couldn't do that to Anya. She was uncomfortable as it was in that store and I didn't want to make things worse.

I wasn't leaning there long before a saw a pair of feet stop in front of me. I looked up, expecting to see Anya standing in front of me. But I was very wrong.

"Hello." A girl, one I didn't even know, smiled kindly at me.

I smiled back, opening my mind a bit to read her's. "Hey." But of course, I was not surprised at what I found.

'He is so gorgeous. His eyes, his body. How could someone like this be here alone? Maybe I can get him to go out with me.'

I chuckled softly. That's pretty much what every girl though of me. Well, more or less.

She held her hand out to me. "I am Cindy."

I took her hand in mine, shaking it gently. "Nice to meet you Cindy. I am Caleb. Is there anything I could do for you?"

'Yea. You could say yes to going out with me.'

"Are you here with anyone?"

"I am." I let her hand go and motioned towards the bags piled at my feet. "I am here with my sister and…"

"His girlfriend." Teresa cut me off as she and Anya walked out of the store.

I was caught off guard by two things then. By what Teresa said when she walked out of the store. My girlfriend? And then by what Anya did.

She walked over to, a smile on her face, her cheeks turning lightly pink. She walked up to me, placed her left hand on my chest and, very gently, kissed my cheek, taking my hand in hers and interlocking our fingers. She then turned and looked at Cindy, who I had forgotten was standing there. "Oh. I'm sorry. Where you two talking?"

Cindy stood just as stunned as I was. She slowly shook her head. 'I can't believe that someone as gorgeous as him would be with someone like her.' She thought the last word with hatred. "No." With that she turned and walked away. I looked down at Anya, still confused and shocked. Did that just really happen?

"Anya…" I begun, but she cut me off.

"Sorry about that." She spoke very softly, very low, her head down. She wanted only me to hear what she said. I knew that with the noise in the mall, it would be hard for Teresa to hear Anya. "I hope I didn't offend you by doing that. Teresa talked me into it. And when I saw her flirting with you, I couldn't help it. Sorry."

I chuckled softly. I lifted her hand, which was still interlocked with mine, and very gently kissed the back of it. She looked up at me surprised, her eyes wide. I leaned close to her and whispered softly into her ear. "Don't be sorry. You did not offend me. I found that very enjoyable and highly amusing."

She smiled at me as I dropped our hands, releasing hers, and picked up Teresa's bags, which now consisted of two new ones. I looked up to see where Teresa was going to wonder into next. Anya was walking behind her, probably talking about the little event that just went on. But she would glance back at me as I followed them every few seconds, a smile on her face. I couldn't help but smile back. Her one kiss, even if it was meant to make some jealous, made my day so perfect.

I followed them down the hall to old navy. Again I waited in the hall as they wondered inside. I glanced down at my watch and was glad that Anya had decided to join us. It was almost four. If I had come with Teresa alone, we would be here for hours. My plans to meet Anya at three would have been ruined. But now that she walked through the mall with us, I didn't mind how long we spent her.

It wasn't long before they came out. Teresa handed me her bag. Just the one this time. Anya still held onto hers. But there was something different about her. She didn't seem as cheerful as she laughed with Teresa. Her laughs and her smile seemed almost forced.

We reached a small cart that was selling earrings and necklaces. Anya fell back as Teresa pushed towards the cart. Anya leaned back against the wall and held her head low. Something was wrong.

"Anya?" I walked up to her slowly. She looked up at me, her smile forced, her eyes dark. "Are you alright?"

"Yea." Even her voice didn't sound right. It sounded more harsh, more scratchy. Like she was sick.

"Are you sure?" I knew something was wrong but I couldn't figure out what. And when she nodded to me, I figured she wasn't going to tell me. I sighed and turned back to Teresa, who was now staring at us. If she didn't want to tell me, I was not going to force her. As soon I looked at Teresa, her face turned to horror. I looked where she looked, turning back to Anya.

Anya's head fell back, her eyes rolling back into her head. Her body became limp and begun to fall to the ground. Her bags slipped from her fingers to the floor as I reached out for her, dropping Teresa's bags. I grabbed her before she could hit the floor. I lifted her in my arms as Teresa appeared next to me, her bags in her hands. She even picked up Anya's.

"Is she ok?" Teresa looked up at me then down at Anya, unconscious in my arms. "I didn't see this happening. I would have told you if I did." She was really worried and felt really bad.

"Don't worry, Tess. Just get her some water." I turned and walked a few feet to a bench to sit. Not once did I look away from Anya. Was she ok? Was there something really wrong with her? Maybe I should take her to see Rachel.

