The Little Fairy
Chapter 9

I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep until I was woken up by Sarah trying to gently remove the book from my face. "Ooh, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you, you seemed so peaceful." She blushed and closed the book, folding a corner of the page in case I wanted to continue to read.

I stretched and groaned, my muscles flexing too far, causing searing pain to shoot up my leg. "Shit, shit, shit." I clutched my calf, hoping it would go away quickly.

"Charlie Horse. Hate those." She slipped the book back on the shelf in its proper place. I watched her carefully as she sauntered to the side of the bed where I lay clutching my leg. "Here," she moved my hands away from my calf, the pain returning with vigor. She replaced it with hers and started to massage my calf firmly but also with a gentle touch. The pain quickly subsided and I was able to relax.

She lingered her hand a little too long but quickly removed it when she realized I had already felt better, a pink tint hiding behind her bangs. "You gotta massage it or you'll feel it for the rest of the day." She removed herself from the foot of the bed and started to head out. "I'm going to help dad make breakfast. Go ahead and get ready, I'll make sure to make you a plate." She waved and turned down the hallway.

I followed after her, watching her descend the staircase before going to my room to change. The morning air was a bit colder, hinting at winter's arrival. I shuffled through what clothes I had and settled on one of Sarah's old middle school sweatshirts and a pair of jeans, matching them with a pair of converse.

I scurried out the door after brushing the knots out of my hair and headed downstairs to where Sarah and Don were waiting for me at the table. Eggs, sausage, and bacon sat in front of my chair with a few pieces of toast lying to the side of it.

"Sorry," I admitted. Feeling awkward for wearing her sweatshirt.

"For what?" They both stated in unison, smirking at each other.

"Oh, uh.." I stammered off as I took my seat at the table. "For wearing your sweatshirt."

Sarah waved her hand in front of her. "Don't worry about it. It doesn't fit me anymore." She shoveled some scrambled eggs into her mouth. "What time were you wanting to go to the mall?" She asked as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Whenever you were wanting to, I don't think Don had any plans for me today. Right?" Kreya looked over to Don who was absent-mindedly reading the newspaper as he ate. He looked up surprised at the sound of his name, unaware of the girls conversation.

"Uh... Right." He dragged, a confused look spread across his face as he looked between them.

"Okay," Sarah finished off her food and set her plate in the sink. "I guess I'll go finish getting ready and we'll head out. Mind if I borrow the truck, dad?"

"I guess. Just fill 'er up when you're done." His eyes never left his paper as he slid a clump of scrambled eggs down to Coon.

We drove an hour away from town and entered the parking lot of the massive mall. It was easily the size of the town we came from. Sarah lifted my chin up as she slid gracefully into a parking spot.

"Try to hide your shock before we go in, people love to take advantage of tourists." She unbuckled herself and hopped out of the truck, slamming the door securely shut.

I quickly followed suit and rounded the truck to where she was standing. "Where do you recommend we go first?"

"I like the small little businesses but we could go to a bigger brand if you want, but the quality isn't much better and way more expensive." She locked the truck and linked her arm in mine.

"Small shops are good. Do you have the money stuff Don was talking about?"

"I have enough." She chuckled and opened the door for me, leading me to what seemed like an entirely new world. "This could also be a good place for one of your speeches." She led me around a few turns. When I thought we had reached the end, more stores would pop up in front of us.

"Is this place magic?" I stared at store upon store as we passed them. One housed skimpy underwear while the one next to it had so many electronics I thought they had every one in the entire world.

Sarah cackled loudly, making a few people turn their heads toward us. "No, just a bunch of corporate greed." She finally stopped in front of a small store at the end of a hall. It wasn't as extravagant as any other stores we passed, but it was exactly what I was hoping for.

We shopped for what seemed like forever in this tiny store, Sarah even picking out a few pieces of jewelry for herself. "Find everything you needed?" The eager cashier greeted us.

"Yes! I love coming to small businesses. Are you guys new? I haven't been in a few years, but I would love your website!" Sarah seemed to pique her interest.

"Yeah, we just moved in here about 3 months ago." She kept scanning and gently placing our items in a bag with their logo on it.

"We're actually trying to get a rally started for ethical shopping and its impact on the planet, do you mind if I give you my number so we can keep in touch?" Sarah's eyes glistened as she talked to the woman behind the counter. I stood behind her unsure of what to say.

"I think that would be fantastic." The woman's eyes gleamed as she handed Sarah her phone to exchange numbers.

"I'll keep in touch, okay?" They gave each other their phones back and Sarah led us out of the store and back into the busy hallway.

"You totally have a crush on her," I said blatantly as we got further away.

"Nah, that's just called being cunning and persuasive. Something you'll need to learn if you're going to try to prove to a lot of people to care about the planet." The bag swung inconsistently in between us, bumping both our thighs as we walked.

"I can be cunning and persuasive," I argued, crossing my arms across my chest.

"Oh yeah? Alright." She walked over to a plant in the meridian of the hallway and plucked a leaf from the branch. "Convince me this is an accessory." She handed over the leaf, a smug look gliding effortlessly across her face.

I glared at the lead that I now had in between my fingers, trying to think of what this could be. I straightened up my back and looked Sarah in the eyes. "Have you seen this?"

"A... Leaf?" She looked at me quizzically.

"Not just any leaf. This leaf is the hottest new accessory in the youth today." I could see her staring at the leaf intently, her expression softening. "This leaf is going to change the way we see fashion." I held my hand out for her to take it.

"Wow, okay." She stuck the leaf in the space above her ear and smiled at me.

"Wait, you weren't supposed to accept it that easily." I searched her face. trying to see what she was thinking.

"Accept what? You said this is the hottest new accessory, is it not?" She looked genuinely confused.

"C'mon Sarah knock it off. I get it, you're trying to make me see I'm persuasive." I started to walk off, annoyed at her antics.

"Kreya, I'm not joking, why are you upset? You're the one who said it." She caught up to me quickly, dropping the leaf into my palm.

"Can we just go home, this place is really overwhelming."

She nodded and lead me back to the truck, maneuvering the winding halls with ease. "Can you at least tell me why you're upset?" She started the truck, it coming to life with an annoyingly loud roar.

I stared out the window, hoping she would just drop it after a while.