Grocery Shopping +25 BONUS It was huge . There was a giant section full of vegetables and fruits to the left . I hadn't put any on my list , but decided that I should probably include some . I was fascinated to find already - made salads and some other cute little things . But some of the prices shocked me ! Who would willingly pay four dollars for a single piece of fruit ? I grabbed a few salads and moved into an aisle full of peanut butter and jellies and other stuff . There were so many choices . I sighed as I looked through my list and back up at all of the stuff in the aisle . My phone tinkled in my pocket and I dug it out , annoyed already by having to look for all of the stuff I needed like a damn scavenger hunt . " Hello ? " " Hey , did you find what you were looking for ? " " Yes but who willingly comes to these types of places ? I can't ... there are too many choices . I will never get through my list . " I glanced down the aisle and a few annoyed people moved around my parked cart . I tried to be nice and mouth apologies but the looks people give in grocery stores were unbelievably rude . But as I pushed my cart down the aisle , I could understand it . There was just too much stuff . " Yeah , well it gets easier once you know the layout of the store and where all of your usual stuff is . " " Yeah , well , I'm thinking that I might just abandon the cart and leave . Fast food sounds so good right about now . 11 " Would you feel better with company ? " I perked up a small smile crawling up my lips as I thought about seeing James already . " Well if you're not too busy , I wouldn't mind it . " " Nope . I was heading to Michael's house , but he can wait since he ditched me last night . I'll be there in five . " I grinned as I finally found the brand of peanut butter my dad usually bought and placed it in the cart . I looked at the prices next to our usual peanut butter and noticed some that were a couple of dollars less . I contemplated what the difference was between the peanut butter and was still standing there when James popped up from behind me , placing a large , warm hand on my lower back . " Hey ! " I grinned up at him picked up both peanut butter and asked him my burning question . " What's the difference in taste ? Because my dad usually picked this one up , but this one costs less . " I weighed either of the peanut butter in my hand and he raised an eyebrow . " The brand is the difference . I have never tasted peanut butter and thought , hmmm .... this brand tastes off . It's all the same to me . " I looked at the cheaper peanut butter and placed it in the cart . I put the name - brand one back on the shelf and kept pushing along . " What else is on your list ? " I handed him my mile - long list and he raised his eyebrows . I watched his eyes scan over the list and then he grabbed the cart and began walking briskly to the next aisle . 1/3 Grocery Shopping +25 BONUS " Macaroni and cheese . " He pointed at the section and looked at the prices . Not bad . " Is this the same as the peanut butter ? " " No ! If you like a certain one , I would go for that one . My mom made the mistake of grabbing a different brand one time and now no one trusts that the Mac will be good . " I grinned as he walked me through the store and we picked out all of my groceries . When we went to check out , I looked at the size of my cart and felt nerves begin to nag at my insides . I always had a limit on what I could spend on my credit card . My dad always told me what I could spend . I never just spent money without knowing what my budget was . James places things on the conveyor belt , talking about something that he and Michael had done at some point and all I could think about was if I was going to have enough for all of this . I watched the register as the lady scanned my groceries . I began doubting if I needed some of this stuff as the price began moving higher and higher . I sighed in relief as it came to a rest at right under three hundred dollars . I didn't both with the credit cards . I used the cash out of my mom's purse and paid for everything and felt amazing that I got through my very first grocery trip . Well ... with James ' help . He helped me put everything in the back of my mom's SUV . " Thank you . You didn't have to come to help me . I know it's pathetic that I don't know how in the hell to shop for this stuff , but my dad did it all . " " Not pathetic . You could never be pathetic . Sad . That's the word you're looking for . " I grinned and swatted his arm . He grinned down at me and put the last few groceries in my trunk . I admired his bright blue eyes behind his glasses and leaned up and gave him a peck on his cheek . He blushed and shut my trunk . " Thanks for helping me . " " You're welcome . Anytime . " We parted ways and now I was regretting having Chloe stay the night tonight because all I wanted now was for him to come over again . At home , it took about an hour to get all of the groceries in and put up . As I was putting the last few boxes of soda in the pantry , Mom came downstairs and watched me stand up . Her eyes scanned over my face and then zeroed in on my neck . " Where's my cigarettes and beer ? " I sighed , having completely forgotten about her request . " I'm not old enough to buy that mom . I told you that already , " " And whoever gave you those bites couldn't bother to help ? " " He's my age . He can't buy any either . " " He was able to get you drunk and high the night your father passed . " I glared at her and shook my head . " Mom , stop . I can drive you to the store if you want . " 2/3 Grocery Shopping +25 BONUS " What I wanted was for you to get it for me ! " She spat angrily . She marched over to the counter where I set my purse and dug in it . I watched her snatch my wallet out and take out all of the credit cards and leftover cash . " Where's my money ? " " The cash ? " " Yes . My money ! " " I spent it on groceries . " " Why didn't you use the cards ? " " I want sure what the limit was on them . I didn't want to go over . " She sneered and rolled her eyes . " So you use up all of my money instead . " " Mom , I told you I was taking it . " " You were supposed to get me my stuff ! " She shrieked angrily . " Use your f * cking head for something better than telling your legs to open up for strange d * ck ! " I blushed and felt angry tears prick my eyes . " Why don't you use your f * cking head and realize I'm not old enough to get you that stuff ? " She reared back and for the second time this week I was struck across my face . I stumbled back and looked up at my mom , shocked that she would ever hit me . " " Don't you dare talk to me like that ! I'm your mother ! " Her face contorted into an angry , wrinkled mess and I took a deep breath , holding onto my hot , stinging cheek . I turned away from her and began walking upstairs to get away from her before I said anything else to piss her off . Before I could get on the first step she grabbed my hair and jerked me down . I cried out in pain as she stood over me , her bloodshot eyes glaring holes into my skull . " Don't walk away from me ! Go back out and get my stuff ! " I didn't let myself cry until I was sitting in her car and stared at the angry red mark on my cheek . I felt everything I had been suppressing for the last week bubble up to the surface and I grabbed the steering wheel and screamed . I shook the wheel and screamed until my voice went hoarse and all I wanted to do was crawl into bed curl up into a little ball and disappear . Instead , I backed out of the driveway and drove around , trying to think about how I was going to get my mom's fix . I had an idea of what I could do but I would have to swallow my pride and tuck my tail in between my legs . I took my phone out and took a deep breath as I dialed the number . " Hello ? " " Dexter . "