I woke up on Jeriard's lap inside the house, and I yawned and stretched as my eyes came into view of the mesmerizing green eyes that belonged to none other than Jeriard. He smiled and rubbed his hand against my cheek, which made me blush. "Sarafina left," he whispered as he slowly got closer to my face and kept his eyes on my lips.

"Oh, really, where did she go?" I asked, quickly getting off of his lap.

He scratched at the back of his neck and looked around the house. He shrugged and said in response, "I don't know, but you want to go shopping?"

I placed my finger to my chin as if I was thinking, and blurted out excitedly, "Sure!" I smiled and Jeriard let out a small breath of relief.

I jumped off of the couch, but on my way to the door I tripped on a throw pillow. I heard Jeriard laugh and he was suddenly towering over me. He put out a helpful hand for me, but I waved it away and pushed myself up onto my feet.

I proceeded toward the door as a smiling Jeriard followed me. He opened the door of his red Porsche for me. My mouth hung open at the sight of that brand new looking car. Jeriard smiled and waited so I quickly slid into the passenger's seat.

Jeriard walked over to the driver's seat and buckled up. He turned on the car and the engine roared to life. Jeriard laughed once again for my eyes were full of admiration. He pulled out of the driveway and I waved at the willow tree that I had recently climbed on or tried to. Yes, I know it's weird to wave at a tree, but I like that tree a lot.

Once we were on the highway, I looked at Jeraird and he smirked at me. What was he up to? Suddenly, the car accelerated and my back was now fully touching the seat, it was impossible for me to move, but I managed to place my hand on top of Jeriard's, which was gripping the steering wheel.

Jeriard glanced at me. "Please, slow down," I whispered as a tear rolled down my cheek. My lungs felt restricted and I was internally freaking out.

He turned his attention to the road and the car gradually slowed down. I felt air come back into my lungs. My whole body collapsed forward onto the dashboard of the car. I felt heat rise up inside of me and I shook uncontrollably.

I felt the car come to a stop, but I didn't have the strength to move. I heard Jeriard sigh, which made me cry and my jeans became wet and damp with my tears. "I'm sorry," I whispered. I felt like I let him down.

"Stop. You shouldn't apologize. It's my fault, I shouldn't have done that to you," he said strongly.

I tilted my head so that I was able to see him. His jet-black hair fell slightly over his radiant green eyes, his mouth was squeezed shut in a straight line, and his hands gripped the wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "It isn't your fault, because you didn't know," I tried to reassure him.

Jeriard slammed his fist against the car wheel and I jumped. My heart started to race. "I shouldn't be making you sad. I know we just met, but I feel so close to you already that I feel like I've known you forever," he angrily mumbled.

"I understand, Jeriard," I placed a hand on his and felt him relax a little bit, "I feel the same way, but the reality is that we only just met so we are just beginning to learn about each other, about our fears, our likes, our dislikes, our pet peeves, and everything about us..." I place my head on his broad shoulder, "So give it some time and soon we will know everything about each other and then you have permission to be angry at yourself for making me sad."

He sighed and completely relaxed, letting go the steering wheel. He turned to me and smiled sincerely, clapped his hands together making me jump in surprise. "Let's get going! You need clothes," he announced, opening the car door and stepping out into the parking lot. I laughed at how he ruined the moment we were having.

I opened my side of the car door and stepped out of the red car, slamming the door in the process. Jeriard glared at me and I quickly apologized, throwing my hands up in surrender. I walked toward the mall's entrance with my head down. I examined the parking lot's road as I went; it was crumpled, black, and thoroughly littered with cigarettes.

Suddenly an arm wrapped around my shoulder and I looked into Jeriard's mesmerizing green eyes. He was searching my face and he smiled when he locked eyes with me. We walked together toward the entrance; intertwined as the automatic doors slid open.

The smell that greeted me was neither pleasant nor welcoming. It was musky and made it slightly hard to breathe. The air smelled of dirt, rain, and blood almost like a swamp if you added death to it. I glanced at Jeriard with a confused look. He stared straight forward and I knew that he noticed that I was questioning the entire mall.

