My heart was pounding in my ears as my fingers curled around jewelry.

Butterflies unleashed their wrath in my gut and I gave one dry heave.

There was no way I was vomiting in the middle of the store.

I still couldn't believe that Craig had convinced me to do this.

After a few cigarettes and a lot of whining and soft touches, he managed to shove me into Spencers. Which conveniently only had one camera, located in the t-shirt section.

He promised it would be the last store we visited, although we had already been here for 40 minutes.

The bright strobe lights inside flashed neon shapes on the merchandise littered walls, and loud poppy music rung through the air and shook rhythm through my bones.

I brought my arm up, faking scratching my head so that the items slid down from my wrist to my elbow. I would have more room that way.

"Craig-GAH!" I yelled, frantically looking around for him. I heard a grunt come from the corner of the store, so I scurried over as fast I could. My arms crossed so the items wouldn't fall out.

I blushed when I found him eyeballing the multi-color dildos.

"Why-Why are you looking at those? Do you h-have a-HNNRGH- girlfriend? Oh sweet jesus- YOU DO! Or would it be for YOURSELF?"

He scoffed, picking one up and reading the description on the back. "It's for my sister." He sneered sarcastically.

I didn't know how to respond to that, so instead I grabbed one and crammed it into my bag as fast as I could.

"C-Can we please just go?" I pleaded.

I watched as he rolled his milky blue eyes and began exiting the store. I dry heaved again as we went through the beeper.

He looked angry at me.

Before I could apologize for whining, a large man took a step in front of me. The sudden darkness of the shadow startled me, so naturally I screamed, pulling on my hair so hard a few strands of gold fell out and floated the the shiny floor.

When I looked up, my face met a security guards.

I think my heart stopped.

"Excuse me sir, I'm going to need to ask you to leave."

My fingers curled around my bag filled with stolen merchandise, I shook harder while sweat dripped down my face.

I could feel panic uncurling in my chest, growing roots in my body.

"We can't have anyone intoxicated in the mall, it's policy. You're frightening the customers."

Intoxicated? He thought I was drunk? or high?

"F-Frightening cu-cu-customers?" I parroted nervously.

My hand was suddenly warm and I looked down vaguely to see Craigs hand in mine. A sign he wasn't going to run off, and that he was going to stand by my side through this.

He squeezed.

"Yes." Confirmed the security, stroking his brown mustache thoughtfully. "A mother informed an Old Navy employee a while ago… Said you where screaming and jerking about…Freaked her kid out I guess…You underaged?"

I could feel my eyes tear up and slowly the officers face warped around, melding his colors together. Warm water dripped down my cheeks.

I was so fucked up that I scared a child? Just standing around? I mean I knew I was messed up, but come on. If I didn't hate myself before, I definitely did now.

I looked over at Craig, hoping that he would help. He did.

"Sir, I hope you fucking know how much of a dick you're being."

Well….. That's actually not helpful at all.

I glanced over and saw a women with her child. They gazed at me.

I could tell she was the one, with her disapproving glare and all.

"He has ADD, he can't help it."

That was only half true, I don't have ADD.

But I couldn't get offended, considering I never bothered to tell craig about my schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and anorexia. All the other things that made me a special little snowflake.

The mother gasped and I heard her child mimic "ADD!" with excitement.

She strutted over to me and I flinched, head twitching so hard I could hear my neck bone crack.

"We can't have people like him in the store!" She demanded, stomping her foot. "His disability makes customers uncomfortable, make him leave this instant!"

The little girl stared at me. "ADD!" She cheered.

"Well I could get sued." The security noted. "And it doesn't seem like the right thing to do…."

The little girl was getting closer, I was starting to feel overwhelmed. The air was suddenly so heavy, my shoulders sagged. The walls began turning, the building spinning around like a fun house.

Except this wasn't fun at all.

"ADD!"

"Get that retarded kid out of the store! How am I supposed to feel safe with him screaming about like a mad man?"

"Hey, don't fucking call him retarded, bitch."

"Did you just flip me off, young man?!"

"No."

"Yes you did, you-hey! see there, you did it again!"

"No I didn't…..Bitch…"

"ADD! ADD! ADD!"

"'Excuse me, folks. I'm about to kick you all out of the store."

I gagged, before doubling over and puking, all over the mothers red pumped boots.

She shrieked in disgust, and in an attempt to step away she lost her footing and slipped right into my vomit.

I covered my mouth and took the opportunity to run out of the mall, spitting occasionally as I sprinted outside.

I could hear Craig panting behind me, struggling to keep up.

"GO AWAY CRAIG!" I yelled, I want out.

I want out.

"I WANT OUT!"

He tackled me, and my bare knees dug into gravel. I made sure that my head hit the ground first, and I moaned at the loud crack noise it made when the impact happened.

That's what I needed, the pain was bringing me back.

I slumped, relaxing under Craigs weight.

"Tweek…" He groaned and I shuddered, not making any move to crawl away. "Did you hit your head."

I tried to say yes but all that came out was a strangled gurgle.

"I don't need to take you to the hospital, do I?"

"Nghh….No….."

"Let's…..Let's take you home."