I've been reading the story and I've noticed that grammar errors are everywhere. I'm sorry! Bear with me please. I edit but I miss a lot of mistakes.

Sorry if the mistakes put you off the story but nobody's perfect. Hope you still read!

It will all be edited when the book is finished!

Here's another chapter . . .

> Littlemissflawed

                                                        _______________________

When Rebecca woke up the next morning her head ache was gone. As she looked around the room she wanted to yell at her parents for being overprotective — not that she’d ever do it. Some time in the middle of the night they’d brought in a chair from the dining room into her room. No doubt they’d used it to sit on while they watched over her. Apparently they’d stayed there all night since they were both slumped against the chair, sleeping in what looked like a very uncomfortable position. How they’d managed to get to sleep like that that was astonishing to Rebecca. Neither of them had bothered to change, both still in their clothes from last night.

Suddenly aware that she needed to go to the bathroom, Rebecca shifted, the covers falling off her body. No wonder why I was so hot last night. She’d slept in her clothes from last night, her leggings covering her whole legs. They would have been fine to wear if only someone hadn’t put three blankets over her. At least I didn’t wear jeans yesterday. Better to be too hot than have a denim-burn on your legs.

On shaky legs she stood, walking towards the bathroom. It was amazing how no school could make her mood better. On a school day she’d already be dreading going, stressing herself out. This morning she didn’t have to stress about anything related to Skye or popularity — The-Person-She-Wasn’t-Going-To-Speak-Of included. Rebecca had considered calling him ‘He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’ but that had already been used.

She managed to get to the bathroom door without incident, but the door just had to creak as it opened. How many times had that happened before? Zero times since it wasn’t even old. So why now? Because it could. It wasn’t as if Rebecca had anything to hide anyway, but still her parents deserved to sleep after staying up all night to watch her. Rebecca couldn’t even begin to comprehend how they’d fallen asleep there. She’d have woken up every minute if it was her.

Her parents jumped, toppling off the chair and onto the floor. They reacted quickly, jumping to their feet. They spoke at the same time, startling Rebecca.

“Rebecca, get back in bed! What are you doing? You’re supposed to be resting, not walking around.”

“Becca? Are you okay? You’re not dizzy are you? I’ll go and get you some medicine.” Her mum turned to leave the room.

Rebecca rolled her eyes, staring at the bathroom; if she didn’t get in there soon . . .

Her dad frowned. “Becca?”

She turned her attention to her dad. In the time she’d been staring her mum had left the room to get medicine that Rebecca didn’t need. “Yes?”

He gestured to the bed. “Go and sit down. I’ll help you if you need it.”

“Dad, I can’t. I need to go.” No way was Rebecca saying it.

“Why can’t you?”

“Because I need to go.”

“Go where?”

Rebecca rolled her eyes. For a lawyer her dad was bad at understanding hints. “I need to go.”

Realisation crossed his features and he frowned. “Then why aren’t you? No one’s stopping you.”

“You’re stopping me.”

He blinked. “I am? Oh, I am! Go Becca,” he said, waving to the bathroom.

Rebecca ran to the bathroom. She avoided the mirror as she washed her hands, not wanting to see what she looked like. She knew all too well. On her good days she wasn’t pleasant to look at — in clothes from yesterday? Not even she’d be able to handle that.

When she came out a few minutes later, both her parents were in the room. Her mother was holding tablets, eyes so serious Rebecca could feel them burning from where she stood. Frowning, her mother looked her over, looking for injuries that didn’t exist.

“Becca, come here. I’ve got water and tablets. Take them.”

“Mum, I’m fine. I don’t have a head ache.”

Her mother didn’t see reason right now. “You had one last night and yesterday so I’m not taking precautions. Take a tablet so you don’t get another head ache.”

Even though the tone she spoke with didn’t allow any question, Rebecca still tried to make her mother see reason. “Mum that was yesterday. Not that. I’ve slept and now I don’t feel any pain.”

Her mother scoffed in disbelief. “Rebecca, you have an impressive bruise on your forehead and you don’t feel any pain? Come over here and take a tablet. You’ve been through enough.”

Rebecca wanted to go and see the bruise the ball had left but she couldn’t — that would involve a mirror. Still, she wondered how big it was. “I’ve had bruises before,” she said to placate her mother. Realising what she’d said, Rebecca hurried to add, “This isn’t the first time I’ve run into something. I’m a klutz, it happens.” If Rebecca was being honest that wasn’t entirely true — most of the bruises she’d had in the past few years had been from people at her school. Granted, there were times when she wasn’t looking where she was going and she fell over, but they were far and few between compared to the people at school.

