On the Otherside of Town

So Called Shopping Therapy

Chapter 12:

Aurora's POV

The mall was too much—too bright, too polished, too perfect. The shiny floors reflected everything back at me, making it impossible to disappear. Charlotte strolled ahead, full of energy, dragging me from store to store as if she didn’t notice how out of place I looked. People glanced at us as we passed, their eyes lingering on her with admiration and on me with confusion. I felt like an awkward shadow trailing behind her.

Charlotte had insisted on buying me baby clothes and maternity outfits. Now I was carrying a bag filled with tiny onesies, little socks, and stretchy jeans I wasn’t even sure I’d wear. I should’ve felt grateful, but instead, a knot of guilt twisted in my stomach. This wasn’t my world, and no matter how many kind things Charlotte said, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t belong here.

As we left one boutique, I spotted a group of familiar faces down the hall—girls from school, dressed in designer clothes and laughing like they owned the place. My stomach dropped as they saw me and nudged each other, their expressions lighting up like they’d just found their next target.

“Hey, Trailer Trash!” one of them called, her voice carrying over the crowd. My steps faltered, and I tightened my grip on the bag. Charlotte turned toward me, her smile fading as she followed my gaze.

“What are you doing here?” another girl sneered, flipping her perfectly straight hair over her shoulder. “Can you even afford anything in this mall?”

Their laughter rang out, loud and cruel. My face burned, and I wanted nothing more than to turn around and run. I glanced at Charlotte, hoping she’d just keep walking, but her jaw tightened, and her eyes narrowed.

“Seriously?” Charlotte snapped, her voice sharp. “Grow up.”

“Aw, how cute,” one of the girls said, mock-pouting. “The princess is defending her little pet. Careful, Charlotte. You might catch something.”

The others burst into laughter again, and my hands started to tremble. I hated how easy it was for them to make me feel small, how quickly they turned my world upside down. I tugged at Charlotte’s arm, whispering, “Let’s just go. Please.”

But Charlotte didn’t budge. “You’re pathetic,” she said, her voice cutting through the noise. “Do you really have nothing better to do than follow us around like losers?”

One of the girls smirked. “We’re not following you. We’re just… curious. Isn’t that Aurora Danvers? The one who got knocked up? Didn’t think it was true, but I guess even trash finds someone desperate enough to—”

“That’s enough!” Charlotte barked, her voice echoing across the mall. She took a step toward them, but I grabbed her arm, shaking my head.

“It’s fine,” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. “Let’s just leave.”

The girls snickered, and I thought it was over until they trailed us into the next store. I froze when I realized where we were—a boutique filled with women’s clothing, maternity wear, and baby supplies. They must’ve recognized it too because their laughter grew louder.

“What are you even doing in here, trailer w***e?” one of them sneered, loud enough for the other shoppers to hear. “Shopping for your bastard? Who would even touch you?”

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I stared at the floor, wishing it would swallow me whole. The cashiers exchanged awkward glances, and I heard someone whispering behind the counter.

“Let’s just go,” I begged Charlotte, my voice cracking. “Please.”

But Charlotte wasn’t backing down. “Enough!” she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. “Get out of my family’s store, or I’ll throw you out myself.”

The girls stopped laughing, their expressions faltering for the first time. One of them crossed her arms, her smirk returning. “We’re customers,” she said, tilting her head. “You can’t make us leave.”

Before Charlotte could respond, a woman in a tailored suit approached us. Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she smiled politely at Charlotte. “Ah, Ms. Sinclair,” she said, her voice smooth. “What seems to be the problem?”

“These girls,” Charlotte said, pointing at the group, “are harassing my friend and disrupting the store. I want them gone.”

The manager’s eyes flicked to the group, her expression cold. “Ladies, I think it’s best if you leave.”

The leader of the group scoffed. “You can’t just kick us out—”

“This is my family’s store,” Charlotte interrupted, her voice like steel. “So, yes, I can.”

The girls hesitated, but the manager stepped aside, gesturing toward the door. “Please exit the store immediately,” she said firmly.

With a few muttered insults, the girls finally slinked away, their laughter fading as they disappeared into the mall. I let out a shaky breath, my whole body trembling.

Charlotte turned to me, her expression softening. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, wiping at my eyes, but the words wouldn’t come.

“You didn’t deserve that,” she said firmly. “And they’re not worth your tears.”

I looked at her, still stunned. “You didn’t have to do all that…”

“Yes, I did,” she said, giving me a small, reassuring smile. “No one gets to treat you like that. Not on my watch.”

I couldn’t help but feel out of place trailing behind her,

“You’re quiet,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at me as we passed a coffee shop. “Regretting letting me drag you out here?”

“No,” I muttered, even though my chest felt tight. “It’s just… a lot.”

Her face softened, and she stopped walking, turning to face me. “Aurora, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. You’ve been through so much already. Let yourself enjoy this, even just a little.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I looked down at the floor, my grip tightening on the bag handles. “It’s not that easy,” I admitted. “I don’t know how to… take this. The kindness, the fun. It feels… wrong.”

Charlotte tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. “Why? Because you don’t think you deserve it?”

I flinched, my heart sinking. She wasn’t wrong, but hearing it out loud made it feel sharper, like a wound I couldn’t ignore. “Maybe,” I whispered. “I mean, I don’t even know what I’m doing with my life. I can barely keep myself together, and now I’m supposed to bring a baby into this mess? And you… you’re just… I don’t even know why you’re helping me.”

She placed a hand on my arm, her voice soft but steady. “Because I’ve been there. Not in the same way, but I know what it’s like to feel alone, like no one’s on your side. And I had someone who helped me when I needed it most. Now it’s my turn to do the same.”

I blinked at her, caught off guard by her honesty. “You don’t seem like you’ve ever struggled with anything.”

She smiled faintly, her gaze drifting away for a moment. “You’d be surprised. My family might have money, but money doesn’t fix everything. My parents’ divorce was messy, and there were times I felt invisible. My dad… let’s just say he has high expectations, and my mom’s more interested in her new life in California than checking in on me. That’s why I want to help. No one should feel like they have to do everything on their own.”

I swallowed hard, her words settling in my chest. Maybe she understood more than I thought. But a part of me still held back, still worried that trusting her too much would end in disappointment. It always does.

Charlotte clapped her hands, breaking the tension. “Enough heavy stuff. Come on, let’s hit the food court before we leave. And I was thinking—we should do something fun this weekend. Maybe a movie night? I’ll bring the snacks, and we can pick out some ridiculously sappy rom-coms.”

“A movie night?” I repeated, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself.

“Absolutely,” she said, grinning. “Oh, and bring the baby onesies. I want to see them all again. They’re too cute not to.”