8 Chapter 08

Wiping his sweat away with a tissue, Andy led Lydia to a bench in the shade and instructed her to wait for him. Although the air blowing towards them was warm and the sun was shining well but not too bright, Andy noticed Lydia's skin starting to burn. He proceed to the small stall and returned with two cold bottles of water and a hat for her head. She smiled and thanked him, noticing the exact hat at the gift shop she looked at when they first came in.

They sat under the shade quietly as Andy threw peanuts for the squirrels that running all around the zoo. Lydia wondered if what she had said to him about leaving last time, made him change and think of a way to made her stay and that this was his way of showing it. It was almost like she was dreaming today, she was being seen in public with him and in such a lovely place. Sometimes, he would even run towards her to keep up with her as she was moving fast.

"Thirsty! Finished all your water already." He said, pulling her away from her thoughts. "Here, take the rest of mine."

Lydia smiled at him as he put the hat on her head, adjusting it to fit. She didn't know how to tell him earlier that she would got sunburns if she's being out in the sun too long. She decided not speak up as she didn't want to ruin the day at the zoo since they're having good times. Suddenly, she felt so proud to have him near her side. She still felt so dazed. It did not seem real. She have dreamt of this moment so many nights than woken only to find it was just a dream. Here today, this dream had finally come true.

By the time they had finished walking through the whole zoo, it was almost noon time and Andy announced that he was hungry. They went to a small casual restaurant just few blocks away from the zoo and Lydia loved it instantly, that the foods was delicious too. Andy promised to bring her back for dinner one day.

Andy looked over at Lydia in the car after lunch and she was happy. He didn't understand why going to the zoo and lunch could make her so happy. But again, he realized all that was he didn't really know much about her. Without asking her, he smiled and drove to the largest shopping mall in the city, watching her eyes get large as they pulled in to park.

"Where are we going now?" she asked him confused.

"How about I buy you something? What do you want?" He asked.

"Nothing. Thanks." Lydia replied.

Knowing that she had probably never been to a mall this big before, he told her that they were getting her some new clothes and other necessities.

"But I don't need any new clothes or others." She told him truthfully. Over the past two years, he had clothes and other necessities ordered for her and if they didn't fit or she didn't like them, she would have it returned.

"I want to get you some, whether you need them or not." He said, once again opening her door for her and leading her to the entrance.

Once inside, Lydia was overwhelmed with all the designer stores filled with shoes, purses, accessories and lots and lots of beautiful clothes. They walked through the mall and he held her hand, making Lydia feel uncomfortable but special at the same time. They shopped almost all the stores on the first floor. Andy would buy her anything she even seemed to like or favor and offering to carry all the bags while they continued to the second floor. Even though she insisted that she had shopped enough, Andy tried to convince her to go into one last store.

Lydia pulled her hand back away on his arm and after realizing what she did, she soon felt as if she had control over him and never in her life, she tried to do this before, it was always the other way around. As soon as she loosen her hand, Andy turned around immediately staring at her. Andy tried not force her but insisted that she follow him into the store. She followed but was keeping her distance from him.

"Andy!" a voice shrieked as a blond woman ran up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his lips.

Lydia immediately walked away from them and into the women's department where she pretended to look at the handbags and purses that line up the wall.

"Fenny." Andy addressed the woman, removed her arms from his neck and quickly stepping away from her, "Nice to see you here. How're you?"

"I'm fine! But it a bit strange to see you at the mall, don't you have all your clothes delivered?" Fenny asked him.

Andy scanned the store, looking for Lydia as she tucked herself behind a mannequin pretending to admire the fabric of the dress the mannequin was wearing.

"Are you here with someone?" Fenny asked.

Andy who shook his head anxiously, wanting to get rid of this woman who was standing in front of him. Suddenly he located Lydia's location and turned to Fenny, "I'm in a bit of a rush today, why don't we have dinner next week." He offered.

Fenny looked over to where Andy's eyes were glazing and realized that he was here with someone, just as she'd suspected.

"Sure, sounds good," Fenny answered offended, kissing him on the cheek and walking away. Feeling annoyed, she turned and walked toward Lydia.

Lydia who was looking at the watches in the display case cheerfully when she suddenly realized that the blond she had been seen with Andy was beside her. "Those watches are not really your style and does not fit you." Fenny said to her rudely before she left the store.