"Anna, come on. I am not a child anymore. It feels weird walking beside you, like some child." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Come on, kid. I am not letting you go on your own."

A devilish smile spread across my face before I wiped it off by coughing a little. Time to play the trick after which everyone did what I asked them to do.

"You know, that's why Sam's my favorite. She never forces me to do anything especially, something as stupid as walking with her." I picked up the nearest item, from the rack, having no clue, as to what it was.

Anna grabbed it from me before putting it right back. "Sam lets you wander off on your own?"

"Sure, does. Even Mom lets me go."

"Oh, now I know you are bluffing. Vivi would never. You are just ten."

"Exactly, ten not three. And I am not bluffing, she does." I didn't tell her that ir was only a one time thing or how I emotionally blackmailed her into letting me go or how the moment she did let me wander off I fell flat on my face or how ever since then she wouldn't let me go on my own.

I didn't tell her any of that. But what I did tell her was enough, right?

"I am not buying it. You are staying with me."

A moment passed, then the next did..

Any second now...

"Is Sam really your favorite?"

I tried my best to not let the evil grin show on my face.

"Yup, she is more cool."

"That is the only reason?"

I nodded.

"I can be cool." She muttered under her breath.

"Sorry, but I doubt that!"

"I can be cool."

"Well, to be cool you don't give to many orders to a poor ten year old. And you let them wander on their own."

"Ugh. Okay, fine. Just meet me in the clothing section in fifteen minutes. You can buy other things for the party. I will go buy your present."

I grinned in reply and started running in the other way not wanting her to change her mind. I heard a scream from behind me, reminding me that I only had fifteen minutes.

I quickly made my way over to the chocolates and candies section.

I quickly grabbed some chocolate, making sure to grab an extra one if Aaron wanted it.

"Oh look at what we have here." I looked to my left, from where the voice just came from. There were three men. Two of them facing me and the third had his back to me, he seemed to be praying, or begging, with the way his hands were locked in front of them. "Isn't she just beautiful?"

The second man turned to me, his eyes also red like the first one. Now, with my girn completely gone I gulped. "She is just a child! Idiot." The second one said.

This seemed to get the third one's attention as he turned around.

Wait, no. What is he doing here?

I gulped, again.

His eyes were also red. Whenever his eyes were red- let's just say it never ended well for me or mama.

"Dad?"

"Pearl? Or was it Anastasia?"

"It's Olivia!" I told him gulping. I should run to Anna. I should have never left her. I am so stupid, sometimes I hate myself.

"Oh, Olivia. Come on give me some money. I am out of it." He turned to the other two men again. "That's my kid. Don't worry, I will just give you some money. I just need something, anything. I am fine with any sort of drug."

The first man seemed like he would give dad whatever he wanted if he got his money. The second one he seemed a little angry but he just let it go. "We don't have all day. Be quick!"

"Yeah, okay." He turned to me with a scary smile. "Jasmine, where is the money I asked for?"

I just wish I had some. I shivered, dad never gave me a smile and right now I just wish it had stayed that way.

"I don't have it." I whispered in a barely audible voice and by the looks of it he didn't hear me.

"What was that?"

"I don't-" I cut off not able to speak anymore. My throat seemed too dry.

He grabbed my arm before twisting it. All the chocolates fell from my hands meeting the floor.

"Little shit, give me the money. What was the point of creating you if you can't even help your dad?"

Tears started rolling down my cheeks. "Stop. P- Please. I am h- here with M- Mom." Again, I wasn't heard.

Why couldn't my stupid tongue speak louder? If there was one person who could save me, it was Mom. Dad was cautious of only and only her.

"Give me the money!"

I tried to be a little louder. "I don't have i- it."

"You what?"

I tried to force myself to be a little more louder. "Don't have it."

His dark eyes flashed before he raised his hand. I quickly closed my eyes and flinched away from him.

I really shouldn't have left Anna.

But the hit never came. Wait, what?

I still didn't open my eyes, expecting the hit to come. Anytime, now. I would be on the floor, crying anytime now.

Hope? It was a stupid emotions so I just stopped feeling it. But right now I couldn't help it. Hope rose inside me.

I opened my eyes really slowly. Painfully slowly. But everything was blurry so with a shaking hand, I wiped my eyes.

I met eyes with a pair of grey eyes.

"Are you alright, kid?" I flinched away - or atleast tried to, as my arm was still in my dad's hold.

The grey eyed guy turned his gaze to where I was looking. "Leave her!"

"And why would I lis-"

The guy grabbed his hand and removed it from mine, carefully, so I wouldn't get hurt. Wow, a stranger was nicer compared to my own father.

"Ahh!" Dad let out a scream. The guy twisted his arm behind his back making him scream louder.

He tried to make his voice less audible, I guess, so I wouldn't be able to hear him. But with the way how hard his jaw was clenched it was nearly impossible so I heard him. "That is a kid. Are you fucking crazy? Raising your hand on a woman is bad enough but on a kid! The fuck- Is your stupid ass on drugs?" He twisted his hand harder. "Answer me!"

"N- No. I needed money for drugs. I was just asking her for money."