I felt heat eat away at my arms and legs. I noticed a statue in the middle of the mall and it was lit on fire. Isn't that dangerous? I clutched Jeriard's arm in fright.

We drew closer and closer to the statue, when the unexpected happened. As my eyes caught sight of the fire, the flames appeared to dance in front of me. It looked like it was telling me a story. It waved back and forth as if in peace, suddenly with a snap the flame whipped toward me and I was knocked to the tile floor.

I shook off the flames that crept onto my skin and anger swelled up inside me. Jeriard attempted to help me up onto my feet, but I slapped his hand away. I didn't want to rudely refuse his help, but I was incredibly mad. My eyes started to sting and I swiftly rose from the black tiles beneath me. What is this place? "Are you ok?" Jeriard asked in concern.

"Just perfect!" I exclaimed with strong sarcasm. I quickly shoved Jeriard to the side. He stammered sideways at the exact moment that the flame whipped with a crack in the place Jeriard had been standing. "You're welcome," I stated with a grin.

"For what?" Jeriard sneered as he dusted off his jeans.

"For saving your life. That fire was going to burn you to a crisp," I pointed out angrily. He just stared at me and shrugged. Then he took my hand and dragged me into a store called Dragon Baby, which I've never heard of.

I shivered as I passed the two blue and red dragon statues that sat at the entrance. I looked around as we entered and noticed a dragon's skeleton hanging over the store by string. I dug my heels into the tile floor making me stop to a halt. Jeriard tried to pull me toward a rack of clothes, but I have a fear of dragons and that skeleton was creeping me the hell out. Jeriard sighed in frustration and swept me off my feet, carrying me bridal style. I snuggled deep into his chest for protection; he felt warm and safe.

He carefully placed me on a cushioned bench and kneeled in front of me. He slowly and gently placed his hand on my leg and said, "What's wrong with you, Rose? You're so uneasy."

I buried my face in my hands in shame. "I'm sorry... First, the fire almost killed us, which made no sense in the way it moved by itself. Second, I'm terrified of dragons," I weeped.

There was silence, when I looked at Jeriard who had his hand on his mouth, trying to fight back laughter. Anger rose to my cheeks and my eyes began to burn once again. Jeriard noticed me and grabbed my shoulders a bit too roughly. He drew in close to my face until our foreheads were touching. He really enjoys doing that. His mint breath softly tickled my lips and I looked into his now glistening eyes. How I love that shade of green. "Rose your eyes are... different," he whispered.

I was taken aback by his words. "Different? How?" I asked with confusion.

He came even closer, our lips almost touching. "They aren't brown," he said.

"What? Not b-brown? What color are they?" I was becoming a bit dizzy as my eyes burned even more. I tried to comprehend how my eyes weren't brown.

Jeriard outlined my jaw line with his hand and said, "They're orange, but this orange, wow, how beautiful. I can't get my eyes to look away from them."

I looked passed Jeriard and I noticed something very odd about the people that occupied this mall. Most of them had extraordinary eyes, sharp teeth, sharp nails, or suspicious clothing, like different types of gloves or weird hats or strange robes. I averted my eyes back to Jeriard's. "Jeriard? Where are we? Please, tell me the truth," I asked.

He was still very close to me. At the mall, of course," he said with a sinister smile.

I slightly pushed him away, turning my head away. "I said, tell me the truth or else I'll leave," I threatened.

"Rose, don't do this to me. You know I won't let you leave. Just let me explain," he said, trying to get my attention, but I refuse to make eye contact.

"Please do," I snapped.

He groaned, Out of nowhere I was over his shoulder and in a dressing room stall. There was barely room to move in the cream colored stall. There was a knock at the door. "You both can't be in there at the same time," said a voice.

"Please, just one second," Jeriard growled.

Jeriard and I were too close for comfort, but I crossed my arms and waited for an explanation. "This is a mall, just not a mall with ordinary people," he said gently taking my hands in his.

"Uh? What do you mean?" I shook in fear of what he might say next.

Jeriard took me into a hug. His mint breath tickled my ears as he said these words, "This is a mall for mutants."

I took this in for a moment. He pushed me to arms length and stared. "So like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?"

