Chapter Fifteen: Bears, Lost Children and Shopping Trips

"You have exactly five seconds to get you lazy ass out of bed before I get the jug." 

There could only be one person in the entire world who would say something like that to me. Holly. I groaned turning around and burying my head into my pillow.

“Okay, you asked for it.” I heard, her retreating footsteps as she walked into my bathroom turning on the tap. A few moments later she returned. “Okay Alice, don’t complain saying I didn't warn you…” She said, ripping my blanket off me.

She wouldn't...Would she?

I gasped. Feeling cold water down my neck and seeping through my pajamas and down the back of my shirt. I shot up from my bed, only to have my legs tangled with my sheets landing on the floor with a big thud.

“Holly? What the fuck?” I hissed.

I hardly swear and when I did, it meant I was pissed. And I was big time.

“What? I told you not to blame me! You knew I was getting the jug!”

“I knew that! But I didn't actually think you would have the guts to actually pour cold water on me at…” I looked at the digital clock resting on my bedside. “Seven o’clock in the morning!” I growled.

She shrugged. “Alice after seventeen years of knowing me, were you really surprised that I spilled water on you? You from all people should know better than that.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Why are you here?” I said, my teeth clattering together, due to the cold water down my backside.  

“Get dressed we have to pick up Sarah then we’re heading to the mall, it was a while since our last girls night out.”

I groaned. “Do we have to? It’s the middle of the week! And If I do remember clearly we have school.”  I said, standing up and picking up the sheets that were on the floor after my fall out of bed.

“I do remember.” She retorted back at me. “I also remember that Sarah is the final round of the talent show. That means we need to get her a brand new outfit, we have to outshine that slut.” She said, referring to Ashley.

“Do we have to?” I whined, stomping my feet childishly.

Holly nodded her head. “You have ten minutes to get dressed and meet me downstairs. I am going to try to get Marco to make me some food.” She said, turning around and walking towards the door.

“Holly?” I called out, to her.

“Yes?” She said, turning around to face me before she left the room.

“There’s a little flaw in your plan. It’s a Wednesday, my parents will never let me miss a day of school considering I already missed Monday.” I told her smirking.

“I am one step ahead of you my dear cousin. I already asked your mom and she said sure, she even gave me her debit card and told me to go crazy.” She said, giving me a quick wink before sauntering out of the room.

I let out a groan. “Thanks a lot mother.” I muttered, to myself and walking into the bathroom to get out of these wet clothes.

*

“This is so good Marco.” I walked into the kitchen to the sounds of moaning.

That sounded so wrong.

My eyes scanned the dining room, where my whole family and Holly were sitting and eating. “Slow down there, you’re like a human vacuum cleaner.” I joked to Holly who in return glared at me.

The table sat eight people. I took a seat across from Holly, my mom and dad at the end of the table and Thomas sitting to the left of me.

“Your food.” A lady said, coming up from behind and me and placing a plate that had my breakfast on it which was an omelet in front of me.

I grimaced. I wasn't a big fan of eggs or vegetables, so whoever decided to pair the two together must have been on some type of drugs.

I grabbed the lady’s arm before she could go back to the kitchen. “Um, could you please get me a plate of cookies and chocolate milk?” I asked, hopefully.

The lady smiled in return, she looked to be in her mid fourties. “Sure, Miss Alice.” She said, grabbing the plate she put in front of me a few seconds ago and walked back into the kitchen.

“Cookies and milk is not breakfast.” My head snapped, to my father whose eyes were glued to the newspaper.

“It might not be breakfast, but at least it’s something that I would enjoy.” I muttered.

I looked at Holly who was eating the food on her plate like her life depended on it. “You might want to slow down there Holls.”

She glanced up at me giving me a flat look. “I am sorry, but this food is really good.” She said, her eyes glancing to Thomas and me.

Her eyes stopped at Thomas. “What?” She asked.

I looked over at Thomas; he shrugged his cheeks turning a pink tinted color.

Looks like someone has a little crush…

I smirked, it was a little gross. But, my brother hardly got out I can't really blame him. Holly looked at us in curiosity, she opened her mouth to speak but a plate of cookies and chocolate milk were placed in front of me as I ignored whatever she was going to say, shocing my version of breakfast down my throat. 

