Chapter V: " She took my hand, I don't know how it happened "

Sir, we can explain. "Athier began, and I unsuccessfully fought back a chuckle. He looked back at me then at the security guard.

The guard's held a deeply disappointed outlook that enveloped us like a rain cloud. Sadly, all I could pay attention to was his protruding belly that I was certain distracted people from his chubby red face. He was cute almost like a bunny. I guess supermarket guards weren't required to be fit.

"I understand well, young man.", the guard declared.

Athier looked perplexed "You do?", he asked

"It is all a misunderstanding right.", the guard said smiling. Athier sighed and nodded at the mall officer, grateful the supermarket cop understood.

"Wrong!" The guard shouted, light drops of his saliva found their way out. We moved back in response. "I have seen a lot of rich youngsters like you. You just want to have fun, so, you do this type of things thinking you can get away with it. Disgusting! You have no regard for the people that risk their lives to protect you. And you, young man what reason could you possibly have to steal this", the guard ended his rant with his question posed at Athier.

I had my head down the entire time, silently enjoying the scene. I saw the man wave the red sachet in front of Athier's face.

I observed them again, wordlessly playing the past events in my head.

***

"Just like a moth drawn to a flame, you let me in I couldn't sense the pain.", I sang along inaudibly to the song that blasted through the supermarket speakers as I went over the list again:

Flour 2 ✔

Sugar✔️

Chocolate (lots of chocolate) ✔️

Chocolate chips ✔️

Cocoa powder ✔️

Eggs ✔️

Butter ✔️

Milk✔️

All the ingredients except for ice cream were already present in my shopping cart. The ice cream wasn't necessary; it was just a little side appetizer to go with the brownies.

Athier had gone off to go get some. He had hesitated to drive me to the supermarket but, after I freshened up and threatened to drive myself there whilst knowing I had no idea how to maneuverer the steering of a car.

However, his presence was depressing. Not only did he retain an acute reservation throughout the ride, but he also brought his dead air into the supermarket.

I let out a sigh. When dealing with the devil, there's always a price to be paid for a favor. And I was unfortunate enough to give the demon a blank check. Athier made me promise to grant him any favor that he asked for if he drove me. Any favor.

Dread filled my immediate environment as I saw the devil approach. "Ice cream, check. " I said judiciously as he dropped the ice cream into the cart. I smiled to myself, operation prison break was 30% complete.

After checking out the ingredients I procured through the cashier counter, skittles on the rack next to the cashier shown ever so subtly by my side-eye sparked the rebellious child inside my mind.

Also, it was on sale and I couldn't resist; I wanted to get some.

The deadly thought flashed through my mind swiftly as I reached out to take it, glancing first at Athier and back at the skittles. With a quick grab and a sweet creepy smile planted on my lips. I hid the skittles in my jacket and walked out of the shop.

It was a crime, I admit. One most people refer to as shoplifting.

Today, right then to me. It had but one name. Sweet revenge.

Athier seemed too carried away to notice what I had done.

Perfect.

As we stepped out of the supermarket an alarm blared, a security officer darted walking towards us, calling out to us. Athier's eyes widened and his nose scrunched up I suppose trying eagerly to comprehend the action unfolding.

Sensing his unrest, I took a hold of Athier's hand and made a run for it. I dragged him along with me before he could get a grasp of what was happening.

We made a break for it to the parking lot, the guard barely able to catch up despite the fact that I was dragging weight around.

Our getaway car slowly came to view amidst the running. We were almost clear! so, I slowed down, feigning exhaustion. Two security guards came from our front.

"Shit!", I cursed,  delighted. I turned 90 degrees and took heel in that direction holding on to Athier. He, who was most likely still processing what was happening, didn't possess much resistance.

Purposefully arriving at a dead end with no means of escape, I cried.

"You'll never take me alive. "I yelled in dramatization handing the skittles to Athier under the noses of the officers and began attempting to climb the wall insight for emphasis.

***

That was how Athier and I ended up here. It all started with Skittles.

After 30 minutes of scolding from the security guard that had begun the chase, the guard resigned and said, "bear in mind that the only reason I'm letting you two go is because I’m an understanding man. If not, I would have both of you detained."

Finally, he was letting us go. But a word caught my attention.

The both of you.

Why would I also be detained? Athier was found with the evidence. He was caught red-handed. It was pun intended because the packet of skittles was red.

Nevermind, explaining the pun ruins it.

Once the guard dismissed us, Athier grabbed my shoulders strongly. "You've got to be kidding me. I knew you were trouble I just didn't know you were mentally unstable. " He stated in irritation shaking me as though to wake me up from my mad spontaneity.

"For goodness' sake, you almost got me in trouble for shoplifting. Just how reckless can you get," he said completely vilifying me.

I wriggled myself out of his grip and shrugged. He did not understand just how many screws I had lost, he just got a taste, the worst is yet to come.

"I thought the wife was supposed to be the nagging one," I said innocently, certain he wanted to kill me, throw my dead body into a ditch somewhere and never look back.