Teresa came back just as I sat on the bench, laying Anya in my lap. She held a bottle of water out to me, the cap already loosened. I took it from her. "Can you take the bags to the car?"

Teresa just nodded then left, heading down the hall, back to the parking lot. She didn't need my key. Each of us had a copy of everyone else's car keys. Just in case if we ever wanted to drive someone else's car.

I removed the cap completely and held it to her lips, tipping it slightly. But her lips were pressed together. I took a deep breath and brought the bottle to my lips. This was my only other option. I took a mouthful of the water, brought my lips to hers, and forced the water into her mouth. I kept my lips pressed against hers to make sure she swallowed the water. She did. I pulled away from her as her eyes slowly flickered open. I sighed deeply with relief. She would be fine.

She looked up at me, a weak smile on her face. But this time it was real. "I'm sorry." She whispered softly.

I shook my head. "Don't be sorry. I am not mad at you. Although, you did have me worried." I smiled softly at her as I helped her sit up on my lap, handing her the bottle of water. "I couldn't get you to drink the water on your own. I had to force it into your mouth."

She clearly understood. Her cheeks turned bright and she looked away from me, down at the bottle. "Sorry."

I laughed softly. "Don't be. Besides, seeing your cheeks that color means that you are fine now."

She smiled slightly as Teresa reappeared. "Are you ok?"

"Yea, thanks." I held my arms loosely around her waist as she drank some of the water on her own. "I guess I passed out."

"Come on." Teresa held her hand out to Anya. We both looked up confused. "Let's get you something to eat." Of course!

Anya nodded and took hold of Teresa's hand. I let her go but my hands hovered close to her, in case she fell again. But her legs seemed stable now, too.

"Um…where are my bags?" Anya looked around. Clearly she had not fully recovered. When she looked around for her bags, her body begun to sway slightly. I grabbed her waist again, keeping her from falling. She stood in my grip for a few seconds before looking back at me. "I'm fine now." Again, I slowly let her go.

"Your bags are in the car, dear." Teresa smiled, holding onto Anya's arm lightly. "Come on. You need food." Teresa led the way, not once letting go of Anya's arm, to the food court. It wasn't far from where we were, but we moved slowly. We were both afraid that if we went too quickly, Anya would pass out again.

We walked into the crowded food court, and I winched slight. Teresa looked back at me. "Do you want to get the car ready?"

She knew that I was reacting to the number of minds that surrounded me now. If I didn't have a headache before, I would now. I shook my head, both to answer Teresa's question and to clear my head.

"Ok." She turned back to Anya. "What do you want to eat?"

Anya didn't look around. She didn't even look up. She kept her eyes on the ground. "I don't care, really."

"Ok. Caleb, take her to sit down. I will get her something to eat."

I took hold of Anya's free hand, intertwining her fingers with mine and I watched her other hand reach into her back pocket. She was going for her money. I grabbed her other hand in mine, making her look up at me. Her eyes were still not the same. "Don't worry about it. Tess and I will take of you."

She didn't respond, only nodded. Teresa drifted off into the crowd and I led Anya to the first clear table I could find. I pulled the chair out for her and helped her sit. I sat in the chair beside her, not letting her hand.

"I am sorry. I am ruining your day." She spoke softly.

I gently put my hand under her chin and turned her face to me. "You are not ruining my day. I am happy just spending time with you, getting to know you. And I really don't think you are ruining Tess's day either. You do not need to be sorry."

She just smiled weakly at me as Teresa reappeared, sliding a try of food on the table. But she didn't sit. "Caleb. Can I talk to you?"

I looked up confused. As did Anya. Teresa had something to tell me that she didn't want Anya to know about? It must be serious. I nodded slowly then turned back to Anya. "Eat. I will be right back."

"We will be right back." Teresa smiled, correcting me.

I rose from the table and followed Teresa out of the food court and into a less crowded hall. She stopped suddenly and turned to me. "Caleb, are you sure she is ok?" Teresa was clearly worried about Anya. It wasn't just in her voice, or her words. It was clear on her face too.

I shrugged. "I don't no. I think she passed out from hunger. When she eats, she'll be fine." Teresa sighed. I had a feeling that was not why she brought me out here. "What did you want to talk about Tess?"

She looked up at me. "Anya's birthday is in a few weeks. Are you going to get her something?"

I was caught off guard by that. "I don't know when her birthday is. So how can I get her something? Besides, I don't know what she likes."

Teresa just smiled. "Don't worry. I will help with that part. You see, while we were in one of the stores, we passed the jewelry. One piece caught her eye. It was so pretty." She giggled softly. She was not going to make this easy for me. So I just opened my mind to read hers.