“So what are you guys planning to do at the mall?” My mother asked, wiping her mouth on the napkin, looking at me and Holly.

“You know go shopping and hang out, the usual.” Holly replied, bringing the cup of orange juice to her lips.

“You get to miss a day of school to go shopping?” Thomas spluttered, looking at us like we were insane. “That’s not fair, I want to go!” He whined, slamming his hand on the table.

“You want to go shopping?” I asked in disbelief. “Yeah, you are definitely not a normal ten year old boy.” I told him, finishing off my cookies and gulping down my cup of milk and rising from my seat.

“Have fun girls.” My mom spoke giving me a genuine smile. “I wish I could go, but your dad and I are flying to England in a couple of hours so I won’t be home when you get back. Stay safe and you, Alice are really lucky Alice that Holly convinced us not to let you guys go without any guards.” She said, looking over at Holly who was talking to one of the maids.

I nodded. “Thanks mom.” I said, walking over to her and giving her a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. “Stay safe, love you.” I told her, grabbing Holly from her chair and yanking her up.

“We have to get going. Don’t you remember we have to pick up a certain red head?” I asked her.

Her brown eyes widened in realization. “Sarah!” She yelled, quickly saying goodbye to my mom and dad not before sprinting out of the dining room. 

I let out a chuckle and looked over to my dad. “Bye dad, see you Friday.” I wanted, to at least say goodbye, even if I was still mad at him. 

He looked up from his newspaper glancing at me before looking back at the paper. “Goodbye Alice, have fun.”

I looked at him for a couple of minutes before saying one last goodbye to my mom and exiting the kitchen trying to hold back the tears that were welling up in my eyes.

I expected him to say something more than that, even an I love you, but he didn't. I might have not said it, but it didn't mean he couldn't have said it.

I walked out of the house, thanking the guards for holding the door, walking to Holly’s car were she was waiting patiently inside for me. I opened the back sear as I got in as she started up the engine and drove towards the gates.

“Why are you sitting back there?” She asked, looking at me from the review mirror.

I shrugged, “So, that way Sarah can sit in the front.” 

She nodded her head as she stopped the car waiting for the guards to open up the gates to let her through. My eyes wandered to the tourists standing on the sidewalk outside the gates and on the main road. They were taking pictures of the Whitehouse.

They were a lot of them today, probably waiting for my dad’s car to leave so they can get a picture of him before he flies out to England for the next couple of days.

Did everyone know about my parents leaving but me?

The car lurched forward as the car started moving again onto the busy streets of DC, on our way to Sarah’s house and then a dreadful girl’s night out at the mall.

*                                                                        

“No.” I said, for the fifth time.

Holly and Sarah looked at me with puppy dog eyes. “Please, Ali.” Holly begged, grabbing my arm. “We use to come to Build-A-Bear all the time when we were younger; you love this shop!”

“Come one Ali.” Sarah spoke up, grabbing my other arm. “We will be in there for five minutes the latest and after that we promise we will go somewhere you want to go.”

“Fine.” I huffed, giving in. The girls let out a squeal running into the shop like they were five again. “Children.” I muttered, to myself following the girls into the store.

My arms felt like they were about to fall off due to all the shopping bags I was carrying. It wasn't only my arms that felt like they were about to fall off but also my feet due to all the walking we've done.

Holly and Sarah dragged me to every store known to man. They also made me try on a bunch of clothes, to be honest I thought this whole thing was a waste of time considering I already have enough clothes in my closet to last me a very long time.  

I walked into the shop, the sounds of children screaming and the feet hitting the floor as they ran around the store in search of the things they need to build there bear. I chuckled, at the memory of how my dad and I use to come here all the time when I was younger.

My eyes scanned the shop for Holly and Sarah. I let out a sigh in relief as I saw them at the stuffing station excitement clear in there eyes. I began to walk over there when a lady stepped in front of me.

“Let me guess you lost your child?” The lady spoke.