“I don’t care if you’ve fallen over before. That was before, this is now. So, I need you to come here and take the tablet and then I want you with an icepack against your forehead.” The severity of her mother’s gaze had Rebecca backtracking. “Now, come here.”

Rebecca was both touched and annoyed at the concern. Though she had little knowledge to draw on, she assumed that this was what every teen with real parents complained about — parents being overbearing and overprotective. Rebecca’s heart warmed despite the annoyance she felt right now.

I’m never going to win so I might as well take the tablet. Who knows, I might just get another head ache. All I need to do is think about The-Person-I’m-Not-Going-To-Speak-Of and I’ll get a major migraine.

Rebecca walked over, taking the tablet that was offered to her without complaint. She really hated tablets. She could swallow them but she found it difficult. The first one was always easy to swallow, but that second? She could never manage to do it as easily. Still, she managed. It was better than the alternative — crushed tablets weren’t worth the pain you felt when you had to taste them. She managed to get both tablets down (each followed by a whole glass of water) while her mother watched, eyes concerned.

“Thanks,” she said, when she was done, smiling gratefully at her mother. Overbearing as she may be, her mother acted that way out of love and that was more than Rebecca could have hoped for. Growing up the way she had, she’d given up on ever truly being cared about. When she’d first arrived that the Smiths it had been no different. She’d expected cold detachment but she’d been surprised when they’d genuinely started to care for her as their own daughter.

She was wrapped in an embrace, her mother’s perfume surrounding her. Rebecca practically melted into those arms. “You’re welcome sweetheart. I worry about you because I love you.” With a kiss on her forehead, Rebecca was put at arms length so her mother could look at her. “Now, I have to go downstairs and get you some ice to put on that forehead of yours. That bruise is going to be bad enough as it is.”

Rebecca wanted to bask in the comfort longer, but she wanted to get out of her clothes more. “Can I shower first? I really don’t smell the greatest.”

“No you really don’t — I can’t say I’m much better though,” her mother laughed. “Okay, new plan. You shower and we’ll go down and cook some breakfast. When you get out of the shower I’ll give you some ice for your forehead and food.”

Her dad interrupted, throwing an arm over Rebecca’s shoulders. She was pulled into his side. “How about I go down and get started on breakfast? You two stay up here and come down.” His eyes went to Rebecca’s, his expression serious. “I don’t want you fainting in the shower. Your mother will be outside the door the whole time and you just have to yell if you get dizzy. Okay?”

“Yes, dad.” It was the only answer he’d accept.

He smiled at her, kissing Rebecca on the forehead. “Good.” Then he turned to her mother, smiling gently at her. “Is that okay, honey? I can watch her if you want but she’ll probably feel more comfortable if it’s you.”

Her mother’s eyes rolled in response. “Yes, my amazing husband is offering to cook me breakfast and I’m going to refuse. I’ll wait up here while you cook.”

Her dad glared but it wasn’t out of anger. “You don’t even offer to help me.”

“Do you want some help? I can if you want me to.”

Her dad rolled his eyes. “Nonsense. You cooked last night so it’s my turn this morning. Besides, our daughter is more important so you need to look after her.”

Rebecca knew she had to stop them before she started to cry. Every time her dad was being affectionate with her, it got to Rebecca more than anything else could. The men in her life hadn’t exactly been caring, so it never ceased to amaze her how just a hug from him could affect her. “Mum, dad, stop. All this love is making me sick,” she joked, with words that couldn’t be any more wrong. It had been decades since they’d first gotten married and they still held so much love for each other it made Rebecca envious.

“Okay, okay. The boss has spoken.” Her dad stepped away from her mother, kissing Rebecca on the forehead. “Love you, Becca.”

“Love you too, dad.”

Her mother turned to her when the door shut, a gentle smile on her face. “You had to spoil a romantic moment didn’t you, Becca?”

Rebecca only smiled.

“Go and get in the shower before I don’t let you go in the bathroom alone — you know I will, so don’t test me.”

Rebecca laughed as she was shooed into the bathroom, under strict orders to yell if she felt even remotely dizzy.

It only occurred to her that she wasn’t supposed to be eating yet while she showered. Rebecca shrugged, even though no one could see. It was too late now and she was hungry. Hopefully her parents would just forget.