I saw what she saw. It was a gold chained necklace with two hearts intertwined. One was gold and the other was silver. I smiled slightly. It was pretty.

"Fine. I will get her that." I didn't need to explain to Teresa what I meant. She knew. She giggles again and headed back into the food court.

"Better hurry. I think there was only one left." She called back to me. "We will meet you at the car."

I sighed and turned around. I figured it would be a really good gift for her. I walked back down the hall to the third store they had wondered into in the beginning. I didn't even look at the name as I walked in. nor did I look around as I headed towards the jewelry.

I walked up to the counter and looked at the necklaces I saw there. It wasn't there.

"May I help you, sir?"

I looked up. One of the store's workers stood on the other side of the counter, smiling at me. I figured her smile was more than professional. I closed my mind to her before I was able to read her. "I am looking for a necklace. A gold chain with two intertwining hearts. One silver and one gold."

She smiled at me still as she pulled a small blue box from under the counter and handed it to me. "Last one in stock. Its $2,500."

I didn't even bother to look at her. I picked up the box, placed the lid over it, and handed her my credit card. She swiped it and gave it back to me, still smiling. "Would you like a bag for that, sir?" I slid my credit card back into my pocket, shook my head then turned and walked out, before she could say anything to me. Anya is really going to love this.

I walked back out into the hall and towards the doors that led to the parking lot. As soon as I walked out the doors, I saw Teresa standing beside the back door. She had her arms crossed over her chest, and she a look on her face that was a cross between anger and worry. "Why did you close off? You didn't hear me calling you. Anya is sick. She needs to see Rachel now."

I didn't even tell her to move as I rushed to the door and ripped it open. She knew what I was doing and she stepped aside. Anya laid across the back seat. I closed the door and, with Teresa right behind me, went to the other side of the car.

"Tess, drive." I opened the door and climbed in, picking up Anya's head and resting it on my lap as I closed the door. Teresa did as she was told. The car was already running. So when she got in and closed the door, she just pulled away.

I gently caressed Anya's cheek, running my fingers through her hair. I never once looked away from her. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I got back to the table and she had her head laying against it. She didn't look too good then. So I brought her out to the car. I tried telling you, but you closed yourself off. And you left your phone here in the car."

Teresa passed my phone back to me. I took it without looking away from Anya. I flipped it open and dialed quickly, putting the phone to my ear. "Rachel, Tess and I are heading home….Anya is with us….No, she is unconscious….She is sick….No, Tess found her….She passed out earlier and now she is sick. She is really warm and sweating….No, she is not responding to my touch….Ok, we will be there soon. Oh, and make sure everyone is out."

I closed the phone and leaned closely to her ear. "Anya. Can you hear me?" A soft moan came from her lips. I sighed softly with relief. "We are taking you to see Rachel. Everything will be fine." She moaned softly again.

For the first time since I got into the car, I looked up, away from Anya. We were pulling up to the front of the house. I think Teresa drives faster than me. As soon as she stopped the car, before she could even turn it off, I opened the back door and pulled Anya out. I lifted her in my arms and quickly made my way up into the house.

"Tess, stay out here with the others." Teresa said nothing, but stood by the car. I went in quickly, to the far back, into the kitchen. The wooden table there was cleared off and Rachel had her back to me, washing her hands. I laid Anya on the table.

"Caleb. Go outside with the others, I will take care of her." She turned back to me, a needle in her hand.

"No. I will not leave her." I stood beside Anya. She needed help right now, and there was no way I was going to leave her. Not now.

"You will not be able to handle it. I will be giving her needles and an IV."

"I will not leave her."

Anya shifted slightly beside me, her hand brushing slightly against mine. I looked down at her she her eyes opened very slightly. "Ca…leb?"

I knelt beside her, taking her hand in mine. "I am right here. I am not going anywhere." I said it loud enough for not only she could hear, but so Rachel could hear too.

Rachel sighed and passed me a wet cloth. "Fine. Wipe her forehead. Try to keep her head cool." I took the rag and passed it over her forehead. She closed her eyes again. "When I tell you to, hold your breath. If you need to breath, put the cloth over your mouth and nose." I only nodded.

Rachel walked closer to Anya, making sure the needle was not clogged, then grabbed Anya's arm, putting the needle close. "Now!"

I took a deep breath and held it as Rachel pushed the needle into Anya skin. Anya twitched slightly. I rested my forehead against her's and whispered softly to her as Rachel went about the room, doing what she had to. "I am right here. I am not going anywhere. I will not let you go this time." I hope she can hear me.