She looked in her mid twenties, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun on the top of her head. Her blue eyes looked at me in annoyance.  I looked over at her name tag, it read her name. Hazel.

“Excuse me Ms?” She asked interrupting me from my thoughts.

“Sorry.” 

She just nodded in return. “So Miss how does your child look? Age? Name? Hair color? Anything that can give us a clue to find him or her. “

I looked at Hazel in bewilderment. “I am not looking for my child! I don’t even have one, I am seventeen for the love of God!”

Hazel shrugged in return. “Sorry, it’s just that so many teenage girls are becoming teenage moms I thought that could be the only reason your in here.” She said, truthfully.

I gave her a look in disbelief. “I am not a mother.”

“Hey! I don’t get paid to judge just to help!” She said, waving her hands up in surrender and began to walk away.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. I can’t believe she thought I was a mother! Just because someone is in a store that is targeted to kids and not teenagers doesn't mean that they have a kid.

I walked over to Holly and Sarah who were now at the dress up station. “Where have you been?” Sarah asked, looking over at me.

“I've been around.”

Holly looked at me with a questioning gaze. “Are you going to build a bear?” 

I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

“Well you should, make a memory just like you should build a bear.” She said, chuckling at her version of a joke.

I looked around the store, children running around with a new found teddy bear in there hands. I turned back at Holly and Sarah. “You know what maybe I will build a bear.” I told them.

Sarah chuckled trying to put on a red dress on her bear. “Good for you!”

I smiled dropping the bags that I had onto the floor, knowing that they are going to be at the dress up station for a while considering Sarah is having a hard time putting clothes on her bear. Turning around and walking over to wear the bears were laid out for the children. I picked up one of the bears and made my way over to the stuffing machine.

I took the tube that held the stuffing and placed it into my teddy bear. Turning on the switch causing stuffing to blow into my flat teddy bear.

Once it looked stuffed enough I turned off the stuffing machine and was closing the zipper at the back of the bear where it held the stuffing. I was closing up the zipper when I felt someone ram into my legs. I looked down and saw a blue eyed little boy holding a flat teddy bear.

“Sorry.” The boy said looking up at me.

I nodded my head squatting down to his level. “It’s okay.” I told the boy smiling at him, he looked so familiar. “Where are your mom and dad?” I asked him.

“My brother said I shouldn't talk to strangers.” He spoke clutching his flat bear.

“Oh, where is your brother?” I asked him.

The boy shrugged in return.

“Okay, how about we fill your bear with stuffing then we go and look for your brother? How does that sound?” I asked the boy.

He nodded his head enthusiastically. He then held out his flat bear to me, I took it from his hands and walked back over to the stuffing machine switching it on as it began to blow stuffing into the little boys bear.

A few minutes later once it was done, I gave it to the little boy who was patiently waiting behind me his big blue eyes staring at the stuffing machine in wonder.

“Thank you.” The boy said, smiling at me.

“Your welcome, now let’s go find you brother.” I said, holding my hand out for him.

He grabbed my hand and I began to pull him towards the entrance of the store. Now I understand why Hazel asked if I lost my child, who knew so many children got lost in a build-a-bear workshop?

“Garrett?” A voice said, in relief.

I turned around and came face to face with Gavin.

What’s he doing here?

I felt the little boys hand let go of mine’s as he ran over to Gavin. No wonder he looked so familiar, he was basically an exact copy of Gavin except for the eyes. Gavin had brown eyes while Garrett had blue.

Wow I feel pretty stupid! I remember meeting Garrett at the park, but the only difference was that he had a cast.

He must’ve gotten his cast removed.

I smiled at the siblings.  I watched as Gavin picked up Garrett hugging him to his chest. Gavin really loved his brother, he must have been worried, once he realized Garrett was gone missing.

“I turn around for one second and you’re gone! I thought I told you to stay put?” Gavin asked, his little brother.

“Sorry.” Garrett said, paying no attention to Gavin and staring at his bear in awe.

I laughed at the sight of the two. Gavin’s eyes snapped towards me, his eyes held fury but when my eyes drifted to Garrett then back to him. Gavin’s eyes suddenly softened looking at me in gratitude.