If you asked me both the guard and Athier needed that for obvious reasons. The guard needed to lose some pounds and Athier needed to loosen up.

He stared at me intensely for a while before walking away to his car. I stood where I was wondering what light trick had caused me to see what I did.

For a second, it was almost as if his lips twitched slightly to form a smile, but, knowing Athier it was far from likely.

I followed Athier hurriedly after my contemplation, with everything that had happened I won't be surprised if he left me here to walk back.

***

I was in the kitchen wearing an apron. The brownies preparations were about to begin. Mom will be home in about two-and-a-half hours that gave me barely enough time to finish.

My prince charming decided not to help me because 'I'm some kinda walking disaster’.

Where did he get that from?

The song from my mixtape blasted from the speaker in the kitchen before I started. My wrist moved in a circular motion guiding my arms as I whisked the eggs. In need of flour, I walked over to the white cabinet that was sat on the marble counter to get the flour, I began reaching for the flour on my tip toes when the song club song began to play.

My hips swayed as my head nodded while I sang along.

I grabbed the flour successfully, yet my body lost its balance, partly due to my needless swaying to the music. With a loud ‘bam’ I landed butt first on the floor, the white powder from the flour escaping its container to find home everywhere on and around me. The somewhat white powder sprayed all around me immersing me in it.

The first thought which came to mind was, Karma is a smart bitch.

Was this payback for my stunt earlier?

I wiped the flour away from my eyes, which were on the brink of tears. My butt hurt. I moved my hand to rub it.

The rowdy scene warranted Athier's appearance in the kitchen. The flour clouded my vision but Athier’s bad attempt to hide his amusement didn’t escape my sight. However much he enjoyed the image he laid his eyes, gently knelt down, and rose me up by the shoulders.

"Honest question, can you do anything well?" Athier mused guiding me up the stairs to my room. "I might have well been asked straight up to baby-sit. "He said as though he was the one truly a pain.

I stayed silent to his remarks sulking over the pain in my buttocks. "Stop complaining, I'm the one who got hurt." I pouted still nodding my head to the fading music as I approached my bedroom.

It took some time about twenty minutes to get all the flour off. The flour had a good time getting in places it did not belong.

By the time I came back into the kitchen, the place was sort of spotless and the brownies were already in the oven.

Did Athier do this? I was sincerely surprised. I began to feel sleepy at the thought of not having any work to do.

Athier sat in the living room, engrossed in his phone. I marched in front of him with my lips tightened.

"I didn't know you could be so...helpful", I orated, crashing on the couch join him.

"You would if you could get rid of your prejudice," he retorted with no sign of mockery in his tone. I didn't reply. Instead, I let silence wrap us till the point were my eyelids became so heavy that it shut.

With a jolt, I shot up from the couch, blurry eyed. I had fallen asleep.

Mom! wait the brownies. I fell asleep. Oh, fudge cakes!

I hurried to the kitchen in my hysteria, hoping the brownies didn't get burnt.

I didn't find the brownies in the oven and the kitchen wasn't burnt. I sighed relieved.

My eyes shot up again. Where were the brownies?

"Where are they? " I asked myself, "Was all that Athier helping me out thing a dream?" I questioned before I heard a chuckle from behind causing me to jump startled.

"Do you dream about me often? "He asked amusing himself.

"Athier! looks like it was a dream. You're back to your arrogant attitude. "I groaned.

"Only because I know you love it. Also, it wasn't a dream. "He said gesturing towards the dining table.

The brownies were displayed beautifully on the table. I took one and but into it. The chocolate brownie tasted divine against my tongue. 

"I did it! they are wonderful!" I exclaimed excited.

"Don't you mean I did it? " Athier corrected immediately not wasting any time to take credit. "I distinctly remember you getting flour all over yourself and... "

My smile faded in remembrance, "potato pahta... " I murmured before getting interrupted.

"I'm home," Mom announced.

"In the dining room. " I made known our location.

She entered the dining room, and her face became animated.

“What is all this?” She inquired at  both of us. “Did you spend your day together making brownies? How sweet!” she lamented, her eyes forming thin lines caused by her wide grin.

Athier and I locked eyes for a second and turned away from each other awkwardly.

Athier left a while after Mom arrived, saying something about getting paid for babysitting next time.

He was always much more pleasant when Mom was around. I was most likely the only person with whom Athier acted like a douche in front of.

I didn’t mind. If he was all nice and chummy towards me it’d be hypocritical. There's no repairing our relationship. It could never be a smooth connection.

"Honey, this was nice. " Mom said stuffing the last bite of the brownie in her mouth.

" Oh, you know me. Nice." I said, grinning in satisfaction.

"But, it is obviously a bribe. I'll let it slide though cause the brownies were delicious.” As she continued my upturned lips gradually went the opposite direction.

"You, however, are not forgiven. School is back next week anyway." She uttered, picking up a square of the brownie and swaying to her room.