Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate 203- Beads and bonding “Well, I think that it might actually be nice having an extra person around the house. Extra security and company. Besides, you spend most of your there anyway. Might as well save you the commute. That is, as long as no one else has any objection?” | say pointedly looking at Megan. Sure, Bellamy could object but | already know that he won't. Megan briefly makes eye contact with me, gives a slight nod, then finds something to stare at on the ceiling. She is clearly trying to look like she doesn’t care but she is blushing bright red. True to form, Darrien is watching her closely trying to work out how she really feels about my suggestion. Realising that she isn’t going to provide any input, he decides to push it a little.

“Megan? | would like to hear your opinion. | am still courting you and | don’t want to screw anything up by making a decision like this without your input.” Darrien says clearly. His voice is mostly calm with just the slightest hint of anxiety as he monitors her reaction. Megan reluctantly turns to face him. She is bright red all over and looks awkwardly towards Bellamy and I, although mostly Bellamy. I think she feels weird having discussions like this in front of her brother, which | guess is fair.

“Well... | suppose | wouldn’t mind having you around more. It would save tif you didn’t have to cand go so much. It is logically a good idea.” She hedges. Darrien presses on.

“So you wantto stay?” He repeats. Megan lets out an exasperated sigh.

“Yes, | want you to stay.” She grumbles out. Darrien beams his delight.

“Then that’s what I'll do.” He digs back into his breakfast with renewed vigour.

During this conversation, Kiara and Aaron have both been eating and have finished their meals. It seems like they spent the last few minutes just exchanging mocking and silly faces. Aaron is surprisingly good with children it seems. For how serious he pretends to be with. adults, he breaks that facade with Kiara and it's adorable. Kiara tugs on my sleeve to get my attention and tilts her head in a way that | interpret to mean she wants to know how long we're going to sit here and when she gets to go shopping. | can’t help but smile. She’s been through a lot, but it seems like she’s doing her best to push through. | doubt she is feeling as cheerful as she is acting, and she still isn’t speaking which in itself, speaks volumes. It probably doesn’t help that she’s in a temporary situation with a house full of strangers. As much as | am reluctant to let her leave, it would probably be easier for her to be settled in a 1/4 203- Beads and bonding more permanent living situation where she can go to school and make friends and get comfortable with the situation. Still, in the meant| can do my best to make things better for her and show her that she still has people who care about her.

“So, Megan. Kiara and | are planning to go and do sclothes shopping today. Did you want t-” | don’t manage to finish the sentence before Megan eagerly interrupts. She is bouncing in her seat with excitement.

“I'm coming! I'm coming!” She squeals out the words. Yeah she has definitely been cooped up for too long. She pauses long enough to ch*ck with Kiara though which I appreciate.

“Kiara, you don’t mind if | ctoo do you? | love shopping, it'll be a lot of fun. Promise!” Megan gives what | can only describe as wide kitten eyes. Kiara gives her a serious nod. Megan grins happily and pushes her chair back with a harsh scratching noise on the floor.

“I'm gonna go get my stuff then we can go, you're ready right Darrien?” She asks as she is already heading for the stairs. Darrien laughs.

“I'm always ready for anything that makes you this happy.” He says cheesily. Kiara fakes a gag and Aaron winks at her. | laugh.

“That was pretty corny.” | agree with her. Bellamy slings an arm over my shoulder.

“Maybe | should work on my lines.” He jokes and | narrow my eyes.

“Don’t you dare. | can barely keep from running away when we're both being awkward. You're not allowed to be smooth or corny.” | insist and Bellamy bursts out laughing. Even Aaron is smirking atand Kiara is letting out a high pitched giggle that might be one of the sweetest sounds | have ever heard. | can hear Megan coming back down the stairs ready to go if the stomping of her shoes is anything to judge by. Kiara hops up and slips on the very oversized shoes | got out for her earlier and Bellamy chases us out of the house, promising to take care of the dishes himself and ordering us all to get ourselves snice things. Before he closes the door he presses a credit card into my hand. | drop it into my handbag but | don’t really intend to use it. I still have a bit of money on my own card since | haven't actually had to pay for anything myself in weeks. Bellamy must anticipate my reluctance though because when I'm in the back of the car with Megan and Kiara (We decided to let Darrien take the front since he is much bigger than any of us) my phone goes off.

2/4 203- Beads and bonding Bellamy- The pin for the card is 1396 and | know you don’t want to use it but you've been earning your money just as much as | have. You helped us catch a Shifter who was committing murders and kidnapping, that alone is worth whatever you might spend on something nice for yourself. But you also help with the Alpha stuff, you do more than you know. If you really feel guilty about it you can always spend the evening answering however many emails and messages you need to answer to make yourself feel better. | suspect that once we sort things out for the Shifter woman who messaged you that plenty more will do the same. Enjoy this free tyou have now and I'll see you later this afternoon. I love you.

Ryann- That was a very long and roundabout way of saying you really wantto spend money on clothes.

Bellamy- Eh, we've been over this. It's a courting thing. | like spending money on you, and this doesn’t even count because it’s basically your money even if my nis on the card. | could transfer the money into your bank account if you prefer? Ryann- It’s fine. Ill use your card. Just don’t expectto make this a regular thing.

Ryann- And | love you too...

Bellamy-[] have a great day Our first stop is just a basic department store and we get Kiara sshoes that she can actually walk in properly. | pay for them immediately before we head back in and continue our shopping. Usually I'm the one being conservative and careful with money while Megan or Bellamy are generous. But for once, | am happy to go a little crazy. | kind of see why Bellamy likes spoiling me, buying stuff for Kiara is kind of fun. It makes it hard to worry about the cost like | usually do. We get all sorts of things and Kiara seems a little overwhelmed. | know she probably has sof this stuff at her home, but | don’t think it’s a good idea to go back there just yet. She can go there when she’s ready. We even stop at a hairdresser and Kiara gets her hair trimmed back to her shoulders like she had it in all of her pictures. It had grown. out a little over the last few weeks. It looks much nicer and healthier with the ends trimmed away and | can see the confidence that it gives her. As a final stop, final because we can’t carry anymore stuff (and that’s with Aaron and Darrien helping) and because Kiara looks exhausted, we go to an accessories and jewellery store and Megan prompts Kiara to point out what kinds of things she likes. Kiara responds by tugging my arm until | bend down and pointing at the very colourful n*cklace that Logan made me.

3/4 203- Beads and bonding “Oh, well | didn’t buy this one. It was a gift from a friend. But maybe he can make you one or we could make one together sometime.” | suggest. Kiara nods eagerly and our last stop becomes the second to last stop because | need beads and stuff to make a n*cklace.