    *               *              *

When Rebecca entered the kitchen, freshly showered and in more comfortable clothes — grey sweatpants and a 30 Seconds to Mars shirt — the smell of delicious bacon immediately assaulted her senses. It made her mouth water and she couldn’t wait to eat it. Now she’d definitely neglect to mention that she wasn’t meant to be eating.

Her dad smiled at her from where he stood at the stove, still flipping the bacon as if each little piece was connected to the pan by magnets. Her dad liked to show off in the kitchen and that meant that anything that was able to be flipped was flipped. Bacon, eggs, mushroom, sausages . . . the list went on and on. Rebecca didn’t get how a person could keep the food in the pan, especially when they weren’t even looking. The one time Rebecca had tried to flip something, she’d failed miserably. Pancakes were supposed to be easy to flip. Rebecca had tried ten times and it hadn’t worked any of those times. Most of the pancaked had landed on the floor, a few on Rebecca’s arm. And, as if she wasn’t already so challenged when it came to coordination, Rebecca had burnt herself on the handle of the pan — more than a few times.

“Feeling better?” her dad asked, still not even watching the bacon as it flipped in the pan. Annoyingly, still not putting bacon all over the floor.

“Yeah, I can’t believe I slept in my clothes,” Rebecca said, sitting down at the counter.

“Well we all did, so it wasn’t just you. At least you’ve showered though.”

Rebecca couldn’t help but agree with her dad. His suit from last night was wrinkled and creased and he looked very much like he’d fallen asleep wearing it. If Rebecca wasn’t their main priority right now, he’d be horrified. It wasn’t as if her dad was vain, just that he preferred to wear wrinkle-free suits. He was a lawyer after all.

“Yeah, you do smell,” she couldn’t help but tease. Right now all Rebecca could smell was bacon and it was heavenly. She could care less about what her dad smelt like.

Her dad raised an eyebrow, amusement written across his face. “I don’t think it’s a smart idea to insult the person who’s feeding you, daughter. I could go shower right now and leave this bacon to burn. We all know you aren’t the best chef so it’s not like you’d be able to save it.”

“I’m not that bad!” Rebecca spluttered. It was true. She wasn’t the greatest but she wasn’t hopeless. She could cook the bacon if it came down to it.

Her dad raised an eyebrow, somehow knowing what she’d just been thinking. “Are you sure about that Becca? Because we can try it — I’ll go shower and you can watch the bacon. If you don’t burn it I’ll owe you fifty dollars.”

The offer of taking the bet just to get the money didn’t even sound appealing to Rebecca. Any other teenager would have jumped at the offer but Rebecca didn’t value money the same way they did.

“No, you cook.”

“Really? Is that because you know you’ll burn it?”

She glared at her dad, hating that he was right. She would probably burn the bacon. “Yes but that’s beside the point.”

“What is the point then?”

Rebecca didn’t break the eye contact with her dad but she knew her glare had weakened. She couldn’t stay mad at him, even jokingly, when he looked at her like that — a grin on his face and love in his eyes. “The point is you’re cooking the food, not me.”

Her dad laughed. “Well, I can’t deny that, can I?” He turned to the living room eyes, wondering around. “Where’s your mother?”

“Showering. Or at least, that’s what she said she was going to do,” Rebecca replied, knowing her mother had probably gotten side tracked on her way to the bathroom.

Her dad was apparently thinking the same thing. “She won’t come down for at least half an hour then. By the time she showers you’ll have eaten all the food.” He raised an eyebrow at Rebecca. “Won’t you?”

Rebecca laughed, half agreeing with her dad. She loved food and would eat all day if she could but her relationship with it wasn’t simple. Some days she just let herself eat when she wanted to and other days she stopped herself. She was offensive to look at as it was, she didn’t need to add gaining weight to her list of problems. Even though she knew she was deluding herself, Rebecca was always hoping that a guy would notice her.

Rebecca blinked, only just now realising that her wish had come true. Mikael showed interest in her. Mikael was a guy. Mikael noticed her.

Stop it. Mikael hadn’t noticed her because she was special or pretty. Even without hearing all the gossip, it was obvious that Rebecca was the outcast that everyone hated. One look at her and he’d have known it. She was an easy target and Rebecca knew all too well that you had to find someone you could hurt — emotionally or physically, or both — if you wanted to be popular. It wasn’t just looks that made you popular; you had to act like it too. Everyone uglier than you was worthless and you had to treat them like they meant nothing to you.

