Episode 14: "A Day Of Errands."

Alicia awoke in nice mood. After all, sunlight poured in and brightened the room nicely. She had her own bathroom. Her closet was the biggest she had ever seen. She even had a sitting area and a desk where she could set up her own personal office, or whatever she decided to use it for. She sat up and yawned. Looking toward the boxes that still needed to be unpacked, her mood dipped a little.

Not only was it work that still needed to be done, it was a permenant reminder that this was her life, her situation now. She continued staring at the boxes and recalled Christian's words. No, she was not angry at him. She couldn't be over something like this. He opened his home to her. She would be forever grateful for that. Still, her life could have been better in her eyes.

Better how? Simple. She could be waking up in her parents home instead. Or her parents could just come from money and she herself would have nothing to worry about, like some of her rich friends. Her rich friends. She suddenly wondered why they spent any time with her at all. She had gone to one friend's house once, and their uppity parents had looked down on her.

Sayla was her name. Now that Alicia had thought about her more, she realized that Sayla was the best friend that she had ever had.

She hadn't asked why her rich friends hung out with her, but Sayla said something one day that made her angry. She realized now that Sayla wasn't saying it to be rude, but to put things in perspective.

"That's why I hang around you. You have nothing Alicia and yet you smile. I look at my own life and think 'Wow? What am I complaining about again when there's this girl that doesn't have what I have yet can still find the strength to smile?'."

Maybe that's why they took to me. She thought. Perhaps I keep them sane in their lavish world? But what about mine?

She had managed to find something to sleep in, but that didn't mean she didn't need to wash her clothes.

Whether Christian liked it or not, he would have to give her a tour immediately. He had to have a laundry room.

She pulled the covers back and swung her legs over the bed. She grabbed her phone and checked the time. It was a little passed nine o' clock.

She had a text message. She thought it was from her parents.

Checking it, it was just her phone provider telling her that her service would be shut off at the end of the month.

She rose her head and sighed. She had tried to be all 'big and bad'. It worked for a moment, but if she was honest with herself, she wouldn't have minded...no, she would mind. This was her parents decision to kick her out. Let them stew in it for awhile. She thought of Christian's words to her. Either way she felt like she was going to be okay. At least for now. In the future was another thing entirely and she wasn't in the mood for trying to figure that out. Maybe she'd do college then or maybe not. Maybe she'd be married. Married with--an almost bitter smirk graced her lips before her gaze softened and she looked down at her stomach. She placed her hand there and rubbed it some. She smiled. "Some day, eh? Not." She scoffed and rose her head again. She looked out the window.

She faced the front side of the house somewhat. She could see houses in the distance surrounded by the hills. Below her was the driveway, but not the front of it. She figured this was another enclosed area to house guests cars. It reminded her of a courtyard almost.

She stood up and looked out. She looked up at the sun briefly. The blue cloudless sky. It was Friday. Today was Friday and she was sulking.

She couldn't have that.

"CHRISTIAN! OH CHRISTIAN!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

It was more in a playful way but Christian still burst through the door as though something happened.

"What is it! What happened?" He asked.

She laughed.

"Alicia?"

"Nothing! I was only calling your name in a playful way! Chill!"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You do not call someone's name that loud in the morning. Especially mine. My ears are very sensitive."

"Oh! I'm sorry about that." she said. "But," she refused to let her mood drop any further, "Do you have a radio or laptop or something? I wanna jam some music as I get ready?"

Even if all his bedrooms were soundproofed he could already feel his ears crying out in pain as he doubted she would keep her music to an indoor level.

All sound reached his ears regardless. The padding in the rooms only helped as a very small buffer.

"Music?" He said.

"Yes music. You have heard of it right?! Oh! That was a pun! But no 'pun' intended right?!"

He stared at her and then shook his head. "You are a new one on me."

"Am I?" she tilted her head. "Or are you just so programmed and robotic that...You. Don't. Want. To. Feel." she mimicked a robot's movements and voice.

"Wrong. I do want to feel. I just want it to be genuine. Rather than forced." He rose his eyebrows some.

She rose and eyebrow. "Yes, well, sometimes you have to force yourself to do things, into things at times that will keep you from shutting down."

Christian gave her a look for split second before he began to grin. "Get dressed, girl. You have plans don't you?"

"Yes. But some of those plans now include washing clothes. You are going to show me where the laundry room is, aren't you?" She folded her arms.

"Very well." He said.

***

"All right! Your bank account is all set! Here's your temporary card to start making purchases!"

"Thank you so much." Alicia said, taking the shiny blue card.