"Asking her? You were traumatizing that kid!" He twisted his hand farther and putting more pressure on it. Dad let out the loudest scream, I have ever heard.

"Ahh! Did you just break my hand?" He clutched his hand to his chest.

Instead of replying he just threw him away and turned to the other two.

"Does anyone else wanna ask why they should listen to me?" They both shook their heads and ran out of the stoor.

The grey eyed guy then turned to me. "Do you know him?" He asked, pointing towards my dad, and I quickly shook my head - only now noticing that there were two other people behind him.

"I- " I cleared my throat. "I a- am here with my mom. Just please let me go."

"Capo, I will take the girl to her mother."

He just shrugged. "Okay. Take her. Emilio, go with them I don't trust Caramel."

"What do you mean by I don't trust Caramel?"

"It means I don't trust you. You might accidentally end up killing the kid and dying at the same time."

There was a little more exchange of words which I just ignored. I just wanted to go to Anna. A big hand caught mine in a gentle but firm grip. "Come on, kid. Let's take you to your mother." The guy named Caramel tugged me behind him.

"Now, do you know where the freezers are? I wanna buy some ice cream."

I heard grumbling from behind us. "Caramel, lets just take her to her mom." The other guy, who I am guessing, was Emilio said.

"Not everyone is like you, Grandpa. What if she wants some too?"

"The freezers are in that direction. I don't want it. Can we find my mother please? You can get the ice cream later." I pointed him the direction.

"Sure. Oh and do you know where the teddy bear and toy section is? That guy, Valentino who just saved you back there, wants to buy some for his kid. But we can't find it, we have been trying for a long time and-"

"Yeah. It's right over there." I cut him off.

All his little rant was making my headache grow. Why couldn't I have a father?

Someone's father is over here searching for teddy bears for a long time.

And then we have my father who wanted to hit me for something called drugs.

Wait, what are drugs?

Do you need it when you grow up? Would I need it when I grow up? Will I hit my child for it?

No! No? Mom doesn't.

Because she has money. What if I didn't have it like dad? Will I h-

No! I won't do that.

I moved a bit closer to Caramel. "Caramel?"

"Mmhmm, kid?"

"What are drugs?" Caramel stopped in his tracks, so did Emilio.

He turned to me and bend down to my height - he still looked taller but atleast he tried. He opened and closed his mouth. "That is something that doesn't concern you, kid."

"But that guy-"

"Forget him. He was being stupid. Okay? Now, lets find you mom."

He started moving faster than before, without talking this time - muttering about not wanting to have kids anytime soon. "Do you know where she might be?"

"Yeah, in the clothing section." He took me their and as soon as I saw Anna I left his hand and ran over to her, hugging her.

"Finally, you are back. You know how worried I was. I was debating on who to call. I am never letting you wander off again. I am fine with not being your favorite."

I didn't back away but I could feel two people behind me now. Anna stopped her rant probably because of this reason and her grip tightened on me.

"Yes?"

"You are her mother?" Emilio asked.

Anna's grip tightened a little more. She seemed panicked for some reason.

"Yes, I am. What do you want?"

"Oh, we found your child and she was-"

"She was what?"

I closed my eyes. I didn't want her to know I wouldn't be able to explain this. I can't tell neither mom nor her about Dad.

I just wanted this day to be over.

Caramel seemed to have listened to my silent prayer. "-was um crying, trying to find you. She couldn't and was crying about that. Just take care of her."

"Oh, okay. Can you guys leave now?" Anna still seemed panicked for some reason.

Curiously I tried to back out of the hug but couldn't because of her tight grip so I did the next best thing and slightly turned my head.

There was nothing different. I still didn't get why she was so panicked but they did by the way Caramel was smirking and Emilio's head was titled looking at her amused.

Then my attention diverted as I saw three people enter the clothing section. It was a family. A child and her parents. Her dad had her in his arms showing her something on his mobile while the mom was picking out clothes for her.

Everyone had normal family except me, it seems.

I quietly turned back in Anna's arms and started silently crying.

Some of the tears escaped to Anna's shirt and she tensed before loosening her hold and bending down to my height.

"Oli, what happened? Why are you crying?" She started wiping my tears before her softened gaze sharpened and turned to the two behind me. "I swear to god, if you two made this kid cry I am gonna make you pay."

"We didn't. Why is she crying? Should I get some ice cream? Ice cream always helps me."

"Can we go home?" I mumbled making Anna turn to me again.

"Sure. I got you and Aaron same panda onsies. And I got your gifts. Now, let's just go pay and we can leave. Wait, where are the things you got?"

Oh, you know, my father just twisted my arm and I dropped everything.

"I didn't get anything." With that more tears started leaving my eyes making Anna more panicked than I have ever seen her.

She turned to the two again, "How do you handle crying kids?"

"Isn't she your kid?"

"That doesn't mean I know everything."

My crying soon turned into full on sobbing. Through my hazy vision I saw her taking out her phone, hurriedly, and dialing a number.

"Sam! Quick tell me how to handle crying kids." She rubbed my arms but it really didn't help. "Yes. Shut up and tell."

The other line talked for some more time.

"Let me repeat myself."

I tried to wipe my tears but to no use.

"How. Do. You. Handle. Crying. Kids?"