Rebecca rolled her eyes. So much for not thinking about him. Maybe if his name was boring and generic I wouldn’t be thinking about him all the time. I’m not even supposed to be thinking about his name.

Rebecca forced her thoughts away from Mikael — The-Person-She-Wasn’t-Going-To-Speak-Of, Rebecca reminded herself angrily. I’ll just come up with a shorter name. I’ll remember it easier.

She focused her attention on her dad, who was frowning at her concerned. Apparently her internal battle was reflected on her face. “You okay, Becca? You look stressed.”

“I’m fine, dad. Just tired.” Rebecca thought she sounded pretty convincing.

Rebecca was thankful when her dad changed the subject. “What do you want to do while we wait for your mum to shower? I can’t leave the kitchen but I’m sure we’ll think of something.” He didn’t mention the food comment, aware that it was what had sparked Rebecca’s tailspin of emotions — more or less.

Rebecca stood, the stool almost tilting over in her haste. She went around the kitchen, moving

closer to her dad. She jumped up onto the counter, sitting on the edge. Her mother would tell her to get off of it, complaining about how dirty it was to sit where people ate. Her dad didn’t mind though, just smiling at her as he flipped the bacon in the pan.

“Any ideas, daughter?” her dad asked.

Rebecca shook her head, unable to think of anything. She was perfectly happy to watch her dad cook. Normal children with parents went through this monotonous routine every day and they took it for granted. Up until four years ago, Rebecca had never lived in a family so . . . domestic. She’d never been treated like anything other than the adopted orphan burdening everyone by her presence. Anytime with her parents was time that Rebecca cherished.

“Do you want to grab some food for me, then?”

Rebecca nodded, walking to the fridge. “What am I grabbing?”

She couldn’t see her dad but she knew he was staring at the ceiling, the same thing he always did when he was thinking. “I’m making an omelette. Do you know what you need to grab?”

Rebecca laughed, rolling her eyes. “I thought I couldn’t cook,” Rebecca said, sounding as sarcastic as she should. “Why would I know what you need to make an omelette?”

Her dad’s deep laughed echoed around the kitchen. “I forget that you can’t. Remind me to teach you one day.” He paused. “Okay, I need the eggs, salt, pepper and cheese. Can you find them, She-Who-Can’t-Cook?”

Rebecca laughed, grabbing the requested food. “I’m not that hopeless.”

Footsteps resounded from outside the kitchen as Rebecca placed the food on the counter. Her mother came around the corner, out of her usual lawyer clothes as Rebecca liked to call them. With her hair dripping down her shoulders, wearing jeans and a white blouse and no make up, she looked more like a parent.

Her dad’s smile changed, the love he felt for her mother shamelessly showing. He grinned, giving his wife a kiss. “What took you so long? You almost missed the food.”

Rebecca’s mother grinned, rolling her eyes. “Sure I did. And I didn’t take that long.”

Rebecca jumped up on the counter, watching as her dad started to make the omelette. He did it so easily, as if it wasn’t that hard. Rebecca had to admit she may just be biased because she couldn’t cook, but it was still unfair. The only upside was that she got to eat the food — and that it was cool to watch.

When her mother glared at her, Rebecca wasn’t surprised. “Off,” was all she said. She didn’t need to say anymore.

Rebecca was about to get off the counter, when her dad said, “Rebecca, stay,” to her. To her mother, he said, “She’s not hurting anyone, darling wife.”

With mock-anger, her mother said, “You think sweet talking will make me agree with you?”

“’Sweet talking’ will always work. Now who’s hungry?”

Her mother laughed. “Smart man. Give me food and I can’t stay mad.”

Grabbing a plate from the cupboard Rebecca grabbed some omelette. She was surprised her mum was letting her eat, after last night.

“Becca, what do you think you’re doing?”

Spoke too soon. She turned. “Yes?” she asked as innocently as she could.

Her mother’s eyes were staring straight into hers, as if she knew the game Rebecca was playing. “Are you sure you should be doing that?”

Rebecca sighed. She couldn’t lie to her parents. Walking to her mum, she handed her the plate, wishing she could eat.

“Thank you,” her mum said. “I’m sorry you can’t eat. Doctors orders. Now, we’re going to the shopping centre later so I need you to get ready. Change clothes if you want.”