"Your actual card will be mailed to you between 3 and 5 business days."

"Okay." Alicia said, pushing her chair in.

"Your address is 6875 Royal Court Drive, right? Just to be sure?"

"Yes. That's correct." Alicia eyed Christian for a moment before looking back at the teller.

She could tell he was not happy about giving out his actual address.

"Okay. Well on behalf of Kyat Bank we are honored to have you on board with us."

"Yes, thank you." Alicia said.

"You're very welcome. Have a good day."

"You too."

They began to walk out of the establishment.

"If giving out your address is such a pain then why don't you own a bank like your sister?"

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"I had thought about that. But I oversee enough projects. A bank is a project in itself. Especially since all of my profits are being held together with, excuse my french, flawed human beings."

"Oh! Well, well, well! Excuse me!" Alicia said as they exited the bank. "You are only investing in human beings that have seemed to make you very rich."

Christian smirked. "They have. But that is because it's based off my research, not theirs. I can easily withdraw, and they all know that. But since everyone is doing fine, why be cruel? After all, I am gaining profits as I speak."

"Yes, you are aren't you?" She gave him a look. "What all do you have your hand in again? I don't believe you told me."

"A little bit of everything. Get in the car Alicia."

"Don't you tell me what to do." She said, getting in the passenger side.

***

"Thank you so much. And how much is it again in total?"

"You'll be paying $79.99 a month. That includes unlimited talk, text, and streaming. Plus the insurance on your phone and the emergency connection service just in case some accident befalls you and there's no current connection in place."

"Okay. Great." Alicia said.

They said their good-byes and walked out of the phone providers store.

"I hope you're keeping track of all your expenses." Christian said. "Remember you will have your own place one day, Alicia. $80 dollars for a cell? Seems unnecessary."

"Yeah, well, I'm treating myself. New account. New house. New phone. A whole new me..."

He cut his eye over to her and then kept looking straight. "Where to next?"

"Hm, the mall. A place where you don't have to make too many stops."

"Hm, that depends. If you plan on doing heavy shopping then I need to get my other car."

"Well, I was just going to get a desktop computer, laptop, and maybe small stereo system. I really don't need to get anything else for myself. I can wash all my clothes now too, soo..."

Christian quickly calucated the space in his two-seater car including the trunk. It could work. Maybe.

"Very well." He said.

***

"Hey? Isn't that Delilah?" Alicia asked, looking ahead of the line.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice." Christian said quietly.

"Why not?" Alicia turned to him. "Hoping to not run into her?"

"Not really."

"...Just, charge my account then!"

"I'm sorry ma'am, but these cards aren't working. You're overdrawn." The clerk was kind enough to whisper it to her.

"Overdraw--oh! This is the last one they have! If I come back it's going to be gone!"

"Hurry up lady! You're holding up the line!"

"Oh! Just wait!" she turned to him. "I'll only be a minute longer!"

That's when she caught sight of Christian and Alicia.

She blushed in surprise and then turned away knowing Christian had probably, no, he had heard everything. He had probably seen her multiple times already without her knowing.

And he had.

"How long can you hold it?"

"Twenty-four hours, ma'am."

"Okay! Great! Just place it on hold. You should have all of my account information." Delilah snatched everything that was hers off the counter and placed it in her purse.

"Okay, ma'am. It'll be on hold for 24 hours." The clerk took a boxed perfume set and placed it below the counter.

"Okay! Thanks! I"ll be back!" Delilah turned away. "Hi boss!" she scurried passed him not acknowledging Alicia.

Alicia scoffed. "You know I had half a mind to buy that for her but nevermind."

Delilah stopped in her tracks hearing that and turned around.

Alicia looked upset and turned away from her.

Christian had his hands in his pockets. He turned away from her as well.

She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Turning away in anger she stalked out of the store. She didn't need Christian's help anyway. That's essentially who it would be coming from. No doubt Christian had deposited something into her bank account already. There was no way she'd be able to afford the newest perfume on the market by herself. She seemed completely hopeless from the moment she had met her.

Alicia June.

Delilah ran that name around in her mind.

What kind of name was that anyway?

***

 "Ricky?" Alicia said as they entered a Shakies, a restaurant chain known in their city.

The blonde turned her head. "Oh hey!" she said, seeing her and Christian. "Boss? What's up?"

"What is this?" Christian said. "Run into co-workers day?"

"Oh, hush." She said. "Why? What happened?"

"Ran into Delilah." Alicia rose her eyebrows and rolled her eyebrows.

"Ohh..." she said nodding.