“Thanks for finding him and stuff.” Gavin said, his eyes casting towards the ground.

“You suck at showing thanks to people you know that?” I asked, the bad boy.

“You should be lucky I even said thanks.” Gavin retorted, placing Garrett onto the floor and back on his feet.

“You should be lucky I am the one who found Garrett in the first place!” I told him, pointing at the kid.

“Whatever.” He shrugged, grabbing his little brothers’ hand so he wouldn’t run away again.

“So what are you doing here in the first place?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that? I thought I was pretty obvious why I was in here?” He said, tilting his head to Garrett.

I shrugged. “It’s not my place to judge, after all maybe you wanted to make yourself a teddy bear for you to cuddle with but didn’t want to be caught in a build-a-bear workshop so you brought a little kid with you so no one would question it.”

Gavin raised his eyebrows at me, and then spoke. “Trust me that is not the case. So why are you here? Making yourself a teddy?”

I nodded my head. “Actually I am.”

Gavin knitted his eyebrows in confusion. “I was just teasing but alright.”

I opened up my mouth to speak but Garrett cut me off. “I remember you! You are the girl who we met at the park! You are the one who caught Kingston!” The little boy said, looking up at me.

I nodded my head smiling at the kid. “You remember!”

He nodded his head, vigorously. “Yeah, are you Gavy’s girlfriend? Because you’re pretty.”

I blushed turning my head. “U-um, no.” I said, stuttering slightly. “I am not Gavin’s girlfriend.”

“Oh, well you should be! Your nice not like Gavin’s other friends that I meet. There mean and all they do is try to kiss him. The little boy said scrunching up his face in distaste. "Sometimes, I think they are trying to eat his face off." 

I let out a snort, looking at Gavin who was now glaring at his little brother. “Oh, look at that your brother has better taste than you!” I said, laughing.

Gavin glared at me. I smirked at him in return, sticking my tongue out at him. “Real mature.” He said, rubbing his fading back eye.

I stared at his back eye. How he told me his dad punched him and when Garrett told me his dad pushed him down the stairs that caused him to get a cast.

There dad abuses them. He had too, there was no way that Gavin's cut up fcae, and Garrett's broken arm was from play fighting. Besides, Gavin was way too old for that. 

I shook my head, not wanting to even think about that. His dad can’t abuse them Gavin is big and had muscles. But, his father, however had to be much bigger than him. 

I looked back at Gavin who was looking at me, well more like studying me. “What?” I asked him, feeling self conscious of how he was staring at me.

He shook his head, like he was coming out of some sort of trance. “Nothing.” He replied.

I shrugged in return, “Well I better get going.” 

“Yeah, me too.” He said, still staring at me weirdly.

“Um, Gavin?” I spoke, realizing something.

“Yeah?” He asked, slowly.

“I don’t want to alarm you or anything, but where’s Garrett?” I asked, looking at the empty spot which once stood a bright eyed, four year old little boy.

Gavin looked beside him and quickly turned around, his eyes scanning for his little brother, he turned to me his eyes widening in realization. “Shit.”

*****

Hello Lovelies,

Merry Christmas to all that celebrate it! This is an extra long chapter as a present to you all, lovely fans! And as a gift to me can we please get me 100 comments and 400 votes? I really want to reach 1000 comments on this whole book before new years! So pretty please with a cherry on top? Also thanks for the 5k votes on this book and for getting me to #51 in humor and #80 in teen fiction!

Also please check out my new short story the sound of music, I can pretty much guarantee you won’t regret it! Or well I hope you wont. it should be completed by the end of March. Also for my other book (keeping me on my toes) I decided to set a release date and that is February of 2014 so everyone who has been waiting for that just please wait a little longer? Ps: it is also pre written the first couple of chapters...

To win a dedication tell me the best gift you’ve received for Christmas and if you don’t celebrate Christmas the best gift you’ve ever received!

This is dedicated to @BrittanyCraft her favorite sport is volleyball she also plays for her school, and considering the team at my school stinks, maybe we can bring her here so she can help my school?... 

Picture on the side of Alice or Ali as Nina Dobrev

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Xoxo_mysteriousgirl