Rebecca hugged her mum, walking to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She was tempted to steal some food but she couldn’t bring herself to.

Let’s hope I don’t run into anyone I know.

*               *                *

The shopping centre was busy they arrived. People were everywhere, milling around the stores, eating in the food court. Families, couples and teens all surrounded the shops. Anonymous, all of them. Rebecca was grateful she didn’t know any of them. The only people she knew aside from her parents were the people she went to school with — aside from her parents’ friends but they didn’t count. So basically, sad as it was, everyone she knew hated her.

Let’s just hope I don’t run into anyone, she thought. Then she cursed herself. And now I’ve probably jinxed myself.

“. . . Becca! Hurry up.”

Rebecca tried to find where her dad had spoken from, but she couldn’t see him in the throng of people.

Walking to the edge of the wall, Rebecca tried to see easier. It didn’t help. Still, all she could see was teenagers in barely-there clothing and parents rushing after their children. Why did everyone have to be at the shops today? I’m never here but, no, let’s just all go on the one day that I am here.

Sighing, Rebecca walked back into the crowd. Standing off to the side wasn’t helping anything.

Rebecca regretted it instantly.

All at once she saw surrounded, sweat and an unnecessary amount of perfume forcing itself into her nose. Rebecca hated crowds and right now was only proving why. The escalators were only a few metres away but it seemed so far away.

Someone bumped into her, nearly throwing her into a stranger. Rebecca glared at the source — a teenage girl, no older than fourteen, wearing nothing but a tiny skirt and crop top. The girl glared back, her eyes roving over Rebecca with disgust written on her face. It wasn’t even the bruise she was looking at. Rebecca wanted to laugh. This girl wearing nothing but tiny scraps of clothing — that barely covered everything it needed to (she wasn’t exactly skinny either so it was all sorts of unflattering) — was criticising her outfit. You’d think that shirts didn’t even exist anymore, she looks so offended by the idea of it, Rebecca thought. She hadn’t changed her clothes, still in her sweatpants and shirt. Rebecca wasn’t trying to impress anyone and could care less what strangers thought of her clothes. It wasn’t as if there was anything to be impressed with. She could wear the prettiest dress and still be ugly to a guy.

Apparently sick of looking at Rebecca’s outfit, the girl turned away, talking to her friend, who wasn’t dressed any better.

I swear I’m from the generation of underwear as clothes. Rebecca didn’t see any other teenager girl that cared about covering her body.

“Becca! Over here!”

Finally. Gratefully, Rebecca walked over to her dad, getting out of the giant crowd. “Get lost in there?” he teased, when she reached his side.

“You try being in the middle of it. Then we’ll see if you’re laughing,” Rebecca grumbled.

Throwing an arm over her shoulder, her dad laughed, his deep voice louder than any other person around. “No I probably wouldn’t be,” he said, shaking his head ruefully.

As she was led back into crowd by the arm on her, Rebecca asked, “Where’s mum?”

Her dad was very overprotective. It didn’t matter if it was Rebecca or her mother, he didn’t relent on watching to make sure they were safe. If either of them wanted to walk somewhere and it was night, her dad came with, glaring at anyone who dared to look for too long. It wasn’t like he couldn’t handle other people. Her dad was the stereotypical lawyer, apart from a few things. He dressed like one and spoke like one, but he didn’t necessarily act like one all the time. Ever since he’d been a child he’d practised boxing. He knew how to defend himself and punch — and not just a punch, a punch. Rebecca blamed his career for the protectiveness — not that it was something she hated, actually quite the opposite. Everyday he dealt with criminals. Dumb ones and smart ones. Scary ones and weak ones. In his lifetime he’d seen too many cases where things had happened.

Something poked her arm and she looked up at her dad, hoping that it had been him and not some random stranger. “Where’d you go?”

Go? Rebecca wondered. Oh. She’s been thinking and hadn’t been paying attention to anything. “I’m back now.”

“Good. Now let’s find my wife.”

“What’s she buying anyway?”

“She said wallets, but knowing your mother it’ll become a whole cart full of clothes.”

“Where would she go?”

“She’s probably shopping at every store she can find. She won’t make up her mind until she’s seen everything. We both know that’ll take hours.”

They were going up the escalator now, finally through the too large crowd.

“Well aren’t you lucky I don’t like shopping then. You don’t want two of us dragging you around the shops.” Rebecca didn’t hate shopping but it didn’t appeal to her either. Spending money wasn’t a priority. If she had to buy clothes she bought the first thing she liked, hating to stay too long. She didn’t care if it was designer or in-fashion. Clothes were clothes.