"That girl just doesn't like me. I was going to do something nice for her, but...her attitude won out."

"Hm." Ricky said. "Well, that's Delilah. You're going to have to deal with her for who knows how long." She looked to Christian.

"Hm. Yeah. But anyway, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I just ordered some food. I was gonna get it to go, but now, I don't know." She smirked at Christian. "How about a little threesome lunch Christian?"

He gave her a look.

"Oh come on Christian, it'll be fun." Alicia looked up at him.

He sighed. "Very well."

"Yay! Okay! I'm gonna go save a spot--"

"Oh no!" a voice said.

They turned to see Dwayne.

"Tch! It's official. This is officially run into co-workers day!" Alicia laughed. "Hi Dwayne."

"Hello new girl. What is going on in here? Supervisor. Boss."

Christian nodded his head once.

"Hello to you to Dwayne." Ricky said. "We were just getting ready to have lunch? Would you care to join?"

"No. Just came in for a quick bite to eat and then I'm gonna hit the gym." He said.

"Okay. Suit yourself." Ricky said. "I'm gonna go find us a spot before it gets too crowded."

"Too crowded? Look around you?" Dwayne said.

"Oh shut up." She said nudging him as she walked passed.

Alicia watched her go before she turned and got in line. The bags she was holding was starting to hurt her arms. They had come from the department store to there.

"Let me see your bags." Christian said.

"Huh? Oh no! I'm fine." She said.

"Alicia, judging from your red palms and stiffened arms you are getting tired. Let me see them. I'll put them in the car."

"We actually should have done that first." She said, handing them to him.

He must have looked funny holding an entire desktop in his hands along with her other things.

"You want me to help, boss?" Dwayne said.

"You can if you want." He said.

Dwayne took her laptop and small stereo system.

"Oh thank you!" Alicia said.

"Don't mention it. Just save our spots in line."

"I can actually order for you guys. Just tell me what you want?"

"Should I trust her with a credit card?" Dwayne asked him.

She scoffed. "Yes."

"You heard her." Christian turned and began to walk away.

Dwayne licked his lips. "Listen. You mess up anything on here...well, Christian will take care of you."

"Okay..." she said slowly.

How did he reduce her to feeling like a two-year old all of a sudden? She was a grown, well, young adult. She didn't have a reason to steal anything from him nor would she want to. Not to mention he could probably kill her.

"Get me the number two special with everything on it and what do you want boss?" Dwayne asked.

"I'll have the number five." He said walking passed the crowds of people.

"Everything on it?" Dwayne asked, eyeing the menu.

"Hold the tomatoes." He said. "And add in a strawberry sundae."

"Okay." He said.

Alicia deduced that Dwayne could still hear him despite him no longer being in the restuaurant. Was his hearing that good?

"Okay. New girl, boss wants the number five without tomatoes and a strawberry sundae. I want the number two with everything on it. Here's my card."

She took it.

"And you obviously get whatever you're getting? Deal?"

"Deal." She said not sure if she would like this guy or not.

"Okay. Go drop these off." He picked up her bags.

"Well, we're on--"

"Trust me. I know where he is." He said, turning away.

"Next!"

Alicia turned. "Oh! Can I get..."

***

"So how long have you known Christian?"

"Oh, I would say a long time, but honestly, its not that long. Just, the last fifteen years."

"Wow, fifteen years." Alicia said sitting across from her.

"Yeah. I had actually applied for a job there. I mean, I had known him before then, well, heard of him. He was the 'miracle' baby ya know?"

"Yeah." Alicia said.

"I'm saying this under the assumption that Christian has told you who he is right? Who we are?"

"Yes, he has." Alicia smiled. "Probabaly should have checked with Christian first though. He seems like a stickler as far as his personal life."

"Who are you telling? Oh my gosh!" Ricky said. "But it's understandable."

"Yes, it is." Christian said, having come back with their food.

"Oh." Alicia scooted down the booth some,

He placed the food down.

"All right. I'm outta here." Dwayne said grabbing a white bag from the counter. "You did good new girl."

Alicia blew out and rolled her eyes. "See you too, Dwayne."

He smirked and slipped on his sunglasses. Alicia watched him walk out. She smiled a little.

Ricky snagged a fry hanging loose.

"Hey!" Alicia said.

"You have your own Ricky." Christian spoke.

"I know! But yours are fresh, hot, and crunchy!"

"Then you should have asked for a fresh batch."

"Well I didn't plan on being here!"

Alicia watched them two go at it and smiled to herself.

Superhuman or not they were people at the end of the day. Knowing this she began to eat.