▽ The Only Reason By 5SOS

               ➣ twenty-eight

''You sure you wanna go?'' He questions again as I tied together the brown laces to my combat boots.

''Would you shut up? It's just shopping, it's not like we're gonna go rob a bank'' I attempted to reassure while I stood from my bed. I walked over to my door and closed it to reveal the white full length mirror to check my reflection.

I wore a long sleeve burgundy knitted sweater with black leggings and pair of rusty brown combat boots. I gave my high yet messy pony tail a final tug as I scanned myself over.

''For someone whose just gonna go shopping for clothes, you sure do wanna look nice'' He remarked while sitting on my bed, watching me check on my appearence.

''For someone who has a penis, you surely can make assumptions'' I stated, mocking his previous statement against him.

I walked over to my dresser to grab my silver hoops while speaking ''I have a daughter who needs to have some presents under the christmas tree this year, or else you will see the worlds most saddest little girl''.

''I'm coming over by the way. On Christmas'' He clarified.

''Then expect nothing out of me cause after she opens her gifts I'm going to sleep'' I warned, putting the second hoop in my right ear.

''Don't be a sour puss, it's Christmas. You're suppose to have that spirit'' He encountered, smiling a cheesy grin.

I sighed in relief to have both earings in each hole, slapping my arms to my side. ''Then call me the Grinch because I don't have that spirit this year''.

He stood up and pointed at me. ''You're not feeling it yet. Don't worry, I'll change you're mind. I'm very persuasive''.

I faintly smiled. ''Persuasive and persistent are two different things Stiles''.

He rolled his eye's. ''Whatever. I gotta go anyways, I have school''.

He picked up his bag from the floor and got up, exiting my room.

I smirked, knowing that he already is, but just for the fun of it. ''Don't Be Late!''.

× × ×

The decorative pieces stood out in the mall, brightening up all the stores along with sale signs posted on the windows that dragged shoppers.

''Mommy look how pretty the mall is'' Ariella observed, watching the blinking lights that stood outside of H&M as we walked by.

I smiled and nodded as we got near the escalator.

''Wait mommy. That guy looks sad'' She pointed out, stopping Lydia and I from going any further.

''That's because that man has no money'' I stated. He sat by the fountain strumming lowly only a guitar with a metal can that sat by his foot.

''Give him money'' She instructed.

''I can't. I have money that's meant for you'' I stated.

She stomped her foot. ''Do something then''.

I looked up to Lydia who only shrugged her shoulders. What's there to do when you have a child whose similar to a Stiles Stilinski only more determined?

''Sing. You can sing mommy. Once people hear you're voice they pay right?'' She questioned.

Maybe I should've went to school.

''Ariella-''.

''Please!'' She begged.

I sighed in defeat. I let go of her hand and walked over to him.

''Excuse me? Hi, can I borrow that?'' I asked as politely as possible. He seemed hesitant but gave it to me anyway.

I turned to the crowd of people just walking back and forth to various stores, easily spotting Lydia and Ariella thats stood not so far from here.

I cleared my throat and started playing a similar beat.

''Don't Talk, Let Me Think It Over, How We Gonna Fix This? How We Gonna Undo All The Pain?

Tell Me. Is It Even Worth It? Looking For A Straight Line, Taking Back The Time We Can't Replace''.

By now I had caught a few people's attention but it wasn't enough.

''All The Crossed, Wires, Just Making Us, Tired, Is It Too Late, Too Bring Us Back To Life?

When I Closed My Eye's And Tried To Sleep, I Fall Apart, I Find It Hard To Breath.

You're The Reason, The Only Reason.

Even Though My Dizzy Head Is Numb, I Swear My Heart Is Never Giving Up.

You're The Reason, The Only Reason''.

I was walking around the crowd that slowly formed around me, nodding their head along to the beat.

Just so I wouldn't drag the song out, I skipped towards the end, stopping the strumming momentarily.

''Don't Talk, Let Me Think It Over, How We Gonna Fix This? How We Gonna Undo All The Pain?

When I Closed My Eye's And Tried To Sleep, I Fall Apart, I Find It Hard To Breath.

You're The Reason, The Only Reason.

Even Though My Dizzy Head Is Numb, I Swear My Heart Is Never Giving Up.

You're The Reason, The Only Reason''.

Once I finished, everyone around clapped, cheering at my performance.

I smiled as I went back over to the man and grabbed the can that was filled with just a few pennies.

I walked around, dangling the can in front of everyone, pronouncing small ''thank you''.

After going around once again, I went back over to curious man, handing him not only his can full of money but his guitar.

''Thank you and god bless''.

I smiled a genuine one and nodded, walking back over to Lydia and Ariella who, may I say have wicked grins plastered on their faces.

''Let's not speak of this'' I ask but Lydia had other plans in mind.

''Tell that to Scott, Kira and Stiles''.

I shook my head as the three of us got on the escalator.

× × ×

''Hey, do me a favor? Take Ariella to the changing room to try things on while I go get her a few things?'' I asked but Lydia was looking around frantically.

''Juliet. Ariella isn't with me''.

My eye's enlarged, dropping the piles of clothes I have on top of the pile of clothes Lydia has.

''Ariella!''.

I made my way first towards the toy section, you know, because every little kid likes toys.

''Ariella!''.

My heartbeat was picking up the pace once I noticed she wasn't in this section.

My hands wandered up to my scalp, tugging on my roots. ''Oh my god.. Oh my god.. Oh My God!''.

''I Got A Bag!'' Lydia announced, happy to hold all of our items into one bag.

''Lydia she's not here'' I hissed.

Her gaze was lost for a second before she snapped her fingers and pointed at me.

''The front of the store''.

Earlier when we came into Macy's, there was a tree by the front and all Ariella wanted to do was look at it.

We ran towards the front of the store, my clumsy self slipping in my boots a few times from the glossy flooring.

''Ariella!''.

No doubt about it, there she was. Sitting on the floor just observing it.

I picked her up and returned to where we was, walking in normal pace.

I was relief to know she was here, but I was angry at the same time.

She wandered off and anyone could've taken her.

Again, that anyone meaning Malia.

''I'm sorry mommy'' She whispered but I ignored her apology.

× × ×

''I thought long and hard about this and as much trouble I want to save from you guys, I can't hold it in anymore'' I started, eyeing Scott, Lydia, Kira and Stiles intently.

I stood in the entrance of the living while everyone else was sitting down. However Ariella was in her room sleeping.

''What is it?'' Scott asks.

''Malia um.. She kinda.. She said that.. She just threatened me- well not me, technically Ariella's life-''.

''What?!'' Everyone shrieked in unison, standing up from their spots simultaneously.

''Juliet, you have to tell us exactly what she said'' Kira demanded.

I cleared my throat. ''If I tell Stiles about him-uh-''.

I stopped once I realized something.

''Wait. She doesn't know'' I stated, looking at everyone else but Kira.

''What? What don't I know?'' She questioned, turning to the three, but mostly to Scott.

''Stiles and Juliet had sex and Ariella is their daughter, now please tell us?'' Lydia urged.

I sighed. ''If I tell Stiles that he was the father of Ariella, I'd have to keep a close eye on Ariella''.