“No. No, I don’t.” He grinned. “Now, let’s go on a search party.”

                                                                 *             *             *

The search didnt’t take that long, less than ten minutes. Rebecca was glad when they finally find her. Already they’d been in too many stores. Even worse, they’d been full of other teenagers, thankfully none that she'd known from school. She couldn’t count on her hand how many looks she’d been given, as if she was committing a crime by not risking indecent exposure. Then, crime of the century, she was with her dad. What teenager shops with her parents? They’d all been convinced that is was wrong and foreign. Rebecca was ashamed to be the same age as them — teenagers were idiots.

Thankfully, the store wasn’t full when they walked in, only a few customers there. Her mum was standing by a row of wallets, studying them all. When her dad called out, she turned, smiling at them.

Rebecca walked over grabbing the wallet out of her hand. She studied it, admitting that it was pretty. The silver stripes reflecting off the gold wasn’t bad. The inside was nice too.

“Do you like it?” her mother asked, gesturing to the wallet.

“It’s nice. You should get it.” Honestly, Rebecca wanted to leave. First, she wanted food, and then she wanted to leave.

“I was considering it but I’m not sure.”

Her dad laughed, muttering what sounded like, “I told you so.”

Ignoring him, Rebecca asked, “What other ones are you looking at?”

“None in this store but I haven’t checked out the other ones yet.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Do you have to check out another store? You like that, buy it.”

Her mother glared at her. “You sound like your father. No, Rebecca, I cannot just only see one store. It’s not that simple.”

Her dad walked up to her mother, wrapping his arms around her from behind. Resting his chin on top of her head, he winked at Rebecca. “It really is that simple.” Kissing her mother’s hair he muttered, “Women.”

Her mother laughed, leaning back against the body behind her. “Don’t think I didn’t hear that. Now I’ll take even longer.”

Her dad groaned.

Smiling, her mother said, “I suggest you don’t do it again.”

Positively grinning, her dad said, “Yes ma’am.” The mock-salute made Rebecca laugh.

She loved watching her parents. They still acted like two teenagers in love for the first time.

*             *             * 

Rebecca felt like jumping in the air in victory when finally, a wallet was bought. Her dad had been right. Between the space of two hours and ten stores her mother had bought everything except for a wallet. Rebecca was stuck carrying some of the bags of clothes that her mother had seen and decided to buy. And now, they were done. Rebecca’s feet were killing her.

Her dad grinned. “And it’s over. It took two hours but it’s done. Let’s leave this place.”

Smiling, her mother elbowed him in the side. “Be quiet you.”

They’ve forgotten about feeding me. Rebecca couldn’t say that she was surprised. Her dad just wanted to get out of there as soon as he could, much like Rebecca did. Her mother was too preoccupied by clothes and shopping. They’d also both had food this morning so they probably weren’t hungry — they weren’t even thinking about food. Rebecca hadn’t eaten food though and she was hungry. Of course, shopping centre food paled in comparison to her dad’s food, but she wasn’t going to make him cook something just for her. Today was his day off and he needed to relax.

Interrupting them, she asked, “Can we go and get some food?”

Her mother turned to her, narrowing her eyes. She knew full well that Rebecca was the first one to take advantage of a chance to get out of the shops. Wanting to stay longer was uncharacteristic for Rebecca. 

Explaining herself, she said, “I didn’t get to eat this morning and I’m hungry.”

Clarity crossed her mother’s face, followed by shame. “Oh, you didn’t. I’m sorry, I forget about that. Come on, we’ll get you some food.”

Quickly turning around, her mother started to walk toward the food court. The opposite direction to the exit. Rebecca followed behind.

Frowning, she looked around, searching for her dad. She couldn’t see him in the crowd. “Where’s dad?” she asked. Funnily enough, it was the same question she’d asked her dad before.

Her mother’s eyes searched around too. Finally she looked at Rebecca, eyebrows drawn low. “No idea. I’ll call him. He probably didn’t realise we turned. He just continued walking to the car.”

Her mother walked closer to the wall, getting out of the crowd milling around. With annoyance, Rebecca realised that in the two hours they’d been there, more people had arrived. It was even more crowded.

