"Confusion is my middle name."

//

Roseanne's P.O.V 

* * * 

It's been about two or three full weeks of me going to Eastern High. Things have gotten better. But I felt I needed a break from school so I decided to not go to school today. Instead I'm going to the mall. Walk around, buy a big pretzel, and go mega shopping for some cute outfits.

I prefer to go in person to the store to get my clothes because I feel like it's just way easier. Plus it just makes more sense to me this way. 

I smile as I smell the refreshing smell of Annie's pretzels and Chinese food. 

It told me a while to find someone who would even drive me to the mall. 

Brandon is still being a salty little peanut. 

Noah didn't want to drive me because he didn't want to get in a fight with our uncle over how many air fresheners he has in his car. 

The people I am related to are mad weird. 

So I laid on the charm with Tiffany and she agreed to take me.

Now, I'm here walking around by myself.

Smiling all weird about all the food choices. 

But my smile kinda dims down when I hear all the laughing and loud talking of the couples walk past me. 

I frown a little at that. 

My mind can't help but wish that it was me in some of these girls places. Walking hand and hand with my special someone. 

I sigh and get ready to slide my cane in front of me, so I can continue to walk, but my cane smacks right into another cane. 

My mind jumps in happiness because this is the first time that I've ever bumped canes with someone who is like me. I know it may seem silly but it means a lot to me. 

My thoughts are interrupted when I hear someone talking to me. 

"Hey, you are blind." A small voice says to me. "I'm blind too. Plus I've never been to this mall before so I'm kinda lost." 

It's a little kid.   Aww.

I have such a soft spot for little kids. I know I'd make a great mother one day. 

"Hey, kid. What's your name?" I say, with calmness in my voice.

Usually when you speak calm, they calm down. 

"My name is Poppy." 

"Poppy, that's a pretty name." 

I hear her let out a sound giggle ,causing my face to light up in a big smile.

"Thank you. What's your name?" 

"My name is Roseanne." 

"Your name is even prettier." 

We both giggle at her last comment. 

But then it comes to my mind that she just walked up to a complete stranger and talked to them. I mean I would never hurt a child. But she needs to be more careful. 

"Hey, Poppy." I say, getting ready to lecture her. "You should be a little more carefully with who you walk up to when you are lost. With you being blind that is seen as a weakness to some people. You never know what could have happened to you if I wasn't here." 

"I know but I panicked. I dropped the button that my big brother got me for when I get lost. I have to find him, we were suppose to get my hair dyed rainbow colors." 

Button?

Big brother? 

Wait ... rainbow colored hair?

"Poppy, how old are you?" I ask. 

"I'm 9."

Well that explains the rainbow colored hair idea. 

"Poppy, did your brother bring you to the mall with him?" I say. 

"Yes, he did." She says, lightly moving her cane across the ground. 

"I have got to find him. Can you help -"

Before Poppy could finish her question we heard loud yelling throughout the mall. 

As the yelling got closer you could hear the person yelling, "POPPY" "POPPY".

Poppy lets out a little squeal of excitement and yells back so the person can hear her. 

I smell him before he even gets right in front of us. 

The old spice body wash. 

Ace.

My whole body freezes as he runs up to us but halts as he sees his sister standing in front of me.

He clears his throat. "Poppy, I found your button. I told you to keep in your pocket."

"I know brother but you know how I get when I get excited about things. Either way it doesn't matter because I met Roseanne here and she kept me calm. She has a pretty name too."

"Roseanne, huh?" He says. 

I can feel him starring at me but I don't dare to even talk or move. 

"Yes, plus Ace get this she is blind too. I finally have a blind twin." She says, with pure happiness in her voice.

My body kinda stiffens as Poppy confirms that her brother is Ace. 

Ace is standing right in front of me. 

Ace King.

I can't help but freak out inside because he literally smells so yummy in person. 

I'm knocked out of my thoughts as I hear Ace start to talk to me. 

"Roseanne I want to thank you for being here with my sister." He says, with such affection that my body slightly shudders. 

I hear him lightly chuckle at my little body shudder. 

I try to ignore his little chuckle but for some reason I feel like he did that because he enjoys my fear. 

So I do what my scaredy-cat self always does, I try to run away from the issue at hand.

"It was no problem, she's a sweetheart." I say, my voice wobbling a little. "But I have to go. Poppy it was nice seeing you. 

"Bye, Roseanne." 

I start to walk away but I stumble with my cane and my body starts to fall towards the mall floor. But rough hands grab me before I fall.

"I'm starting to think that you are just super clumsy, kitten." 

Kitten?     Is he throwing pick up lines at me.

Smooth.   Really smooth. 

But dang ya'll his voice. Plus I smell that minty breath. 

I need to go to church, again. 

Jesus, I'm trying to keep it together. 

"So Roseanne as nice as this position is for me, I really have to go. But I just want to say my thanks a different way. How about lunch? My treat." Ace says.

My cheeks blush as he says this. 

Lunch with Ace. 

I mean why not. 

I sound so crazy right now being slightly frighten by this chuckle to my shudder, now I'm throbbing at the fact that he wants to take me to lunch.

But at the same time its free food. 

As soon as that thought comes to me, I've made up my mind.

"Yes, I would like to go to lunch with you." 

I feel him lightly kiss my hand. 

I blush again. 

"Great. I will pick you up later today. Be ready around 6. Okay?" 

Later today?

Pick me up?

"Okay." I say. 

"See you later." He says. 

"See ya." I say. 

I hear his feet moving away from me. 

I slightly smirk as I think about what my brother will think of me going with Ace somewhere. 

I'm gonna live by my rules now. 

But why did I handle the situation with Ace like that. It was suppose to be a normal conversation. But it wasn't. Not on my end completely anyway. I have to handle it better. 

I can't let him get away from me now. 

I need to know more. 

I have to know more. 

I've already learned so much more about him today. He has a sister. Her name is Poppy. She's blind and super sweet. She's already the exact opposite of what I heard about him. 

But he didn't seem that bad to me today. 

Is it because he pities me for being blind.

I don't know. I guess I can just ask him later on today. 

I continue to walk around the mall. I end up buying a bunch of clothes and 2 hand bags. 

I call Tiffany when I'm done and wait for her to come get me. When she picks me up I tell her about everything that happened. She squealed with me when I told her about my lunch 'date' with him later on today. 

But when we get home the tension in my house was unbearable. I didn't even say anything to them about my time at the mall or me running into Ace, again. I just go up into my room and start getting ready. 

But then I groan as I think about one thing. 

I didn't get a pretzel.