"Uh... not exactly. Mutants doesn't describe them best... It is more like people with supernatural powers," he tried explaining.

I close my eyes trying to think carefully about what he said. I furrow my eyebrows together, "Like Superman?"

He laughed at how I needed to compare to understand. "Yeah, kind of... There's people who can read minds, have super strength, even vampires and werewolves and witches," he listed a few examples.

"So, what kind of power do you have?" I instinctively touched his soft black hair.

He giggled. "I'm a wolf."

"A werewolf?"

"No, just a wolf; I'll explain at home, and what are you?" he asked.

I looked at him in confusion. "What are you talking about I'm a human," I stated.

He kissed my cheek and my cheek burned from his touch. "You're so beautiful. Look, uh, no humans or let's say non-mutants are allowed in the mall. This is to prevent supernatural murders, deaths, or injuries. We all don't want humans finding out they're surrounded by mutants that can potentially pose a threat to them. So, you're definitely not human, but don't worry I'll figure out what you are," Jeriard explained.

The stall's door was unlocked and we both tumbled out on the floor. We laughed as I started to get off of Jeriard. Our hands intertwined as we looked around for clothes. My mind was so busy thinking about Jeriard that I totally forgot there was a freaky dragon skeleton hanging above me.

We exited Dragon Baby and walked toward Victoria Secret. I needed panties, so I got one that said, "Pay Attention!"

Jeriard started acting like a pervert and showed me one that said, "Take a peek at this!" I laughed at his puckered face, but I snatched the panty away from him. I was going to buy it.

When I looked at Jeriard he wiggled his eyebrows at me. I laughed. Then he started to tickle me. I yelped and tried to get away from him, but in the process I knocked into a small kid, who surprisingly cursed at me. 

I grabbed a red and cream bra. "This one's my favorite," Jeriard said, pointing to the red bra. I playfully punched his arm and we purchased them and exited.

I spotted a photo booth and I pulled him into it. I placed 5 dollars into the machine. Then the photos began...

I placed my hands up to my ears as I stuck my little pink tongue out. Jeriard just stared at me for no real reason.

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3

SNAP!

Second picture I placed two fingers on my lips, pretending to say, 'Shhh.' Also, my other arm was around Jeriard's neck. Jeriard still watched me.

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3

SNAP!

The third picture came as a complete surprise. Jeriard placed his hand on my cheek, turned me to him, and kissed me passionately.

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3

SNAP!

When we broke apart I breathed heavily. Jeriard scratched at the back of his neck. We climbed out of the booth and claimed our photos. We started to exit the mall. I smiled the whole way to the automatic doors, but I stopped when I saw a familiar threat running toward me.

It was my dad. It seems like he saw me from the side of the road and stopped driving to get out of his car to assault me.

I stepped back, which was immediately followed by him knocking me down. My back scrapped against the asphalt. My breath escaped me. Jeriard shoved him down. He came to help me up, but my dad pulled him back choking him. I grabbed my dad and pulled him off.

Then, I kicked his side. He didn't flinch. So, I kneed him in the groin and he feel to his knees. I grabbed his head and slammed it against my knee. Blood rushed out of his nose and mouth. Jeriard grabbed my hand still coughing and ran to his car. He pulled me into a hug. Then, we both got into the car. I cried all the way to the house.

When we pulled into his driveway he helped me out of his car and guided me inside the house. My eyes burned. He sat on the couch and I fell upon his lap.

Jeriard's POV

I touched Rose's chocolate colored hair as she wept silently. I feel bad for her, her parents are so abusive, but I don't understand how her dad managed to find her at the mall. And why hasn't she ever called the police on them?

Rose opened her eyes that were now a brilliant orange that sparkled with tears. I gently caressed her cheek. "Jeriard?" she called in a whisper.

"Hmmm?" I hummed.

"Why are you helping me?" She started to play with my belt's buckle. My eyes were probably deepening in a dark shade of green. "I think you are beautiful and something so beautiful should be protected," I answered.

She smiled at the thought of it. She came close to my face and I quickly placed my forehead onto hers. Her eyes were still a vibrant orange and I kissed her there in the dim light. We fell asleep on the couch, together.