Pulling out her phone — looking at the phone, Rebecca remembered that she was supposed to have brought hers, which she hadn’t — her mother typed on it for a second then brought it to her ear. Rebecca assumed it was her dad on the other end, when her mother opened the conversation with “Hey honey.” As she continued to talk, Rebecca droned out the conversation, looking around.

After a few minutes, her mother hung up, turning to Rebecca. “He’s coming now. He didn’t realise we’d turned around and continued to walk to the exit. He only realised we were gone when he was on the escalator; he wanted to leave so badly. It wasn’t that bad, was it? I didn’t buy that many clothes.”

Rebecca didn’t bother to lie. “It was the most boring thing I’ve ever done in my life. And you bought too many clothes.” Admittedly, she was exaggerating slightly.

Her mother smiled. “And that’s coming from a girl. It was probably torture to him.”

Rebecca agreed with that statement.

“Okay, enough talking, I need to feed you. He’s going to meet us at the food court. Any ideas on what you want?”

Rebecca shrugged; she’d figure it out when they got there.

BY THE TIME HER dad joined them, Rebecca was almost half way through her Caesar salad. It wasn’t the greatest one she’d ever had but it was better than a greasy burger from McDonalds.

“I finally found you,” her dad said as he sat down at their table. He groaned. “You chose the worst spot. I spent ten minutes trying to find you.”

“I can’t believe you’re still here,” Rebecca teased, around her bite of lettuce.

He grinned. “I couldn’t leave. I’m your ride home.”

Leaning against her husband, her mum rolled her eyes. “You’re not mine.”

Throwing his hands up in surrender he said, “Fine. I couldn’t leave because I love you. Happy now?”

Kissing her husband, her mother smiled. “You better love me.”

He dad rolled his eyes. “How could I not love you? I spend two hours walking around a shopping centre for you. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

Smiling at her parents fondly, Rebecca drank some of her water. Standing, she announced to her parents, “I’m going to the toilets.”

Her dad grinned at her. “Have fun.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “You’re so weird. How are you a lawyer?”

“I ask myself that every day,” her mother said.

“No one has any faith in me, do they? I need support.”

Rebecca laughed at her dad. “I’m going now.”

The walk to the toilets wasn’t a long one, but it took longer than usual with the thousands — at least that’s what it felt like — of people in her way. Surprisingly, when she walked into the toilets it was empty. Good, she hated public toilets as it was.

She was washing her hands when someone walked in. She didn’t pay attention.

At least, not until she heard the person talk.

“Is it empty?”

“Yeah. Just us.”

“No one can get in?”

“We’ve blocked it.”

Rebecca looked to the door, hoping for an escape but it was blocked by a body. Rebecca prepared herself for the worst, her good mood dissipating.

“Hi there,” a sickly sweet voice said.

Rebecca didn’t turn, trying to look at Skye as subtly as she could. Skye took the term underwear to a whole new level. Her shorts were so short that Rebecca saw things she really didn’t want to and her top was basically a bra.

“You’re ignoring me.”

Rebecca wanted to roll her eyes. State the obvious, why don’t you?

“So, I found out something interesting. Do you want to know what it is?”

Rebecca didn’t react. She didn’t know what the ‘interesting’ things was, but she didn’t want to find out. Random stranger please walk in. Now is a good time.

“You want to guess?”

Silence.

“No?"

Silence.

"Well I’ll tell you. I found out that you tried to have sex with my boyfriend. He said no of course, because who would you freak? You couldn’t leave him alone could you? You couldn’t even stop, even when he clearly wanted to vomit. No, you had to take of all your clothes and you had to rub all over him.”

Rebecca wasn’t sure who’d told her, but they’d made a pretty detailed lie. There was no way she’d ever remove clothing in front of a guy.

“So, I had to think of a way to get you back.”

Skye stopped talking and Rebecca could see her in the reflection, glaring dangerously. Whatever was about to happen Rebecca wouldn’t like what was about to happen. She couldn’t do anything to stop it either.

Closing her eyes, she braced herself.

Then she was freezing, something cold dumped over her head.

She heard Skye’s voice, as she hissed, “And that’s only the beginning freak.”

She didn’t open her eyes until she knew she was alone. Then she felt like crying. A smoothie — she didn’t care what sort — was dripping down her face, her hair and her body. She looked like a yellow monster from Scooby Doo. I’m a monster with a giant bruise on my face. Thank you Skye. I happened to like this shirt too.

What did I do to deserve this? she thought miserably, barely managing to hold back tears.