One-hundred sleepless nights

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO a little change is good

I quietly walked over to the counter, pulling my little cart behind me, and set my things down.
I glanced over my shoulder at Charlie signaling for him to do the same.
He nodded and without a word placed his clothes on the counter for the cashier to ring up.
"Will that be all for you two?" she asked and gave us both a long judgmental glance over the top of her glasses.
"Yes, thank you." i said quietly and turned to grab the cash jar.
"That'll be one-twenty, ninety-five." she added and popped open the cash register.
My face fell.
Was i going to have enough?
"Is something wrong miss?" the cashier asked and frowned at me over the top of her glasses again.
"No. sorry." i said and fumbled through the cash jar to find enough.
Luckily Tom had kept a lot in there, he must have been saving for something big.
Long story short, i had plenty to pay for our clothes so we also bought socks undergarments and a pair of converse each.
"We really got lucky today, Angie." Charlie smiled and grabbed the bags from the store as we headed back down the sidewalk.
"Yeah, i'd actually been meaning to buy new things for like the past year but never had the money. Now that you needed some things too i figured it was time. a little change is good." i told him.
"I agree." he smiled and shoved one bag further up his arm so he could free his hand and hold mine.
"To the park?" Charlie asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Nope. we have one more stop. you need a sleeping bag and a cart. then we'll hang out in the park until its time to head to the shelter." i said with a smile.
"Alright." he nodded and followed me into yet another store.
This one was larger and had a more random collection of shit.
We bought a cart and water bottle just like mine for Charlie and a sleeping bag for him too.
Now the cash jar was almost empty.
"Here, let me take some of your stuff." Charlie offered, having noticed how full my cart was.
"Okay. i can always organize it later back at the shelter." i nodded and put the cash jar and a couple articles of clothing in his cart.

"Hey, can i say something?" i asked as i walked into the park with Charlie, holding his hand.
"Anything." he replied with a smile.
"I used to be really scared of the life i live. like, i'd dread going to sleep because its dangerous. i'd secretly hope to get hit by a bus so i could just be done. i'd constantly be on edge and nervous. but now, now that i've met you i feel safer. granted i don't know how long that'll last because you'll probably find somebody better than me or decide this isn't the life for you, but for now, i feel safe." i said. trying not to get choked up as i kept talking.
I cried over the dumbest things sometimes.
"Well first off, i'm not leaving. i wont find someone better than you. Angie i have eyes only for you. i fell in love with you almost two whole years ago when you chased those brutes away from me and if anything has changed since then its that i love you more now. and second, if i do leave you'll be coming with me because we'll have finally found a truly safe place to be." i said and stopped walking to pull me into a tight embrace.
"Thank you." i whispered, somewhat into his shoulder because he was taller than me.
"You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that." i added and let go of him.
"I'm glad i can make you happy." Charlie smiled and took my hand as we started walking again 'till we reached a bench under a tall tree.
"Too bad we can't just live in the park its so nice here." Charlie sighed and sat down on the bench with me.
"I've slept out here a few times. its really noisy because of the vendors." i told him and leaned back against the bench, closing my eyes.
"Well, maybe it wouldn't be too great." he laughed and looked over at me.
I must have dozed off, for maybe five minutes. But i blinked slowly awake to see Charlie looking at me with the dumbest grin on his face.
"Can i help you?" i half laughed half yawned and sat up.
"No i'm fine. i just..." he trailed off and shook his head.
"You what?" i asked.
"Nothing." Charlie shook his head again.
"No. tell me." i insisted.
"You're just really cute thats all." He said, his silly grin growing into an embarrassed, blushing smile.
I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
"Thank you." i said quietly, covering my face with my hands. "I don't get that a lot." i added.
"Well you should." Charlie frowned.
"No, i shouldn't." i shrugged and moved my hands away.
"Well, i think you should." he smiled.
"Okay." i laughed a little. not wanting to argue with him.
Charlie scooted closer on the bench and i felt his arm slip around my shoulders.
I liked that.
It made me feel safe, and wanted.
Was it wrong of me to like that?
No.
I sighed contently and lay my head on Charlie's shoulder.
"Hey guess what." He said after a while of silence.
"What?" i asked and couldn't help but smile.
"I love you." he whispered and hugged me closer to him.
"I love you too." i said and leaned back up into sitting position.
For a moment we just sat there smiling awkwardly. unable to meet the other person's eye.
"So um, should we start heading back?" Charlie asked and looked down at his feet.
"Yeah. thats probably a good idea." i nodded and we both stood up, grabbing one hand onto our carts and with those that were free, we held hands.
"Wait." Charlie said and we stopped walking.
He let go of his cart and my hand to put his arms around me, pulling me close as he kissed me.
At first i didn't know what was happening but i didn't mind at all so i went with it.
Softly kissing my boyfriend back until he pulled away and grabbed my hand again.
"Now we can keep going." Charlie smiled.