Splat! Splat!

I feel something dripping on me, wet rain. Oh Crap, we had both fallen asleep on the roof and now it's raining. He jerks up about the same time as I do and starts yelling, "Seriously, rain!"

We both stand and I happen to slip on the shingles because I didn't realize they would be so slippery, Hayden reaches out and grabs me by the arm to catch me from falling. As I struggle with my balance, he holds on tightly and then he helps me walk over to my window. He makes sure that I am in all the way before going back to his window.

I hurry up and shut the window, then start to peel off my wet clothes. I hate the feeling of the clothes clinging to my skin. Once off, I replace them with a warm pair of sweat pants and a Hoodie. I feel better already. I use one of my shirts to dry off my hair. I try to dry it out as much as possible so that when I go downstairs the Shaw's won't be asking why I looked so drenched.

When I make in downstairs to the kitchen everyone is already sitting at the table eating, even Hayden. He has on dry clothes as well and his hair looks like a wet mop. He has a shit-eating grin on his face, like ha-ha caught you kinda look. I just hope the Shaw's don't start asking questions.

Mrs. Shaw hands me an empty plate. I scoop up a spoonful of eggs, grab two slices of bacon and fork up two pancakes to put on my plate before taking a seat at the table.

Hey a girl is gotta eat and it's a proven fact that breakfast in one of the most important meals of the day. So cut me some slack, besides apparently I need a little more meat on my bones by the way Mrs. Shaw is always talking to me.

I am taking a bite of the crispy bacon when Mr. Shaw asks, "Would you like orange juice or milk?"

It's such a hard decision to make; I contemplate for a few seconds and then decide. "Juice is fine, thank you."

"So we were just talking and Star what do you think about going to the store today?" asks Mrs. Shaw.

"Why? I mean sure I will go with you, but I really don't need anything." I wasn't  lying, I didn't  need anything. They have already spent enough  money on me since I have been here.

She looks over at Hayden and they exchange looks, then she says, " Star, we heard that your brother is having a birthday tomorrow, we thought maybe you would like to get him a little something."

I quickly look at Hayden and narrow my eyebrows, really he told her about my brother. That was just between us.  "I really don't have any money and besides I wouldn't know what to buy him anyway. And even if I did how would I give it to him?"

"Well, I guess I'll have to call Mr. Dawson see what he can do for us. We will work it all out."

All of a sudden get super excited. I mean can she really make this happen.  "Really you would do that for me."

"Of course Sweetheart, it's your brother's special day and we can't let him go without some kind of celebration or presents." She smiles and pats me on my shoulder.

I actually smile ear to ear. My eyes water up a little and it shocks me that they don't escape. I glance over at Hayden and mouth, "Thank you!"

I watch as he mouths back, "You're Welcome!"

After breakfast,  Mrs. Shaw takes Hayden and me to the local Wal-Mart. We go straight to the toy section and I scan the aisles full of so many options. Hayden acts like a big kid, picking up and playing with all the toys.

"So what does River like to play with?" he asks while pushing buttons on a dinosaur.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. I have no freakin' clue. We really didn't have toys, well new toys growing up." I start to play with some of the toys.

"Well let's see, what about hot-wheels, boys tend to like them, or Lego's or what about this," he points to a football, and goes to grab it,  picking up to show me. He tosses it to me and thankfully I catch it.

"I don't know, I guess he would like that, but doesn't he have to have someone to play with. What if he is the only kid where is, then what?" I shrug.

"Ok, so what about a Game boy, they are really cool?" He turns and starts walking over to the electronics and I follow after him like a lost puppy. Hayden is super excited to show me and I don't mind, but when I look down at the price there is no way that I am going to ask Mrs. Shaw to buy that.

"What's wrong?" Hayden asks.

I shake my head. "Nothing, maybe we should find something a little cheaper, that's all."

"Well alright, but these are really cool you know." He sets it down.

"I know, but it's kinda too much and won't he need batteries and ..."

He cuts me off, "Ok then, I got it..." He grabs my hand and drags me down to another aisle. "What about this, and don't say no until I show you and you don't look at the price." He hurries up and covers up the price so that I can't see it.

"A scooter!" I exclaim.

"Come on, one of the coolest things ever. River would have fun with this and he can play by himself and he won't have to have batteries. Come on I think he would like it." He jumps on one of the scooters and rolls around in front of me.

"How do you know he will like it?"

"Trust me, I'm a guy and I like it and if I was ten I would really like it. Come on come ride with me." He takes another scooter down. "Come on try it out."

I start to laugh but then realize that he is being serious. "Ok what do I do?" I roll my eyes.

"Put your hands here on the handles like this. Now take one foot and place it on here like this. With the other foot push off and then glide, like this." He goes down the aisle; I of course follow right behind him doing his exact moves. "Come on lets go around this way." He zooms around to the next aisle.

As we go around to the next aisle there is a tall man in blue with a name tag that stops us, "You guys can't be riding in the store."

Hayden speaks out before I can say anything, "Sir, I was just showing my friend here how to ride, were getting off."

"Thank you," he says annoyed with us and walks away.

I glance at Hayden and we both start to bust out laughing. I actually  had a lit if fun riding on it.

Mrs. Shaw comed around the corner, "There you two are, so do you pick out something?"

"A scooter!" We both say at the same time in unison.

I notice her glancing over at the price and that's when I did too. I was getting ready to say something when Hayden interrupts, "I will pay for some of it, please let her get it. I told her she couldn't look at the price."

I try to argue with him, "Hayden really it's no big deal we can get something else. Sorry Mrs. Shaw I didn't realize how much.."

"Its alright Star we can get the scooter."

"But it's too.." I start to argue.

"Star, its only forty dollars, really it's alright."

"I'll pay you back somehow." I protest.

"Star, stop." She holds out her hand to face me. Hayden picks up the blue scooter and places it in the cart. The two of the look at each other and both turn to smile at me, so I guess that mean we are gettingthe scooter after all.

I feel bad using their money. I think Mrs. Shaw knew that too because she grabs my hand and says, "I think he will love it don't you." She smiles again at me and all I can do is nod and smile back to her.

When we get back to the house Hayden helps me wrap it up in the coolest super hero wrapping paper, while Mrs. Shaw gets on the phone with Mr. Dawson.